Did you know that it is in the first two decades of our lives that our hair is at its best and our hair shafts at their strongest? By Reef Choudhury
In trying to keep up with the latest trends and achieve hairstyles that mirror those of our favourite celebrities (like hair colouring, applying direct heat and washing frequently with harsh shampoos that strip hair of its natural oils) we end up with hair that is less manageable, frizzier and weaker.
Although it is highly unlikely that we will completely abandon the chemicals and heat that add a little oomph to our hairstyles, there are some simple measures we can take to keep our hair feeling and looking healthier and shinier! Below are a few easy-to-do tips recommended by industry experts…
1. Shampoo less
Washing your hair everyday is doing more damage than good. Over-shampooing strips away essential oils from the scalp, which causes it to become dry and irritated…leaving you with dull looking hair. Instead, you should shampoo every other day or even every third day and use dry shampoo in between washes to keep your style looking fresh.
2. Give your hair a weekly intensive moisturising treatment
This will really give your hair the much needed nourishment that it needs to leave it looking and feeling silky soft. I use an Indian hair oil, Dabur Amla Hair Oil, which is packed with the natural goodness of amla, which is an Indian gooseberry (available from Superdrug or any Indian grocery store). I apply this to dry hair, leave in for at least 2 hours and then wash out with shampoo. You can however make your own treatment at home, by mixing two eggs and a mashed avocado – apply it to wet hair and wash out with shampoo after 2-3 hours.
3. Grab a brush
MYTH: your hair needs 100 strokes with a brush to keep it beautiful. All this will achieve is hair breakage. However, you do need to brush your hair, as brushing distributes your hairs natural oils from the roots all the way to the end, acting as a natural moisturiser. Brushing your hair from the roots will also get blood flowing in your scalp, which provides a healthier environment for the hair follicles to live in.
4. Wash with cool water
FACT: Hot water dries out hair and leaves it dull. After shampooing, rinse your hair with cool water as this closes the cuticles and allows light to reflect off of the hair, producing lots of shine.
5. Blot hair dry
Hands up how many of you rub your hair vigorously with a towel after a shower? This is a big no no. For healthier and happier hair, try blotting your hair with the towel to remove moisture. Why? Because wet hair is more susceptible to damage and rubbing your hair with a towel when wet can rough up the cuticle of the hair and result in more breakage.
Try these simple tips for dramatic results…do you have any tips of your own?
