The Causes of Women's Hair Loss

The first thing you notice might be more hair than usual in your hair brush or clogging the shower drain. Or you see that your part is getting wider or that your hair seems to be thinning overall. If hair loss progresses you may wonder, Am I going bald? What’s causing this? Hair loss in women can occur for many reasons. These include:

• Female pattern baldness. This can cause thinning hair on the top or sides of the head or at the crown. This tends to get worse over time, but treatment with topical minoxidil (Rogaine) can help prevent more lost hair and spur new hair growth.
• A stress response called telogen effluvium. If you have a major shock to your physical or emotional health, such as surgery or a death in the family, it’s common to lose more hair than usual two to three months after the event. Telogen effluvium can also result from a sudden change in hormone levels; such a change can be caused, for example, by childbirth. When stress is the cause, hair will grow back over several months.
• A nutritional deficiency or illness. A serious deficiency in protein, iron, zinc, or other nutrients can make hair fall out. Hair loss in women can also be a symptom of a disorder such as lupus or diabetes.
• A side effect of certain drugs. Some medications can cause hair loss. Common culprits include lithium, beta-blockers, warfarin, and heparin.
• Alopecia. This is an autoimmune disease that makes hair fall out in small, round patches. In some cases, it can cause total baldness. A corticosteroid applied to the scalp or injected can help.
• Fungal scalp infection. Some forms of fungi can infect the scalp, making hair break off at the scalp. This can be treated with oral medication.
• Overtreating your hair. Braiding your hair tightly, using curling irons or hot rollers, or coloring your hair can make hair brittle and more likely to fall out.
• Pulling out your hair. This is a mental disorder called trichotillomania; a person afflicted with it will pull out their hair frequently, which can cause patchy bald spots on their scalp or elsewhere on their body.

Preventing Hair Loss in Women
You can prevent some forms of hair loss with a healthy lifestyle and a little TLC for your locks. It also helps to try to reduce stress in your life and eat a nutritionally balanced diet. If a medication is the problem, ask your doctor about switching to something that doesn’t cause hair loss. You can avoid hair loss from fungus by not sharing combs, brushes, or hats with others.
If you want to cover up your scalp while you’re waiting for lost hair to regrow, talk to your stylist about techniques to camouflage sparse areas. Hair weaving and wigs can also come in handy.
When to See a Doctor
Consult your doctor if you suddenly notice hair loss. He or she may take a hair sample for testing if a fungal infection is suspected, or order blood tests if illness or a nutritional deficiency might be at the root of your problem. If you are compulsively pulling out your hair, a doctor can suggest a mental-health professional who specializes in conditions like trichotillomania.
Finding out what’s causing your hair loss is the first step — and it’s also a giant step toward fixing the problem and seeing your hair look healthy again.
source:http://www.dailyglow.com/hair-problems/womens-hair-loss.html

What to Do About a Greasy Scalp

Having a greasy scalp can be truly frustrating. Not only do you have to deal with hair that can look oily and stringy, but treatments can backfire. If you use a shampoo that gets rid of scalp oil, the ends of your hair can look parched; if you then use conditioner to moisturize your hair, your scalp looks oily in no time.
A greasy scalp comes from overactive sebaceous glands. These glands, at the base of each hair strand, produce sebum, an oily secretion that normally keeps your scalp moisturized and makes your hair shiny. But certain factors can put sebaceous glands into overdrive. These include the hormonal changes of puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Having high stress levels can affect hormones and add to the problem, too. Even environmental factors such as air pollution and hot, humid weather can make a greasy scalp worse.
Treating a Greasy Scalp
You can improve the look of your hair by trying the following tips:

• Shampoo often, with the right products. To help control the oil, it’s best to wash your hair every day or every other day. Look for oil-free products designed to treat an oily scalp and oily hair (clarifying shampoos, for example). Steer clear of shampoos with ingredients like silicone or lanolin, and avoid products that are both a shampoo and conditioner in one.
• Use hair-care products strategically. Apply shampoo to your scalp only; if the ends of your hair are dry, use a conditioner just on the ends.
• Follow shampoo instructions carefully. If the bottle says to wash, rinse, and repeat, be sure to do it. The second time you lather up, leave shampoo in place for at least five minutes, then rinse thoroughly. That way, a buildup of hair products won’t contribute to limp locks.
• Try an astringent rinse for the scalp. These products help reduce oil. You can also make your own rinse by mixing a little lemon juice in water and sluicing it through your hair.
• Use a comb or brush sparingly. When you comb or brush, it carries oil in your scalp down the length of your hair. Comb or brush gently and as little as possible.
• Reduce stress in your life. If your stress level is high and climbing higher, stress-busting techniques can help. These include yoga, meditation, and deep breathing. Being physically active as many days of the week as possible also lowers stress levels.

Getting Medical Help
If home remedies don’t seem to help, consult your dermatologist. Sometimes an oily scalp is due to seborrheic dermatitis. This condition causes an oily scalp with white or yellow scales; it can also affect other parts of the body, such as the eyelids and behind the ears. Your doctor can recommend an over-the-counter medicated shampoo or prescribe a shampoo to control it.
With the proper hair-care products used the right way, you can turn your scalp and hair from greasy to healthy-looking.
source:http://www.dailyglow.com/hair-problems/greasy-scalp.html

Brightening Dull Hair

o you spend a lot of time, money, and effort on your hair, only to find it still looks dull and drab? It could be all that coloring, straightening, curling, and styling that’s causing the problem. To prevent dull hair, it’s best to take a hands-off approach when it comes to your natural color and texture. Too much coloring and bleaching can cause dull hair. The high heat from blow-dryers and curling irons can leave hair brittle. And constant wearing of braids, ponytails, or hair extensions, all of which pull on hair, can lead to hair breakage.
Too much sun is also a bad thing: Overexposure to ultraviolet light can fade your hair color and make hair dry and brittle, leading to breakage and split ends. And, contrary to what you may think, brushing your hair 100 times a day doesn’t give your hair a healthy shine — it causes split ends.
Eliminating Dull Hair
If your hair could use a little help in the shine department, you’ll find everything you need at your local drugstore or beauty supply store. Try the following tips:

• De-gunk your hair. Use a clarifying shampoo to get rid of shampoo, conditioner, and styling products that may have built up on your hair. Be sure to rinse extra carefully — that helps ensure that all the old products are washed out of your hair.
• Moisturize. Sometimes dry hair is the culprit. If your hair looks and feels like straw, wash it with a moisturizing shampoo and use a conditioner after every time you shampoo. If you’re worried about conditioner weighing down your hair, apply it only from the bottom half of your hair down to the ends. For hair that’s colored or bleached, using a deep conditioner once a week is a good idea.
• Add shine. Hair that looks dull and flat can be perked up with a shine spray, mist, or serum. These products contain silicone, and they can make your hair look shiny and silky. Just go easy on them, so that they don’t contribute to a beauty-product buildup.
• Switch brands of hair-care products periodically. Over time, the products you use to wash and style your hair can make it look dull. Try rotating the brand you use every few months.
• Use the right brush. A brush with tightly packed bristles smoothes hair, leaving a glossy finish.
• Blow-dry your hair on cool or warm. Using the hot setting can damage your hair.
• Protect your hair from the sun. Before a day at the beach or by the pool, put on a hat. You can also spray your locks with a sun block designed for hair.
• Choose warm tones if you color or highlight your hair. Because warm tones reflect light, they can brighten the hair.
• Ask your stylist about a salon gloss treatment. These add shine to your hair for a few weeks without changing its color.

