Types of Hair

It is essential to identify the texture of your hair whether dry, oily or balanced for a good hair care program. Read on to identify your hair type.

Dry Hair

Dry hair is due to inactive oil glands. It is also caused by other factors like over exposure to the sun, using harsh shampoo and chemical treatment. Accumulated oil, block the pores not allowing the oil to flow on to the surface. This is another reason for dry hair. Dry hair would need plenty of nourishment.

Massage well with a warm herbal oil at least twice a week. Follow a diet rich in zinc. Use a mild shampoo and avoid harsh ones since the chemicals in them can strip hair of its outer protein layer, further drying the scalp. Do not use electric curlers and hair dryers.

Oily Hair

This is usually accompanied with oily skin. This is due to the over secretion of oil. Hence the scalp and hair gets too oily. Oily hair is easily recognizable. It looks greasy even after shampooing and and attracts more dirt.

The oily hair needs to be washed every third or fourth day or even more frequently depending on individual comfort and rinsed out with lemon. Use oils and shampoos rich in neem and henna. A head massage with a herbal oil helps maintain the pH level of the scalp. Avoid oily foods and binge on green leafy vegetables and fruits.

To figure out your hair type: Dab a tissue on your scalp the second day after wash. If it has an oil blot, you have normal hair. If the tissue shows nothing, it is dry. If strands stick to each other then it is greasy hair .

Balanced or Normal Hair

This is the most ideal hair. It is shining, well balanced and does not dry out. To maintain this ideal condition a well balanced diet and proper care is essential.

Shampooing and Conditioning

Most people want their hair silky and shiny. No matter what the type of hair they have, be it straight, curly, long, short, oily, dry, thin or thick all want their hair to look good and manageable.

Shampooing

To shampoo is to wash, cleanse or remove all dirt or other impurities from the scalp and hair by the process of shampooing. The selection of the shampoo should depend upon the hair type.

Egg shampoo is good for dry hair but avoid products which contain alcohol as they will dry out the hair even further. Look for shampoos that contain oils like coconut. Moisturizing type shampoos tend to coat the hair and trap the moisture inside the hair shaft.

For oily hair use some mild shampoo. Care should be taken while using shampoo. Do not scrub or over massage. It is better to rinse thoroughly with Luke warm water. If the hair is too oily, add lemon juice in Luke warm water and rinse.

The best shampoo's to use for this type of hair is clarifying shampoos. Look for shampoos that contain panthenol. Volumizing shampoos are mild in nature because they are formulated for everyday use, but contain additives for bounce and body.

Shampooing can be done as often (ideally every alternate day) as required to keep the hair clean and healthy, as long as you condition regularly. Switch shampoos once a month to avoid hair buildup.

Method of Shampooing

Prepare the hair for shampooing. Before wetting your hair for shampooing,comb through with a wide toothed comb to prevent tangles. Mix and adjust the water flow. Mix the water to a comfortable temperature.

Wet the hair and scalp thoroughly. Apply the shampoo to the hair by first pouring it into your hand and never directly. Apply with the hands and fingers, massage firmly in rotating and circular movements. Massage the whole head. Rinse the hair and scalp thoroughly and carefully. Apply more shampoo and massage for the second time if needed, finally rinse all shampoo from the hair and scalp with clean water. Finally check the hair lines and make sure that the dirt and shampoo has been removed from hair and scalp. Dry the hair gently. Don't rub just blot the wet hair with a towel and then smooth the towel along the length of your hair. Avoid blow drying as far as possible. If you shampoo regularly there is no need to lather twice.

Conditioning

A conditioner is to hair what a moisturiser is to the skin and it used after shampooing. All types of hair have to be conditioned to keep it shiny and flexible. Conditioning is specially useful for dry hair. It adds to the natural oil supply and gives dry hair, shine as well as bounce and strength. For oily hair, use conditioner only on the ends of your hair .

