Friday, March 16, 2007

HAIR TYPES

In order to determine your hair type , check it out by performing a simple test.

On the second day afer the wash, simply dab a tissue on your scalp . If you have oily hair then the tissue will leave an oil blot and if you have
normal hair then the tissue shows nothing and it is dry, the strands stick to each other

Dry hair

The hair has a moisture content of approximately 10% tends to be limp,looks flat and lacks volume .This kind of hair are difficult to manage and have lot of problems associated with it. It does not hold a style .You will know all about the way in which greasy hair clings to itself and to your scalp, how the excess oil weighs the hair down and spoils your style, and how dust sticks to the grease so that your hair seems to be dirty only a day or two after it has been washed.

You know that your hair's condition is due simply to your sebaceous glands being particularly active. But you can help it to improve. Remember, sebum produced by your scalp does not spread itself over your hair by magic, or out of spite!

It is spread by direct contact of the hair with your scalp. And something as simple as passing your fingers through your hair speeds up the transfer of the grease. So, after you have styled your hair, avoid fingering it or running your fingers through it.

You can thus slow down the rate at which sebum collects on your hair, and it will not get greasy again quite so soon. You should also wash your hair with, and use a special conditioner for greasy hair. This will improve the feel of hair that is greasy at the roots and dry at the tips, as well as protecting the hair from .

The oil glands are not active and all the moisture in the hair evaporates and the hair is extremely dry and fragile and more prone to damage.Thus your hair dry or brittle and unmanageable with split ends.

Exposure to Sun, salt and chlorinated water snatches all the moisture is drawn from the hair resulting in frizzy,dry hair. Thus dry hair neds great care and using harsh shampoo and chemical treatment can cause exceesive damage to dry hair.

Dry hair should be washed less frequently and that too with use a mild shampoo and a good cleansing shampoo specially designed for greasy hair as the chemicals present in harsh shamposs can cause furthervdrying of the scalp . Always use a cream conditioner afterwards.

Never brush too hard and alwsys comb it gently as dry hair is brittle and fragile. Also avoid the use of electric curlers and hair. Heat, open cuticles and harsh chemicals ans lastly poor care are majorcauses of dry hair. Massage well atlesat once a week and it is adviced to take a healthy and nutritious diet especially rich in zinc.

Oily hair
Here the oil gland is overactive resulting in over secretion of oil and trhus the oil is oily, greasy, or stringy .It is also accompanied with oily skin. Oliy hair can be made drier by getting it it permed or tinted . Oily hair is recognized easily as it looks more oily and greasy, the scalp and hair gets too oily and even after shampooing it attracts more dirt.
The oily hair should be washed as frequently as you like depending from indivisual to indivisual and no conditioner is required for oily hair. For best results oily hairshould be rinsed out with lemon andwith oils and shampoos rich in neem and henna.
Its is very wrong to say that oily hair does not need a head massage. Infact head massage Is necessary once to maintain the pH level of the scalp. Oily foods should be avoided and more stress should be given on green leafy vegetables

Normal hair

This is the most ideal hair because it is neither too oily nor too dry or greasy. Normal hair is shining and can hold style really well. It is well balanced ,does not dry out and is not permed or color-treated . Thus normal hair looks been permed or color-treated

Dandruff-Treatment


Causes of dandruff
Internal causes of dandruff

1. Hormonal imbalance

2. Allergic Hypersensitive

3. Lack of rest and fatigue

4. Improper nutrition and intake of fried foods and aerated drinks, fats, sugars, salts, choclates, sea food nad peanuts and lastly dairy products

5. Stress, anxiety and tension.

External causes of dandruff

1. Frequent use of hair sprays and gels

2. Use of mousse, hairspray and instruments such as heated hair straighteners

3. Infrequent shampooing of the hair or inadequate rinsing of the scalp can cause dandruff problems.

4. Cold weather and dry indoor heating.

5. Tight fitting hats and scarves.

6. Extreme weather, oily skin and use of lotions that contain alcohol may increase the chances of dandruff

Main cause of dandruff

The cause of dandruff is usually a fungus called Pityrosporum ovale (P. ovale) which is a naturally occurring yeast-like organism found on the scalp and other parts of human skin. The fungus is found most on skin areas with plenty of sebaceous glands: on the scalp, face and upper part of the body and gruadally P.ovale fungus tends to concentrate on the scalp where a large number of sebaceous glands can be found. These are the glands that produce your skin's natural oil, called sebum, which contributes to the growth of the P. ovale fungus.

