Lush, shiny, voluminous hair – a significant part of women’s beauty

Any hairstyle looks good only if the hair is healthy and beautiful.

There is a widespread opinion that after 40-45 years, it is not advisable to wear long loose hair, but this is mostly because at this age, not many can boast of perfect hair condition. However, if the hair is well-groomed and beautiful, it will adorn its owner at any age.

Let’s talk about what kind of care hair needs to delight you with its beauty at any age.

What is important for hair beauty

To maintain the health and beauty of hair, you need to pay attention to it not only from the outside but also from the inside. No matter how meticulous hair care is, without proper nutrition, it won’t work and vice versa.

Hair needs to be nourished with well-chosen food from the inside and proper care from the outside. Only in this case can you expect success.

How to eat to have beautiful hair

Hair is not a priority for the body, so in case of nutrient deficiency, it will suffer. The body will direct nutrition to more important systems first. That’s why after strict diets, the condition of hair often worsens: it becomes dull, brittle, thin, and falls out.

To nourish your hair, you need to pay attention to the presence of:

• sources of natural protein (the best options are meat, fish and seafood, eggs, dairy products, beans, peas);
• healthy fats – butter, fatty fish, eggs;
• B vitamins (found in rye bread and red meat);
• vitamin A (found in large quantities in egg yolk and liver);
• vitamin E (found in avocados, olive oil, nuts);
• vitamin D, deficiency of which can cause hair loss (found in mushrooms, fish oil);
• iron, found in red meat, buckwheat, pomegranates;
• sulfur (found in eggs, cabbage).

Proper nutrition ensures that the hair receives all the necessary substances for growth.

Hair care rules: memo

External hair care measures seem useless to many, but this is not the case. Regular and thorough care makes hair healthy and improves its appearance. Moreover, there are cases where thinning hair and even baldness were caused by poor care.

The most important rule of hair care is perseverance and regularity. Simple but regularly performed hair care methods provide a more noticeable effect than expensive salon treatments used occasionally.

Hair responds well to care even with fairly simple and inexpensive means.

How to wash hair properly

Hair care begins with proper washing. The temperature of the water, the choice of shampoo, and the washing technique are important.

Shampoo should be chosen according to the type of hair. Shampoos often contain vitamins, plant extracts, and other beneficial components, but washing is a short-term procedure. Even if these components are present in the shampoo, they will not have time to have a noticeable effect on the hair. Therefore, feel free to buy a basic shampoo without active ingredients, but make sure it is mild.

Before washing your hair, it is necessary to comb it. This will make it less tangled during washing, and combing will remove surface dust and dirt. Then you need to thoroughly wet your hair with warm water.

Important!

The water for washing hair should not be hot. The optimal temperature is about 37°C. This is pleasantly warm water. Washing with too hot water dries out dry hair and increases oil production in oily scalps.

Shampoo should be used in small quantities not only for economy reasons but also to prevent excessive concentration of cleansing components, which can negatively affect the skin barrier. In shampoo advertisements, you can often see how it is poured in handfuls, but this is wrong.

Small portions of shampoo should be foamed in the palms with added water, and only then should it be rubbed into the roots of the hair. Shampoo forms more foam if the hair is well wetted with water beforehand.

One of the main care rules is that when washing, shampoo should not be applied to the length of the hair; this contributes to dryness, and long hair is often dry at the ends.

During hair washing, do not rush, massage the scalp with the pads of your fingers so that the skin moves relative to the skull. This not only allows you to more effectively clean the skin and hair but also stimulates blood circulation, relaxes muscles, positively affects hair growth, and even relieves headaches! You can buy a special brush for washing hair, which allows you to more effectively wash the hair and massage the scalp. Using it also reduces shampoo consumption.

Rinse your hair thoroughly and, if necessary, apply shampoo a second time, but do not strive to wash the hair «until it squeaks»; this is not good for it.

Applying hair conditioner

Hair conditioners are often neglected or shampoos-conditioners «two in one» are used, but it is more effective to use separate products because one is intended for washing and the other – for softening, moisturizing, nourishing the hair, and preventing breakage.

