Hair care tips

Brush your hair regularly before going to bed each night. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Use very little but enough to cover

hair completely with lather. Use a conditioner to keep hair manageable. Avoid brushing wet hair. This will cause the hair to stretch and

finally break. Finger-dry, or use a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush to gently remove the knots.
Restrict blow-drying your hair. The process of blow-drying is harsh on hair as it robs it of moisture.
Avoid dyes. Use mehandi (henna) instead as a conditioner and colouring agent. Take a calcium supplement or drink two glasses of milk a day.
Always hold hair dryer away from your hair. Direct air from the hair dryer down hair shaft and not directly into the roots and keep it

moving. After a perm, never brush your hair. Instead comb hair gently. Trim your hair once in 7 weeks to avoid split ends.
Avoid pulling back your hair tightly. Never use a rubber band on your hair as it can pull and damage hair

considerably. Never go out in the sun without having your head covered. Stimulate circulation by massaging your head with oil to which some

vitamin E has been added. This will make hair soft and silky. Never wash your hair with very hot or very cold water.
Learn to relax. Hair loss can happen because of stress. Eat foods that are rich in vitamin B, C and E. Add iron and minerals in the natural form in your diet. If your hair is oily, cut down on fried food and fat. Drink plenty of water

Dry Hair

Dry hair is due to inactive oil glands. It is also caused by other factors like over exposure to the sun, using harsh shampoo and chemical

treatment. Accumulated oil, block the pores not allowing the oil to flow on to the surface. This is another reason for dry hair. Dry hair

would need plenty of nourishment.

Massage well with a warm herbal oil at least twice a week. Follow a diet rich in zinc. Use a mild shampoo and avoid harsh ones since the

chemicals in them can strip hair of its outer protein layer, further drying the scalp. Do not use electric curlers and hair dryers.

Oily Hair
This is usually accompanied with oily skin. This is due to the over secretion of oil. Hence the scalp and hair gets too oily. Oily hair is

easily recognizable. It looks greasy even after shampooing and and attracts more dirt. The oily hair needs to be washed every third or fourth day or even more frequently depending on individual comfort and rinsed out with lemon. Use oils and shampoos rich in neem and henna. A head massage with a herbal oil helps maintain the pH level of the scalp. Avoid oily foods and binge on green leafy vegetables and fruits.

To figure out your hair type:

Dab a tissue on your scalp the second day after wash. If it has an oil blot, you have normal hair. If the tissue shows nothing, it is dry. If strands stick to each other then it is greasy hair .


Balanced or Normal Hair

This is the most ideal hair. It is shining, well balanced and does not dry out. To maintain this ideal condition a well balanced diet and proper care is essential.

SHAMPOOING

To shampoo is to wash, cleanse or remove all dirt or other impurities from the scalp and hair by the process of shampooing. The selection of

the shampoo should depend upon the hair type. Egg shampoo is good for dry hair but avoid products which contain alcohol as they will dry out

the hair even further. For oily hair use some mild shampoo. Care should be taken while using shampoo. Do not scrub or over massage. It is

better to rinse thoroughly with Luke warm water. If the hair is too oily, add lemon juice in Luke warm water and rinse.
Shampooing can be done as often (ideally every alternate day) as required to keep the hair clean and healthy, as long as you condition

regularly. Switch shampoos once a month to avoid hair buildup.

Method of Shampooing

Prepare the hair for shampooing. Before wetting your hair for shampooing, comb through with a wide toothed comb to prevent tangles.

Mix and adjust the water flow. Mix the water to a comfortable temperature. Wet the hair and scalp thoroughly. Apply the shampoo to

the hair by first pouring it into your hand and never directly. Apply with the hands and fingers, massage firmly in rotating and circular

movements. Massage the whole head. Rinse the hair and scalp thoroughly and carefully. Apply more shampoo and massage for the second time if needed, finally rinse all shampoo from the hair and scalp with clean water. Finally check the hair lines and make sure that the dirt and

shampoo has been removed from hair and scalp. Dry the hair gently. Don't rub just blot the wet hair with a towel and then smooth the towel along the length of your hair. Avoid blow drying as far as possible. If you shampoo regularly there is no need to lather twice.

CONDITIONING

All types of hair have to be conditioned to keep it shiny and flexible. Conditioning is specially useful for dry hair. It adds to the natural oil supply and gives dry hair, shine as well as bounce and strength. For oily hair, use conditioner only on the ends of your hair .

