Hair Care Basics

Hair is important. Hair is your crowning glory. The way you style your hair is one of the most eloquent aspects of our body vocabulary. The better you treat your hair, the easier it will be to grow and the better it will look. Some women favor very long hair and resist the idea of frequent cuts, but skipping hair cuts in order to grow your hair out is actually self-defeating. If you take good care of your hair, you may not need to get it cut more than twice a year. Sleep with a satin scarf or sleep cap on your head or with a satin pillow case. This helps avoid split ends caused by the rubbing of your hair against a "rough" cotton pillow case. It also avoids moisture being wicked out of your hair into your cotton pillow case.

Wash your hair no more often than every week to week and a half. After shampooing, rinse your hair with cool water to seal moisture in the hair shafts. Coloring you hair can be very damaging. 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. Avoid damaging your hair with too much heat. Avoid using a brush on wet hair because it is subject to breakage. Comb out snarls. Do a deep conditioner or hot oil treatment once a month. Massage your scalp on a regular basis to promote circulation and oil production. Avoid overuse of products with mineral oil or petroleum.

Always use a leave-in conditioner after washing your hair. 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. 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. Eat a proper diet. Vitamins and protein are essential for proper hair growth. 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. Use gel to control hair when you want a "wet" affect. Apply gel sparingly to your hair once styled. If you want a soft finish but need to control the hair. Use hair spray.

Hair Care Tips

1. Protect your hair with hair care products that contain sunscreen.

2. Use regular hair rollers, winding hair loosely around them.

3. Avoid pulling back your hair tightly.

4. For shiny hair apply besan in the hair and wash it with water drained from the cooked rice.

5. Add a lemon peel to a 'shikakai' and 'amla' mixture while washing your hair.

6. Wash hair with tea once in a week.

7. Eat a proper diet.

8. Always use a wide tooth comb and try to gently detangle your hair.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for free hairstyles and fashion hairstyles tips.

Tags: blow dryer, crowning glory, deep conditioner, hair cuts, hair shafts, hot oil, leave in conditioner, natural oils, oil treatment, ponytails, split ends, wet hair