Hair Care  


People may opt for a shorter do because caring for a longer one may be such a hassle.
However, long hair does have numerous benefits including unlimited styles that can be done with it. So caring for long hair can really be worth it. When talking about hair care for long hair, it does not necessarily mean stocking up on numerous conditioners and shampoos and availing of many hair care treatments. Once you find the right product to use, then all you need to do is have the right management.
This way, your hair care will be more on the natural side and you can avoid all the damage that the chemicals from hair care products might do to you.

Long hair care tips include not sleeping with your hair in a ponytail or done in a braid. This will stress the hair immensely and will eventually lead to damage. When styling your long hair in a braid, do not make it too tight or else you might end up with hair loss. It would greatly help if you make use of a scrunchie or a band that is specially treated not to cause damage to hair.
When you use untreated bands, bows, and clips, limit it.

When it comes to growing your hair longer, one very good natural hair care to administer is trimming. If you just let your hair grow longer like that, split ends will happen. If you plan on letting your hair grow more, administer trimming once every three months.
If you choose to maintain the length you have now, one trimming in every 1 ½ months will do. Another hair care tip is not to use a brush on a tangled hair. The hair will be stretched dramatically and breakage will occur. Try using wide tooth combs, your fingers, or a pick in detangling.
As you try to loosen the tangles of your long hair, start from the tips of the hair towards the roots. Make sure you are gentle with your hair.

Before having your hair washed, make sure you remove all the tangles first. Styling and drying will be a lot easier this way. When drying the hair, do not rub with a towel.

Just blot the moisture out of the hair. This is because a towel rubbing would lead to tangles and probable breakage, not to mention the hassles you will go through in detangling. Pillows can also become the cause of hair breakage especially when you move a lot while you sleep.


Making use of silk pillowcases will prevent your hair from being caught and broken. If silk pillowcases are not available to you, wear silk or satin scarf before you go to sleep. Brush your hair often as this will spread the natural oils in your hair. While brushing, stroke your hair with the hand so that there would be no static electricity left in your hair which would cause damage.


Take good care of your long hair and you will definitely heap the rewards!


Hair Care Tips

Hair care
Hair care
Hair care

How to add shine to your hair

Fine hair:

Go in for a shampoo which has wheat proteins and polymers as ingredients.
These ingredients coat the hair shaft, making it appear thicker. Also learn how to use spray volumizers; they light enough to deposit a light mist of shine in droplets on your hair without wilting it.

Normal hair:

Use a shampoo with silk amino acids; it adds softness and repair hair structure. Lecithin also restores hair texture, while gels and creams add shine without weight.
First and foremost, it's necessary to pour the product into your palm, then rub your hands together, and then lightly pat it over your head.

Thick Coarse Hair:

The best shine enhancers for thick coarse hair are the old-fashioned pomades.
They not only work to deliver shine, but also to moisturize this type of hair.

More tips for hair shine:

  • Use only heat-activated shampoos
  • Deep condition you hair at least once a week
  • Avoid using too many styling products that can dull your hair by coating it.

Strawberry hair mask:

Squash eight strawberries with one tablespoon of mayonnaise. Massage it into your washed, damp hair.


Cover your hair with a shower cap and then a warm towel, wait for a while and then wash your hair with a shampoo/conditioner combination. This luscious mix of rich acidic berries will leave your hair looking  both conditioned and rich with gloss.

Also have a look on Hair Styles


Managing your Hair

Long Hair care

Caring for hair is pretty much the same as caring for your skin.
A successful hair care discipline includes cleansing, toning and conditioning routines done with sacred regularity. The routine aims at getting rid of the excess oil and to exfoliate skin cells that block and smother hair follicles in your scalp. Emphasis, however, is laid on cleansing and toning routines.
Since your hair needs to be washed as often as it gets dirty and oily, a natural shampoo on a formulation of herbs is very effective.
It is important to massage hair and scalp. This is both for the well being of your hair as well as good hair growth. For dry hair we strongly recommend scalp massaging with oil, while for oily hair massaging with toning lotion is suitable.
Using a soft brush, brushing is less harmful than combing.
However, a firm brush can cause more damage to your hair than a comb would. Likewise, prolonged brushing also harms your hair a lot. Back combing also spoils your hair.
Besides, causing knotting that is tough to untangle, it ruffles the scales of the cuticles. In the same way, never comb or brush wet hair. This only causes further damage to the hair.
A good comb ought, necessarily, to have rounded and not sharp teeth. Nylon brushes with spiky ends can also damage your hair.
Then again, do you ever feel like covering your hair with a big frumpy hat? In that case, here are a few steps that are sure to make your hair shine and glisten. All, without the weigh down and a tip for in between coloring.