Method of Conditioning

After shampooing gently squeeze the excess water. Comb the hair with the fingers or with wide toothed comb from the roots to the ends gently. Remove tangles. Apply little conditioner and rub the conditioner through the hair with

the fingers. Never rub on the scalp. Keep it on the hair for 5 minutes Now gently massage the hair to loosen the conditioner. Rinse the hair and remove all traces of conditioner. Now dry the hair.

Conditioners used for different types of Hair


Damaged hair - Protein Conditioner
Dry hair - Moisturising or Intensive Conditioner
Oily hair - Any normal (oil free) conditioner

Purpose of Conditioning

The key to beautiful hair is a beautiful scalp. If it is kept clean and normal balances are maintained it performs its functions well. Each hair is made up of a very delicate fibers.Conditioning is a way of giving the hair a more intense kind of nourishing treatment. It helps to protect hair from counter acting dryness, making it smooth and easier to manage.
Treatments with conditioners helps to correct the effects of poor hair care. Henna is a good conditioner. Treatment with henna is good for the hair.

Source : http://www.webindia123.com/women/Beauty/Hair/care.htm

Hair Spa

Hair spa is really a big trend now! It is one of the best treatments for hair…Hair Spa is basically an advanced method of deep conditioning. Earlier, there used to be mainly scalp massages with oil which later advanced to special aroma oil massages.

Hair Straightening Tips

Just like people go into great lengths to get their hair permed due to various reasons, similarly people with naturally curly hair go into great lengths to get their hair straightened. Amazingly on some faces, straight hair appear lifeless and on some faces, curly hair looks ugly and untidy. Therefore, straightening is equally well practiced as permanent waving. The common link between the two changes is their
chemical involvement.

The practice of hair straightening involves two major steps:

It breaks the S (Sulphur) bonds and the N (Nitrogen) bonds in the cortex during the processing time which softens the hair. The use of neutralizer works as a fixative which is necessary to restore the N and S bonds to rejoin the hair and make the hair acquire the desired straightness. Due to the chemical involvement, the hair may get damaged. To avoid that, the first step should be to analyses the hair texture accurately.

The chemicals should never be allowed to penetrate the scalp. Therefore, it should be understood that the new growth at the scalp would acquire the original curly nature. Since the maximum hair growth in a month is of about 3/4 of an inch, you needs to do hair straightened again. Straightening is the reverse of permanent waving, that means, in this process, you make the curly hair straight by using chemical straighteners. We should be very careful while using these chemicals because sometimes it goes wrong and the client may start losing hair, so always consult your client before you start.

Points to remember before hair straightening

Texture of the hair.
Length of the hair.
Procedure of hair straightening
Shampoo the hair; conditioner can be used if the hair is chemically treated or damaged. Make straightening gel by mixing white flour (maida), perm lotion and

conditioner to avoid dryness.
Start from the back by taking horizontal sections.
Make sure that the hair is tangle free and neat before you start putting the file board. Heavier the hair, smaller should be the section.
Put gel on the board and comb it through. Gel should not touch the scalp.
Leave the gel on for 10 to 40 minutes depending on the texture. Rinse it well by using pressure water for 10 to 40 minutes.
The board will come out automatically with the pressure of the water.
After rinsing, comb the hair straight and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes.
Put the neutralizer on the hair for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse the neutralizer; use conditioner and comb it.
Always go for a cut after straightening to make the hair even. Always cut the hair at 0° angle to avoid layers. Straight cut is recommended for a much neater and healthier look. This straightening procedure is safe on the hair as there is no pulling.

Post care for hair straightening

Have a cut once a month or once in two months. Have a hot oil treatment done once a month. Use a serum is a must to avoid split ends and to provide shine to the hair.


This later moved a step ahead with deep conditioning treatments for the hair.
A spa rises above all these treatments and proves to be the one of the most effective and intense treatment for any and every hair problem that you may face.

For hair problems

A spa is an excellent treatment for dry, damaged and porous hair. Your hair can be dry and damaged because of some chemical treatment it may have undergone, like rebonding, perming, colouring or because of exposure to strong detergents and use of wrong products, or because of being exposed to pollution and hard water or maybe just because of sheer neglect and lack of care. It is time you start a spa and you will see how the texture changes over a short period of time.