Method of Conditioning

1. After shampooing gently squeeze the excess water.

2. Comb the hair with the fingers or with wide toothed comb from the roots to the ends gently. Remove tangles.

3. Apply little conditioner and rub the conditioner through the hair with the fingers. Never rub on the scalp.

4. Keep it on the hair for 5 minutes

5. Now gently massage the hair to loosen the conditioner.

6. Rinse the hair and remove all traces of conditioner. Now dry the hair.

Conditioners used for different types of Hair

Damaged hair - Protein Conditioner

Dry hair - Moisturising or Intensive Conditioner

Oily hair - Any normal (oil free) conditioner

Purpose of Conditioning

The key to beautiful hair is a beautiful scalp. If it is kept clean and normal balances are maintained it performs its functions well. Each hair is made up of a very delicate fibers.

Conditioning is a way of giving the hair a more intense kind of nourishing treatment. It helps to protect hair from counter acting dryness, making it smooth and easier to manage.

Treatments with conditioners helps to correct the effects of poor hair care. Henna is a good conditioner. Treatment with henna is good for the hair.

Hair Problems & Remedies

Dandruff

Everyone's had itchy scalp or dandruff at some time or another. Dandruff is the presence of small white flakes usually appearing on the scalp and the hair. It is known by medical term "pityriasis" which is most commonly found in people between the ages of 12 and 80. The direct cause of dandruff is the excessive shedding of outermost cells. The indirect causes are

1. Poor blood circulation

2. Improper diet

3. Un-cleanliness

4. Use of strong shampoo

5. Insufficient rinsing of hair after shampooing

Types of Dandruff

1. Dry type

2. Greasy or waxy type

Cause for dry dandruff

1. Poor blood circulation

2. Lack of nerve stimulation

3. Emotional disturbance

4. Glandular disturbance

5. Not producing sufficient oil

Treatment of dry dandruff

• Scalp treatment (ozone treatment)

• Herbal shampoo

• Hot oil therapy

• Use of antiseptic lotion

• Henna treatment

Waxy type dandruff is mixed with sebum which makes the scalp itchy. If the scales are torn off, bleeding or oozing may occur.

Treatment

The best thing to do is to keep the scalp clean, and do oil massage twice in a week.

Herbal Treatment

• Massage scalp with essential oils like rosemary, cedar, lemon and eucalyptus to reduce flaking itchiness of the scalp.

• 'Methi' seeds are also helpful in fighting dandruff. Soak them overnight, grind the next morning, mix in the juice of neem leaves and apply on the scalp .

• In half cup of olive oil, put a small amount of camphor warm it lightly and apply to the scalp parting the hair straight and give a circular massage for the entire scalp.

• Avoid fatty foods and red meat.

Causes of Graying hair

The colour of the hair depends on the presence of pigment granules in the cortex of the hair. With age there is a gradual dilution of pigment in the hair, so that in different hairs the full range of colours from normal to white can be found.

Grey hair can some times appear earlier. Rapid graying of hair may occur after severe emotional stress. In certain internal diseases hair might gray early. This is especially true of diseases of the thyroid gland and certain types of anemia's. Localised patches of gray hair can appear in certain areas. Perming, colouring and bleaching work to promote graying.

What can be done

The usual and the most effective way of dealing with graying of hair is dyeing it. There are several types of dyes available. The oxidative dyes are the most versatile and the most frequently used. But dyeing has its drawbacks- once you start dyeing it is seen to increase gray hairs. Henna is also used because apart from its safety, it is a superb conditioner. Having calcium pantothenate in the dose of 200 mg daily is a good treatment.

Split Ends

Causes:-The most common causes of spilt ends are; use of heated appliances (Hair dryers) and chemical processing (like using dies), using the wrong type of brush and comb and general neglect.

Cure:- Since hair grows 1.25 cm. a month, a trim of 6.3 cm. every five weeks should suffice. Switching to a wide -toothed, non-metal comb or brush with a padded base and widely spaced bristles to prevent getting trapped at the base of the brush. Avoiding the hottest temperature setting on your hair dryer. Using a conditioning treatment on the ends of hair.

Dull Hair

Cause:- In healty hair, the cuticle lies flat and reflects the light. Harsh chemicals and environment assaults can cause healthy hair to become rough and damaged, spoiling the reflective surface. The cause of dull hair is a build-up left by styling products or the conditioning agent that two-in-one products contain. Some times an illness, like flue releases toxins from the body through the sebaceous glands in the scalp, coating the hair, eventually leading to listless hair.