The conditioner should be chosen according to the type of hair. Conditioners for dry hair may contain oils, for oily – plant extracts, for colored – special components against color washing out. Read the hair care recommendations on the label to apply the product correctly.

Apply the conditioner to damp hair after washing, pre-squeezing out excess water, stepping back a few centimeters from the roots. Do not apply it to the scalp unless it is specifically intended for this; otherwise, you will get greasy roots and lack of volume.

Usually, the conditioner is left on the hair for literally 1–2 minutes, after which it is thoroughly washed out with warm water.

At the final stage, rinse your hair longer; insufficiently thorough rinsing of washing agents and balms is a common care mistake. Do not use strong water pressure. Finally, rinse your hair once more with cool water; this gives it shine.

Should deep cleansing shampoos be used?

Deep cleansing shampoo is designed to remove contaminants that can accumulate in the hair, for example, if you use conditioners with silicones or frequently use styling products. Over time, their components accumulate, and the hair loses volume, starts to seem to get dirty faster.

Deep cleansing shampoo should be used not every time, but approximately every third-fifth wash or as needed.

How to dry hair properly

After washing the head, many girls immediately wrap a terry towel turban around their head, but this is not the best way to dry. Hair can break and be damaged.

It is better to gently pat the hair dry with a towel and let it dry naturally. The best towel for hair care is considered to be silk, but ordinary soft cotton will also do.

Drying with a hairdryer is, of course, much more convenient, and many use it to quickly dry their hair and rush to work. If you prefer to dry your hair with a hairdryer, keep in mind that the speed of hair drying depends more on the power of the hairdryer than on the temperature. Buy a powerful hairdryer and use low-temperature settings.

Do not dry your hair completely with a hairdryer; leave it slightly damp. If you use a hot hairdryer, be sure to use thermal protection for the hair.

Whenever possible, let your hair dry in the air.

How to brush hair properly

Describing hair care would be incomplete without such an important procedure as brushing.

It not only has an aesthetic significance but also affects the health of the hair. Hair care hygiene rules include brushing in the morning and evening.

Start by choosing the right comb and brush. They should have rounded tips of the teeth and a wide distance between the teeth. Do not use a metal tool; it is harmful to the hair. Buy wooden or plastic combs and brushes, the brush can also be made of natural bristles. Ensure that the teeth are smooth, without burrs.

Important!

Combs and brushes for hair should be as personal as a toothbrush. And they must be regularly washed.

The brushing technique is also important. Start brushing long hair from the tips, gradually moving up to avoid pulling out hair in clumps. After completely brushing the hair, take a massage brush and comb the hair while massaging the scalp. This procedure allows you to clean the hair from dust, evenly distribute the secreted sebum along the length of the hair, and gives the hair the opportunity to «breathe.»

Important!

Never brush wet hair, you may damage it.

Hair styling

To style hair into a beautiful hairstyle, girls resort to numerous tricks: they curl their hair with curlers or tongs, straighten it with an iron, blow-dry it, tie it into tight buns, use clips, pins, various styling products, and tease it. All these procedures can damage the hair.

Styling using hot tools such as tongs and irons is the most harmful to the hair. If you use them daily, you can quickly ruin even strong and thick hair. Overheating makes the hair dehydrated, dry, brittle, and it starts to split and break. Therefore, it is better to use such styling methods occasionally, for special occasions, and be sure to use thermal protection.

Cold curling on curlers does not harm the hair much, but when curling, pay attention not to break the hair.

Teasing definitely harms the hair and can lead to loss of shine, brittleness, and even hair loss. This method is also better used occasionally.

Tight pulling into ponytails and buns, as well as blow-drying, harm the hair. If done regularly, hair may start to fall out. Tight buns and ponytails can also cause headaches.

Styling products often contain alcohol and other components that dry out the hair. You should not use them daily. If necessary, it is better to use a light hold mousse rather than hairspray.

