Friday, June 1, 2007

Fuzzy Frizzy Hair

First let’s look at what causes fuzzy frizzy hair. The most obvious is, blow-drying your hair. If you need to use a blow dryer, try and keep it to a minimum. “Inexpensive” hair care products will make any hair frizzy. You’ve heard the term, “you get what you pay for”. Chemical damage and/or chlorine, are also major cause of fuzzy frizzy hair.

If you are blessed with naturally curly hair, then unfortunately, you know about"fuzzy frizzy hair". A simple solution would be to use hair pomade. There are oils in the ingredients that will help manage fuzzy frizzy hair. Apply some pomade in your hand with a bit of water, then lightly finger it through your hair. Make sure not to get it directly on your scalp to avoid that “greasy” look. Pomades come in different consistencies, so experiment with a few until you find what works best for you.

Chemical damage is a reality of perms and colors. This kind a damaged hair may give the appearance of frizz. A deep conditioning treatment with colors or perms is recommended. Make sure the conditioner is not oil-based. You can also try a gel or pomade.

You might have hair that is coarse (which is different from thick). If this is the case, then chances are it’s dry and frizzy. A hot iron will do the trick. For the curls, use a curling iron, for straight hair use a straight iron. Think of your hair as clothes, when they’re ironed they become smooth and shiny.

Try and rinse with the coldest water you can stand. The cold water "locks down" the hair cuticle and makes hair appear slicker, less frizzy.

Blow-dry carefully, it is worth it. Using a big round brush will allow you to smooth your hair as you dry. Always blow-dry in a downward motion. Avoid just “running” the blow dryer all of the hair, as this will cause the cuticle to frizz and split. Work on one section at a time.

Shampooing your hair on a daily basis is known to cause your hair to frizz. Try and hold yourself to twice a week. You may still apply a conditioner on a daily basis.
Depending on how dry your hair is, you may wish to use a leave in conditioner. If you have fine or thin hair, keep in mind using a leave in conditioner may weigh your hair down.

From Straight To Curly

To go from straight to curly, there are a number of techniques you can use to achieve the look you’re after. The most obvious solution would be to go to a professional hair salon and get your hair professionally permed. Remember this is a permanent solution and might not be what you’re looking for. You can easily do it yourself in the comfort of your own home. The result can be just as good and will last until you wash it out.

To go from straight to curly, make sure you start with your hair clean and damp. You will want to apply a meager amount of a top quality mouse or gel. You may also consider a curl-creating styling product. There are many different ways you can go from here depending on the desired effect you are looking for.

The shaggy looking curl is very popular these days. For this look, blow-dry your hair with your head upside down, while crimping it up in the palm of your hand. Once completely dry, finish it off by applying a subtle amount of hair spray.

To attain a more gentle curl, good old fashion rollers are the answer. Blow-dry you hair leaving it slightly damp, then separate the hair and roll each section onto the roller and secure. There are various size rollers you may use; depending on the size of the curl you are looking for. Smaller rollers will offer a tighter curl.
A general rule would be to use smaller rollers in the front around your face and bigger ones in the back. Try and keep the area in the front slightly tighter as this tends to be the first to lose its curl. Let the hair dry naturally with the rollers still in place. If desired, you may blow-dry on low but be careful not to blow out the curls. Remember, blow-drying your hair can create a more frizzy effect, so if possible, let your hair dry naturally in the rollers. After completely dried, remove rollers and apply a bit of hair shining product or lightweight wax. At this point, you may either separate the curls with your fingers to create many more, or simply leave the curls that the rollers have formed. A holding spray is suggested to assure the curls to not come undone.

Dry-Itchy-Scalp

Below you will find a few tips on how to prevent and treat dry-itchy- scalp. If you find yourself scratching at your head for over a week, either contact your stylist or see a dermatologist.

Your shampoo is the first place to look. We all tend to rely on our favorite one to do the trick. However, as your hair changes, so should your shampoo. If you have taken proper care of your hair and it’s healthy and shiny, then a light-shampoo is right for you. If you have coloring in your hair, try a color seal shampoo. All of the leading hair care companies carry some sort of moisturizing shampoo, which is a good preventative treatment to dry-itchy- scalp. Using a moisturizing conditioner will also help keep you from dry-itchy-scalp and is a necessity if you blow-dry your hair often.

A major cause of dry-itchy-scalp is the excessive use of hair sprays or styling products. They may cause some build up on your scalp. Check the label of your shampoo to make sure it’s a cleaning or cleansing shampoo. These are perfect for getting rid of build-up and keeping your hair clean. The reason for using these kinds of shampoos to rid of all the build-up, is so that your conditioner can get to your scalp. Since your scalp is where the dry, itchiness comes from.
Avoid using a cleansing shampoo if you have just colored your hair, as this will definitely speed up the fading processes. Unless that’s what you want. If you do have a fresh color in your hair, then a moisturizing shampoo is best.

It is important to remember that our scalp is just like the rest of the skin on our bodies. It is recommended that you shampoo at least two to three times a week, depending on your daily activities. Thorough scrubbing of your scalp with your fingertips will loosen the oils and debris as well as prevent dry-itchy- scalp.

Dry Damaged Hair

There are many things that may cause dry damaged hair.
Believe it or not, it’s your daily routine that could be what's drying up and damaging your hair.

A few of the obvious culprits…

• Heat (irons, blow drying, curlers, heat lamps, etc.)
• U.V. Rays (Sun, lights, tanning beds)
• Mechanical Devices (combs, brushes, curling irons, etc.)
• Chemicals (color, perms, relaxers, pool chemicals, etc.)
• Poor Diet (specifically-lack of proteins and essential fatty acids).

Prevention…

There are a number of things one can do to help prevent dry damaged hair.

