| HAIR MAINTENANCE | | | | that women grew such long beautiful hair back in |
| There are a few things you can do on a regular | | | | the "old days" is because they wore it up all the |
| basis that will improve the overall health and | | | | time. The weight of your hair can stimulate the |
| appearance of your hair, as well as a few things | | | | start of the telogen phase. When hair is weighed |
| you can avoid. In general, here's a few standards: | | | | down and very long, it stops growing and falls |
| · Brush your hair: Yep, the good old fashioned | | | | out, or simply breaks off. Putting your hair up |
| hundred strokes. This stimulates blood supply to | | | | frequently will keep that weight off the root of |
| the scalp, removes dead skin cells from the scalp | | | | the hair. You can pin it up gently with bobby pins |
| before they can get infected, and distributes | | | | or a banana clip when running errands, doing |
| sebum over the hair shaft for moisturizing and | | | | housework, cooking dinner, doing yard work, |
| protection. Bend over from the waist and hang | | | | messing around on your computer, watching TV, |
| limply while doing some of the brushing. Use a | | | | etc. Now, this depends on your hair style and hair |
| natural bristle brush or other gentle brush. Be | | | | length. If you have a short hairstyle, this step is |
| careful and don't hurry. Better to go slow and | | | | not only unnecessary - it's impossible. However, if |
| only get 30 strokes in, than go fast and risk | | | | you have shoulder length or longer hair, and want |
| breaking or pulling out your hair. Get into the habit | | | | it to be as thick and healthy looking as possible, |
| of brushing your hair thoroughly before washing it. | | | | make it a point to put it up and keep the weight |
| · Massage your scalp: Before you stop to | | | | off your scalp. The other upside is that it will help |
| groom and brush your hair during the day, make | | | | keep the hair out of dinner. |
| a point of doing a quick scalp massage first. Slip | | | | How to Wash Your Hair |
| your fingers into your hair, and using just the | | | | Believe it or not, there is a right way to wash |
| pads of your fingers, massage in small circular | | | | your hair. Treat it like the finest silk! If you've |
| motions over your scalp. Using your finger pads | | | | ever made the mistake of running a pair of |
| will keep you from breaking your hair, scratching | | | | expensive silk hose through your washing |
| your scalp and messing up your style too much. | | | | machine, you'll know what I mean. |
| Then restyle, re-spray (if you use it) and go... | | | | Here a few tips for avoid causing any excess |
| · Break Day: Get into the habit of giving your | | | | damage to your hair while washing it: |
| hair a break once a week. It is not necessary to | | | | 1. |
| wash your hair every day (unless you are a | | | | Let your hair hang naturally when you wash it; |
| teenager, have a dirty job or work up a real | | | | either standing in the shower or with your head |
| sweat every day). If you are over the age of 20, | | | | leaning over the bath, or in a shampoo sink. |
| and do not have any rashes or infections (like | | | | NEVER - NEVER - NEVER - pile it up on your head |
| dandruff), give your hair a break for a whole day. | | | | to wash. |
| Pick a day where you normally do not go out, or | | | | 2. |
| just do housework and run errands. Do not wash | | | | Wet your hair with warm water (not hot) to |
| with shampoo and do not heat style. If you just | | | | prepare it for shampooing. Keep the pressure on |
| feel too grubby and must do something, after | | | | the showerhead gentle enough to avoid excess |
| brushing your hair thoroughly to distribute the | | | | water pressure on your hair. |
| sebum, simply wet your hair, apply a little daily | | | | 3. |
| conditioner to the ends, rinse well, and then pull | | | | Pour shampoo into the palm of your hand. |
| back into a "wet look" ponytail or bun. Give your | | | | 4. |
| hair a break from shampooing once a week, and | | | | Work the shampoo into a lather in your hand, and |
| whenever possible, from blow-drying and heat | | | | apply to your scalp. Work the shampoo into your |
| styling. | | | | scalp all over your head by massaging with your |
| · Conditioning Treatment: Unless you have | | | | fingertips (not your fingernails). Move fingers from |
| very fine, limp hair, get into the habit of applying a | | | | one area of your head to the other by lifting the |
| deep conditioning treatment to your hair once a | | | | fingers and then placing them elsewhere on your |
| week. Deep conditioners are not the same as | | | | head. Do NOT drag them through your hair. |
| daily conditioners, and homemade preparations | | | | Remember, hair is the most vulnerable to damage |
| work really well. Coconut oil is especially good for | | | | and breakage when it is wet. If your hair is |
| hair conditioning. Brush your hair, wash it lightly, | | | | particularly dirty or oily, you can work the |
| and then towel dry. Apply your deep conditioner | | | | shampoo through to the ends. If your hair is very |
| and then wrap your head in a heated towel to | | | | dry or processed, you may just want to wash |
| open the hair cuticle and allow the conditioner to | | | | your scalp, and let the shampoo pick up any dirt |
| soak in. Leave for 10 minutes to half and hour. | | | | or oil on the ends as it's rinsed out. |
| Then rinse thoroughly in warm water to remove | | | | 5. |
| the conditioner residue that remains, then cool | | | | Rinse hair thoroughly with lukewarm water. Ensure |
| water to close the hair cuticle. Rinsing your hair in | | | | that you allow it to hang naturally. You may |
| cool water can be a little uncomfortable, but it can | | | | spread it out gently with your fingertips if it's long |
| do amazing things for the appearance of your | | | | and needs extra help getting out the shampoo. |
| hair. It closes the hair cuticle close to the shaft, | | | | 6. |
| which increases shine and manageability, and helps | | | | If you chose to use a rinse-out conditioner, this is |
| to keep hair strong. A mixture of cool water and | | | | the time. Unlike shampooing, apply conditioners to |
| lemon juice is even better for shine and strength | | | | the ends of your hair, and if your hair is generally |
| (a half of a teaspoon of lemon juice in two quarts | | | | dry, apply the remainder on your hands gently to |
| of cool water is sufficient). | | | | the roots. Repeat the rinse. |
| · Daily Conditioner: Get into the habit of | | | | 7. |
| applying a daily conditioner to hair ends every | | | | Towel dry gently. The new hair towel wraps are |
| time you shampoo. This will reduce slit ends, | | | | excellent, keep hair in place and aren't heavy like a |
| discoloration when coloring, damage when heat | | | | towel wrap so there's less risk of breakage to |
| styling and reduce the need for frequent trims. | | | | your hair. |
| Use a product designed for thermal styling if you | | | | 8. |
| frequently blow-dry, use a curling iron or hot | | | | Once hair is towel-dried you can apply a leave-in |
| rollers. | | | | conditioner. |
| · Haircuts: Get into the habit of getting your | | | | 9. |
| hair trimmed when it needs to be. Again, this | | | | ALWAYS comb wet hair with a wide-tooth comb- |
| reduces split ends and keeps excess weight off | | | | NEVER brush wet hair. |
| your hair (which can cause breakage). About once | | | | 10. |
| every 8 weeks is right for shoulder length or | | | | NEVER, NEVER, NEVER sleep on wet hair - it is |
| longer hair, once every 6 weeks for shorter | | | | vulnerable when wet, and can break easily as you |
| styles. | | | | turn on your pillow. Even if it doesn't break, it |
| · Up-Dos: Yep, that's right - if you have long | | | | roughs up the cuticle and makes it look dull. |
| hair and want to keep it that way - put your hair | | | | 11. |
| up when possible. I'm not suggesting you look like | | | | Air dry hair whenever possible. |
| an librarian every day, but one of the reasons | | | | |