Cure:- The most important rule is to keep your hair clean. It is better to follow a well- balanced diet -protein and iron are essential for shiny hair, as is vitamin C.

Dry Hair

Cause :The main reason for dry hair is the over use of heated appliances, perming, colouring, bleaching, incorrect use of products and environmental damage.

Cure: Switch to a shampoo and a rinse-out conditioner for dry hair. Don't apply conditioner to the roots, it will leave hair heavy and limp. At least once or twice a week, use a deep conditioning treatment to re-moisturise. Alternatively, you can rub hair oil between your palm and then massage it into dry areas. Avoid rollers and tight elastic bands on the brittle hair as they may cause it to break.

Hair Loss

It is quite natural to lose about fifty to hundred a day. More than this amount of hair loss could result from any one of a number of factors and may be cause for concern.

Cause: Daily repetition of certain hairstyles

, like hair tightly pulled back, braided or wrapped around rollers can pull out individual hairs. Such pulling can damage and destroy follicles completely and the hair will not grow back.Emotional stress may bring on alppecia areata, a disorder that results in bald patches on the scalp and may be associated with changes in the immune system. Emotional stress can also cause hair to fall from parts of the scalp. Body stress is also known to cause excessive hair loss. Hair loss can result from pregnancy or begin when a woman stop taking birth control pills.

Cure: It is better to see a trichologist if handfuls of hair fall out after shampooing. For mild hair loss, use products that tone and invigorate the scalp and stimulate the growth. Scalping massage is good, which aside from being relaxing and reducing stress levels, loosens and stimulates the scalp and promotes healthy hair growth.

Most hair loss is temporary, but when the follicles are destroyed by serious scalp burns, excessive exposure to x-rays, or vital infection, hair loss can be permanent.

Dry Scalp

Cause: It may or may not be a cause of dandruff

Cure: Dry scalp can be controlled by using a very gentle shampoo and intensive conditioner regularly.

Hair Treatment

Hot Oil Treatment

This treatment is used for dull, dry falling hair. There is no harmful side effect in this treatment. It can be considered as a dandruff treatment also.

Equipments, Implements and Materials

1. Any bowl for heating oil

2. Vibrating Massager

3. Tail comb

4. Oil

5. Camphor

6. Cotton

7. Shampoo

Procedure

• Warm some oil with camphor

• Using Vibratory massager, remove the flakes of dandruff present in the scalp

• Using cotton, apply the warm oil to the scalp taking sections of hair

• Massage the head for 10 minutes.

• Steam the hair for 5 minutes massaging simultaneously

• Wash the hair using shampoo and dry the hair

Henna

It is a Herbal treatment for the hair which has been followed for centuries. It has curative as well as conditioning abilities. Specially prepared henna is used in the treatment of falling hair and dandruff.

Ingredients

Henna powder	-	1 1/2 cup
Amla (goose berry) powder	-	1 tsp
Egg	-	1
Coffee powder	-	1 1/2 tsp
Tea leaf	-	1 1/2 tsp
Lemon	-	1
Curd	-	1/2 cup
Oil	-	10 drops

Procedure

Mix the ingredients well, except egg. Keep the mixture for at least 12 hours. Then add one egg and apply on the hair using hair brush taking sections from the top of the head. Wash the hair after one hour. Clean the hair well using shampoo and then dry hair.

Advantages of henna

• Removes and prevents Dandruff

• Promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss

• Conditions the hair

• Promotes the health of the hair by keeping the scalp healthy

• Adds luster to the hair

• Has a cooling and soothing effect on the scalp

Hair Care Tips

• Brush your hair regularly before going to bed each night.

• Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Use very little but enough to cover hair completely with lather. Use a conditioner to keep hair manageable.

• Avoid brushing wet hair. This will cause the hair to stretch and finally break. Finger-dry, or use a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush to gently remove the knots.

• Restrict blow-drying your hair. The process of blow-drying is harsh on hair as it robs it of moisture.