  • In between coloring, hairsprays your roots, then apply light eye-shadow to it; it works.
  • Don't make the mistake of washing your hair daily.

    If you do, stop; it will pay off.
  • While washing, shampoo twice in a row, then condition your hair. You will notice it get fuller and bouncier than before.
  • Brush your hair from the bottom tips moving upward towards the roots. Brush in downward strokes, as this will remove split ends leaving your hair healthier.

Read about Effective Hair Style and Care Routines for Naturally Beautiful Hair

Taking care of hair is in fact much the same as taking care of skin.
An effective hair care discipline involves cleansing, toning and conditioning routines carried out with religious regularity.
Another important aspect of effective hair care is the use of proper hair style and care products.
Different types of hair need different hair care and style products. The use of wrong products is detrimental to the hair.
Cleansing is the foremost routine in daily hair care. The purpose of cleansing is to wash away excess oil on hair and scalp and clear the hair follicles off the debris of dead cells.
Proper cleansing encourages healthy hair growth.
After cleansing, the scalp and hair need the toning exercise.
The toning of scalp and hair is achieved by gently massaging the head. This helps in stimulating and invigorating the blood circulation required for the healthy growth of hair.

The most important part of hair care is conditioning. It is a restorative routine. If the hair is excessively stripped of moisture or oil due to harsh cleansing, sun or application of harsh chemicals such as perm lotions, etc., the conditioning routine aims at restoring and correcting the imbalance. The kind of conditioning required depends entirely on the physical condition of the hair.


Dry hair Care


Dry hair is defined as the lack of adequate moisture and oil content associated with sheen and smoothness of the texture.
Typically, there are about 150,000 individual hairs in the human head, give or take a few hundred. Damage results are insufficient dry hair care and the hair becomes weakened in a process called weathering, and it loses elasticity and shine.

Dry hair is a result of many factors. Some people are born with naturally dry hair that may be aggravated by improper dry hair treatment with the use of harsh detergents, excessive washing and blow-drying.
Vigorous brushing and combing while the hair is wet and weaker can cause the cuticle to break off and expose the cortex, especially when using a metal comb.

Other cases of dry hair could be a result of metabolic disorders such as hypothyroidism and Menkes kinky hair syndrome. It can also be due to malnutrition as a direct result of anorexia nervosa or deficiency in some nutrients that induces kwashiorkor and marasmus, but these are extreme cases. Dry hair can result from environmental dryness and overexposure to sunlight, which strips away keratin. It can also be exacerbated by exposure to salty water or “hard” (chlorinated) water. Frequent dips in a swimming pool, for example, will dry out hair and make it “fly-away.”  

Use of chemical treatments, such as permanent waving and straightening, actually breaks down the disulfide bonds of the hair in order to change the structure. This also weakens the hair up to the point of brittleness. Bleaching and dyeing requires penetration into the cortex of the hair in order for the color or bleach to be integrated, and chemical damage is inevitable.

If it is necessary to have these treatments done, regular conditioning ensures dry hair treatment will provide some protection of the hair from further damage. Opt for hair color that has no ammonia and less peroxide, and space treatments every six weeks at the minimum. Frequent treatments, and worse, several different treatments within a short period is too much for the hair to handle, even when it is healthy to begin with. For dry hair, such treatment is suicide.

Be on the lookout for excessive hair loss, scalp irritation and discolored hair. It may mean that the products used by your hairdresser have a problem even when used as intended. 

Dry hair care is not really complicated. Avoid excess heat and treatments such as blow-dryers and hair irons. Wear scarves or hats when you need to go out into the sun or when the day is windy, such as at the beach or when skiing.
Refrain from washing hair everyday because shampooing not only eliminates dirt it also washes away protective oils from the hair. Thrice a week should be sufficient to prevent build-up. While conditioning is recommended, avoid overloading your hair with heavy conditioners. Experiment with products until you find a combination that works for your particular hair. Leave-on conditioners are not recommended; try silicone serum to seal in moisture. It is the height of irony that dry hair can be paired with an oily scalp; in this case, keep conditioners away from the scalps. In the summer, sporting a shorter hairstyle may reduce the effects of sun exposure.

 


Oily Hair Care 

You can read about remedies for oily hair to improve hair and scalp conditions and good hair growth.
The remedy for oily hair and scalp condition is the same as that used for oily skin condition.

