What Do Hot Oil Treatments Really Do?

I remember when using a hot oil treatment was considered the "deep conditioner" that was supposedly the miracle remedy for dry or damaged hair. Many brands were advertised and home-made recipes were passed around between friends. Well, after my sister went to beauty school years ago, I found out the truth. Hot oil does not condition your hair. Sure, hot oil treatments have their benefits. They feel nice and warm on your head, your hair will be temporarily shiny and....well, that's about it.

Why hot oil treatments don't work

Without getting too much into the science of it all, let's just say hot oil can't get "into" your hair. The molecular structure is just too big to penetrate the hair shaft so it sits there on top. It will coat the cuticle of the hair shaft and that is what makes it reflect light and become shiny (until it's washed) but as far as conditioning? Nope, not gonna happen on Caucasian hair. That brings me to another point...

Hot oil treatments can help black or ethnic hair. This type of hair needs oils to maintain control and sheen. Also, unlike Caucasian hair, it is rarely washed daily so the benefits of shine and control are maintained longer. Still, it cannot penetrate and will not help the damage. Ethnic hair will do better using it as a styling aid rather than a conditioner.

Deep Conditioners instead

Many haircare brands such as Joico, Hayashi and Kerastase make wonderful reconstructors. If you are looking for a deep conditioner to counteract damage on your hair, visit your professional stylist for advice.

Sue Phillips is a beauty care expert and has been a licensed cosmetologist and salon owner for 25 years.

Think You Know How To Take Care Of Your Hair?

Your hair care regime should be deemed as serious as your body care regime. Taking care of your hair isn't rocket science but you will be surprise at the number of mistakes committed out of carelessness, over caring or sheer laziness.

1. The myth of washing your hair everyday to keep it clean and shiny is quite unnecessary unless you have oily hair. The natural oils in the hair will actually dry out if washing is done too often. If habits die hard, then use shampoo that is gentle on the cuticles.

2. Make sure hair is saturated with water before beginning the shampoo. Many people do not get hair wet enough for the shampoo to lather up and work effectively.

3. How much shampoo is too much? A quarter-sized dollop should do. Lather it up before putting it on your hair. Massage scalp gently to loosen dead skin cells which are dandruff in the making if not cleaned out well. Do not scrub the scalp vigorously as it will stimulate the oil glands to produce more serum.

4. Apply conditioner, make sure to work it to the ends where the oldest and most damaged area are likely to be. Leave it on for a minute before rinsing. If you feel conditioner makes your hair limp, or you simply do not have the habit of conditioning your hair, try to use a deep conditioner once every 2 weeks with a clarifying shampoo for thorough deep cleansing and conditioning.

5. Unless the conditioner is the leave-on variety, ensure that the shampoo and conditioner are thoroughly rinsed out or it will leave your hair dull, limp and unmanageable, and counteracts hair styling products.

6. Blot dry your hair, vigorous towel-drying may cause hair cuticles and fibres to entangle and break. Blow dry hair till its 80% dry and leave it to air dry. Overheating encourages hair breakage and strips its shine. Always hold dryer at least 30cm away from your hair.

7. And finally, maintain the condition of your hair and its style by trimming it every 6 weeks. The tip of each hair strand is weaker compared to the root so it is more susceptible to breakage and split ends which will affect the shape and style.

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Hair Conditioning Tips

Hair care is an overall term for parts of hygiene and cosmetology involving the hair on the human head. Hair conditioner is a hair care product that alters the texture and appearance of human hair. Conditioning is mainly used for dry hair because it adds natural oil supply. It makes dry hair shiny. For oily hairs mild conditioner should be used and that too at the ends of your hair. It is like giving nourishment treatment to hairs.For centuries, Natural oils have been used to condition human hair. These natural products are still used today, including essential oils such as tea tree oil and carrier oils such as jojoba oil. There are several types of hair conditioning. Pack conditioners, heavy and thick, with high content of surfactants able to bind to the hair structure and "glue" the hair surface scales together.

These are usually applied to the hair for longer time. Hold conditioners, based on atom polyelectrolyte polymers, holding the hair in a desired shape. These have both the function and the composition similar to diluted hair gels. Leave-in conditioners, thinner, containing different surfactants, adding only a little material to the hair. They are based on unsaturated chains, which are bent rather than straight. This shape makes them less liable to crystallizing, making a lighter, less viscous mixture and providing significantly thinner layer on the hair. Some important method when you apply conditioning. Remove the excess water from hair after shampooing your hair. Then remove tangles from hair by combing. Rub the conditioner with your fingers on hairs. Now gently massage the hair to loosen the conditioner.

