healthy hair central

Consumers are growing more concerned about the ingredients available in their shampoos. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate especially has become a hot topic on all hair and beauty product forums. Many claim that this chemical compound is responsible for causing problems affecting both the scalp and hair itself. Question is: is there truth to these claims.

Sadly, the answer is yes.

Sulfates are commonly used as lathering agents in your shampoo. Their main purpose is to cleanse the hair from dirt and dust. However, using sulfate shampoos will get more than dirt. The chemical reacts with your scalp and hair, causing dangerous side effects you could do without. To give you an idea of what problems you can expect, here are four common side effects.

Dry Hair – Your scalp and hair will be deprived of the essential oils that keep your hair moisturized. As a result, it will go dryer than normal.
Itchy Scalp – As your hair turns dry due to the addition of sulfate to your shampoo, you scalp may develop dandruff. As a result, it may start feeling tight and itchy.
Hair Loss – Since your hair and the follicles suffer extensive damage, substantial hair loss will follow. You may start losing more hair quickly if you don’t rinse shampoo out of your hair.
Fading of Hair Color – Sulfates are quite aggressive in nature. While they may be great for cleansing your hair, they can leave it dull and force you to live with faded locks.

So if you have a few sulfate shampoos in your bathroom, it’s about time that you dump them for a safer alternative. The simplest way to avoid this harmful ingredient is by screening the labels of your new shampoo before buying it. However, you can always choose a natural product instead to steer away from chemicals altogether.

A wild, untamed mane of hair while walking against the wind might look sexy in commercials but we all know in real life, a cold, windy day does a number on your hair. High winds and dropping temperatures can contribute to knotty hair which leads to damage. So how do you go about protecting your gorgeous tresses from those blustery, sharp winds?

Accessorize Your Hair

If you have longer hair that tends to whip you in the face (or worse) sticks to your lip gloss like super glue, it might be time to invest in some hair accessories to keep your hair pulled back. Make sure never to pull hair too tightly as this can lead to hair loss. If you have short hair, you can begin a hat collection to keep your scalp and hair warm, protected and (maybe) in place! Wrapping a scarf or shawl around your neck to cover the ends of your hair is also a good idea and with so many ways to tie a scarf the style possibilities are endless!

Protection From The Cold

When hair gets cold, the shaft of each strand is more susceptible to damage, just like our skin. Deep-conditioning treatments only work on protecting the surface of the hair, but by nourishing your body with healthy fats like those from avocados and salmon, you will notice a difference in your hair. It will look shinier and the oils will help protect your hair from the cold. Studies have found that getting adequate omegas in your diet can even stimulate hair growth, thus preventing extra hair shedding that Swedish researchers found happens more often in the fall.

Moisturize Your Ends

Moisturizing the ends of your hair is as easy as a trip to your kitchen; take a few drops of extra-virgin olive oil and rub in between fingertips and apply to the ends of your hair while hair is slightly damp from the shower. This will seal in some of the moisture already there and help protect the ends of your hair before you go outdoors.

Eat Plenty of Dark Leafy Greens

Dark, leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, Swiss chard and kale are filled with vitamins A and C which helps boost oil production in your scalp, which will in turn, protect and nourish your hair. Not a veggie fan? Never fear; these vitamin powerhouses also can be added to your favorite fruit smoothies!

By protecting our hair early on before any damage occurs, you can rest assured that your hair will look and feel healthy for years to come, with less visits to the salon….and doctor!

Having long hair is the dream of most girls. However, not all of them manage to achieve this. One of the reasons behind this is the amount of breakage their hair experiences. If you really want to flaunt long tresses wherever you go, you need to take action against your brittle, easy to break hair. So, here are four bits of advice you should abide by.

Do Your Best to Minimize Your Hair Loss

It is normal to shed 50-100 hairs per day. If you start losing more, you need to make a few changes, such as choosing a protective style for a week or two or resisting the urge to unnecessary comb your hair. Through these small steps, you’ll be able to reduce your hair loss.

Stop Breakage from the Roots

Detangling your hair should never be painful. If that’s not the case and you’re pulling out a lot of hair, your roots will grow weak. So, either change your method of detangling or consider detangling in smaller sections to avoid breakage from the roots.

Try to Avoid Breakage from the Ends

Hair tangles around the ends of shafts, making it prone to breakage. To prevent this from happening, simply dab the tangles with oil for a few minutes and you’ll find it easier to get smooth, tangle-free hair.