For people suffering from hair loss and dandruff, spa is an excellent treatment. These conditions can occur in us due to stress, hormonal changes, change in climatic conditions, keeping unwell etc. Spa has excellent treatments to keep dandruff and hair fall in control and in hair fall cases it also gives a lot of new growth if done regularly over a period of time.

For people who feel that their hair lacks strength and volume. The texture of a person's hair can't be changed…if one has soft, fine hair it will not become coarse, but spa helps in building the strength of each hair follicle giving the hair a stronger and a more bouncy look.

People with a very sensitive and itchy scalp which maybe sensitized due to over exposure to chemicals and strong detergents or changes in climatic conditions also will benefit a lot from hair spa. A very oily and greasy scalp which tends to become oily within the same evening of one's washing the hair can also be helped by hair spa.

Benefits of Hair Spa

Deep conditioning Hair Spa treatment is designed to strengthen the hair follicles, nourish the roots & revitalise the scalp that leads to natural hair rebirth.
It helps to normalise oil secretions. It increases cell metabolism and stimulates blood circulation. It eliminates impurities inside pores and repairs damaged hair.

This treatment works like silken fingers that work their magic on the roots of your hair. It helps to coax away the knotted harshness from your hair. Spa is a rehydrating therapy that restores vital oils and moisture for a smooth, sensuous glow that begins at the roots.

Procedure

Normally the hair spa starts with a specific spa shampoo (depending on the hair condition) which is massaged in a specific way for about 10 minutes. This is followed by a deep conditioning masque application and massage for 20-25 minutes.

The spa cream is applied in a neat method to cover every strand of the hair and the massage is very delicate and relaxing. It rejuvenates and de-stresses you completely. The spa massage is followed by steam for about 5 minutes to just penetrate the product better. The whole duration of spa should be roughly about 40-50 minutes.

There is no age limit as such for a spa. You can start as young as 14-15 because that is the age at which dandruff and hair fall problems can start. You can do a spa even as often as a week if you want to…ideally once in 2 weeks. Spa treatments roughly should cost in the range of Rs 700-1000 depending on the length, treatment and thickness of the hair.

source : http://www.bestincosmetics.com/hair/hair-straightening.htm

Hair Coloring

Expert beauty consultants predict that the trend in hair colors is moving away from dramatic color and back towards more natural colors and highlighting techniques. Yet, not everyone wants to blend into the crowd. Make your personality your first consideration in choosing a hair color or hair coloring technique that’s a perfect fit for you.

Are you sweet or saucy?
Do you like to stay “in style” with the season or are you a rebel?
Are you after the avant-garde or do you prefer traditional hair colors and techniques?
Are you comfortable in the spotlight or would you rather sit in the
audience?
What hair color or technique really catches your eye and do you want to
be caught up in it?

Sweet and Saucy

Highlight straight dark hair with a top layer of light-colored curls or curls in untraditional colors. Reverse the colors for a bolder, saucier look.

Seasonal Hair Color Changes

Fall and spring seem to be the most frequent times for hair color changes. In the autumn, we often make a change in hair color or style to forestall the winter doldrums. Then, the very freshness of spring encourages us to recreate a new image for ourselves. Although we like to blame the sun for fading hair colors, as well as summer sun-fade, hard water and harsh hair care products can dull hair color over fall and winter. Spring is a great time to highlight hair with low-lights. Low-lights darken sections of your hair and make natural hair highlights sparkle in the summer sun.

Keeping Hair Color in Character

In the movie Steel Magnolias, Sally Fields remarks that her hair looks like a football helmet. If you’re wearing a helmet, put some kick into your simple do with hair color spice that compliments your skin tone and brings out the best in your facial features.

Foiling with three or four tones adds dimension to simple hairstyles. Blend a rich color like eggplant, burgundy, or bright red with lighter hair coloring highlights to effect a dramatic change without being overly emotive.

Hair Color in the Spotlight

One-tone hair colors are making a comeback. When you want to make a striking change, consider coloring your hair jet black, going platinum, becoming a real redhead, or really going for the gold, bronze, silver, blue etc.

If you’re not ready to plunge whole head into color, add a flash of color up front with bold colored bangs or make your personal color statement with just a tone or two to give your hair a hint of extraordinary color. Deeper colors add sizzle to dark hair and blonde colors, from ash to honey, add fire to lighter colored hair.

Whatever hair color trends catch your eye, the diversity in modern hair colors and hair coloring techniques leave you with plenty of hair color ideas to shape your hairstyle and your image.