Hair coloring

Probably every woman has dyed her hair at least once in her life. Many do it regularly. Sometimes hair coloring is caused by a desire to change the look, and in some cases, it is forced, for example, if the hair turns gray.

It is believed that coloring hair with natural dyes is less harmful than using chemical dyes. This is true only partially.

Of course, henna and basma do not contain chemical components that can negatively affect the body, but these dyes dry out the hair. It is not without reason that Eastern women, who have been using these products for ages, necessarily use plant oils for hair length care.

Chemical dyes are divided into tinting agents, semi-permanent and permanent (resistant) dyes.

Tinting agents remain on the hair surface. They do not contain oxidizers and do not harm the hair. This is a good way to gently dye the hair if you need to darken it or mask a small amount of gray hair. But it is impossible to dye hair a lighter color with it.

Permanent and semi-permanent dyes contain oxidizers. They loosen the upper layer of the hair, lift the keratin scales, which cover the surface of the hair like shingles, remove the natural pigment, and replace it with dye particles. As it is already clear, this procedure is associated with hair damage. Manufacturers of expensive dyes try to compensate for the harm by adding various nourishing components to the dye, but they do not completely neutralize this harm.

To reduce the harm from hair coloring, use quality dyes. It is better to use professional dyes. They often do not cost more than household ones.

Professional dyes are usually sold in metal tubes, and you need to buy an oxidizer separately, while the oxidizer is immediately available in the package of household dye. The oxidizer can have different concentrations – 1.5%, 3%, 4.5%, 6%, 9%, 12%. In household dyes, the oxidizer always has a high concentration, and you have no choice.

When using professional dye, you can buy an oxidizer with a lower concentration, but only if you are changing the natural hair color by literally 1–2 tones. The lower the concentration of the oxidizer, the gentler the dye, but it is impossible to radically change the hair color.

The conclusion is that to maximally preserve the health of the hair when regular coloring is necessary, it is better to choose shades close to the natural hair color, use professional dye and an oxidizer with a concentration of no more than 6%.

After hair coloring, it is recommended to use a special balm from the same series as the dye. This step is necessary to restore the acid-base balance of the skin and hair and to fix the dye.

Tip!

Use a home recipe: rinse freshly dyed hair with water with apple cider vinegar or lemon juice at the rate of 1 tablespoon per liter of water.

Special hair care procedures

Step-by-step hair care includes standard procedures common to all hair types. For deeper care, procedures performed from time to time are used – these are peels, masks, and wraps.

Scalp peeling

Peels are exfoliating agents that remove dead cells from the skin surface. After their use, cell respiration improves, blood circulation is stimulated, and hair growth improves.

Scalp peels come in two types – mechanical and acid.

Mechanical peels contain abrasive particles in the form of small hard granules. These can be aluminum crystals, salt, polymer granules, crushed fruit seeds. They scrape off dead skin cells. The disadvantages of such peels are the need to wash out these small particles for a long time and the risk of skin and hair injury.

Acid peels contain fruit acids that dissolve dead cells. They are easily washed off, and acids give hair additional shine.

Using peels for hair is beneficial, but you should not overdo it: with dry scalp, it is enough to use a peel once a month or even less, and with oily – once every 7-10 days.

Hair masks

Hair masks are applied before washing or after washing instead of hair conditioner. It depends on the instructions for a specific product. Unlike conditioner, the mask is kept on the hair for at least 15-20 minutes or even longer.

Choose a mask depending on the problems you want to solve.

Masks for strengthening hair, moisturizing the scalp are applied to the skin. Strengthening masks may contain locally irritating components that improve blood circulation, such as pepper, nettle extracts, essential oils. Moisturizing masks are enriched with moisturizers – aloe vera gel, cucumber extract, honey.

Masks that work with the «canvas» of hair – give shine, soften, nourish – are applied, stepping back from the roots. Such products are usually enriched with natural oils, amino acids, collagen, and elastin.

To enhance the effect of the mask, you can put on a shower cap, and on top – a warm hat or turban or warm your hair with a warm hairdryer. When the temperature rises, active components penetrate deeper into the hair.