Choose the Correct Detangling Method

Healthy natural hair is a process, not a goal. Therefore, you need to know what works for it to make the process successful. One aspect you should concentrate on is finding the correct detangling method to prevent breakage. You can take your pick from damp detangling, shower detangling, or sink/mirror detangling to prevent breakage.

Following these simple four steps will ensure that your hair grows long, healthy and breakage-proof. Just make sure to complement them with a healthy diet and a more active lifestyle for the best results.

All of us want to have the sleek and shining hair flaunted in beauty and fashion magazines. The fact is that these glossy locks are usually achieved with the help of a lot of hair products, professional lighting and some smart technical edits. However, that doesn’t mean that your hair can’t get shinier and healthier. You can easily get your hair to look good within certain realistic limits and without any special effects.

Before solving your problem, you need to understand why hair gets dull. If you tend to use a lot of heat and chemicals to style your hair on a regular basis, your hair will lose its luster. Using harsh styling techniques, excessive stress and exposure to environmental soils can also lead to dull hair. Now that you know why your hair has grown dull, here are a few simple tips and tricks to help you counter this situation.

Rinse Your Hair with Cold Water

One of the best ways you can retain the shine of your hair is by keeping it moisturized. Excessive heat to your hair results in opened cuticles, which in turn make your hair dull. By simply rinsing your hair with cold water, you can close down these cuticles and improve the look of your tresses. Just make sure that you don’t undo the benefits you get from cold rinsing by blow drying your hair with excessive heat.

Embrace Rinses with Natural Products

You can also rinse your hair with some natural products to add some luster to it. For instance, you can use vinegar to rinse your hair after shampooing and conditioning it. To carry this out, add a cup of white vinegar to a gallon of water and use the mixture to rinse your hair. Using this mixture regularly will tighten the cuticle layer of your hair, helping you keep your hair shiny.

Make the Right Shampoo Choices

To prevent your hair from looking dull, you need to use a shampoo that can moisturize your hair and a moisture rich conditioner to complement it. You can find several of these shampoos and conditioners in stores to help you maintain the healthy look and shine of your hair.

So make sure that your hair is always looking its best using these simple natural remedies.

Flakes, which are a combination of dead dried skin and dandruff, can be one of the most embarrassing situations to deal with. Caused due to low oil production in the scalp, flakes can often lead to several skin infections, not just on your scalp, but on your face and neck as well.

If you have a flaky scalp, here are some simple home remedies to use.

Baking Soda – Add water to baking soda and apply the paste to your scalp. This will remove the dead skin from the surface. Finally, wash with warm water, shampoo and conditioner.
Coconut Oil – Warm coconut oil first and then massage it on your scalp gently. To get better results, add a few drops of lemon juice to the oil.
Lemon Juice – Since flaky scalp can lead to excessive dandruff, the best way to get rid of it is to massage your scalp with lemon juice. Doing so won’t only get rid of dandruff, but would also prevent further flakes.
Apple Cider Vinegar – In order to remove dead skin cells from your scalp, you can use apple cider vinegar, but not the distilled type. Applying it will leave your hair follicle clear, preventing flake formation.
Coconut Milk – Another way to get rid of your flakes is by rinsing your scalp with coconut milk and leaving it that way for about ten minutes. You can also add lemon juice to it and massage your scalp.
Aloe Vera – Aloe Vera can be used for dandruff and flakes since it moisturizes and repairs the skin of your scalp. You should apply the gel and leave it overnight. After waking up in the morning, wash your hair with cold water.
Tea Tree Oil – If you want to protect your scalp from the bacteria forming due to the flakes, your best solution is tea tree oil. Simply use the oil to massage your scalp and then wash it off with shampoo.
Olive Oil – Olive oil is a good remedy for moisturizing your scalp and increasing hair growth without promoting flake formation.
Witch Hazel – Another thing you can use to prevent scalp infection due to flaking is witch hazel. You need to boil this flower and make a paste of it. Once ready, apply it for about 30 minutes before rinsing.

Try these simple remedies at home and see how well they work for your flaky scalp.

Almost all of us are forced to face split ends at one point in our lives; it’s that common a hair problem. An ever harder truth is that the only way you can remove split ends once they find their way to your hair is by cutting it. However, there are certain preventive measures that you should take afterwards to ensure that these split ends never return later.

