Hair Care Facts and Tips

No matter your hair type, thin, curly, dry, oily, etc, certain hair care facts and tips are universal. While experts recommend we tailor our hair care routine to our hair type, there are some basics that we should all know.

Your Diet Is the First Step in Hair Care

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The hair cells are the fastest-growing cells in the body. However, they are also the first ones to be affected if you don’t eat right or suffer from deficiencies. The two most important things in your diet for hair health are iron and protein. So, try to include iron-rich foods like fish, leafy vegetables, pumpkin seeds, chickpea, beans, soybeans and cereals in your diet. You may also benefit from adding a vitamin supplement to your diet. Experts suggest that you consume around 12 mg of iron daily. You also need to consume plenty of protein because that’s what strengthens your hair. Include proteins in your diet that are also rich in amino acids like milk, cheese, soy, peas, lentils, yogurt and quinoa.

Use Your Shampoo Right

Your shampoo is not the most important part of your hair care – it’s how you use it that matters. Even if you buy the most expensive high-quality hair shampoo, it won’t do your hair any good if you don’t use it right. Make sure to massage your scalp and rinse well when complete. This ensures sebum is removed from the scalp, keeping the hair follicles healthy.

And don’t use too much of it. Using too much shampoo is one of the biggest mistakes people make in hair care. As a rule of thumb, you don’t need more than about a quarter-sized portion. Great results are achieved from massaging the scalp properly to remove the grease and grime. It’s also important to get a hair shampoo that is right for you. If you have fine hair, you could benefit from a volumizing shampoo. If your hair is thicker, a moisturizing shampoo would be best.

When it comes to how often should you shampoo your hair, know that doing it too frequently could result in dry, brittle hair. It’s well known that hair care shampoo strips the hair from its natural oils, causing it to produce more or less oil depending on the texture of the hair. Washing your hair too frequently can also cause hair weakening and damage, along with dry strands. Plus, the scalp can become more dry, leading to dandruff. You should give your hair’s natural oil a chance to actually get through the hair (from root to the ends) before feeling the need to wash it. Use your fingers to feel out your hair and see what feels right.

It’s common for people to think that their hair gets used to shampoo over time, but this isn’t true. If over time you notice that your shampoo isn’t working as well as it once was, don’t throw away the rest. Chances are changes in the weather or seasons may be causing your hair to act differently. If you believe this isn’t the case, try rinsing out the shampoo and conditioner better from your hair rather than taking more drastic measures.

Consider a Sulfate-Free Shampoo

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Like many, you probably don’t read the labels on the back of your shampoo. If you do, you’ve probably noticed that in the last few years there has been a lot of focus on sulphate. What is sulphate, you may ask? They are the reason shampoos lather the way they do. Sulphates are what clean the scalp and hair, departing the dirt from them. But experts also suggest that sulphates strip the hair of essential oils. If you notice any kind of irritation on the scalp or find your hair drying up over time, consider buying a shampoo that is sulphate-free.

Hair Loss and Your Shampoo

There are many facts for hair loss including poor diet, genetics and hormonal changes, but sometimes it can be easily addressed with just a change in shampoo. Which shampoo is best for hair loss? Those without harmful ingredients. Harsh chemicals and preservatives can cause scalp irritation, leading to hair loss. Avoid shampoos containing ingredients such as parabens, sodium lauryl sulphate, propylene glycol, imidazolidinuyl urea, diethanolamine, sodium chloride and artificial fragrances. Even if you don’t have a hair loss issue, you should consider switching over to more natural hair care products.

Deep Conditioning

Even if you condition your hair after every wash, nothing works like deep conditioning once in a while. From time to time, wash your hair with shampoo, squeeze out the extra water and towel dry it. Then take generous amounts of conditioner and apply it right to the root of your hair. Run a broad toothed comb through your hair to make sure the conditioner reaches everywhere. Then, pull your hair up and clip them together. Leave the conditioner in for between 15 minutes to an hour. Pull them down, rinse thoroughly and enjoy silk-smooth hair.

Oil Could be the Answer

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A conditioner might work well for your hair, but oil gives it certain vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids that don’t just strengthen your roots but also boost the overall health of your hair. Argan oil is the most recommended by hair experts. A prized beauty secret among Moroccan women for ages, argan oil is known for helping protect the hair from sun damage, dandruff and hair growth.

Rich in vitamin E and fatty acids, argan oil moisturizes your hair without making it look greasy at all. It’s a deep-conditioning moisturiser that infuses each strand with healthy oils, preventing moisture from escaping. If you suffer from a dry, itchy scalp, argan oil can help reduce inflammation and relieve dandruff-inducing oxidative stress, which is an imbalance between free radicals and antioxidants in the body. The best way to use argan oil for this purpose is as a leave-in conditioner.

The phenols in argan oil support and strengthen hair follicles while the antioxidants promote cell products and the vitamins promote healthy skin and scalp. So argan oil not only promotes hair growth but also helps you to grow thick, healthy hair.