Hair Conditioning Tips

1. Hair conditioners can coat the hair with a lubricant or synthetic that replaces the stripped out sebum.

2. Hair conditioners are used to smooth the cuticle and restore sheen to the hair.

3. Avoid using shampoos that will strip your hair and leave it dry.

4. For the better effect of conditioners that you have applied, wear a hat in the sun.

5. Before applying conditioners, dry your hair gently, by blotting and squeezing, not rubbing.

6. Never brush wet hair. Instead, use a wide-tooth comb.

Alicia Stock writes articles for skin care blog and hairstyles picture. She also writes articles for celebrity hairstyles.

Hair Conditioner: How To Choose The Right One

A good hair conditioner will help offset some of the negative effects of using a hair shampoo. Sebum is a natural oil produced in the hair follicle to give the hair protection. As it has a natural antiseptic it helps guard the scalp against protection.

During the day however dirt and grime can stick to the sebum so the hair needs regular thorough cleaning. Ordinary soap fails to do the job. A mild quality hair shampoo contains ingredients to clean the hair which involves taking away some of the sebum.

A hair conditioner restores the balance by replacing some of the oils, as well as moisturizing the hair and giving it a shine.

Various types of hair conditioner perform different jobs. Here is a checklist to enable you to choose the right hair conditioner for your hair and for the purpose you have in mind:

General Use

For general regular use to keep the oil balance in your hair: Use a basic, oil based conditioner which contains an ingredient like lanolin which is easy to spread through the hair.

Deep Conditioning Oils

Purchase a deep conditioning shampoo in a tube which can be made hot by placing in hot water and then massaged into the hair and scalp. Hair should be patted dry and once the oils have been evenly spread over the scalp a shower cap can be worn and the oils left in for whatever time the manufacturer recommends.

Alternatively use henna wax hair conditioner which performs basically the same function as a deep conditioning oil.

Leave-In Conditioners

If you suffer with damaged hair or difficult to manage fly away hair, a leave-in conditioner can add shine to the hair while helping the hair retain moisture. They can also offset the effects of static.

Conditioning Sprays

These are useful to protect the hair while using a blow dryer to avoid heat damage. They can also help when styling by reducing static on fine hair.

Restructurants For Damaged Chemically Treated Hair

While only providing temporary relief, this kind of hair conditioner can provide the hair cuticle with proteins which are absorbed by the hair.

If you perm your hair look out for an after-perm hair conditioner which can restore the pH (potential hydrogen) level of the hair which can be reduced through perming. This kind of hair conditioner can help the hair keep its bounce.

Protect your hair from the sun

If you are likely to be in direct sunlight for long periods, consider getting a hair conditioner with a built in UV (ultraviolet) screen which will protect the hair from being damaged by harmful rays from the sun.

In conclusion: A quality hair conditioner can give your hair bounce and shine while maintaining proper oil, pH, and moisture levels.

Be aware though that a hair conditioner can only do so much! Your main strategy for maintaining healthy hair comes from the inside.

Paying attention to a healthy diet and sufficient exercise will maintain a healthy supply of blood to the scalp so the hair follicles get the proteins and nutrients they need to produce healthy new hair.

You may wish to check out the hair care products from Nisim International, a hair specialist company in Toronto, Canada. For over 20 years they have researched hair and hair related problems in their laboratories. See the resource box below for details of their hair care line.

Mike Jones is a writer, researcher and webmaster with over 10 years experience. His recommendations for hair care:

Day Long Lightweight Hold With Maximum Nutrients And Protection For Your Hair:

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Fortified Amino Scalp Therapy (F.A.S.T.) For Healthy Fast Growing Hair:

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For the lowest prices on ionic, ceramic, & tourmaline hair dryers:

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Suffering From Swimmer's Hair?

Pool Chlorine

Chlorine is one of those toxic natural elements that we must come into contact with most every day. It has many positive uses but our hair isn't one of them! Chlorine bonds with the the proteins in our hair and damages it! Hair feels dry, brittle and is difficult to comb through. It tangles easily and has a gummy feel to it. Ironically, the word "Chlorine" in Greek means "pale green" which is often what blonde hair can experience without proper protection from the copper found in swimming pools.

Prevention

One of the easiest ways to help prevent chlorine from damaging your hair is to get your hair very wet before swimming. Think of your hair like a sponge. A dry sponge will soak up liquid quickly but a wet sponge is too "full" to absorb much. This simple step alone can make a major difference! Secondly, comb a conditioner through your hair and leave it in. The conditioner will act as a shield against the chlorine and help provide a barrier that the chlorine won't be able to penetrate. In a pinch, use any creamy conditioner (use a product that normally requires rinsing.) After swimming, immediately shampoo and condition the hair once again.