Home hair masks

Home masks work well. Here are a few simple recipes from available components.

Mask for strengthening hair

Mix one raw egg yolk with one tablespoon of olive oil, add one tablespoon of brandy. Apply to the hair roots an hour before washing under a cap.

Wrap for nourishing hair length

The best oil for wrapping, with confirmed action against hair protein loss, is coconut oil. It gives the hair elasticity and luxurious shine. For dry hair, avocado oil can be used. Slightly heat the oil in a water bath and apply to the hair, stepping back a few centimeters from the roots. Place under a cap, warm, and leave for 1-2 hours, then wash your head as usual. Not suitable for oily hair.

Mask for shine and elasticity of hair

Suitable for all hair types. An hour before washing, apply kefir to the scalp and hair, place under a cap. Rinse with cool water before washing and wash as usual.

Mask against dry dandruff, for strengthening hair and improving growth

Buy castor oil at the pharmacy. Heat in a water bath. Apply in small quantities to the scalp, massage. Place under a cap and warm. After 1-2 hours, wash your head. The effect will be noticeable after the first procedure, but for lasting results, use a course of 10 procedures.

Moisturizing hair mask

Mix natural honey and lemon juice in equal proportions. Apply to damp hair after washing and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water. The mask makes the hair shiny.

Leave-in conditioners and serums

These are products applied to towel-dried hair after washing and not washed off. They may contain components that thicken, soften, and nourish the hair.

If you like to dry your hair with a hairdryer, choose leave-in products containing components that are activated when heated.

Hair care for different types of hair

There are three main types of hair – dry, oily, and normal. But there are also subtypes, such as split, dull hair, dry scalp. Each case requires an individual approach.

Dry hair

They are usually matte, dull, without shine, often brittle, split, not covered with a layer of fat, and seem to need very rare washing. But in urban living conditions, such a recommendation for care contradicts hygiene rules, as hair accumulates dust and smog particles.

Wash dry hair every 3-5 days, but choose shampoos and conditioners specifically designed for dry hair.

It is recommended to make nourishing masks for dry hair at least every second or third wash, and use moisturizing sprays between washes.

From home remedies, oil wraps from warmed coconut or olive oil, masks from egg yolk with the addition of olive oil and lemon juice can be recommended.

Avoid blow-drying and any damaging procedures, as well as styling products containing alcohol.

Normal hair

Very rare. They are elastic, flexible, healthy. Apply standard hair care steps and products specifically designed for normal hair.

Oily hair

In this case, the skin produces a lot of fat, and the hair quickly sticks together. Sometimes hair washed in the morning looks dirty by evening.

For oily hair care, you need to use special shampoos and balms and never apply conditioner to the hair roots, do not use hot water for washing, and a hot hairdryer for drying.

Drying sprays for the scalp containing calendula and nettle extracts, zinc, sulfur work well.

Tip!

Use only very mild shampoos for washing oily hair and do not try to wash the hair «until it squeaks,» as this will provoke stronger oil production. However, oily hair responds well to the use of styling products!

Dry scalp

Characterized by a feeling of tightness, itching, dry dandruff.

If you have this problem, choose products for dry hair, avoid peels and deep cleansing shampoos.

15-20 minutes before washing the hair, rub a small amount of face cream into the scalp. Even inexpensive creams for dry skin can be used, especially good if they contain natural oils, lecithin, vitamins A and E, hyaluronic acid. Use moisturizing sprays for the scalp between washes.

For dry dandruff, home masks from castor oil, the recipe for which is given above, will help.

Dull hair

Dull hair is often dry, so in this case, all recommendations for dry hair will help. Also, remember: acids give hair shine. Use acid peels, home masks from kefir, honey with lemon juice, and during the last rinse after washing, add apple cider vinegar or lemon juice to the water at the rate of 1-2 tablespoons per liter of water.

Proper hair care does not require large expenses

The main thing is regularity, perseverance, and the choice of high-quality products according to the hair type.