PICKING HAIR PRODUCTS TO SUIT YOUR NEEDS

The hair care market is huge, constantly changing and quite frankly baffling, this is because the market is based on hype, image and marketing. The best way to get through this minefield is to simplify, if you want a shampoo buy one that makes its first priority to clean your hair, other claims should come as a bonus. If it costs more than £25, it's likely you're being ripped-off, it might claim to made of gold and champagne, but the makers are probably working on the theory that you'll think "to justify that price it must be good," don't be fooled.

MAKE YOUR HAIR HEALTHY

Like the skin or indeed your body, healthy hair is affected by your diet, your hair needs a balanced, nutritious diet to stay healthy:

° Water makes up 25% of a strand of hair. Moisture makes the hair supple, so make
  sure you get plenty of fluids.
° Protein is the building block of hair.
° Minerals; iron helps to carry oxygen to the hair. Without enough iron, hair and its
  follicles get starved of oxygen. Zinc builds hair protein which helps to prevent hair loss.   Copper is involved in the pigmentation of hair. You can optimise your natural colour   with a diet that has plenty of copper.
° Vitamins. Vitamin A will give you a healthy scalp, Vitamin B and C are important for
  good circulation, hair growth and hair colour. If you ensure that you have enough   vitamin B and C, you'll have strong, supple hair.
° Try a little scalp massage to increase blood-flow and stimulate hair growth.
° Rinse your hair with cold water after showering, this will close the follicles lessening the
  chance of damage.

See supplements for healthy hair

KEEPING HAIR HEALTHY

° Avoid chemicals, Bleach, chlorine from swimming pools, permanent and
  semi-permanent colours.
° Wet hair or apply conditioner before you go swimming if the hair is already wet, then
  absorption of salty or chlorine water will be minimal.
° Physical wear: Friction produced by daily wear and tear is to blame for most hair
  damage. Even hair rubbing against a pillowcase can cause damage.
° Don't brush wet hair too harshly because it's three times weaker.
° Avoid blow drying the intense heat is not good for the hair or scalp.

DEALING WITH DRY HAIR

Dry hair is caused by heat and the elements. The tip of the hair is most at risk, as they are not in direct contact with the scalp and can't utilize the sebum oil it produces.

Don't wash your hair every day, unless you have an oily scalp Shampooing 2 or 3 times a week should be enough to remove dirt and build-up.

Use a good moisturizer one that has 'humectants. Humectants are ingredients in shampoo and conditioners, such as glycerin and panthenol, which help bind water to the hair to reduce dryness, they replace lost moisture and attract more moisture which they retain it in the cortex of the hair.

If your hair is still dry try using safflower oil (the kind used in cooking).

1. Take 1 to 2 drops of safflower oil in your hands and rub together. (Do not use too
much there should only be enough to make your hands shiny)
2. Rub the oil into dry hair, only the ends at first, then the middle section of the hair.
The hair at the scalp shouldn't need any.
3. Leave the oil in your hair.

SOLUTIONS FOR GREASY AND OILY HAIR

Greasy hair is caused by a build-up of secretion from sebaceous glands producing oil in the scalp. Perspiration, environmental dirt and bacteria can add to the problem making the hair unmanageable and looking unpleasant.

At certain times, such as puberty, when you're under stress, or if your diet contains too much fatty food, there is an increase in sebum production, the hair may become even greasier.

Greasiness on short hair can be particularly bothersome, very short hair has a smaller area on which the grease can spread.

1. Oily hair needs to be washed more frequently.
2. Don't scrub too hard while washing. It will further aggravate the already overactive
   sebaceous glands on your scalp, not to mention cause damage to the delicate
   follicles.
3. Cut down on the conditioner, condition as little as twice a month, don't condition at the
   roots.
4. Reduce the fatty foods in your diet, if you saw in the film 'super size me' what eating
   McDonalds can do to your heart in a month imagine what it'll do to your hair.
5. Could be time to change your shampoo.
6. Add lemon juice to the final rinse for a great shine.

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