HEALTH & BEAUTY
From Issue #11
HAIR HELP!
Practical Tricks and Pointers
by Hilary Rowland
Sometimes dry, dull, lifeless hair may seem impossible to fix—but
don’t go getting a cropped cut yet! Here are some practical tricks to
help get you out of dry hair hell, and some pointers on how to avoid
getting there in the first place.
When it comes to healthy hair remember: natural oil is
good. It moisturizes, smoothes and protects your delicate
hair follicles. This is probably the most valuable
hair tip you’ll ever get: don’t wash your hair every day. I
know this may be tough, especially if you’re used to
showering every morning, but after a week your hair
will stop looking dirty on the second day, and after two
weeks it will look much healthier. Massaging your scalp
regularly will help promote oil secretion.
Speaking of showers, one of the easiest things you
can do to prevent dry hair is put a chlorine filter on your
showerhead. Chlorine is very drying to both hair and
skin and a simple shower filter (available at most hardware
stores) is a quick, easy fix.
Another prime culprit is a harsh ingredient in many
shampoos called Sodium Laurel Sulfate. The best way to
avoid this detergent is to use “natural” shampoos, which
you can find in most health food stores. Get three different
kinds and alternate week-by-week to reduce
build-up. And, to avoid limp, lifeless hair, only use conditioner
from your chin down, where your hair is the
oldest and needs it the most.
Here’s a trick that European women have known for
centuries. Once a week, comb olive oil through your
hair, put a shower cap on, let is soak in overnight and
shower it out in the morning. Olive oil is a great natural
conditioner and is easily absorbed by the hair shaft,
restoring natural softness and elasticity to dry hair.
But don’t forget: you are what you eat, and this applies to
your hair as well. A healthy diet of fresh foods, whole
grains, protein, minerals and lots of water will go a long
way towards great looking hair. And be sure to fit exercise
and sufficient sleep into your schedule—a healthy
lifestyle will lead to great hair from the inside out.
If all that doesn’t do the trick, get a humidifier for
your bedroom, stop curling or blow-drying your hair
with heat and don’t be rough with your hair when it’s
wet and most fragile.
Finally, sometimes all the tricks in the world won’t
save truly damaged ends. In this case, the best thing to
do is just get regular trims. If your hair is fine get a blunt
cut rather than layers to keep hair looking healthy and
full of body.
Hilary Rowland is an ex-model and beauty expert. She
runs three popular web sites: www.HilaryMagazine.com,
www.SupermodelGuide.com and www.NewFaces.com.
