Shampoo Basics - Should I Wash My Hair Every Day?

Unless your hair is supremely oily, washing hair every day is not only unnecessary, it can be damaging. Taking every other day off from shampoo - or even 2 or more days off if your hair is dry or damaged - gives your hair a break from the detergents and the inevitable roughness that comes with shampooing, both of which can rough up hair's protective cuticle layer. A day away from shampoo also allows sebum - hair's natural conditioner - to get a foothold in individual strands. And for those who are trying to live life more simply (read: use less stuff, shampooing less frequently means using less shampoo.

Most of us like suds, which is why shampoo manufacturers often make high-foaming formulas. Yet suds have nothing to do with a shampoo's cleansing power. In fact, the lesser-foaming formulas are gentler on hair.

When I was a teenager, my friends and I never admitted to washing our hair any less than once a day - in fact, some of my friends used to brag about washing their hair twice a day. I told this story to a hairstylist once and he laughed. "For some strange reason, people get squeamish if you tell them to stop washing their hair every day. It's as if they think easing up on the shampoo is going to make them unclean," he said. After years of interviewing hairstylists and dermatologists, I've learned exactly what he is saying - and it has nothing to do with giving up bathing or showering.

Go ahead and get in the shower, go ahead and get your hair wet - just don't pull out the shampoo. I think you'll find that a good pre-shower brushing and a heavy dousing of old-fashioned plain water will do wonders for your hair. The brushing loosens up dirt, dead flaky skin, debris, and excess scalp oil, which the water then rinses away. If you're worried about tangles, go ahead and work a bit of detangler or a light conditioner through wet ends then rinse out - again, just no shampoo.

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Hair Care

The majority of women worry about the appearance of their hair regularly. This is perhaps because the condition and style of our hair can alter our image drastically. Hairstyles are also a important division of fashion; pampered locks are the best accessory to complement your favorite outfit. In order to guarantee a picture-perfect look every time, you need to be aware of the best ways to take care of your hair and maintain its condition.

In order to look healthy on the outside, you must ensure you are healthy on the inside. Just like other parts of your body, your hair needs vitamins. You should aim to eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables as this will not only maintain your health but will make your hair soft and shiny. Nuts and seeds supply the body with essential oils and fatty acids which promote hair growth. Drinking plenty of water will also flush out any toxins and ensure your skin, hair and nails are moisturized. Moisture is essential for keeping your hair strong and shiny.

The stresses and strains of daily life will inevitably take their toll on your hair so you need to know the best ways to combat this. To start with, your hair should be washed on a daily basis. Washing your hair each day will discard dead skin cells from your scalp which can hinder growth and cause problems like dandruff. Whilst washing your hair, you should scrub your scalp with the pads of your fingers in a circular motion; this will not only ensure that it is clean but studies have shown that it helps the scalp to produce more natural oils which add moisture and speed up growth.

Hair should also be conditioned after shampooing to lock in the moisture you have lost through washing, if you have hair which is oily, just apply conditioner to the ends to prevent them from drying. Dry or brittle hair is prone to split ends and breakages which makes your hair less manageable.

A healthy head of hair is simple to sustain, hair care takes little effort and should fit into your daily routine easily. Keep your hair clean and brush it regularly to spread the naturals oils down the hair shaft. If you require heated appliances everyday to create you style, why not spray in some leave-in conditioner after use in order to replenish it. Soon you will have healthy hair to smile about.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Beauty, Aging, and Fitness

Hair Care Basics

Hair is important. Hair is your crowning glory. The way you style your hair is one of the most eloquent aspects of our body vocabulary. The better you treat your hair, the easier it will be to grow and the better it will look. Some women favor very long hair and resist the idea of frequent cuts, but skipping hair cuts in order to grow your hair out is actually self-defeating. If you take good care of your hair, you may not need to get it cut more than twice a year. Sleep with a satin scarf or sleep cap on your head or with a satin pillow case. This helps avoid split ends caused by the rubbing of your hair against a "rough" cotton pillow case. It also avoids moisture being wicked out of your hair into your cotton pillow case.

Wash your hair no more often than every week to week and a half. After shampooing, rinse your hair with cool water to seal moisture in the hair shafts. Coloring you hair can be very damaging. To distribute the natural oils in your hair, bend over and brush your scalp and hair from back to front until the scalp tingles; then massage the scalp with your fingertips. Towel-dry your hair thoroughly before using a blow dryer. Avoid damaging your hair with too much heat. Avoid using a brush on wet hair because it is subject to breakage. Comb out snarls. Do a deep conditioner or hot oil treatment once a month. Massage your scalp on a regular basis to promote circulation and oil production. Avoid overuse of products with mineral oil or petroleum.