In most cases, the strategic (and proper) use of a few hair-care products is all it takes to turn dull hair to dazzling

Treating a Dry Flaky Scalp

All skin cells shed, and the skin cells of the scalp are no exception. But sometimes so many scalp skin cells are shed that they become noticeable as tiny white flakes in your hair and on your shoulders. If you have a dry, flaky scalp — especially if the flaking is confined to the top of the head, the hairline, or the back of the neck, and the flakes are tiny and white — the cause may be as simple as dry winter weather or the way you take care of your hair.
In some cases, scalp flaking can be due to another condition. Dandruff makes skin cells flake off, but they’re usually oily rather than dry. If heavy dandruff is accompanied by intense scalp itching, the problem may be a form of eczema called seborrheic eczema, which causes irritated skin to become red and inflamed. Scalp psoriasis also causes flaking, but the scalp is typically itchy and irritated and the flakes, or scales, are silvery.
Treating Scalp Flaking
If you have a dry, flaky scalp, it may be time to make some changes to your hair-care routine. Try the following tips:

• Shampoo the right way. Especially in winter, when the air is dry, use a shampoo and conditioner for dry scalps. It also helps to limit how often you shampoo. Too-frequent shampooing can strip the scalp of moisture from its natural oils. And use only a little shampoo each time. Using too much makes it harder to rinse it all out — and any shampoo left behind dries and flakes off.
• Turn down the heat. Too much heat on the scalp can irritate it and dry it out, making it even flakier. Taking long showers that are hot, hot, hot can add to the problem. The same goes for overusing blow-dryers and curling irons. Instead, shower with warm (not hot) water, and let your hair dry naturally.
• Massage your scalp. This increases blood flow to the scalp. It also helps clear any blocked pores, and that can release the scalp’s natural oil. A scalp massage also loosens dead skin cells, making them easier to wash away.
• Use an oil treatment. Try one from your local drugstore or hair salon, or try olive oil — some people swear by it. Rub the oil into your scalp, wrap your hair in a towel and leave it on for about a half hour. Then rinse the oil out with lukewarm water and shampoo.
• Wear a hat in summer. Getting a sunburn on your scalp adds to its dryness. Cover your head with a hat when you’re in the sun.

When to See a Dermatologist
If at-home treatments don’t do the job, visit a dermatologist to see if there’s a medical reason behind your flakes. He or she can prescribe medications for eczema or psoriasis, if it turns out that you have one of those conditions. Your doctor can also prescribe a dandruff shampoo or suggest an over-the-counter one.
When it comes to banishing a dry flaky scalp, the solution is a one-two punch of adding moisture and protecting your scalp and hair from heat and sun.
source:http://www.dailyglow.com/hair-problems/dry-flaky-scalp.html

All About Dandruff

The itchy scalp and white flakes of dandruff that you may have noticed on your sweaters and blouses are usually not a medical problem, but they can certainly be embarrassing. Dandruff, a mild form of a common skin condition called seborrheic dermatitis, appears when skin cells grow and die off too fast.
Contrary to what you may think, dandruff usually isn’t caused by careless hygiene. In some cases, dandruff results when a fungus that naturally lives on the scalp grows out of control. If dandruff flakes are yellowish and oily and the scalp is red, the cause may be another form of seborrheic dermatitis, one that’s called cradle cap when it occurs in infants. Hormonal changes and the onset of winter, with its cold, dry air, can make dandruff worse.
What to Do About Mild Dandruff
You can’t prevent dandruff, but in most cases, you can control the problem with home treatments. Try these strategies:

• Wash your hair daily with a dandruff or medicated shampoo. Look for products that contain coal tar, pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid, selenium, or ketoconazole.
• Massage the shampoo into your scalp well, then leave it on for five minutes to give it time to work. Rinse thoroughly. This gets rid of the cells you’ve dislodged, and it keeps shampoo residue from adding to your scalp irritation.
• Try different types of shampoos until you find the one that works for you. Over time, a shampoo may lose its effectiveness and you may need to switch to another.
• Avoid excessive heat on your scalp. Frequent blow-drying can contribute to flaky skin.
• Try not to scratch your scalp. Scratching can leave cuts in the skin and may lead to an infection.

Treating More Severe Cases
If you have the symptoms of a more severe form of seborrheic dermatitis that affect your scalp, you can help control them with the following steps:

• Part your hair into small sections and apply a dandruff or medicated shampoo to one small area at a time. Rub it into the scalp well, then rinse thoroughly.
• Try a relaxation technique. One of the triggers for this skin and scalp condition is stress. If your personal stress-o-meter is stuck on “high,” consider meditation, yoga, deep breathing, or another technique or practice that can help you relax.
• Get enough sleep. Fatigue can also cause seborrheic dermatitis to flare up, so make sure you set aside enough time to get a good night’s sleep.

When to See Your Doctor
If you’ve tried over-the-counter shampoos without success, call your doctor. There are prescription shampoos containing selenium, ketoconazole, or corticosteroids for more stubborn cases. It’s also a good idea to seek medical help if your scalp becomes very red or painful, or if you notice fluid or pus coming from your scalp. This could be a sign of an infection that requires treatment.
For most cases of dandruff, however, the right over-the-counter shampoo and a steady stream of warm water are all it takes to control those flakes.
source:http://www.dailyglow.com/dandruff.html

Cradle Cap

What is cradle cap?
Cradle cap is a generally harmless but unattractive scalp condition that strikes babies and young children up to age 3. In adults or older children, or on other parts of a baby’s body, it’s called seborrheic dermatitis. With cradle cap, the skin of the scalp looks greasy or oily and has dry patches that look like dandruff or crusty yellow scales. Cradle cap typically doesn’t lead to any complications, although if it itches, scratching could cause skin irritation and bleeding or create an opening for infection, particularly in older babies or toddlers who have the coordination to scratch the itch.
What causes cradle cap?
Doctors aren’t sure what triggers the scalp condition, but one theory is that before birth, pregnancy hormones overstimulate the oil-producing glands on the baby’s scalp. Another theory points a finger at a yeast or fungal infection. Cradle cap is not believed to be an allergic reaction, contagious, or related to poor hygiene, although frequent shampooing can help clear up the flakes and crusting. It’s not linked to any other health conditions.
How can I treat my baby’s cradle cap?
Treatment isn’t necessary, since cradle cap isn’t harmful and should go away on its own with time. But it can be unsightly. If you want to get rid of the unattractive flakes and scales, try these tips:

• Wash your baby’s scalp frequently with a gentle baby shampoo.
• Brush your baby’s scalp with a soft hairbrush or wipe it gently with a towel, a few times every day to help loosen the buildup.
• Try massaging baby oil or mineral oil onto the crust to help loosen it, then carefully comb the crust away. Go gently to avoid irritating the delicate skin of the scalp. Shampoo afterward so you don’t leave oil on your baby’s scalp — any oil left behind could worsen the condition.
• For severe cases, talk to your pediatrician about using a shampoo specially designed to treat seborrheic dermatitis.
• If the cradle cap gets inflamed, your doctor may recommend a cortisone cream to help control the inflammation.
• Watch for signs that the cradle cap has spread to other parts of the body. It’s common to see flaking or redness on the eyelids, ears, nose, and groin area. If it’s spreading beyond the scalp, see if your doctor recommends treating it.