Removing Split Ends

If you currently have split ends, the first thing you need to do is to remove them before moving on to preventive actions. You need to cut them off on your own since only you can determine how much to cut. However, remember to use proper hair shears even if it’s just a strand as paper scissors can fray hair ends. Moreover, get a haircut scheduled after every eight weeks as all hair starts getting damaged beyond that point. Most importantly, never believe in products that claim to heal split ends since that isn’t possible.

Preventing Split Ends

Here are some tips that can help you steer clear of split ends in the future:

Keep your hair protected from all types of chemicals, including perming lotions, coloring agents and the chemicals found in pools. Also check if the water you normally use to wash your hair contains chemicals like chlorine or calcium carbonate since they cause split ends.
Always comb your hair gently and slowly while staying away from harmful styles like back combing. Use hair-friendly, combs and minimum strokes of brush. You can also use your fingers to untangle hair gently.
The ultraviolent rays of the sun have the power to damage your hair, so try wearing a cap when you go out to minimize sun damage. Moreover, consider using hair conditioners that have sunscreen to protect your hair perfectly against harsh sun rays.
Shampoos can be harsh on the hair, so make sure to select one that is quite gentle and complement it with a good conditioner. However, make sure to wash out both shampoo and conditioner properly from your scalp. In addition, once in a while, treat your hair to deep conditioning to nourish it and strengthen it.
While drying your hair, avoid rubbing your towel on your hair too harshly. Also keep your hair dryer’s temperature low to avoid damaging your hair and developing split end again.

If you are careful with your hair, you can easily prevent spilt ends and keep your hair healthy and glossy.

Deep conditioning hydrates and softens hair that has been damaged from everyday life (including chemicals, treatments, and excess heat). Your hair can experience improved elasticity allowing it to stretch without breaking. Make sure you’re deep conditioning correctly with these easy steps.

1. Choose the right product

Different types of hair need different types of conditioners. Try out different conditioners to see which ones work best for you. Here are some quick rules of thumb you can start with:

If your hair is fine, use lighter conditioners to make your hair look more voluminous.
If your hair is frizzy, try a natural oil conditioner such as olive oil, coconut oil, or other oils.

2. Start with shampoo

Proper conditioning starts with a proper wash of your hair. Gently wash and rinse your hair to prepare it to be conditioned

3. Apply the conditioner

Squeeze a quarter-size of conditioner into the palm of your hand. Start by applying to the roots of your hair and moving your way down. If you have really long hair, don’t be afraid to use more conditioner.

4. Cover your head

Use a shower cap to cover your head. Deep conditioning takes time for the conditioner to penetrate the strands of your hair. The shower cap allows the conditioner to penetrate your hair without turning your floors into a slippery swamp.

5. Skip the blow dryer

Heat can damage your hair especially if you have a shower cap on. Let your natural body heat warm the conditioner up. This method can take overnight but will lessen the damage to your hair.

6. Rinse with cool water

Cool water seals your hair and locks in the moisture from the conditioner. Use a towel to gently pat your hair dry after rinsing. Congratulations! You just deep conditioned health and life back into your hair.

Dealing with dandruff isn’t easy, especially after you have tried every treatment in the book. However, there are a few things you can do to bring back all your black clothes and be less conscious about pesky white flakes. Here are ten easy tips to incorporate into your daily routine.

1. Shampoo Your Hair Every Day –

Keep your scalp clean by washing it daily. You will get rid of the excess oil, dirt particles, and flakes that come with dandruff.

2. Change Your Shampoo –

If your regular shampoo is useless, buy a new one that contains either zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide, salicylic acid, or ketoconazole. These ingredients fight off the main cause of dandruff: the malassezia fungus.

3. Pick Three Different Shampoos –

Don’t stick to a single brand of shampoo. A resistance may form with the constant use of active ingredients, so it’s better that you use three shampoos and rotate them monthly.

4. Lather Twice While Washing Your Hair –

By lathering twice, you’ll be able to wash off the oil accumulation and flakes first, allowing the ingredients to penetrate further into skin cells.

5. Use Tar Shampoo –

Consider switching to tar shampoo as it helps decrease the hair cell turnover. Its drawbacks, however, are its odor, ability to stain light hair, and irritation of scalp.