The hair routine aims at removing the excess oil and to exfoliate skin cells which clog up and suffocate the hair follicles in our scalp.
Infection usually erupts in the blocked hair follicles which lead to hair loss and other scalp disorders.

The remedy for oily hair starts with hair cleansing and toning routines.
The cleansing routine involves washing and rinsing the hair. Since the hair has to be washed as frequently as it gets dirty and oily, a natural shampoo on a formulation of herbs such as Indian gooseberry, Acacia concinna, triphala (combination of 3 herbs) is ideal.

The ideal shampoo for oily hair is always gentle in action, thorough in dissolving the grime and at the same time, not harsh like a detergent shampoo.

Massaging hair and scalp is important for the well-being as well as good growth of the hair.
For oily hair, massage with toning lotion is suitable. A two minute brushing, stroking and combing routine is sufficient massage exercise for the scalp.


Winter Hair Care

Like a plant, your hair also needs different types of care and nourishment as the weather changes.  Caring for the hair is as much needed during winters than during summers.  Cooler temperatures as well as shorter hours under the sun bring in different types of demands when it comes to hair care.  Most people are unaware that their hair needs more moisture during winter than during hot summer days.

The sun brings in natural highlights to your hair.  When winter comes and you only get to spend lesser time under the sun, your hair becomes dull and loses its luster.  The harsher air brought by winter will also result in your hair becoming drier and more brittle than it ever did during summers.  

Here are some winter hair care tips that you could actually apply to have healthy and great looking hair even during the harsh winter season:

  • Winter is the best time to put some color or highlights into your hair.  You could also go for perms as well to liven up your look a bit.  Because lesser sunlight means duller looking hair, then you can turn this around by going for those highlights or that greater hair color.  There is no better way to liven up your Christmas spirit than sporting a new do.
  • Take great care in moisturizing your hair during winter.  This is especially needed if you had some chemical treatments done on your hair like perms and colors.  Look for a hair conditioning product that contains cetyl alcohol, an ingredient derived from coconut and known as the best ingredient for top-notch hair moisturizing.  You could also try looking for shampoo and conditioning products that contain cetearyl alcohol.  This is another ingredient that is particularly good in moisturizing your hair.  If you have excessively dry hair that looks damaged, it is best to use a shampoo that has a moisturizing ingredient apart from the conditioner.
  • Winter hair care also entails locking in that moisture.  It is no good to just moisturize during winter, you also have to lock in the added moisture as much as possible.  You can do this by rinsing your deeply conditioned hair with cold water.  This helps close down the hair cuticles to seal in the moisture.  You can also try applying an apple cider vinegar on your hair.  You can let this settle on your hair for just a few minutes before rinsing it with cold water.  The acidity of the vinegar will not only lock in the moisture but will also help in making the color stay longer.  It will also leave your hair smelling fresher and cleaner.

Summer Hair Care Tips

Summer, your favorite time of year is finally here and with it come all sorts of fun outdoor things to do! But while summer brings glorious visions of natural highlights and long windblown hair, it is also that time when you come across the highest percentage of damaged hair.
Some of this may even be beyond repair. The fact is that the sun and humidity can damage your hair and result in dry, drab and split ends.

Consider some of these other tips for great summer hair care, so you and your hair can enjoy the summer without worry. It will also save you a lot of headache and money.
It is vital that you

  • Moisturize your hair every day to bring back moisture balance
  • Take preventive steps to avoid damaged, lifeless hair,
  • Take time to slot in a quality summer hair care regime.

Here are some more summer hair care tips you are bound to find helpful:

  • Be careful of products that promise to control frizzy hair. Oftentimes, they have silicone that coats the hair after only a couple times use. In the long run, this tends to make things worse.
  • If you are used to a blow dryer, use a leave- in conditioner. It is designed to protect your hair when blow drying. It’s a good idea to give your hair a break during the summer months, if you normally blow dry and use hot curling tools every day.
    Either take time out from curling or consider letting your hair air dry. Alternately, you could leave your hair braided when wet. It will air dry into beautiful waves.
  • Should you suddenly visit the beach without a hat, use skin sunscreen lotion.
    When you get home just use a deep-cleansing shampoo. While it is not be the best solution, it will definitely save your hair from sun damage.
  • For hair that is exposed to the sun, ideally you should dab a good deep conditioner or good jojoba oil on the ends and frizziest parts of your hair at nights or over the weekend.
  • Sleep with your hair pinned up or wrapped it in plastic. This will help restore absent moisture that adds to the frizz.