Whether you treat your baby’s cradle cap or let it wane on its own, your baby’s scalp should be back to normal within a few months — and she’ll be as beautiful as ever
source:http://www.dailyglow.com/hair-problems/cradle-cap.html

Bad Hair Day

Having a bad hair day can be enough to make you want to just stay home. Curly hair can frizz, straight hair can go limp, and wavy hair can go either way. Sometimes you just have bedhead — hair that sticks out or flattens exactly where you don’t want it to. Then there are the days when your hair isn’t at its best because you didn’t have time to give it a needed shampoo.
Summer can make the situation even worse. High temperatures and humidity, along with all those afternoons spent in the sun and water, can make hair become dry and harder to control. That’s because the sun’s rays can damage hair, and exposure to chlorine in pools and saltwater at the beach can add to the damage. What to do?
Preventing a Bad Hair Day
Proper hair care can go a long way toward preventing bad hair. Try the following strategies:

• Get a good haircut. A good cut makes hair easier to style. Then be sure to get your hair trimmed every six to eight weeks to keep it from growing out of its shape.
• Select a shampoo and conditioner for your hair type. If your hair is thin, lather up with a volumizing shampoo. If you have dry or damaged hair, try a leave-in conditioner for extra moisture.
• Avoid shampooing every day. Washing your hair too often can dry it out and make it harder to manage.
• Stay away from styling products that are high in alcohol, especially if your hair is dry. These can make hair brittle.
• Keep your hair natural. Letting curly hair curl and wavy hair wave doesn’t just mean fewer bad hair days — it means hair that’s easier to care for in general.

Fixing a Bad Hair Day
Even with your best efforts, it’s not always possible to keep your hair looking good. Bad hair days do happen. But before you take refuge under a hat, try these tips:

• If your curly locks go frizzy, rub a little hand cream between your hands, then smooth it lightly over your hair to tame it.
• Rub dry, flyaway hair with a dryer sheet. Just as dryer sheets keep your skirt from clinging to your panty hose, they can keep hair from sticking together, which will make it easier to style.
• If your hair won’t hold a curl, use a styling cream or gel to lock your look in place.
• No time to shampoo? Use a dry shampoo (a powder that absorbs oil to clean hair without water). Dry shampoos can also add volume.
• Accessorize. Pull or brush your hair back and put on a headband. If your locks are limp, clip them away from your face with a barrette. And remember, long hair can always be pulled into a pony tail.
• Try a hair extension to add length and fullness to your own hair. Permanent extensions are sewn or bonded to your hair and last about five months; clip-on extensions are attached to your hair with clips that are almost invisible.
• Get a wig (or two). Wigs cover up problem hair — and they can also give you an entirely new look.

The bottom line: Home repairs can turn your hair from bad to at least acceptable, so you don’t have to let bad hair ruin your day.
source:http://www.dailyglow.com/hair-problems/bad-hair-day.html

Dandruff

Dry skin flaking off the scalp and itchiness is referred to as dandruff. The aggravation of Vata generally causes this dryness.

Home Remedies for Dandruff

• • Add 1 teaspoon of camphor to half a cup of coconut or neem oil. Store it in glass container. Dosage: Massage this oil into the scalp before bed.
• • Mix 1 teaspoon of castor, mustard and coconut oil each and massage into the scalp.
• • Mix one part of lemon juice with two parts of coconut oil. Massage into the roots of the hair regularly.

Dosage: Wash with warm water after three to four hours or leave overnight.

Hair Loss / Balding

when the amount of hair lost grows higher than the normal hair fall that takes place due to the change in environment, increasing age or growth of new hairs, it is referred to as hair loss problem that needs special care. Improper or poor diet, exposure to a lot of chemicals or cosmetics, hormonal imbalance, stress, anxiety and mental tension are some causes of hair loss.

Home Remedies For Hair Loss

• • Massage the scalp gently with coconut or almond oil daily for 10 to 15 minutes.
• • Boil neem leaves in water. Cool, strain and rinse hair with it.
• • Increase green leafy vegetables, salads, milk, fruits and sprouts in the diet. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, soya beans, whole grains and nuts.

Premature Graying of Hair

Graying of hair is a natural process that happens with increasing age, but if the hair starts graying before the age of 35, it is termed as premature graying that occurs due to the aggravation of Pitta dosha. Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meat, fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour, and acidic foods increases pitta and leads to graying prematurely.

Hair Care Guide

• » Home Remedies for Hair Loss
• » Ayurvedic Herbs for Promoting Hair Growth
• » Dandruff Home Remedies
• » Prevent Hair Loss and Balding

Home Remedies for Premature Graying of Hairs

• • Apply a paste made from 2-Tsp. henna powder, 1-tsp. curd, 1-tsp. fenugreek seed powder, 1 tbsp. coffee, 2-tbsp. mint juice and 2-tbsp. basil juice. Apply this paste to the hair for two hours. For a darker color, leave this paste in for 3 to 4 hours. Wash hair with any natural shampoo.
• • Grate some fresh ginger. Mix with honey and place it in a jar. Eat 1 tea spoon everyday.

Itchy Scalp

Aggravation of Pitta dosha, stress, allergic reaction to shampoo, air conditioning, pollution and central heating lead to an itchy and red scalp, with tiny pimples or sores, dull and dry hair.

Home Remedies for Itchy Scalp

• • Add 1 teaspoon of camphor to half a cup of coconut oil and store it in glass container.

Dosage: Massage this oil into the scalp before bed.

Grind some jasmine roots with lime juice. Wash the hair and scalp with it. The causes for these hair conditions are as follows:

• • Excess of Pitta dosha in the body is the chief cause of hair problems.
• • Excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, meats and excessive smoking.
• • Eating too much fried, oily, greasy, spicy, sour and acidic foods.
• • Intake of too many chemical medicines, low blood circulation, anemia, general weakness after disease, stress, anxiety and mental tension.
• • Chronic diseases like typhoid fever, presence of dandruff or lice and hormonal imbalance.

