Sunday, April 6, 2008

Care Hair Yourself

Shiny hair is a sign of health because the layers of the cuticle lie flat and reflect light. When the scales of the cuticle lie flat they overlap tightly, so the inner layers are well protected from heat, sun, chlorine, and all the other hazards that can come from living in our environment. When hair is damaged, though, the scales may separate and hair can become dry. Because the scales on dry hair don't protect the inner two layers as well, hair can break and look dull.

The type of hair a person has - whether it's straight or curly - can also affect how shiny it is. Sebum, which is the natural oil on the hair, covers straight hair better than curly hair, which is why straight hair can appear shinier.

Depending how long a person's hair is or how fast it grows, the end of each hair shaft can be a couple of years old. So the hair at the end of the shaft could have survived a few summers of scorching sun and saltwater and winters of cold, dry air. How well you care for your hair from the time it emerges from the root plays a role in how healthy it looks.

Caring for Hair

How you take care of your hair depends on the type of hair you have, your lifestyle, and how you style your hair.

Your hair type. People with dry, curly hair have different hair care needs than people with straight, fine hair. But all hair needs to be treated gently, especially when it's wet. Wet hair can stretch, making it more vulnerable to breakage or cuticle damage. That's why using a hot blow-dryer (or other heat styling products) on very wet hair can damage it.

Some people find that their hair gets oily in their teen years. That's because the hair follicles contain sebaceous glands that make sebum, which moisturizes the hair and skin. During adolescence, the sebaceous glands may become overactive, producing more oil than needed. As with acne, oily hair is usually a temporary part of puberty.

Many teens care for oily hair by washing it once a day - or more if they're active. As long as you treat your hair gently when it's wet, frequent washing shouldn't harm it. If you have acne, it's a good idea to keep the hair around your face clean so hair oils don't clog your pores.

If you're washing your hair every day or more, it may be better to choose a mild shampoo instead of a shampoo designed for oily hair. For some people - especially people with fine, fragile, or combination hair (hair that's oily at the crown but dry on the ends) - shampoos for oily hair can be too harsh. If you have oily hair and want to use a conditioner, choose one that's made for oily hair.

If your hair is dry, it's a good idea to wash it less frequently. Some people only need to wash their hair once a week - and that's fine. Many people who have curly hair also have dry hair. Curly and dry hair types are usually more fragile than straight hair, so you'll need to be especially careful about using heat styling products. Shampoos made for dry hair and hair conditioners can help.

Your activity level and interests. Do you play sports or spend a lot of time at the beach? These kinds of things can affect your hair. For example, if you're an athlete with oily hair, you may want to wash your hair after working up a sweat during practice and games. But if you're a lifeguard or a swimmer, sun and saltwater (or the chlorine in pool water) can dry your hair out, no matter what your hair type. If you're exposed to sun, wind, or other elements, you may want to use a shampoo designed for dry hair or use a conditioner. It's also a good idea to wear a hat to protect your hair when you're outdoors.

Your hairstyle. Heat styling products like curling and straightening irons can dry out even oily hair if they're used too much. Follow the instructions carefully, and don't use them on wet hair or high settings, and give your hair a vacation from styling once in a while. Ask your hair stylist or dermatologist for advice on using heat styling products.

Chemical treatments can also harm hair if they're not used properly. If you decide you want a chemical treatment to color, straighten, or curl your hair, it's best to trust the job to professionals. Stylists who are trained in applying chemicals to hair will be able to evaluate your hair type and decide which chemicals will work best for you.

Here are some things to be aware of when getting chemical treatments:

  • Relaxers. Relaxers (straighteners) work by breaking chemical bonds in curly hair. Relaxers containing lye can cause skin irritation and hair breakage. Although "no lye" relaxers may cause less irritation, both types of relaxers can cause problems if they are used in the wrong way (for example, if they're mixed incorrectly or left on the hair for too long). Scratching, brushing, or combing your hair right before a chemical relaxing treatment can increase these risks. And don't use relaxers - or any hair treatment - if your scalp is irritated.