• Avoid dyes. Use mehandi (henna) instead as a conditioner and colouring agent.

• Take a calcium supplement or drink two glasses of milk a day.

• Always hold hair dryer away from your hair. Direct air from the hair dryer down hair shaft and not directly into the roots and keep it moving.

• After a perm, never brush your hair. Instead comb hair gently.

• Trim your hair once in 7 weeks to avoid split ends.

• Avoid pulling back your hair tightly.

• Never use a rubber band on your hair as it can pull and damage hair considerably.

• Never go out in the sun without having your head covered.

• Stimulate circulation by massaging your head with oil to which some vitamin E has been added. This will make hair soft and silky.

• Never wash your hair with very hot or very cold water.

• Learn to relax. Hair loss can happen because of stress. Eat foods that are rich in vitamin B, C and E.

• Add iron and minerals in the natural form in your diet.

• If your hair is oily, cut down on fried food and fat. Drink plenty of water.

Natural tips for healthy hair

For Dandruff

• Massage the Scalp with pure coconut oil. This will also help growth of hair.

• Apply coconut oil which has been boiled with small onions for about 20 minutes. Wash it off with a mixture of green gram powder and water drained from cooked (boiled) rice.

• Apply a mixture of almond oil and gooseberry juice with finger tips on the scalp.

• Apply the warm mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and coconut oil. Do a steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes and wash the hair with a mild shampoo.

• Apply a paste of fenugreek and mustard to the scalp.

• Mix Shikakai powder with the water drained from the cooked rice and wash the hair with it.

• Crush the leaves of five petal hibiscus flower and take the juice. Wash the hair with this juice.

• Heat oil with a little camphor. Apply the oil in the scalp and massage for 10 minutes. After 30 minutes wash the hair with a herbal shampoo. Do the steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes.

For Healthy and Shiny hair

• It is better to apply castor oil for a healthy growth of hair.

• Wash hair with tea once in a week.

• Apply besan in the hair and wash it with water drained from the cooked rice.

• Soak a handful of gooseberries in a cup of milk for two hours. Make a paste and apply on the hair.

• Apply the mixture of an egg white, 2 spoons of castor oil, 1 spoon glycerin, in the scalp and hair. Wash it after some time.

• Massage hair with warm coconut oil an hour before washing. Let it soak. Cover your head with a hot towel and wash your hair after an hour or so.

• Boil a few hibiscus flowers in coconut oil. Filter and use this hair oil to control hair loss and thinning.

• Do a 'steam-towel-wrap' once in a while, if your cuticles are damaged, as this steaming opens out the pores and absorbs the oil.

• Soak 1 teaspoon fenugreek in curd and keep it for a night. Apply it in the next morning.

• Boil coconut oil with the juices of curry leaves, basil, hibiscus flower and gooseberry. Apply on hair, keep it for sometime and rinse.

• Take a cup each coconut and mustard oil. Soak half a cup of curry leaves in the oil mixture and keep it for a night. Next morning, heat on a slow fire till the curry leaves turn crisp. Remove from heat and add two to three camphor balls. Allow oil to cool and then strain. Apply oil to hair roots using cotton wool along the parting and massage in circular movements. Leave the oil overnight and shampoo the next morning. Repeat twice a week.

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

For Graying

• Take a little Mehandi , an egg, juice of half a lemon, one table spoon of instant coffee powder. Mix it together and apply on the hair. Wash it after 45 minutes.

• Boil one cup of dried gooseberry with 4 cups of water. Add a pinch of sugar in it. Keep boiling till the quantity of the liquid reduces to one cup. Mix 2 cups of Mehendi, an egg, juice of a lemon and the gooseberry solution and apply on hair. Wash the hair after two hours.

Natural Conditioners

• Henna is a herbal treatment with good conditioning abilities.

• Egg white is a good conditioner for hair.

• Deep condition with curd, beer and egg.

• Mix a little vinegar in warm water and rinse your hair with this solution. This will add bounce to dull and lifeless hair.

