Tips to Maintain Hair Style

While there is little to be done about the shape and chemistry of your hair, beyond repeated applications of temporary fixes like permanents, addressing the type of hair you have

in terms of its moisture level and the degree of oil it contains, is a basic part of any hair care regimen.

Oily

The scalp is heavily covered with sebaceous glands that produce oil. Some people have so many of these glands that the shafts of their hair stay coated with the oil making the hair appear sticky and causing it to adhere to the head in a flat, lifeless manner. The most important thing to remember with oily hair is that every time you brush or comb your hair, you are distributing the oil. Brush or comb as infrequently and briefly as possible and keep the implement raised up off the scalp to avoid gathering more oil. Wash your brushes and combs often.

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Although many people think the use of shampoo followed by a conditioner is a cardinal rule of hair care, people with oily hair do not need to condition. These products, especially the "leave in" varieties, will only make the oil problem worse. To cure oily hair, find a good quality shampoo specifically formulated for oily hair, leave the lather in your hair for at least five minutes, and repeat. If at all possible, allow your hair to air dry.

Be careful, however, not to go too far in the other direction and dry your hair out with shampoos that contain harsh detergents like sodium lauryl sulfate or the like. Excessive oil on the scalp is actually the leading cause of dandruff, so a mild dandruff shampoo like Head and Shoulders may be a good choice. It is specifically formulated with zinc pyrithione to address your itchy, oily scalp but is safe enough for regular use.

Dry

Dry hair is normally the result of low humidity in the environment (especially during winter) or the use of hair care products that are too harsh or contain drying agents. Many hair care products contain detergents and alcohols that strip the hair of too much of its natural oil, leaving the strands dull, lifeless, and brittle. If your hair is dry and damaged you may initially need to use a shampoo like Vitamin Shampoo by Healthy Hair Plus but in reality you really should review the ingredients in all your hair care supplies for the presence of drying agents.

Most hair sprays and hair gels are full of alcohol which dries the scalp, especially when used several times a day. Ingredients in shampoos to avoid include sodium laureth sulfate, benzophenone-3, benzyl alcohol, DMDM hydantoin, and sodium lauryl sulfate. Finally, find a good quality conditioner and set aside time on a weekend or at night to allow it to stay on your head several minutes. An excellent natural treatment is a simple mixture of olive oil and rosemary essential oil applied to wet hair and wrapped in a warm towel for 45 minutes.

Normal

In truth, whatever chemistry is naturally present in your hair is your "normal" state. People label hair normal, however, if it is not too oily, not too dry, not too straight, not too curly, not too fine, and not too thick. In other words, perfectly well-behaved hair that does exactly what you want it to do when you want it to do it. Let's face it, that's not a very realistic goal.

Probably the best mindset to develop is "less is more." If you live a healthy lifestyle, eat well, do not smoke, and get enough exercise, your hair will be as healthy as the rest of your body. These basic life guidelines may be the best hair care tips of all.

In terms of hair style and care, find a length and cut that compliments the best features of your hair, skin type, bone structure, and eye color. You will most probably need the help of an aesthetician or hair care professional in making these decisions. Not every style is right for every kind of hair or every shape of face.

Minimize the amount of product you apply to your hair. The more external chemicals that interfere with the natural chemistry of your hair the more problems you will have. For "normal" hair, a good quality shampoo used every other day, a through conditioning with natural products once or twice a week, and air drying are all excellent steps to protect the health of your hair and to make it attractive and manageable. (Blow dryers and curling irons, while convenient, overheat the hair, make it dry and brittle, and physically stress the strands.)

The most important thing is to understand what hair is, how it is affected by the environment and by chemicals, and to find the right balance of techniques and products for you. A regimen for curly hair care will differ from one for straight hair, and curly hair tips won't apply either, but in the end, less is still better for all hair care solutions.

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