By TRICIA AQUILAR
Special to CTFashionMag.com
Let’s talk about hair.
I have been cutting for over 20 years. I’m always surprised by how many people do not know that hair is dead. It is, so there is not much you can do to repair it.
There are products that will temporarily make it look better but don’t actually repair it.
Here are some things you can do to help your hair stay in tip-top shape. Shampoo and really massage your scalp. By massaging your scalp, you are not only cleaning out the pores but actually stimulating the blood supply to your scalp. Blood supply is essential for hair growth and health.
Two shampoos to absolutely never use… baby shampoo and two-in-one shampoo.
Baby shampoo is not gentle on hair, it is gentle on the eyes. That is because it is the ph of your eye, which is completely different than the ph of hair.
Two-in-one shampoos are bad because when shampoo and conditioner are combined both cannot do their job. It would be like mixing olive oil into your dish soap.
Condition and make sure you rinse completely; your daily conditioner is not meant to stay on all day. If you need extra conditioning, there are leave-in conditioners for that, which usually come in cream or spray form. (I prefer the spray because it is easier and lighter).
When your hair is wet, do not brush it. Your hair is elasticy, so when it is wet you should be using a wide tooth comb or pick. Then when it is dry feel free to brush away; there is some truth to the old saying “100 strokes a day.” Again this is because it stimulates the blood supply to your scalp.
Before blow drying or straightening apply a product that is meant for that because it will help protect your hair from the heat.
And last but certainly not least, have your hair trimmed regularly. Even if you are trying to grow your hair longer, you need to have it trimmed. A quarter inch to half inch is usually all it takes to remove the dry or split ends. If you do not have it trimmed regularly, the ends will continue to split higher along the hair shaft. I hope I helped you learned something new today.
