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