Hair Care Tips We must be concerned with preventive hair care maintenance by creating a healthy environment below the surface of the scalp, where hair is created, germinated or born. Since hair in its basic structure is a dead tissue formed by keratin (protein), our diets should consist of a good balance of easily digested proteins.Sebaceous glands secrete an oily substance called sebum that is made of fat and the debris of dead fat-producing cells. Sebum is odorless, but its bacterial breakdown can produce odors. Sebum is the cause of some people experiencing "oily" hair if it is not washed for several days. Sebum acts to protect and waterproof hair and skin, and keep them from becoming dry, brittle, and cracked. It can also inhibit the growth of microorganisms on skin. Clean Scalp and Hair Regularly Scalp skin that is not cleansed regularly may become a prime breeding ground for bacteria, and scalp disorders may sometimes result. Shampoo is designed to perform a mayor task - to cleanse the hair of excessive sebum (natural oils), body sweat and environmental impurities. It is a scientific contradiction that cleansing the hair alone will keep it healthy, once you have stripped it its natural protective properties, like sebum. The longer your hair is, the less the chance is that these natural hair oils will reach the mid-shaft to ends of your hair with daily shampooing. This leaves the older and more vulnerable sections of the hair-shaft exposed to further damage from sun, environmental impurities, heated styling appliances and chemical processes, such coloring or permanent waving. Gently Massage your Scalp While you shampoo and condition your hair, gently massage your scalp, in small circular motions using only the pads of your fingers. Never use your fingernails for this purpose as you can cause abrasions to your scalp that could lead to a possible infection and skin disorders. You'll not only have cleaner and more thoroughly conditioned hair, but you will have stimulated protein-supplying blood to feed the germinating roots of your hair. Do not over Shampoo Therefore, the mid-shaft to ends of your hair does not need the same intense daily cleansing as the first few inches of hair closest to the scalp. The remedy is very simple - as you gently massage your scalp while shampooing, only apply and focus your shampoo within the first 2 - 3 inches of hair closest to your scalp. When you rinse the shampoo from this base section of the hair it will quickly pass though the mid-shaft to ends of your hair, thus providing these areas with the lighter cleansing they require. Condition Regularly First, we must realize that any product remedy we might add to our hair is always a temporary fix, no matter how good it is at initially solving certain hair challenges. Any product that is effective at controlling “frizzies” must be used periodically to continue to be effective. Some hair care products work for longer periods between uses, while others must be used every day to overcome challenges like split-ends. Do not over Condition Daily conditioning (protecting) any type of hair, from thin & fine to thick & frizzy, is basically the same. It is simply the reverse concept of shampooing hair as discussed above - considering that throughout the course of the day the first 3 inches of hair closest to the scalp will receive an adequate supply of naturally-occurring hair oil (sebum). Therefore, if you condition this area with a cream rinse or daily conditioner it can become over-conditioned, heavy & less manageable. The solution is to apply your conditioner from the mid-shaft (3 inches from scalp) of the hair to the ends. Then using a wide-toothed comb and holding onto the ends of your hair, gently comb the conditioner from mid-shaft to ends for even distribution, detangling and sealing split ends. By the time you finish doing this; the conditioner will have remained within your hair for the appropriate 3 to 5 minutes to be effective in temporarily repairing any damaged or frizzy areas. The concept for applying deep conditioners is the same as above, however, the time the conditioner is left within the hair must be extended up to 20 minutes to allow penetration into the inner (cortical) layer of the hair shaft - only 10 minutes if your wrap your hair in a moist, hot towel. Deep conditioning should be done sparingly - once per week for most hair types. Deep conditioning the hair more than this is could cause the opposite intended effect. If you over-use a protein-based deep conditioner to strengthen and add body, it could cause the hair to become dry and brittle. If you over-use a moisturizing or oil-based deep conditioner, it could cause your hair to become limp and lifeless. Disclaimer | 