Hair Treatment

• • Use natural shampoo or soap to clean the hair.
• • Use amla (embilica officinalis), Shikakai (Acacia concinna) for washing the hair.
• • Enhance oiling and massaging of scalp.
• • Use coconut oil or mustard oil at least three times in a week.
• • Use medicated oils like 'Mahabhringraj oil', 'Amala oil' and 'Arnica oil'. Put oil on the scalp and massage gently in the roots of the hair.
• • Maintain a regular bowel movement everyday.
• • The diet should contain more green leafy vegetables, salads, milk, fruits and sprouts. Take more proteins, milk, buttermilk, yeast, wheat germ, soybean and vitamin A.
• • Do regular physical exercise.
• • A special Ayurvedic preparation made from Bhringraj (Eclipta elba), Amala, corals, iron and black sesame seeds is very useful and even stops the graying of hair.
• • Rub the scalp vigorously after washing the hair. It increases the blood circulation, and activates the sebaceous glands.
• • A mixture of lettuce and spinach juice is good to drink to induce hair growth. The juice of alfalfa mixed with that of carrot, and lettuce juice is also good to take.
• • Daily application of coconut oil mixed with lime- juice on the hair is also beneficial. Applying juice of green coriander leaves on the head is also good.
• • Washing the hair with a paste of cooked Urad dal (black beans) and fenugreek (methi) 2-3 times a week.
• • A paste of licorice made by grinding it in milk can be applied in the bald patches. It induces hair growth. A paste of seeds of lemon and black pepper may also be applied on the bald patches. 
• source:http://health.indiamart.com/ayurveda/beauty-care/hair-care.html

Summer Hair Care Tips

Consider some of these basic tips for preventing unnecessary damage and having great summer hair:

1.  Give your tresses a summer shampoo break

Shampoo less often to allow tresses to absorb natural oils.  Or switch to more gentle cleansing methods which won't dry out sun exposed strands.  Opt for Conditioner Only (CO) or Diluted Shampoo (DS) washes.
Hair needs to be treated more gently during the summer. Consider switching to a more moisturizing and overall gentle shampoo formulas like Phytonectar, Phytojoba or similar.
When possible, finish with a cool to cold rinse to seal the hair cuticle and impart natural shimmer.

2.  Go natural

During summer months when hair tends to be moisture deprived, limit use of hair chemicals (bleach, hair color, relaxers, chemical straigteners) as much as possible.
Depending on your hair type, texture and condition you may wish to consider avoiding hair care products which contain known ingredients (some forms of alcohol) which may be drying to some type, textures or condition of hair.
Consider switching to hair care products which are as natural as possible. 

3.  Back off heated hair styling tools

If you normally use hot styling tools (blow dryers, hot irons, rollers), give your hair a rest during summer months. Air dry whenever possible or opt for easy chic styles. 
Braid damp tresses waves which create natural waves as the hair air dries.  Play with half up/half down styles or Boho side braids.
If you're attached to your blow dryer and can't give it up, use a leave- in conditioner designed to protect your hair against dryer heat.  When you do blow dry, dry on high heat.
Why?  It's actually much better to dry with high heat because you expose your hair to heat for a shorter period of time than you would if you used medium heat.
source:http://www.hairboutique.com/tips/tip003.htm

Homemade Hair Aids

Everyone gets excited by new hair-care products, but you can save money and get good results from these homemade products. Give them a try.

• Repair damaged hair by treating it with oil and egg yolk. Massage olive oil into hair. Then beat the yolk of 1 egg and massage it into hair, working from the ends up. Leave on for 10 minutes, then shampoo as usual. Do this once a week for a month, and hair should begin to feel healthier.
  
• Condition your hair by applying mayonnaise before shampooing. Apply to dry hair and let sit for 1/2 hour, then rinse and shampoo as usual.
  
• For a lemon rinse, blend 1/2 cup of strained lemon juice and 1 cup of distilled water in a bottle. Comb the liquid through your hair after each shampoo.
  
• For a quick, dry shampoo, rub baby powder into your hair and then brush it out thoroughly
  
• Whether you have artificial hair color that needs refreshing or you just want to enhance your own shade naturally, customized herbal rinses add highlights or depth and are gentle on your budget. If you want to experiment with customizing herbal rinses, there's no real risk because their effect is subtle. However, avoid acidic fruits and vegetable colors.
  
  Do not use lemons or beet juice, for example. These are very unpredictable over time and are greatly affected by sun exposure. Lemon juice and the sun might make you blonder the first time you try it, but after several treatments, your hair color will look like the rings of a tree trunk -- in several shades.

Those should be enough hair-care tips to keep you busy -- and looking good -- for some time. Good luck
source:http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/style/hair-care-tips1.htm

Hair Care Tips

Designer clothing, perfectly applied makeup, and fine jewelry are all wasted if your hair looks greasy, dull, or messy. Fortunately, no one needs a hair salon or expensive hair products to have hair that looks professionally cared for and styled. With the right techniques for shampooing, drying, and styling your hair, it can be among your most attractive features.

We'll provide some useful hair-care tips in this article, starting with the basics.

Basic Hair Care

• To minimize breakage, make sure that your hair is thoroughly wet before applying shampoo. Use no more than a quarter-size dollop, and rub the shampoo between your palms first. Lather for no more than 30 seconds.
  
• After shampooing, rinse your hair with cool water to seal moisture in the hair shafts.
  
• To distribute the natural oils in your hair, bend over and brush your scalp and hair from back to front until the scalp tingles; then massage the scalp with your fingertips.
  
• Towel-dry your hair thoroughly before using a blow dryer. You'll save time and avoid damaging your hair with too much heat.
  
• To cut down on static electricity, dampen your hairbrush before brushing.
  
• Avoid using a brush on wet hair because it is subject to breakage. Comb out snarls.
  
• If you suffer from a flaky scalp, try the following treatment every 2 weeks: Section your hair and rub the scalp with a cotton pad saturated with plain rubbing alcohol. Let the alcohol dry, then brush your hair and rinse thoroughly with warm water but don't shampoo.
  
• To perk up permed hair between shampoos, lightly mist your hair with fresh water and push the curls into place with your fingers.
  
• Dull, lifeless hair can be a sign of a poor diet. Try cutting down on cholesterol and fats.
  
• Wait at least 48 hours after coloring hair to shampoo it. Every time you wet hair you open the cuticle -- so give hair time to seal in the color.
  
• Beer can remove residue from your hair. Add 6 tablespoons beer to 1 cup warm water and pour it over your hair as a final rinse.
  
• If your hair is prone to buildup from conditioners, styling gel, or hair spray, mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with your regular shampoo once a week. Rinse and dry as usual.

• Use pomade sparingly to remove static, control flyaway ends, and add a glossy sheen to either straight or curly hair. Apply a very small amount to one hand, and liquefy it between your palms. Then run your hands through the hair. If braiding, apply before braiding and use it for small touch-ups.
  