Always use a leave-in conditioner after washing your hair. Use a coated rubber band or a soft hair tie to secure ponytails and the ends of a braid to reduce the stress on the hair. If your hair is prone to buildup from conditioners, styling gel, or hair spray, mix 1 tablespoon baking soda with your regular shampoo once a week. Rinse and dry as usual. Eat a proper diet. Vitamins and protein are essential for proper hair growth. Use gel after a braid is finished to smooth down loose or uncontrolled hairs. Apply it to your fingertip or to the end of a hairpin. Use gel to control hair when you want a "wet" affect. Apply gel sparingly to your hair once styled. If you want a soft finish but need to control the hair. Use hair spray.

Hair Care Tips

1. Protect your hair with hair care products that contain sunscreen.

2. Use regular hair rollers, winding hair loosely around them.

3. Avoid pulling back your hair tightly.

4. For shiny hair apply besan in the hair and wash it with water drained from the cooked rice.

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

6. Wash hair with tea once in a week.

7. Eat a proper diet.

8. Always use a wide tooth comb and try to gently detangle your hair.

Juliet Cohen writes articles for beauty tips and beauty recipes

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Hair Shampoo - Information and Tips

Shampoo is a probably the most common hair care product used to clean hair. It basically removes oils, dirt, products and other pollutants from the exterior of the hair and scalp. If not formulated correctly, shampoo can strip your hair and scalp of too much of the natural oils. This is another reason it is not recommended you use regular soap for cleaning your hair as soap is made to bond with and remove oils.

Shampoos, especially those, made for daily use are formulated so that they are mild on the hair and do not leave it too dry. Shampoo to treat dandruff, which is considered a medical condition, is regulated just like other over the counter drugs. Baby shampoos are made to mirror the pH of the human eye so they do not irritate the eye during bathing. You can also get the double formula shampoo and conditioner all in one which is supposed to clean and condition at the same time. Then you have the shampoos geared to your type of hair: dry, oily, normal. But it gets more complicated now. You can get shampoos geared towards the result you want, There are shampoos that volumize, moisturize, strengthen, purify (not sure what that means), anti-frizz, color enhancing (specific for blondes, brunettes & redheads), and more recently ones for restoring and time renewal.

Tips

• Always shampoo wet hair. Lather & massage. Remember lots of suds does not necessarily mean it is doing a better job.

• Shampoo, Rinse, Repeat. This is a myth. Repeating will not get your hair cleaner; you will just use twice the amount of shampoo.

• You do not need to shampoo every day, specially if your hair is dry. Every other day just wet your hair and use conditioner

• Which one to pick? All shampoo cost pennies to make. The extras are just branding and perfumes. Try one of the drugstore shampoos first before you invest upwards of $20 for a fancy shampoo.

• If you are using a special thickening shampoo be sure to use an anti-residue shampoo once a week. Thickening shampoos work by depositing product to adhere to your hair so it just looks thicker.

Ann is a home based business entrepreneur who researches various topics and reviews internet products. For more information on total hair care visit her site Best Hair Care Guide.

Several Natural Hair Care Remedies

Everyone knows that beautiful and shiny hair is a reflection of a healthy body. However, attaining shiny hair is not always that easy. Many of us can spend hours per day on our hair and still remain unsatisfied. We blow dry, we curl, we use a million of products and we somehow still fail to see the results we desire. So what are some of the steps we can take in improving the appearance of our hair naturally?

The first mistake that some of us make is that we wash our hair daily with harsh shampoos. It is very important to wash your hair with a mild shampoo, especially if you are forced to wash it daily. Washing your hair with a clarifying shampoo every day can be very damaging to your hair. It can strip your hair from its natural oils and cause dryness, breakage, and frizz. Also, be sure to never brush your hair when it is wet. This will also lead to breakage of the hair. One way to help your hair from the inside is to take a calcium supplement daily or to drink two glasses of milk each day.

Another important step towards healthy hair is sun protection. Many of us protect our bodies from the sun but we fail to protect our hair. If you know that you will be spending numerous hours in the sun, simply mix a little bit of sunscreen with a leave in hair conditioner and apply it to your hair. This will help shield your hair from sun damage and reduce the chance of breakage, dryness, and frizz. Some other minor at home tips include keeping the hairdryer away from the hair, avoiding pulling the hair back tightly, avoiding rubber bands, and avoiding very hot and very cold water when shampooing. These are just a few natural remedies and helpful hints towards healthy hair.

Lauren S. Johnson writes health articles about fitness and nutrition. Some of her favorite passions include studying the medicinal benefits of herbal remedies, diet pills, and hoodia gordonii.

Ways to Get Beautiful Hair

Beautiful hair can be very easy to achieve if you know how to do it. There are very simple steps in getting the hair you want with little to no real effort. The best way to be sure you are keeping your hair healthy is to eat right. A proper diet can be essential for thick, luxurious hair. The other major contributors to great hair are just as important and can make a huge difference in how your hair turns out. Finding the right hair products, what you treat your hair with, and how you style your hair can have a big impact on whether or not your hair is healthy and easy to manage.