    It also helps prevent heavy conditioners from overloading your hair as the conditioner will be localized only on the trouble spots.
  • Prevent static electricity in your hair when you shampoo by applying a rinse out conditioner that adds moisture and shine. Alternatively apply a "leave-in" conditioner after towel drying hair.
  • When the summer heat is hottest wear your hair up in a knot, bun or braids.
  • Hair products that promise to replenish are designed to add moisture. These are, ideally, designed to add body and shine to your hair. Then again, they might or might not add moisture. See that you read all ingredients on the hair product pack.

 Reference :- http://www.hair-n-skin-care.com/

Also have a look on be smart look smart, makeup in five minutes, office makeup, party makeup.


Hair Care with the help of ayurveda

The structure of hair is like the scales on the skin of a fish that has overlapping scales around a central core called the cortical. Smoother overlapping more shiny and smooth the hair looks. This also leads to easy combing while a tangled or roughed-up structure makes the hair look rough and dull.

Diet and lifestyle are two major factors that influence the health of the hair. Poor diet, illness and deficiencies of any particular vitamin and mineral affects the quality of hair and problems like dandruff, thinning hair, balding, premature graying etc. spoil the hair.

In an individual the condition of the hair is a reflection of the complete constitution of him. If the person is not healthy then the health of the hair will be deplorable.

Example: If a person has vata constitution, the hairs are dark, dry, coarse, wiry or frizzy and tend to tangle easily, are prone to dullness, split ends and dandruff. The constitution comprising of Pitta has hair that is light brown, blonde or red and tend to grow gray or thin prematurely and are fine and silky with a tendency to become oily. Hairs are thick, wavy and shiny if the composition is of kapha.

Regularly cleaning and brushing the hair is very important. When the hairs are brushed, oil-producing glands in the scalp get stimulated. This natural oil makes the hair glossy and healthy. To give extra shine to the hair, after washing rinse the hair with some lemon juice mixed in a cup of warm water.

Some common hair related problems are as follows:

Dandruff

Dry skin flaking off the scalp and itchiness is referred to as dandruff. The aggravation of Vata generally causes this dryness.

Remedies

  • Add 1 teaspoon of camphor to half a cup of coconut or neem oil. Store it in glass container. Dosage: Massage this oil into the scalp before bed.
  • Mix 1 teaspoon of castor, mustard and coconut oil each and massage into the scalp.
  • Mix one part of lemon juice with two parts of coconut oil. Massage into the roots of the hair regularly.

Dosage: Wash with warm water after three to four hours or leave overnight.

Hair loss

when the amount of hair lost grows higher than the normal hair fall that takes place due to the change in environment, increasing age or growth of new hairs, it is referred to as hair loss problem that needs special care. Improper or poor diet, exposure to a lot of chemicals or cosmetics, hormonal imbalance, stress, anxiety and mental tension are some causes of hair loss.

Remedies

  • Massage the scalp gently with coconut or almond oil daily for 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Boil neem leaves in water. Cool, strain and rinse hair with it.
  • Increase green leafy vegetables, salads, milk, fruits and sprouts in the diet. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, soya beans, whole grains and nuts.

Premature graying of hair

Graying of hair is a natural process that happens with increasing age, but if the hair starts graying before the age of 35, it is termed as premature graying that occurs due to the aggravation of Pitta dosha. Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meat, fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour, and acidic foods increases pitta and leads to graying prematurely.

Remedies

  • Apply a paste made from 2-Tsp. henna powder, 1-tsp. curd, 1-tsp. fenugreek seed powder, 1 tbsp. coffee, 2-tbsp. mint juice and 2-tbsp. basil juice. Apply this paste to the hair for two hours. For a darker color, leave this paste in for 3 to 4 hours. Wash hair with any natural shampoo.
  • Grate some fresh ginger. Mix with honey and place it in a jar. Eat 1 tea spoon everyday.

Itchy scalp

Aggravation of Pitta dosha, stress, allergic reaction to shampoo, air conditioning, pollution and central heating lead to an itchy and red scalp, with tiny pimples or sores, dull and dry hair.

Remedies

  • Add 1 teaspoon of camphor to half a cup of coconut oil and store it in glass container.

Dosage: Massage this oil into the scalp before bed.