• Use gel after a braid is finished to smooth down loose or uncontrolled hairs. Apply it to your fingertip or to the end of a hairpin, directing it on top of the stray hairs to encourage them back into the braided pattern.
  
• Use hair spray to hold the finished design in place. If you want a soft finish but need to control the hair, spray into the palm of your hand and then smooth over the surface of the hair to control flyaway strands.
  
• Use a coated rubber band or a soft hair tie to secure ponytails and the ends of a braid to reduce the stress on the hair.
  
• Use gel to control hair when you want a "wet" affect. Apply gel sparingly to your hair once styled. To use for braiding, apply it to all of the hair before you braid, or when you want a clean, off-the-face effect, you can apply it to the perimeter hairline where lengths tend to be shorter
• source :http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/style/hair-care-tips.htm

Split Ends

Over brushing, exaggerated back combing, brushing wet hair, blow drying, coloring hair etc damage cuticle and cause splitting of hair. Malnutrition also causes splitting of hair.

How to prevent splitting of hair

1. Minimize brushing of hair.
    
2. Avoid brushing of hair when it is wet.
    
3. Use a wide toothed comb
    
4. Minimize or avoid using hair dyes, sprays and gels.
    
5. Prevent harmful effects of extreme weather conditions on hair, by wearing caps or scarves.
    
6. Apply hair conditioners to the tips of hair.
    
7. Cut the split hairs as soon as you spot them preferably 3 cms away from the split end.
    
8. Avoid elastic hair bands.
    
9. Remove bands, rollers and clips cautiously.
   source:http://www.ayurhelp.com/hair/dryhair.htm

Dry hair

Dry hair causes
Dryness of hair occurs when hair is washed excessively, shampooed with harsh chemicals or blow dried. Malnutrition, hypothyroidism and anorexia nervosa are few other causes which make hair dry. Rigorous, repeated brushing, bleaching and perming cause dryness of hair. Excessive exposure to wind, water and polluted air also cause dryness of hair.

Tips for dry hair

• Avoid blow drying
   
• Prevent using harsh shampoos and colorants
   
• Use a low pH shampoo.
   
• Apply few drops of oil to hair. The best way to apply it is to put a few drops of hair oil on your palm and start applying from end of the hair and work towards scalp
  source:http://www.ayurhelp.com/hair/dryhair.htm

Ayurveda remedy for Dandruff

Dandruff causes hair fall or hair loss, itching in scalp, acne, pimples and recurrent infection of facial skin. Natural herbs are very good solution for dandruff.
According to dosha theory of ayurveda dandruff is caused by  vitiation of vayu and kapha doshas of scalp.. Ayurveda has recommended many herbal formulations and remedies for dandruff. These ayurveda herbal remedies for dandruff are very effective.
Dandruff
In normal conditions the new cells of scalp skin push the older ones to the surface of scalp. The dead and old cells are shed almost in an invisible way. But in few conditions this process becomes unusually rapid and the dead cells are shed in form of dry flakes.

These flakes collectively constitute what we call dandruff

source:http://www.ayurhelp.com/hair/dandruff.htm

Winter hair care

During winter use a good hair conditioner daily.
After applying good hair conditioner, lock the moisture by running the hair through cold water. This closes the hair cuticle and locks the moisture in .
Allow your hair to dry naturally in winter. Do not go out with wet hair. This encourages splitting of hair.
During winter limit the use of blow driers and curling iron.
Cover your hair with a scarf or cap or hat. Take care not to wear too tight scarf, hat or cap. This restricts circulation to scalp.
Always wash your hair with warm or cool water. Hot water shower damages skin and hair.
Massage your hair with aloe Vera juice. This replenishes moisture. Aloe Vera hair style gels are best choice
Massage the scalp and hair with hair oil infused with vata balancing and hair friendly herbs. Do this twice in a week.
Do not leave your hair as winter damages the hair strands. Put a knot or plait it
source:http://www.ayurhelp.com/wintercare/winter_hair.htm

Causes of hair fall

There are several conditions which cause hair fall. Some of the major causes are A prolonged illness.   Surgery.   Stress   Thyroid hormone imbalance.   Imbalance of male and female hormone.   Few Medicines like anticoagulants, medicines used for gout, chemotherapy for cancer, excess of vitamin A, birth control pills and antidepressants.   In conditions like lupus, diabetes etc

• Fungal infection of scalp.
   
• Hair styles which involve tying of hair tightly, usage of tight rollers, etc
   
• Use of harsh chemicals or hot oil for treatment
• source:http://www.ayurhelp.com/hair/hairloss.htm

Hair Care in Different Seasons

Hair care in winter:

As the weather is cold and less humid during winters, sweating is considerably reduced. Therefore hair becomes less greasy and dirty. It does not require shampooing that often, so avoid over shampooing as this removes the vital natural oils. As the weather is naturally dry, take care to ensure that hair does not become too dry. To prevent dryness oil massage once a week is recommended. One should also use conditioners more frequently to maintain moisture levels.

Hair care in summer:

The summer means heat, pollution and the inevitable sweat. The pores of the skin try to relive and cool the body by sweating. The scalp is no different. However, unlike the rest of the body where sweat evaporates easily, what makes sweat on the scalp more difficult to deal with is that it is harder for it to dry, as it is covered with hair. Because of pollution and sweat, hair needs to be washed more frequently in summer. On order to ensure that hair is not damaged by excessive washing, use a mild shampoo. It is also important to ensure that hairstyles is comfortable and keeps the neck free form hair. Long hair can be tied off the nape of the neck. However, it is important to leave the hair open for sometime in order to let it dry out as excessive sweat and moisture can damage it. it is also advisable to use henna, as it removes extra oil and cools the scalp.

Hair care during the monsoon:

Hair requires more attention during the rainy season, because of the additional humidity. Because of the additional moisture in air during monsoon hair becomes oily and falls flat without any bounce. Usually, the texture of the hair becomes dull and lifeless. As the scalp sweats constantly, itchiness and scratching cause discomfort and hair loss.The seasonal hair loss does not require any treatment as the hair grows back again once the season is over. Avoid using mousse, gels and conditioners as far as possible. Also try not to have any chemical treatment done to hair during these months. Henna is a good conditioner to remove excessive oil and moisture.

Naturally dyeing Grey Hair

As time passes, the pigment producing cells in the hair follicles begin to falter and graying gradually results. Before graying the hair tends to be dry and coarse. So be sure to use moisturizing and protein conditioners.
Natural dyes/henna: Henna is the most popular form of vegetable dye in India as it is more suitable for Asian hair than blonde hair.

For Rich red tones: Add a few drops of acetic acid to the henna mixture. Mix one teaspoon of catechu in the henna for a dark red color.

For Brown: Mix henna with walnut juice. Add one teaspoon of eucalyptus oil to henna for a darker color.

