| We have all seen those ads where there is a | | | | this pattern- |
| picture of a woman with a head full of amazingly | | | | |
| thick,shiny, beautiful hair. How do you look like | | | | 1. It starts with the cuticle being roughed-up, and |
| that in real life? Let's look at how you can make | | | | there is noticeably less shine. |
| your hair look its best. | | | | 2. It then moves on to the difficult combing stage |
| In order to understand what can make your hair | | | | where the hair starts to tangle a lot more easily |
| look dull, you need to understand the composition | | | | than before. |
| of your hair. Each strand of your hair is made of | | | | 3. The last step is when the hair has no sheen |
| 3 layers - the cuticle, the cortex and the medula. | | | | whatsoever because it absorbs light (rather than |
| - The medula is at the core, made up of soft, | | | | reflecting it) and looks completely dull. |
| coin-shaped cells stacked on top of each other. | | | | Prevention |
| - The cortex surrounds the medula and is made | | | | You can prevent dull hair several ways - |
| up of spindle shaped cells which determine the | | | | - Use a low pH shampoo. A high alkaline shampoo |
| color and texture of your hair. | | | | will make the cuticle cells curl. |
| - The cuticle is the outer layer which consists of | | | | - Shampoo your hair regularly. Your hair naturally |
| hard, round tubular cells that overlap and act as | | | | secretes oil which, left unwashed, can coat your |
| armour for the softer, more delicate cells that are | | | | hair. This oil attracts dust and dirt which will give |
| inside your hair shaft. | | | | your hair a dull look. |
| When the outer layer (the cuticle) becomes | | | | - Rinse your hair well when shampooing it. A |
| damaged, the overlapping cells begin to curl up | | | | coating of soap in your hair will not only give you |
| and out. This will have consequences. | | | | an itchy scalp, it will dim the natural sheen of your |
| - It will be more difficult to comb a "lumpy" strand | | | | hair. |
| of hair than a smoother strand (with the cells | | | | - Limit or avoid the use of styling products (gel, |
| overlapping nicely). | | | | mousse, hairspray). These can create a buildup |
| - The softer middle layer (cortex) becomes | | | | over time, which will leave your hair looking dull. |
| exposed, resulting in breakage and split ends. | | | | - Get regular haircuts every 6 - 8 weeks. |
| - Curling cells diffuse the light and give a dull | | | | If you have dull hair, it can be rejuvinated with a |
| appearance (rather than the healthy sheen that | | | | good shampooing (for the oil, dirt, and buildup), a |
| reflects smooth, overlapping cells). | | | | haircut (for the split ends), and a hot oil treatment |
| Stages | | | | (to insert moisture and new life into your |
| Very drab or dull-looking hair usually comes in | | | | damaged hair). |
| stages, it doesn't just happen overnight. It follows | | | | |