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