For Blue-black or henna reng: Mix with indigo. Add one teaspoon of eucalyptus oil to henna for a darker color.
Henna also has excellent conditioning properties. It forms a protective coating on hair that prevents any alien chemical from penetrating into the hair cuticle. It also helps to reduce split ends by healing the breakages. Thus it helps to make coarse hair smooth and gives it a distinctive shine.

Chamomile: This has natural lightening properties and works as a color improver for blonde hair.

Rosemary: Springs of rosemary give dark hair a rich glossy shine.

Rhubarb root: This brightens and lifts natural color, giving blonde hair golden highlights and chestnut highlights to dark hair.

Onion: To give hair a natural reddish dye, boil onion peels in half a cup of water. Add a teaspoon of glycerin and apply the decoction to your hair. Wash off after thirty minutes.
Walnut: Walnut juice deepens the color of dark brown hair

source:http://www.ayurhelp.com/hair/haircare.htm

Oil Massage for Hair

Massage increases the blood flow to the hair follicles and beneath the scalp. This helps the growth of healthy hair. Oil massage extremely relaxes body and mind. Massage is especially beneficial for dry hair as it increases blood circulations and produces natural oil. Do not use too much oil for massaging for oily hair as there is enough natural oil in scalp.

• It is best to use oils such as coconut oil medicated with Bringaraja, Neela, Amalaki, Haritaki, Vibhitaki, Brahmi Neem etc,
   
• The oil should always be lukewarm, which enables it to enter the pores of follicles easily.
   
• Add one vitamin E capsules to the oil and then massage the scalp.
   
• The oil should be applied with the help of a cotton pad.
   
• Massage should be done with fingertips only.
   
•  Avoid vigorous massage after oiling as this can cause weak and brittle hair to fall.
   
•  Oil interferes with adequate cleaning therefore avoid a massage before shampooing.
  source:http://www.ayurhelp.com/hair/haircare.htm 

Hair Care Tips

Combing/Brushing
Use a brush whose bristles are made from natural animal hairs, it is softer and more flexible which means less damage will be done to your hair.
Hair is most fragile when it is wet so avoid brushing or combing when it's wet, or else it will cause breakage, wait until your hair is almost completely dry before brushing it.
Use brushes/combs with widely spaced bristles/teeth and smooth tips. Sharp tooth combs can damage your hair, cause split ends, and scratch your scalp.
To keep your brushes and combs clean, wash them weekly using soap or shampoo.
Comb your hair to remove any tangles before brushing it.
Begin by combing your hair gently at the ends to get any tangles out and work your way up to the base of your hair.
Always brush/comb with a downwards stroke.
Avoid using plastic brushes/combs which create static electricity
Shampooing and Conditioning
Buy shampoos & conditioners that match your hair type, trial and error is the best way to find out what specific hair product is best for your hair.
Shower with warm water, hot water can dry and/or irritate the scalp
source:http://www.haircareguide.com/tips2.htm

Hair Care Tips

• Brush your hair regularly before going to bed each night.
• Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Use very little but enough to cover hair completely with lather. Use a conditioner to keep hair manageable.
• Avoid brushing wet hair. This will cause the hair to stretch and finally break. Finger-dry, or use a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush to gently remove the knots.
• Restrict blow-drying your hair. The process of blow-drying is harsh on hair as it robs it of moisture.
• Avoid dyes. Use mehandi (henna) instead as a conditioner and colouring agent.
• Take a calcium supplement or drink two glasses of milk a day.
• Always hold hair dryer away from your hair. Direct air from the hair dryer down hair shaft and not directly into the roots and keep it moving.
• After a perm, never brush your hair. Instead comb hair gently.
• Trim your hair once in 7 weeks  to avoid split ends.
  http://www.webindia123.com/fashionfabrics/Beauty/Hair/tips.htm
• Avoid pulling back your hair tightly.
• Never use a rubber band on your hair as it can pull and damage hair considerably.
• Never go out in the sun without having your head covered.
• Stimulate circulation by massaging your head with oil to which some vitamin E has been added. This will make hair soft and silky. 
• Never wash your hair with very hot or very cold water.
• Learn to relax. Hair loss can happen because of stress. Eat foods that are rich in vitamin B, C and E. 
• Add iron and minerals in the natural form in your diet.
• If your hair is oily, cut down on fried food and fat. Drink plenty of water

How to Cut Hair

Seven section parting is one of the most important techniques that is used through the process of hair cutting. Through this process, the hair is designated into seven different sections of which are used to create an even and balanced haircut as they are blended together through the entire process. Using clips to separate the hair into different sections can teach stylists how to cut hair in sections and ensure that a balanced hair cut is created. The sections of hair that the scalp is divided into include: top, right side, left side, right crown, left crown, right nape and left nape. The seventh section of the hair is the bottom layer that is used to create the length of the haircut which goes around the perimeter of the head.
Sectioning the hair allows more control over the style that is being created. Although it may sound difficult to create a hairstyle in pieces or portions, it is the most effective way to ensure that the cut remains balanced. While learning to cut hair, the seven section parting method is one of the essential techniques used when learning to cut different haircuts. It allows the hairstylist to work from the back to the front in controlled movements, working on one section of hair at a time. Not all sections of the hair are cut at the same time and only half of one section is worked on at a time to ensure that the haircut is blended while the style is being created.
When the hair style is created, it is important to use sharp scissors. Using sharp scissors is the only way to guarantee that the cuts will be straight, effective and easily blended within the hair. Sharp, professional scissors should be used and sharpened on a regular basis on both sides. This will enable the best results. Once the scissors become dull it can be difficult to create straight lines which are required for an effective and stylish hair cut.
The hair cutting process should use small cuts of hair, not large cuts – as this can lead to too much being cut from the hair and mistakes being made in the style. Experts recommend that no more than one eighth of an inch be cut at a time from the hair to ensure that control is maintained over the style. A stylist should be able to envision the combination of small cuts making an impact in the hair style and creating the ultimate style.
Finishing the haircut includes ensuring that all portions of the hair are cut evenly and can be blended together to create a hair cut that ensures there are no jagged edges in the hair. Cross sectioning can be used to test the length of the hair by comparing the length in the front and the back of the hair. There are two main places that are used to judge the length of the hair; these include the nose in the front of the head, as well as the occipital bone in the back of the head. Learning to successful cross section the hair is an essential part of maintaining the quality of the hair cut.
source:http://www.haircuttingguide.com/howtocuthair.htm

Hair Styling Tips

When your bad hair days outnumber your good ones, it may be time for a change of hair style! Yet, before you go under the knife - scissors, take time out to sharpen up your style knowledge with a few hair styling tips!
Solving Common Hair Styling Problems
Corralling the Bang Cowlick
Bangs are great for softening a severe cut or style and can add dimension to a too angular face shape but, when accompanied by a cowlick (Patch of hair that won't normally lie flat because it grows in a different direction), they can transform a hair style from chic to hick. To corral bang cowlicks, try drying bangs forward using a vented dryer or round brush.
Alternatively, you can turn the negative into a positive by basing your hair style on the natural lift of your cowlick.

