Knowing how to properly tend to your hair can be a hard thing to do. With all that you hear about proper hair care techniques you can be left confused as to what you should do to manage your hair. If you want some hair care tips, this article is the place for you.
When you are attending to the shampooing and conditioning of your hair, make sure that you thoroughly rinse off all product after it has been applied and that none remains on your hair follicles. Product that is left to build up on your hair can lead to lifeless and dull locks.
For those with curly hair, nix SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) from your hair care routine, for bouncy, care-free curls. SLS is a harsh stripping agent that robs your hair of essential oils. This creates the illusion of frizz and encourages breakage. You can spot this substance by checking the ingredients of your products.
When shampooing your hair, make sure that your hair is completely wet before applying a quarter-sized amount. This minimizes breakage due to tugging and tangling, and it helps the shampoo to effectively cleanse each strand. Do not lather for more than 30 seconds, and rinse with a blast of cool water to seal in moisture.
After shampooing your hair you should always rinse it out the best you can. Even if you think all of the shampoo is out of your hair you should rinse it out again. Shampoo residue can cause build up and dry out your hair and scalp that can cause dandruff.
Take care of your hair during the summer. Over exposure to sun and chlorine can seriously damage hair and result in split ends. Wear a hat in the sun, and a latex swim cap while in the pool. Also, wash your hair with a chlorine-removal shampoo in fresh water after swimming in a chlorinated pool.
Only wash your hair as often as you think it needs washed. Everyone’s hair is different but a good way to go about it is to wash it and condition it every other day or around 2-3 days a week depending on your daily activities and your body’s physiology.
You should avoid using styling products with alcohol, as it will dry out your hair and contribute to breakage. You can try natural styling products to achieve the style you desire. Otherwise, synthetic products without alcohol will do the trick without the fuss or the damage. Check the ingredients list on your next shopping trip!
Avoid habits that damage your body, as they will destroy your hair as well. Eating greasy foods, overwhelming stress, lack of exercise, smoking, and drinking excessively will make your body and mind ill. Your hair will reflect that by being oily or overly dry, having split ends, and dull color.
Don’t use your bristle hairbrush on wet hair. Always use a comb or pick on your beautiful wet tresses. A hairbrush encourages breakage and split ends. Just lightly towel dry your hair and remove tangles by gently combing through your hair with a wide-toothed comb, or even your fingers. Allow to air dry whenever possible to minimize heat damage.
When your hair is wet, it is in a state where the most damage can be caused to it. This is why you should avoid combing or brushing your hair when it is wet. You should dry your hair thoroughly and then, comb or brush it to smooth it down.
Do not shower with extremely hot water. Only set the temperature to a nice warm water. This will help to keep the scalp from drying and becoming irritated. Once your scalp is unhealthy, your hair will quickly become unhealthy. If you get a hot shower, rinse your hair and scalp with cold water before getting out. This will reduce some of the damage done from the hot water.
When drying your hair with a hair dryer, you should set it on the coolest setting. Hot air can severely damage your hair, so you do not want to keep the blow dryer blowing on one spot in your hair. Make sure you begin the drying process by patting your hair down first.
Check hair care products before you buy them as they may contain harmful ingredients and chemicals. Avoid alcohol in gels as it will dry your hair. Parabens, which are found in many products, have a possible link to cancer. Mineral oil may also be another carcinogen and glycerin may actually dry instead of moisturize.
Dandruff is caused by a variety of factors. If you have oily hair, there’s a good chance that you will get dandruff. It would seem as if the opposite is true, but that’s not the case. Try utilizing a hair cleaner that is specifically geared toward individuals with dandruff.
To have the healthiest hair possible, stay away from exposing it to harsh chemicals. This includes exposure to hair-relaxing solutions (often lye-based), heat-styling products, alcohol based products, and even the chlorine in swimming pools. With prolonged exposures, these chemicals can really take the shine right out of your hair.
Use deep conditioners if you have really dry hair. You can do this deep conditioning treatment at home if your hair is brittle and dry. First, slightly dampen your hair. You should then massage a good amount of conditioner into your hair. Put on a shower cap and let it sit in your hair for thirty minutes. Finish by thoroughly rinsing all traces of product from your hair; you should immediately notice softer, more healthy hair.
You should hopefully have a better sense of how to properly manage your hair. All of the information you learned today is very relevant towards tending to your hair. It is important to apply all of the knowledge you learned today as soon as possible so that you can form good hair care habits.