6. Rinse Your Hair –

Rinse your hair with a conditioner, crème, or even with lemon juice. A good conditioner will make your hair manageable, reduce its stiffness, and seal its moisture.

7. Check The Sensitivity Of Your Scalp –

If you have sensitive skin, avoid harsh chemical shampoos as they might inflame your hair follicles and cause folliculitis, the inflammation of one more hair follicles.

8. Don’t Irritate Your Scalp –

If you scratch your scalp, wounds will begin to appear. With wounded skin, you shouldn’t use a medicated shampoo until your head is healed.

9. Avoid Sweat –

Workouts or exercises can make you perspire excessively, leading to skin cells flaking. So shower after a workout to curb your dandruff.

10. Don’t Use Sticky Stuff Often –

Using hair styling gels, mousses, sprays or any such product support oil buildup. So avoid applying them often.
With these tips, you can kiss dandruff goodbye once and for all. What has and hasn’t worked for you? Comment with your thoughts or tips.

Women enjoy flaunting their hair; it is their crown of glory and one of the features that make them stand out. However, healthy hair is becoming a rarity among today’s women as they tend to face a number of hair-related problems. If you’re wondering what those are, here are five common issues.

1. Dandruff

Dandruff is the white particles that stick to your roots and are hard to hide. If you’ve been careless with your diet lately or are suffering from a low metabolism rate, scalp infection, and stress, dandruff is inevitable and so is hair loss. The solution to this problem is anti-dandruff shampoos and a healthier lifestyle.

2. Split Ends

Split ends occur when your hair turns brittle and dry. If you comb or brush your hair more, go for perms and dye frequently, or expose your hair to heat often, split ends will quickly form. Use conditioners that suit your hair type to avoid split ends.

3. Frizzy Hair

Women consider frizzy hair a curse, but it’s basically an issue caused by loss of moisture. To protect the natural moisture of your hair, don’t brush your hair often, especially while using a hair dryer. This condition can be hereditary passing from parent to child, so identify the cause first and then look for a treatment.

4. Flaky Scalp

Flaky scalp is yet another common issue women want to get rid of. Dead skin flakes reduce the hair growth process, leading to hair loss. To reverse this condition, you need to take vitamins and stop using hair styling products with high chemical content.

5. Hair Fall

Just like men, women can be victims of hair loss. The main causes of hair loss among women are stress, birth control, hormonal changes, DHT, menopause, reaction to medication, and excessive use of styling products. To counter this issue, use a shampoo formulated to combat hair loss that provides nutrition to your hair and cleans off the dirt, oil and other residue.

If any of these issues haunt you, consult a specialist immediately or use home remedies for the best results. What issues haunt your hair? Comment below with your thoughts and hair issues.

Did you know there’s a right way to wash your hair in the shower that minimizes breakage and increases how healthy your hair looks? Learning the proper technique to wash your hair will help keep your precious hair on your head. We recommend a 5-minute wash 3-4 times a week. Healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp. You too can have healthy hair by properly maintaining your scalp and follicles. Start with warm water and rinse with cool water. Here are the steps to healthier hair:

Step 1: Brush before you shower

Brushing before you shower not only reduces the amount of hairs that get caught in your drain, it will also help minimize breakage and stimulate circulation in your scalp.

Step 2: Wet your hair and apply the shampoo

Wet your hair, and apply a quarter-size of shampoo into the palm of your hand. Start by applying to the roots of your hair and moving your way down. If you have really long hair, don’t be afraid to use more shampoo.

Step 3: Massage your scalp

Massaging your scalp increases the circulation and delivery of nutrients that help nourish your hair to grow. Before you rinse, use the shampoo on your hair to gently massage your scalp with your fingers. Create circular motions by rubbing your scalp and gently running your fingers away from the scalp. Restart the massage every 20-30 seconds by quickly running your hands under the water. Adding water to the shampoo on your scalp will help the shampoo break down and increase nutrient delivery to your scalp.

Step 4: Rinse with lukewarm water

Use lukewarm water to gently rinse your hair. Make sure you rub from the scalp down to get rid of built up gunk in your scalp and hair.

Step 5: Rinse with cold water

If you’re looking to use conditioner, now is the time. Apply it to the mid-length of your hair and move down. Finish your wash by rinsing with cool water to seal the cuticles.

Enjoy!

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