Shiny hair is a sign of healthy hair. Hair that is damaged will start to dry out and appear quite dull and listless. The care you give to your hair has a huge role in defining the health of your hair.
Treating Your Hair Properly
The way you treat your hair is dependent upon your hair type, the amount of activity in your life, and your hairstyle choice.
The Type of Hair You Have
Straight hair has different needs from curly hair just as dry hair has different needs from oily hair. Many teens have to deal with oily hair. This is because of the presence of overactive sebaceous glands during adolescence. In this case, the oily hair is a condition that lasts only as long as puberty. The young adults deal with the issue of oily hair by washing their hair each day. This is okay as long as a mild shampoo or simply a conditioner is used.
Dry hair should not be washed as often as average or oily hair. Many individuals only have to wash their hair weekly. People with dry and curly hair have to be gentler with their hair types, especially when using heating accessories. Hair products made particularly for these kinds of hair conditions can be very helpful.
The Amount of Activity in Your Life
The level of activity in your life affects your hair. Athletes who have oily hair, for instance, will wash their hair quite often. Swimmers will constantly have to deal with dry hair so they may need a special kind of shampoo and conditioner. Individuals who are frequently outside should take special care of their hair. Hats should be used to protect hair quality.
Hairstyle Choices
Hair heating accessories can be used too much. These are elements like straighteners and curling irons, and they are often at the roots of dry hair. To use them properly, be sure and follow the manufacturer’s suggestions. They should never be used on high temperatures or when the hair is still wet.
What You Should Know about Hair Chemicals
Store shelves are lined with chemicals for hair treatments, but these can be very harmful if they are not used correctly. The best advice is to have a hair expert do any chemical related hair tasks for you.
Still, if you decide to take care of your own hair, these are some of the products found in stores:
Relaxers. These are hair straighteners. The ones that have lye in them sometimes result in a loss of hair and irritated skin; relaxers without lye still may cause irritation and hair loss. Brushing, combing, and scratching your head before a relaxer will make the side effects worse. A relaxer should never be used on a scalp that is currently irritated. A minimum of six weeks should go by before you relax your hair again. Perms are products which make straight hair curly, and they often have the same side effects as relaxers.
Color. Color kits come in two kinds, semi-permanent and permanent. The semi-permanent will wash out after a few washes, but the permanent color will remain until the hair grows out more. A few individuals may experience a rash from hair dyes so it is a good idea to do a patch test first. For obvious safety reasons, hair color should never be put on your eyebrows or eyelashes.
Other Common Hair Conditions
Dandruff. The cause of dandruff (deceased skin flakes) is unknown although it has been linked to a fungus. In most cases, it can be treated with over-the-counter (OTC) shampoos. In other cases, a prescription treatment may be required.
Hair Breakage. Combing or brushing your hair incorrectly or too often may cause it to break off excessively. Braids and hair extensions may also trigger breakage. Occasionally, fragile hair and breakage splintering are symptoms of an underlying medical condition. If you are experiencing hair breakage for no reason, check with your physician.
Alopecia (the excessive loss of hair). Everyone loses hair; this is normal. The problem is more serious when the hair that is lost is not replaced by other hair follicles. This could result in a bald spot or spots. The loss of hair may either be permanent or short-term. The solution and severity is based on the cause. Before you check with your doctor, you might want to change your hairstyle and evaluate the chemicals being used on your hair to see if the problem lies in those areas.
You want to treat your hair as well as you treat the rest of your body. Eat right, work out regularly, and be conscious of the sun’s strength.