• Camouflage your cowlick and add a look of natural lift to your bangs by parting your hair at your cowlick.
• Using your styling brush or vented brush like a hot roller, imitate the lift of your cowlick in other sections of your bangs.
• Pull short layers forward to effectively weigh down the cowlick.

Don’t Flip Out - Flip Under!
When your hair is rubbing you the wrong way, don’t flip out. Use your styling brush or vented brush to flip hair into a hair styling classic, the pageboy. Dry hair to about ¾ and then apply a working spray to the ends of your hair. Turn your dryer to hot. Then just as you would with hot rollers, use your styling brush or a vented brush to roll your hair under. Blow dry for about 15 seconds. Let the curl cool for about 10 seconds; then carefully remove your styling appliance. If you’re lucky enough to have a lot of volume, you may wish to separate your hair into ‘bottom’ and ‘top’ sections. Pin up the top section and use the technique on the bottom section first and then the top.
Grounding Fly-Away Hair
The reason hair doesn’t fly away everyday is because hair follicles naturally attract and retain moisture. However, it takes moisture to attract moisture; when conditions are dry, you need to provide your hair with some supplementary help. Although the better commercial moisturizers contain “humectants” to assist in moisture attraction and retention, you can find one inexpensive yet effective alternative right in your kitchen! The safflower oil you use for cooking is one of the beauty industry’s best-kept secrets for treating dryness in hair due to weather, perms, hair coloring, and hair relaxation techniques... and all it takes is a couple of drops.
Rub a couple of drops of safflower oil between your palms. Your hands will look shiny in the light. Then scrunch the oil into your dry hair, starting at the ends and working towards your scalp. Leave this “conditioning” treatment in your hair. You won’t even notice it, but you will notice that it works wonders in keeping frizzies and fly-aways in their place – completely out of sight!
To keep ends in better condition, always dry with focus on the hair closest to your head and not your ends.
Taking the Limp Out of Long Hair
To build volume in thinner hair – while it’s still damp, lean over and let your hair hang forward. Finish drying starting at the nape of your neck and working towards your forehead. When you flip it back, you’ll likely see that your “mop” has turned into a magnificent mane!
Choosing Your Hair Style
Face shape, curl (straight, wavy, curly, kinky), texture (fine, medium, thick) and the volume of your hair are the deciding elements in choosing your best hair style. However, with today’s hair styling techniques you can change almost any aspect of your hair, so the most important consideration is your face shape. Determining Your Face Shape
Put long hair into a pony tail; wet and slick back short hair. Using a bar of soap, a water soluble marker, or a crayon, look into a mirror and trace the outline of your face. Follow your hairline and trace starting with the center of your forehead to temple, jawbone, chin, jawbone, temple, and back to forehead. Stand to one side and look at your outline. It should resemble one of seven shapes. Oval, Triangle. Square, Round, Heart, Oblong, Diamond.


Oval: Sometimes called the “perfect” face shape, the balance of the oval allows you to wear almost any hair style you choose. However, don’t cramp your style with heavy bangs or forward directed hair styling that masks your lovely cheekbones or features. Triangular: If you have a cleft in your chin, your face shape is the exact opposite of the heart shaped face. Short cuts will help balance your dominant jaw line and you are a great candidate for today’s wedges, shags, and other styles that feature fullness at the temples.
Square: Soften the angles with short, wispy bangs and soft tendrils along the sides of your face. Naturally curly hair is an ideal accent for a square face. If you don’t have it, consider a perm or body wave. Add extra dimension to your style by layering in extra height at your crown and wearing an off-set part.
Round: Lengthen you face to get the appearance of an oval by adding some height at your crown. Keep hair swept back to show your features to their best advantage. Wear off centered parts to draw attention away from the symmetry of your face. Wear either short or long hair styles, but stay away from the medium. Keep hair either above or below your chin line.
Heart: Chin length (or longer) hair styling looks great on the heart-shaped face, adding fullness and volume where you need it. You’re also a candidate for styles that feature wispy bangs, layered at the sides to sweep forward, accenting your eyes and stunning cheekbones.
Rectangular or oblong: Try short to medium length hair styles with extra fullness at the sides. Use wispy bangs and romantic tendrils to soften the angles. Layers also add softness and roundness to straight lines. Too long hair, high hair, and center parts will serve to lengthen your face. Keep your hair above shoulder length and work to add volume at the sides of your hair style.
Diamond: Your face is almost an oval, but a bit more angular, which gives you a dramatic look that allows you to try many different hair styles. Leave weight at the nape of your neck to add weight to a narrow chin and do keep the hair out of your face to keep from hiding your great bone structure!
source:http://www.hairstylingguide.com/tips.htm

Hair Coloring Techniques

Past hair coloring techniques often made it necessary to camouflage a “dye job” with a perky cut or a wig. Lightening jet-black hair meant hours of bleaching that left hair looking more like yellow straw than platinum blond. Towheads, who wanted a darker shade, were often left with a gothic look before gothic was a trend and those looking for strawberry blond commonly got fire-engine red. Of course, modern hair coloring techniques made fire-engine red a fashion trend instead of a hair coloring catastrophe!
Modern hair coloring techniques add true dimension to style right down to the natural movement of your hair. Highlights, twilights, and lowlights are just a few of the choices that enhance both your face and your hairstyle. In addition, hair coloring techniques include veiling and chunking.
Types of Hair Coloring Techniques
Highlights: Probably one of the first innovations in hair coloring, highlights brighten and add shine. Highlights work best in warm shades of gold, honey, amber, and reds and can be applied with permanent hair color or created with over-the-counter hair mascara, such as Christian Dior's Mascara Flash Highlights or Revlon Professional Luminates, both of which wash out after one shampoo.
Twilighting: When you want a lighter hair color to show a subtle change, twilighting is the answer. Twilighting tones down too-bright hair colors by adding a few darker tones. Twilights are closely related to lowlights.
Lowlights: A hair coloring technique that adds real depth to hair color. Like twilights, low lights add darker tones and soften the look of over-lightened hair or add dimension to hair color that looks flat. A skilled stylist can weave up to three different colors into your hair by pulling a few strands here and there through a weave cap for a subtle look or foiling chunks of your hair for a dramatic, trendy look.
Veiling: Brightens and enhances old flat hair color by applying a semi-permanent glaze in a richer tone over a permanent shade.
Chunking: Takes large, random sections of hair and infuses them with new color. Chunking is a hair coloring technique that gives dramatic impact to your hairstyle, often by adding bright, trendy colors to natural hair color.
Hair Coloring Technique Processes
Weave caps: Used most often in highlighting, twilighting, and lowlighting, your stylist pulls small strands through holes in the weave cap. The effect is usually a subtle change that enhances your basic hair color. Highlighting with a weave cap also helps to camouflage gray or roots growing back after a permanent hair color application.
Foiling: Your stylist places sections of hair onto rectangular sheets of foil and applies color or lightener, folding the foil to keep the color in place and away from other sections. Of all highlighting techniques, foiling can be applied closest to the root.
Baliage: A great application for textured, natural curls, or wavy hair. Your stylist selects specific areas and hand paints them with color. This dramatic implementation of a hair coloring technique leaves you with a very “personal” appearance!
It’s important to note that although kits are available for most all hair coloring techniques, professional stylists have the skill that comes with experience. Especially for hard to color shades like gray, platinum, and black hair, it’s wisest to consult a professional before you try a new hair color technique at home!
source:http://www.haircoloringguide.com/techniques.htm