Hair Styles

Choosing a hairstyle depends on various factors. An important factor is the shape of your face. And of course your own unique personality and your life style is also a major element. If you wash, condition and style your hair every morning, a short cut may be best for you. If you have plenty of time for hair care you may prefer to wear your hair long. The distribution, quantity and texture of your hair, the curliness or straightness and your height are the other important factors for choosing a hair style.

And, as far as beauty is concerned, hair care is most important for a man. A man's personality is judged not only by the way he carries himself but also by the hairstyles he sports. The hair-styles of Bollywood and Hollywood heroes are in demand at hair saloons. Even though hairstyles have constantly changed, Bollywood celebrities such as Abhishekh Bachchan, Amir Khan, Saif Ali Khan etc have greatly influenced Indian men to think differently.

If you wish to change your hairstyle, visit a good and experienced hairstylist who would give you a trendy haircut. And when going about with the styling of hair, you have to consider the most important factor is, the shape or structure of the face.

Men, like women, can have the following face shapes.

Different hairstyles to suit the shape of your face

Round face

• Women

A round face will look best with hairstyles that add angles and helps conceal broad, round cheeks. For persons who have short hair, it is better to have a cut with most of the hair on top and less on sides. For long hair, an hairstyle with curls or waves surrounding the face will be better.

• Men

Men with round faces should keep short hairstyles or wispy cut that sweep back away from the face. Use a product to add a little height to your hairstyle.

Square face

• Women

A square jaw and brow are best softened by a curly or wavy hair style that rounds off the angles of your face. Curls or waves worn forward on the outer edges of your face from your forehead will be more suited for a square face.

• Men

Square face shapes men should keep any styles that is cleanly cut around the ears and mirrors your square face. A short spiky hair cut as well as any sleek style is good for a square face shape.

An oval face

• Women

An oval shaped face is generally recognized as the ideal face shape by hair experts. This can be enhanced by a variety of simple hairstyles from long hairstyles to medium hairstyles to short hairstyles. Your hairstyle will be most pleasing, if you wear it straight or slightly wavy. Short or long styles will look best when brushed or held back from your face.

According to the activities that you enjoy you may wish to wear your hair shorter instead of pulling it back to enjoy participating in sports or keeping your hair out of the way for most activities. To get an example of celebrities with oval shape faces and the variety of hairstyles that look great on them, take a look at Isha Deol, Madhuri Dixit, Urmila Matonkar etc.

• Men

A classic oval shaped face looks great with all styles. Try changing the part. However a longer hair styles with a few graduated layers around the face gives a strong masculine signature.

Triangular face

• Women

It's a rare type. The best hairstyle for this shape face are those worn away from your face at your forehead and temples and softly waved or curled around the jaws or those worn full at your temples, with straight or waved bangs across the width of your forehead.

• Men

Men should try hair cropped close to head. The hair should be layered all around and tapered in back and at the sides.

Diamond face

Diamond face is widest at the cheekbones, has narrow forehead and jaw line of approximately equal width.

• Women

Diamond shaped face women can try almost all variety hairstyles but should avoid hairstyle that hides the prominent features of the face.

• Men

Fill out the face at the temples and chin and keep hair close to the head at the widest points. Curl and fullness at the chin area and just above the temples are necessary to round out the look. Avoid styles that mirror the diamond shape.

Heart-shaped

Heart shaped face is wide at the temples and hairline and a narrow chin.

• Women

Heart -shaped face women should choose a style that takes the emphasis off both areas. Try a short hairstyle that is wedged or or tapered at the neck or a long hair style. Avoid short hairstyles.

Different Hair Styles

Different Hair Styles

The way you wear your hair can affect the appearance of your features. Your personal style will always be a factor in the hairstyles you choose. The right hairstyle makes the most of your best qualities.

Long styles work with any hair type - straight, wavy, or curly - but looks best if locks are medium-textured or thick. Skip the lengthy look if you have fine hair (it tends to go straggly) or a long, narrow face.

Short hairdos look great with all face shapes. It is best for fine or medium hair that's straight to slightly wavy. If you have curly hair, a lot of it, opt for a longer style - a short cut could look puffy.