If you decide to keep straightening your hair, you'll need to wait at least 6 weeks before your next treatment to protect your hair. Relaxers can cause hair breakage when used over a period of time, even when they're used properly. Using blow-dryers, curling or straightening irons, or color on chemically relaxed hair can also increase the risk of damage.

  • Perms. Perms take straight hair and make it curly. The risks are similar to those associated with relaxers.
  • Color. There are two types of color: permanent (which means the color stays in your hair until it grows out) and semi-permanent (the color washes out after a while). Some semi-permanent coloring treatments, like henna, are fairly safe and easy to use at home. Some people get a condition called contact dermatitis (an allergic reaction with a rash) from henna and other "natural" products, so be sure to test a small area first.

    Other color treatments - especially permanent treatments - can cause hair loss, burning, redness, and irritation. A few types of coloring treatments can cause allergic reactions in certain people, and in rare cases these can be very serious. So talk to your stylist if you are worried that you may be sensitive to the products. Also, talk to your stylist about doing a patch test before using a product. And never use hair dyes on your eyelashes or eyebrows.

Regular haircuts are one of the best ways to help keep hair healthy. Even if you have long hair or you're trying to grow your hair, a haircut can help protect the ends of your hair from splitting and damage. In fact, cutting may actually help your hair grow better because it's healthy and not breaking off.

Dealing With Hair Problems

Here are some common hair problems - and tips on how to deal with them.

Dandruff

Dandruff - or flakes of dead skin - can be noticeable in a person's hair and on clothing. No one really knows what causes dandruff, although recent studies seem to show that it may be caused by a type of fungus.

Dandruff isn't contagious or dangerous. Over-the-counter shampoos containing salicylic acid, zinc, tars, or selenium sulfide can reduce dandruff flakes. When shampooing, scrub your hair for at least 5 minutes, loosening the flakes with your fingers. Rinse your hair well after washing. If your dandruff doesn't improve, see your doctor. He or she may prescribe a prescription shampoo and possibly a lotion or liquid to rub into your scalp.

Hair Breakage

Hair can break when points in the hair thicken or weaken. Sometimes this happens near the scalp so a person's hair never grows very long. When hairs break at the ends, they're called "split ends," and the splits can travel up the hair shaft.

A major cause of hair breakage is improper use of chemical hair treatments, like the treatments described above. But brushing or combing hair too frequently or in the wrong way (such as using a fine-toothed comb on very thick, curly hair or teasing hair) can lead to breakage. Hair extensions and braids can also cause breakage. Leaving them in too long or pulling them out without professional help can cause hair and scalp damage or even hair loss.

Sometimes hair breakage and dry, brittle hair are signs of a medical problem, such as hypothyroidism or an eating disorder. If your hair is breaking even though you don't treat it with chemicals or other styling products, see a doctor.

Hair Loss (Alopecia)

It's normal for everyone to lose some hair. In fact, we lose about 100 hairs each day as old hairs fall out and are replaced with new ones. With hair loss, though, hair thins at a rate that can't be replaced. When hair falls out and isn't replaced by new hair, a person can become bald or have bald patches. Hair loss can be temporary or permanent, depending on the cause. If changing your hairstyle or other treatment doesn't help, see a doctor. He or she may prescribe a drug to slow or stop hair loss and to help hair grow.

As with the rest of our bodies, hair is healthiest when we eat right, exercise, and protect it from too much sun.

Natural Hair Care Tips and Natural Skin Care Tips

In every household there has been an agony aunt who guided you through the tough times with their hair and skin care secrets. But the truth remains to be seen is whether these treatment actually did create that magic which was needed.

Many of us have no idea about the kind of hair we have. Hair-n-skin-care.com will help you to know what the different types of hair are and in category you belong too. Open the Pandoras Box of hair care recipes that would be of great help to keep the youth, bounce and shine of your hair.

A human being has different types of hair such as oily, dry and normal hair. Each type of hair needs to be given extra care with the natural hair care tips which find a mention in the site.
Not many of us know how important is hair conditioning. The different home care remedies may be tedious, but can get you results which are highly recommended. The reasons for extreme hair fall can be due to dandruff, improper hair care, being out in the sun for a long time and umpteen reasons if we sit and think about. Know about various hair care recipes to prevent such a catastrophe. There are tips on the dos and donts on taking care of hair which are bound to be useful at some point in life.