Winter Hair Care Tips

The dry and cold winter can be very damaging to your hair. Hair easily becomes dry during this time of year from the dry indoor heating and the dry cold weather outside. Proper preventative steps need to be taken during this seasons to ensure that your hair does not get damaged.
Winter Hair Care Tips
Wear a scarf, hat or cap to protect your hair from the cold and wind, but make sure that it's not so tight that it will restrict circulation in your scalp.
Use a conditioner daily.
Once you have your hair moist, lock in the moisture by running your hair through cold water, this will also give your hair an extra shine.
Don't go outside with your hair wet, you risk breakage; your hair will freeze if it's cold enough outside and may break.
Limit your use of "hot" items on your hair such as a blow dryers and curling irons.
If you need to use a "hot" item use a leave in conditioner before using the item on your hair.
Avoid taking hot showers or washing your hair in hot water, use warm or cool water instead, the heat can dry out and/or damage your hair and skin.
Hair products that have the word, "Replenish" on it is made to moistureize your hair.
Try using a dry shampoo if you need to wash out your hair, one dry shampoo you can use is baby powder, simply sprinkle some onto your hair and use a comb to comb it off.
source:http://www.haircareguide.com/winter.htm

Black Hair Care Tips

Black Hair Care Tips

African-American/Black hair in general is more brittle, coarser, dryer and curlier (nappy) than those of non-African decent. Because of this hair care for a Caucasian would be different than for an African, who needs to be more careful when treating his/her hair because it is more delicate. African-Black Hair Care Tips
A healthier lifestyle will result in healthier hair.
Massaging your scalp on a regular basis will stimulate oil production, which will help reduce the dryness of your hair.
Daily shampooing is not recommended, ethnic hair is dryer than other types of hair, shampooing strips away the oils from your hair so try shampooing once every 3 to 7 days instead.
If you engage in daily activities that cause you to sweat, it is recommended that you rinse your hair out with water and only use shampoo on occasion, but if you feel the need to use a mild shampoo, go ahead and do so.
Use a mild moisturizing shampoo with a low PH level when washing your hair.
Don't use a 2 in 1 shampoo and conditioner, use a separate shampoo and conditioner, 2 in 1's aren't suited as well for dry hair.
When washing your hair rub only in one direction to avoid tangling.
Shower with warm water, hot water can dry and/or irritate the scalp.
Oil your scalp after shampooing, with your hair still moist, massage the oil into your scalp and brush out to the ends of your hair.
Use a conditioner when you shower, it'll moisturize your hair, give it extra protection, add shine, reduce static, and makes it easier to untangle.
source:http://www.haircareguide.com/black.htm

Curly Hair Care Tips

Curly hair tends be dryer, more brittle and prone to frizzing, so it requires more care than straight hair. Below are some tips on managing curly hair.
Curly Hair Care Tips
Limit shampooing your hair to no more than twice a week., shampooing strips your hair of its natural oils.
Use a conditioner every time after you shampoo to re-moisturize your hair.
Use a leave-in conditioner on your hair daily or every other day.
Use a shampoo and conditioner that is specifically geared towards curly hair.
Avoid using narrow toothed combs and brushes, use wide-toothed combs instead which has less of a tendency to cause breakage and frizzing.
To detangle your hair, in the shower start with your hair moist and conditioned (which will protect it from breakage), use your fingers to begin the untangling then finish with a wide toothed comb starting from the end going up finishing at the root of the hair. Then rinse your head with water and try to retain half of the conditioner in your hair. If you try to detangle your hair when it's dry, you will cause it to frizz.
Let your hair aid dry to reduce frizzing, avoid brushing and using a towel to dry your hair. If you need to your hair to dry quickly, blot your hair with a towel, but do not rub it.
Deep condition your hair once a month or more to re-moisturize your scalp and hair.
Use a small amount of styling product with moisturizing ingredient(s) in it to keep your hair from frizzing when your hair is still slightly moist and gently style with your finger. Apply the styling one section so that it is equally distributed.
Avoid playing with your hair or touching it as much as possible, the more friction that occurs on your hair will cause it to tangle and/or frizz.
source:http://www.haircareguide.com/curly.htm

Long Hair Care Tips

Caring for long hair takes a lot more time compared to caring for short hair or hair of normal length. Just washing and drying long hair can be quite a task in itself. Below are some tips on managing long hair.
Long Hair Care Tips
Avoid sleeping with tightly braided hair or hair in a tight ponytail. The stress can cause breakage and/or hair loss.
When your hair is braided, make sure that it is not too tight or it could cause breakage and/or hair loss.
If your hair is braided or you have a ponytail, use a specially treated band or scrunchie which will prevent breakage of your hair, limit your use of clips, bows, and untreated bands.
Even if you plan on growing your hair out further you should trim your hair once every 3 months, if not split ends will cause your hair to break off and your hair will begin to lose it's beauty, if you plan on just maintaining your length, a trim once every month and a half to two months should suffice.
Don't use a brush to detangle your hair, this will stretch your hair and may cause your hair to break off. Instead use your fingers, a pick, or a wide tooth comb to detangle your hair.
When detangling your hair work your way from the tips of your hair up to the hair roots. Work on detangling one section of your hair at a time and go in a downward direction.
Be gentle when detangling, pulling down on your hair too hard will cause breakage.
If you detangle your hair before washing it, it'll be easier to dry and style as well as decrease the knots and tangles after you are done washing your hair.
Don't rub your hair dry with a towell, instead blot the water out of your hair, when you rub, it'll cause your hair to tangle.
Hair can get caught on cotton pillow cases and break when you are sleeping especially if you toss and turn a lot when you sleep. Using a satin or silk pillowcase where your hair will make it so that hair will slide across the pillowcase without getting caught. Another tactic to prevent breakage is to put your hair up in a ponytail on the top of your head with a scrunchie or specially treated band (that prevents breakage).
An alternative to the silk pillowcase is to wear a satin or silk scarf over your hair before your sleep to prevent breakage.
Brushing your hair is important because it spreads the the hair oils out across the length of your hair. Use long strokes starting from the roots of your hair when brushing and stroke your hand over your hair after you are done brushing to get rid of static.
source:http://www.haircareguide.com/long.htm