Fringes: The length of your fringes influence the appearance of your forehead. Short fringes make the distance between eyebrows and hairline look longer than it is. Long ones make your forehead look shorter and some times wider. Fringes that are long at the temples and curve to a shorter length across your forehead will highlight your eyes and make cheekbones broader.
Partings: Worn straight down the center add width to your brow. Slightly off-center parts and side parts make your forehead seem narrower. Low side parts on your head broaden your forehead.
Hair pulled back: This style highlights your jaw line, elongates and thins your neck. Drawing your hair over the top of your ears will make your ears look smaller and closer to your head.
Fullness: Fullness at the crown tends to make your face look longer. It adds width to your cheeks and brow. Fullness at your jaw line or below will broaden your lower face. Full hair brushed up and away from your face at your temples gives a lift from your face at your temples gives a lift to your cheekbones and makes your eyes look wider.
Ringlets: Wisps of wavy or curly hair that fall from a pulled -up hairstyle soften the outer edge of your face and add length to your neck. Tendrils can soften the severity of a hair style pulled back from your face.

To Create Curls

Wash hair and allow to air-dry until just damp. Starting at your forehead, wrap a two-inch section of hair around your second and third fingers, then slide fingers out and secure loop to scalp with a bobby pin. Proceed in this manner all over head. Either sleep with pin curls in place or leave them on until hair is completely dry. Then undo and tousle tresses with fingers.

For a curl free mane

Comb a styling lotion through damp hair and gather it into a tight, low ponytail at the nape. Twist tail loosely and wrap it around itself, securing ends to scalp with hair pins. Leave in until hair is no longer wet. Undo to reveal twist-free mane. (If your hair is short, follow the above steps, but slick hair back with a wide headband and skip the twist).

Colouring of Hair

Colouring of Hair

Today colouring hair has become a common fasion and is dominating the fashion world. Some choose hair color for adding more beauty to the hair and some others choose hair color for gray coverage. Hair colouring is one of the quickest and most dramatic way to change your look. Hair colour come in different shades, forms and qualities for different hair textures.

Types Of Hair Colours

Colours are available today in all forms. Liquid, powder, oil, cream and gel, etc. For permanent colours, gel and other forms are used and for temporary and semi-permanent colours, hair mascaras, crayons and colour hair-sprays are usually used.

Hair Length

Expense increases in proportion to the length of hair. Shorter haircuts or medium hair cuts, look more attractive with hair colours.

Techniques Of Hair Colour

Highlighting, streaking, frosting, finger-painting etc are different techniques of colouring but teens today prefer highlighting and streaking.

Trendy Shades

Red and brown are the common trendy shades. Experts suggest that brown and golden are best for wheatish skin tones whereas reddish or purple shades are most suited for fair skinned people.

Tips for the Coloured Hair

• Avoid direct bright sunlight, but little amount of sunrays accentuates the red tones.

• Shampoos must have the same low pH level. Preference to special colour shampoo

• Use hair conditioner after swimming to avoid dryness of hair.

Hair

Hair

Good looking hair is essentially healthy, shiny and clean. It is important to maintain a healthy routine of hair care

. Taking care of your hair involves keeping it clean and conditioned and choosing a hair style that suits you. With proper care your hair can become one of your important beauty assets. Hair that is everything it should be - soft, shining, healthy and full of life... Taking care of your hair means keeping it clean and conditioned, choosing a style that compliments your and fits with the details of your beauty. Read about Hair types, its care - cleansing, conditioning (Henna), hair care tips (basic and herbal), hair problems and its cure, different hair styles, picture gallery of Hair do's :

Types of Hair

It is essential to identify the texture of your hair whether dry, oily or balanced for a good hair care program... More

Hair care

Every woman wants her hair to be healthy and lustrous, to shine and have lots of bounce. A basic hair care system lays the groundwork for shiny and healthy hair

• Shampooing and Conditioning
• Hair problems and its cure
• Natural hair treatment- Henna and oil treatment
• Basic hair care tips
• Hair care tips from nature

Hair styles

• Hair styles that suit your facial shape
• Different Hair styles

Colouring of Hair

Today colouring hair has become a common fashion and is dominating the fashion world. Some choose hair color for adding more beauty to the hair and some others choose hair color for gray coverage. Read more...