Grind some jasmine roots with lime juice. Wash the hair and scalp with it. The causes for these hair conditions are as follows:

  • Excess of Pitta dosha in the body is the chief cause of hair problems.
  • Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meats and excessive smoking.
  • Eating too much fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour and acidic foods.
  • Intake of too many chemical medicines, low blood circulation, anemia, general weakness after disease, stress, anxiety and mental tension.
  • Chronic diseases like typhoid fever, presence of dandruff or lice and hormonal imbalance.

Treatment

  • Use natural shampoo or soap to clean the hair.
  • Use amla (embilica officinalis), Shikakai (Acacia concinna) for washing the hair.
  • Enhance oiling and massaging of scalp.
  • Use coconut oil or mustard oil at least three times in a week.
  • Use medicated oils like 'Mahabhringraj oil', 'Amala oil' and 'Arnica oil'. Put oil on the scalp and massage gently in the roots of the hair.
  • Maintain a regular bowel movement everyday.
  • The diet should contain more green leafy vegetables, salads, milk, fruits and sprouts. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, soybean and vitamin A.
  • Do regular physical exercise.
  • A special Ayurvedic preparation made from Bhringraj (Eclipta elba), Amala, corals, iron and black sesame seeds is very useful and even stops the graying of hair.
  • Rub the scalp vigorously after washing the hair. It increases the blood circulation, and activates the sebaceous glands.
  • A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice is good to drink to induce hair growth. The juice of alfalfa mixed with that of carrot, and lettuce juice is also good to take.
  • Daily application of coconut oil mixed with lime- juice on the hair is also beneficial. Applying juice of green coriander leaves on the head is also good.
  • Washing the hair with a paste of cooked Urad dal (black beans) and fenugreek (methi) 2-3 times a week.
  • A paste of licorice made by grinding it in milk can be applied in the bald patches. It induces hair growth. A paste of seeds of lemon and black pepper may also be applied on the bald patches.

Reference:- http://www.ayurveda-herbal-remedy.com
A human being has different types of hair such as oily, dry and normal hair. Each type of hair needs to be given extra care with the natural hair care tips which find a mention in the site.
Not many of us know how important is hair conditioning. The different home care remedies may be tedious, but can get you results which are highly recommended. The reasons for extreme hair fall can be due to dandruff, improper hair care, being out in the sun for a long time and umpteen reasons if we sit and think about. Know about various hair care recipes to prevent such a catastrophe. There are tips on the dos and donts on taking care of hair which are bound to be useful at some point in life.


Hair Loss:

Hair loss afflicts millions of people, and not just men, though their hair loss is often the most noticeable. Most women, too, experience some degree of hair loss as they grow older.
Baldness or loss of hair is referred to as alopecia. Alopecia to-talis means loss of all the scalp hair. Alopecia universalis means loss of all body hair, including eyebrows and eyelashes. If hair falls out in patches, it is termed alopecia areata. This condition is usually temporary and rarely leads to baldness.
Factors that are involved in hair loss include heredity, hormones, aging and diet.
Studies have shown that Americans have the greatest incidence of baldness of any people. This is understandable since hair loss is tied to high-fat, high-protein diets, which damage the kidneys and create acidic blood. Meat and dairy, besides being high in fat and protein, are also generally considered “sweet” in Oriental medicine. Considering the additional sweets, desserts, and sugar-laced foods and drinks in which Americans indulge, we can see that the sweet flavor dominates the typical diet. The Inner Classic cautions that too much sweet-flavored food makes the head hair fall out. A further caution from this ancient text: “Too much salt damages the blood (and therefore the hair).” Salt is prevalent in the American diet, nearly all of it highly refined.

The 6 main types of food to avoid:

  1. Coffee and tea
  2. Sweetened foods and drinks (especially Coke)
  3. High consumption of alcohol
  4. Fatty foods
  5. High-protein diet
  6. Salty foods

If you are experiencing hair loss, have a hair analysis done to uncover any nutritional deficiencies or toxic metal contamination. As hair is formed, available minerals and amino acids circulating in the blood are laid down in the hair. A hair analysis can therefore provide a picture of your mineral status and pick up any exposure to toxic metals. You should also consult your physician to check for an underlying health problem, such as hypothyroidism or infection.

Good Hair Food

Feed the roots of the hairs with a balanced diet, rich in Proteins, Iron and Vitamin B. Foods such as fibers, sprouts, eggs, fish and liver will make your hair roots stronger. Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables and low in starch. This may help to slow down the process of hair loss. Fruits and vegetables contain flavonoids, many of which are antioxidants that may provide protection for the hair follicles and encourage hair growth.


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