Colouring your hair come at cost that can burn a hole in your pocket and hair.
There are natural and herbal hair care colour products which are not harmful to your hair. Read through tips to keep in mind when colouring your hair at home. With different hair styles dazzling all around you it can be confusing to choose one for your self. Read the guidelines on our site on how to choose a hair style or cut according to your face structure and shape. Perming ones hair can be an alien affair if we think of doing it at home. But still there are measures by which we can do it at home and carry it off in a very suave manner which would surprise many of your friends.

Read our skin care tips and skin care information for various skin types

Before trying any experiment on your own skin, proper knowledge about their skin type, etc is a must.
By testing at home you can find out which type of skin is yours. Some have dry, oily, and patchy skins for which there are different methods to ward off their long lasting affects. For the different age groups there are various different ways of caring for your skin. The skin care information when used in the proper manner will get glowing results. You can have home-made skin care products which are easy to make and use. Read up on valuable skin care tips to battle any skin problems like acne to get that healthy and beautiful skin.

Proper route to having radiant and beautiful skin is by knowing what is right for your own skin type. Know about oily skin care, dry skin care tips, tips on how to improve your skin complexion and structure from our box of skin care tips. Not taking proper skin care can cause lot of damage to your skin. Using face packs and masks helps to regain the hidden lost charm of your skin. Hormonal changes cause acne and there are different ways to tackle such problems. Know how to distinguish between the myths and facts before embarking on this journey of PROJECT SKIN.
Pigmentation is also a major problem for many which can be dealt with proper skin care information.

Different seasons leave a mark on the skin. With the beginning of every new season one should be ready to tend to the oily skin as well as dry skin. Using the proper sunscreen can be one way to ward of the scorching heat. Read our skin care tips that will prove beneficial to one and all. A brush up on your make-up skills could be an important guidepost towards knowing your face and knowing what to apply on your face. It is said that body is your temple and one should worship it. Taking care of your body is part of the worship. For every part of body which seems neglected you can make it perfect by some slight changes in ones lifestyle.

Hair Care

However, long hair does have numerous benefits including unlimited styles that can be done with it. So caring for long hair can really be worth it. When talking about hair care for long hair, it does not necessarily mean stocking up on numerous conditioners and shampoos and availing of many hair care treatments. Once you find the right product to use, then all you need to do is have the right management.
This way, your hair care will be more on the natural side and you can avoid all the damage that the chemicals from hair care products might do to you.

Long hair care tips include not sleeping with your hair in a ponytail or done in a braid. This will stress the hair immensely and will eventually lead to damage. When styling your long hair in a braid, do not make it too tight or else you might end up with hair loss. It would greatly help if you make use of a scrunchie or a band that is specially treated not to cause damage to hair.
When you use untreated bands, bows, and clips, limit it.

When it comes to growing your hair longer, one very good natural hair care to administer is trimming. If you just let your hair grow longer like that, split ends will happen. If you plan on letting your hair grow more, administer trimming once every three months.
If you choose to maintain the length you have now, one trimming in every 1 ½ months will do. Another hair care tip is not to use a brush on a tangled hair. The hair will be stretched dramatically and breakage will occur. Try using wide tooth combs, your fingers, or a pick in detangling.
As you try to loosen the tangles of your long hair, start from the tips of the hair towards the roots. Make sure you are gentle with your hair.

Before having your hair washed, make sure you remove all the tangles first. Styling and drying will be a lot easier this way. When drying the hair, do not rub with a towel.
Just blot the moisture out of the hair. This is because a towel rubbing would lead to tangles and probable breakage, not to mention the hassles you will go through in detangling. Pillows can also become the cause of hair breakage especially when you move a lot while you sleep.

Making use of silk pillowcases will prevent your hair from being caught and broken. If silk pillowcases are not available to you, wear silk or satin scarf before you go to sleep. Brush your hair often as this will spread the natural oils in your hair. While brushing, stroke your hair with the hand so that there would be no static electricity left in your hair which would cause damage.

Take good care of your long hair and you will definitely heap the rewards!