Subscribe to Health Beauty Cares

Sunday, December 28, 2008

Dry Hair: How to care for and treat Dry Hair

By Jennifer Summers

You need to select the right hair shampoo and conditioner for your hair type to get the best possible results from your hair care routine. We are aware of hair that is in good condition. It shines, it is simple to care for - it just looks good. The appearance of your hair is one of the features over which you can have complete power over. You can alter the shape, colour, length and style of your hair according to the age you wish to come across. The style, length and condition of hair all contribute to how we notice the people we come across.

Your hair is dry if: * it feels dry or rough * it tangles effortlessly * it is hard to comb or brush * it looks lifeless * it has been chemically treated (permed, bleached or colored) * it is likely to have split ends * it is dry and coarse. You should select a shampoo and conditioner that is targeted at dry hair if your symptoms match any of the above pointers. Dry hair is hair that does not hold an adequate amount of moisture. This is more often than not because the cuticle has become worn and permeable, so that the cortex cannot keep hold of water. It shows signs more often in long hair, because the hair has been growing for a greater length of time and has therefore weathered more. It is more general in females than in males, for the reason that women more often wear their hair long. The dryness can influence more of the hair if it is given repetitive chemical treatments, such as perming and bleaching/colouring.

Wage war on the damage from the use of heat-styling, environmental pollution, chemical treatments and colouring. Deep-condition your hair often. Keep your hair shiny and strong by replenishing lost moisture. Use quality products and wash your hair often. Moisturizing Shampoos and Conditioners are the correct products - Ideal for very dry hair. Restoring lost moisture from blow-drying.

And essentially - do not forget to condition it well. Leave-in Conditioners and Re-constructive detanglers are the correct products to use. A light leave-in conditioner is great for creating shine and body to straight hair and for taming. Have the ends cut regularly by a skilled stylist, so as to prevent weathering effects such as split ends.

Very little water can enter into or out of the cortex in a regular, undamaged hair shaft. This is because the cuticle enveloping the cortex is in one piece. But if your hair has been processed too frequently the cuticle scales might not return to their usual tightness and its defence is lost. Over-porous hair is dry, and you are likely to develop split ends. The damaged cuticle is brittle and deteriorates as time goes on. After washing your hair be gentle with the brushing, drying and combing.

The bottle should read: Moisturizing or Replenishing. These types of shampoos are heavier on moisturizing, and can leave a very fine film of conditioner on your hair to help keep it smooth and silky. They are formulated to be easy-going on dry, damaged hair. Working best on: Dry, frizzy, damaged hair.

About the Author:

No comments:

Post a Comment