Treatment

Many products specifically treat swimmer's hair and the one I use and recommend is the Malibu 2000 line of haircare products This line has been around for a while but still one of the best. There is a Swimmer's Shampoo that prevents chlorine buildup and also helps prevent the green hair that is caused by copper. Swimmer's conditioner that helps condition hair leaving it shiny and free of any minerals. Malibu 2000 hair products also have special treatments to remove additional buildup.

Don't let chlorine get the best of you!

Sue Phillips is a beauty care expert and has been a licensed cosmetologist and salon owner for 25 years

How to Handle Different Types of Hair Quality

Hair needs utmost care because their natural shiny appearance does not only depend on the outside factors but also in the inner nurturing of hair. That is why it is important that we must start taking care of our hair. The initial process of hair care actually begins with taking proper care of the health and the style of living.

To take care of different types of hair that includes dry hair, oily hair and normal hair, one has to follow certain points, which will nourish the scalp and prevent hair problems.

In case of dry hair you should avoid washing your hair with hot water as it makes your hair more dry and brittle. You should also massage your scalp everyday in order to make your hair look healthy.

Apply hair oil treatment for reducing the roughness and bring shine. Oiling of the hair also brings hair growth and strengthens your hair.

Try to keep yourself completely hydrated by drinking a lot of water. Drink at least 8 glasses of water so that both your hair and skin is hydrated everyday. Avoid sleeping with your hair in hair ties, curlers and braids. These will definitely damage the scalp of your hair. Focus on good shampoos that will make your hair look beautiful and lively.

In case of oily hair, wash your hair everyday because if your scalp is clean then it will definitely not secrete oil. It is better to use good shampoos that will scuff off the unnecessary oil and makes your hair look alive.

A good conditioner can also be helpful for the hair fall. Apply it to the tips of the hair and rinse the hair for a while. The application of the conditioner will nourish your hair and wash out the extra oil from the surface of the hair. Reduce the use of brush from your hair and protect hair fall. In fact, you can use the same procedure for normal hair in order to bring shine and growth of the hair.

Dandruff is something that is caused due to dryness. It especially occurs during the winters and dampens the hair. As dandruff is natural process you can completely eradicate it by using anti-dandruff hair shampoo available in the market.

After applying some anti-dandruff shampoo, you should also apply a good conditioner. You can also try some home made treatments like mix lemon with coconut oil which will reduce dandruff and impart shine to your hair thereafter.

If you are burdened with stress then it is better for you to take proper care of your life style and learn to relax. Before doing shampoo just brush your hair so that you do not have hair fall.

Take care of your diet and include grains, vegetables and fresh traits as well as maintain a healthy lifestyle to maintain the beauty of your hair.

If you are still facing extreme hair related problems then better consult a doctor who will guide you to take preventive measures for hair care.

Hair Care Treatment For Seasonally Damaged Hair

Just as we care for our bodies by eating healthy and exercising, we must give equal attention to our skin, hair, and nails in order to present a clean, groomed appearance. But as the seasons change so does the chemistry in our bodies – sapping our skin of moisture, causing our nails to become brittle, and drying out our hair. We apply moisturizer to our skin and groom or polish our nails in order to keep them healthy and improve their appearance; but often our hair care falls to the wayside. However, with proper hair care treatment through harsher weather, we can restore balance to our hair and improve its texture and health.

In winter especially, when we are exposed to cold weather outside and forced heat inside, our hair begins to show signs of distress in the form of split ends and rough texture. Just as these factors have an effect on our bodies in general, the effect on our hair is easily seen and felt. It is especially important during this time to implement a comprehensive hair care treatment plan that will help keep your hair healthy until milder temperatures return.

Such hair care treatment should include an intensive conditioner – heavier than you would normally use in the spring and summer months. Use a milder conditioner for every day use and apply a deep conditioner once every few days. The deep conditioner should be kept on for at least five minutes. You may even choose to apply a leave-in conditioner to your hair for all day treatment. The type of conditioner that you choose should depend on your overall hair type – thick, thin, curly, straight. Look for those conditioners that work with your particular type of hair.

As part of a consistent hair care treatment program, stay far away from the blow dryer when your hair is particular dry. Try to let your hair air dry as much as possible – this is far healthier for your hair; the forced hot air of the blow dryer will only serve to further parch your hair.

Additionally, buy a comb to be used in your hair care treatment. Brushing your hair often breaks the hair – splitting ends and damaging follicles. Try to comb your hair rather than brush it as often as possible.

Be sure to visit your professional hair stylist more often during these times. A good trim and professional conditioning hair care treatment will go a long way to improving the health of your hair.

With a consistent and comprehensive hair care treatment program you will be well on your way to beautiful, healthy hair – no matter what the season.

For easy to understand, in depth information about hair care treatment visit our ezGuide 2 Hair Care