Finding The Right Shampoo And Conditioner

Beautiful hair can be as simple as the right type of shampoo and conditioner. While many people do not believe what you wash your hair with can have an impact, it can. Many shampoos and conditioners contain chemicals that can strip the hair of essential oils and cause damage to the roots and follicles. When finding a cleanser you will want to be sure it is not too abrasive and does not dry the scalp. Conditioners can also be a problem. Some can leave a build up on the scalp and leave residue that can cause dandruff. When washing your hair it is important to only wash it when it is dirty or every other day. This will keep the natural oils in the hair with out causing a build up. Shampoo should be applied to the scalp region and massaged gently for a few minutes. The rest of the hair should be limited in shampoo exposure. The opposite is true for conditioner. This should be applied to the hair ends and body, while avoiding the scalp area.

Dos and Don'ts About Hair Styles

A lot can be said about the right hairstyle. While beautiful hair can be perceived as a "look", not every hairstyle looks right on every person. When you are picking out the right hairstyle you will have to take some key points into consideration. The shape of your face is one of the most important factors in what type of style you should get. If you have a long slender face, long straight hair is not very appealing. A short to medium length with some body or layers will be much more appealing. For those who have round, full faces, very short styles should be avoided. Longer hairstyles are much more flattering.

Gels, Mousse, And Other Hair Products

When it comes to hair styling products, you really want to be careful. Beautiful hair will depend on the type of product, the damage it can cause, and how much you use. Gels and Mousse are used to help give some structure to crazy hair. You should not over load your head with these and you need to be sure they do not contain a lot of alcohol. If you over use these products you can get build up on the scalp that can lead to dandruff, excess oils, and follicle damage. Over use can also lead to more washing, which strips the hair of essential properties. Hair sprays are meant to keep hair in place through the day. While this may sound like a good idea, it can lead to damage of the hair follicle and hair loss. Always remember, for beautiful hair, less is more.

Linda Farington writes weight loss, diet plan, health, beauty and general well-being articles for the Lose Weight Reviews website at http://www.loseweightreviews.com

Common Myths About Shampooing Your Hair

When it comes to the every day activity of washing your hair, there really can be a lot of confusion. The problem is that the common knowledge about taking care of your hair really can be down right wrong.

Here are some common myths about washing and caring for your hair and what you really need to do if you want to get the best results for your hair type.

First is the oily myth. It goes something like, 'If you wash and shampoo your hair daily it will make your hair oily'. This simply is not the case. The next myth is at the other end of the extreme. It is 'If you wash your hair every day it will dry out'. Again that is just not so. Another common myth is that you need to wash and shampoo your hair twice each time. That is not true. Modern shampoos and shampoo plus conditioner blends do a fabulous job and they only need to be applied once (no matter what it says on the bottle).

Shampooing your hair regularly is a must because it removes dirt and oil and returns moisture back to the hair. But, if all those myths are false, what is the proper way to clean your hair?

The answer lies in your hair type. There are four distinct hair types and each one needs to be cared for differently.

The first type of hair is straight hair. It's pretty easy to pick out if you have naturally straight hair. But some people have fine straight hair while others have thick straight hair (and of course there are people in between). If you have fine hair that is straight, you should shampoo daily. Look for a shampoo that is gentle, is made for oily hair and includes a conditioner. It helps if it contains natural ingredients like tea tree or sage oils.

If you have thicker straight hair, the recipe is pretty much the same. The only difference is that it is OK to wash your hair every other day. If you start noticing that your hair feels a bit oily, then increase the number of times you wash your hair.

The second type of hair is naturally wavy. The strands of hair tend to form an 'S' pattern. If you have this type of hair, look for 'Normal' shampoo and you can choose to either wash your hair every day or every other day.

The third type of hair is curly hair. This kind of hair is like a slinky when stretched. It bounces back and the strands definitely form a tight 'S' pattern. This kind of hair likes to be moist. You should use a moisturizing shampoo once every 2 to 3 days. If you shampoo every day there is a good chance you will get frizzy hair. You can rinse your hair daily to keep the moisture up but do not shampoo more than once every 2 days. Make sure to take your time rinsing as well.

The last hair type is classified as kinky hair. This kind of hair has very tight curls, is like thin wire and is often very easy to break. The strands of hair often form really tight 'S' or 'Z' patterns. If this is your hair type, you only need to shampoo your hair once a week or even longer is ok. Look for a shampoo with ingredients like shea butter, carotene or glycerin. In other words, you need a good protein based shampoo with natural ingredients. That will help your kinky hair look its best.

No matter what type of hair you have, you will benefit from using a good clarifying shampoo once every 60 days or so. This will remove any buildup that your hair has collected and it helps to restore the shine. Just remember to use a good conditioner after such a treatment and you hair will look its best for you.

Marcy Givens is a self pronounced hair care enthusiast. With all the junk being sold to uneducated consumers by huge manufacturers, Marcy felt obliged to get educated. During her path she discovered some useful tips and secrets for selecting Sedu flat irons and Chi hair straighteners which she freely shares with her readers.