As the fungus grows in size and numbers, it results in dandruff.

Treatment and cure for dandruff

1. A compound called selenium, found in several shampoo products, is highly effective in controlling dandruff.

2. Zinc - Zinc in the form of zinc pyrithione is also present in lot of anti-dandruff shampoos used for curing dandruff.

3. Zinc vitamin supplement taken daily is excellent for the skin and hair.

4. Dandruff can be also be due to nutritional deficiencies. So, we should have a balanced diet containing amounts of vitamins A, B6, B12, F and selenium in their diet.

5. Brush your hair regularly to loosen flakes and stimulate blood supply to the scalp. .

6. Regular washing will help to control the pH balance of the skin and limit the risk of dandruff

7. Nizorelle Dandruff Control Shampoos are very effective in curing dandruff

DANDRUFF

SIMPLE METHODS OF HAIRCARE

An effective hair care discipline involves cleansing, toning , conditioning and oiling routines carried out in a systematic fashion.
Cleansing of hair

Regular shampooing of hair frees it from dirt, thus cleansing it and giving it the much desired shiny look. But shampoos must be selected cautiously, according to your hair type- normal,oily or dry. For a specific hair type, a specific shampoo has to be used. But always remember to use a good shampoo or a mild shampoo .A harsh shampoo or soap can cause a great deal of damage to your tressers.

Lemon ensures dandruff free and absolutely clean hair. They key to beautiful hair is a clean scalp.

1. Squeezed lemons can be soaked overnight and the water can then be used to clean the hair.

2. Rub lemom juice all over your scalp and leave for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse off.

3. Mix equal quantities of onion and lemon juice and apply to your hair before shampoo.

Toning of hair

Gentle massage of the hair leads to hair toning. It helps to stimulate the blood circulation leading to a healthy growth.

1. AMLA is a known hair tonic and a hair nourisher. It also promotes hair pigmentation, which makes the hair look dark. Soak amla in water overnight. Use this water to rinse hair.

2. Mix equal amounts of dried shikakai, amla and ritha and powder them. They can either be mixed and then powdered or powdered first and then mixed together. Soak 2-3 handfuls of this mixture over night in some water. It should not be too thin. Next day sieve it and use it to wash hair. It also promotes hair growth and prevents dandruff.

Conditioning of hair

It is the most vital part of hair care. It aims at correcting the imbalance, caused due to harsh cleansing, sun or application of harsh chemicals such as hair lotions. After shampooing your hair, apply a good conditioner. A leave- in conditioner forms a coating on the hair preventing dirt and pollution from setting down in the process.

  • Amla, shikaki powder mixed with curd is a good conditioner and should be made use of.
  • Egg is a natural conditioner and gives bounce and shine to the hair
  • Lemon acts as a natural conditioner and used to make hair more silky and add shine to it .
  • BEER You can simply apply flat beer before washing hair. It helps in toning and conditioning the hair. It adds bounce and shine to the hair making it silky and shiny. Try it because it really works !

Oiling of hair

Oiling at least once a week is necessary which improves the quality of your hair. It strengthens the hair roots, removes dryness in hair, gets rid of dandruff and repairs hair damage. The application of oil also facilitates the message which helps in the circulation of the blood. This inturn is responsible for good hair

  • Boil some dried amla pieces in coconut oil for a few minutes. Cool and sieve. Massage hair regulaly with this oil for thick and lustrous hair.It also works as a hair tonic for enriching hair growth and prevent hair loss
  • Massaging with aroma oils once a week reduces hairfall and makes them soft and silky. Rosemary oil and titri oil can also be used.
Donts

Say goodbye to dryness. Shift to gels, pomades and creams. spray -on styling products leave the hair dry. As such, you should go in for gels and creams, even hair wax. They add to the moisture content of your mane. Hair will never appear rude again.

Remember

Frequent application of henna further dries your hair, but application before a dance party or any other function will help keep hair soft and shiny .

Don't use a blow-dry too frequently. It makes the hair weak and makes it too dry.