• Use a “Thermal Protector” when apply heat to the hair.
• Avoid completely blow-drying your hair. Leave a little bit of moisture in.
• Stick with conditioners that include U.V. protectors in their ingredients.
• Use a wide toothed comb, never a brush, on wet or damp hair.
• When brushing dry hair, always start at the ends and work your way up.
• Thoroughly wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo and conditioner after a swim.
• If you do have to blow-dry your hair, try not to keep it at the hottest setting. Medium to cool setting is safer.
• Avoid perms and coloring, as well as relaxers. These treatments cause dry damaged hair. However, if you must color or perm your hair, discuss your options with your stylist. Try to use a low ammonia-low peroxide color. Do not leave the neutralizer on too long with perms. Maybe they can use a mild solution. Oh yeah, try and keep it to a minimum, your hair will thank you.
• Eat healthy! Besides for the obvious reasons, protein enriched foods such as, chicken, fish, and nuts, are great for healthy hair too.

Solutions for Dry Damaged Hair…

It's never too late to start. Stimulating dry damaged hair and restoring it to a more healthy state, is not going to happen over night.
Assistance from your stylist and an optimistic attitude is what’s going to bring your hair back to life!

• Hair supplements will give your hair the vitamins it needs to heal.
• In most cases, if you have dry damaged hair, you need to visit your stylist for a cut. Getting trims on a routinely basis is the best way to rid you of damaged hair. For long hair, cut the ends every 2-3 weeks to remove and prevent split ends.
• Shampoo and Conditioner. A mild shampoo and conditioner is best when your hair is damaged. Ingredients like Vitamin B5, protein extracts, such as, collagen and amino acids are known to diffuse hair and improve moisture.
• Avoid anything that may heat up your hair when it is already damaged. However the reality is, it’s hard to do. So, if you must, use a diffuser. Stay on the lowest setting possible as well. If you need to curl your hair, avoid hot rollers. A curling iron is better for dry damaged hair.
• Gently brush your hair. Brushes should have widely spaced bristles to prevent dry damaged hair. Use a brush with bristles that are smooth, ball-tipped, coarse and bendable.
• Use acidifiers. They close the cuticle down and lock in moisture.
• Use a low pH shampoo to keep the moisture in.
• Deep protein conditioning helps in adding strength to the hair shaft.

In today’s fast paced world, it is impossible to avoid the use of damaging treatments and harsh chemicals in your hair. With the right consistent care and treatments, you can keep your hair happy, healthy and shiny.

Dandruff Control

Dandruff, it’s not the end of the world. It’s a scalp disease that can definitely be cured. It is known that some forms of dandruff may cause sever itching. As much as we want to scratch with our nails, don’t, this may cause further bacterial infection and may lead to more serious problems.

A gentle head massage is very effective at dislodging the dandruff flakes. Using hot oils to massage the scalp will help in this regard. A proven home remedy would be to apply heated pure coconut oil or olive oil to the scalp. Leave the oils in your hair overnight, washing them out the next morning.

Herbal treatments have proved to be very effective in controlling the infection of dandruff. Not to worry, these kinds of herbs are harmless to your beautiful hair.

It has been proven that using a natural product such as Henna, helps to manage dandruff. It is known to condition, restore and help hair growth. As there are different qualities of Henna, be sure and choose wisely.

After an episode, make sure to thoroughly clean everything that comes in contact with your hair. Towels, combs, hair and pillowcases will hold the bacteria; so don’t take any chances of re-infection. You should soak any brushes or combs in warm water and a bit of antiseptic lotion. After cleaning your hair, apply an anti dandruff lotion which contains the extracts of mint, Alma and other natural ingredients.

African American Hair Care

Hair Care Basics…

African American hair grows from the roots, and out of the opening. You should picture your hair as a collection of fine fibers. The slightest neglect, will make it difficult for you to take care of your hair. You should treat it as gently as possible.

The African American hairs are essentially made of keratin, a protein made up of amino acids, which needs to be nourished from the inside- out.
The hair will also tend to be dryer and more prone to breakage than Caucasian hair. This is due to its structure that makes it more difficult for the oils to work their way down from the scalp to the ends of the hair. Relaxers are an essential part of African American hair care, unfortunately, they weakened the hair and decrease the capability for the scalp to naturally oil itself.

Since African American hair is kinky, it tends to tangle much more than other hair types. These tangles may cause breakage if not handled properly. A simple rule to follow is to always gently comb from the bottom upwards and never aggressively attack the tangles, as this will guarantee your hair to break.

Using the right hair products is crucial. There are plenty of quality high-end African American hair care products to choose from. Try and avoid just going to your local convenience store and grabbing anything off the shelf. Your stylist should be able to suggest which brand will work for you.


A few suggestions at managing your hair…

• Excessively combing your hair will certainly lead to breakage.
• When braiding your hair, avoid pulling it so tight.
• Hair straighteners and hot combs work wonders when used in moderation.

• Use hair oil to moisturize your curls.
• Trim your hair every 4-6 weeks.
• Shampoo no more than 1-2 times a week, as washing your hair will dry it out. Always apply a moisturizing cream after washing your hair.

• By wearing either a satin or silk scarf to sleep, you will help prevent hair from tangling, drying or frizzing, as well as reducing the chance of breakage.

• Always use a leave-in conditioner after washing your hair.
• Comb your hair out while you're conditioning it. This will help to relieve the pain and remove the tangles while it's wet.

• Shea butter is an excellent way to oil your scalp on a daily basis.
• Do a deep conditioner or hot oil treatment once a month.
• Avoid heat on your hair as much as possible. Heat, together with perms and relaxers are very damaging to hair.

• Always remember to wait until your hair is completely dry before you apply any relaxers.