Straight Hair Care

by Bethany C.

If you want your hair to be healthy for health's sake or for growing it longer, these are the basic steps to take:

When washing your hair, do not use hot water. You can use warm water while washing it, but the last rinse should be done with water as cool as you can stand it. This may seem very unpleasant at first, but you will get used to it. I am now at the point where I wash and rinse my hair with completely cold water. The reason this is better is that hot water softens hair, stripping it of its natural protection, and leaves it vulnerable to breakage. Cold water "seals" the hair, and you will also notice that your hair will become softer and shinier after using cooler water.

Do not pile all your hair on top of your head while washing it, and do not scrub it. Instead, gently massage your scalp only, letting the soapy water run down the ends of your hair. Run your fingers gently through your hair as you rinse it, but be careful not to pull at tangles as this will only cause hair to unnecessarily break.

Contrary to popular belief, you do not need to use lots of shampoo and have a lot of lather. Use only a small amount of shampoo, diluting it with water to help it spread over your scalp. After shampooing, apply conditioner to all the hair below your ears; most people find that using conditioner on their scalp creates oiliness. Leave it in for several minutes; rinse with--of course--cool or cold water.

When drying your hair, do not rub it with a towel. Instead, use the towel to gently squeeze the excess water out of your hair. It's fine to put your hair up in a towel "turban style," but make sure you don't twist it up tightly because this can cause hair breakage. Never brush hair when it is wet and only detangle it with a wide-toothed comb if necessary. Hair is at its most vulnerable when wet.

Whenever possible, let your hair air dry. Use a blow dryer only when necessary and keep it on a low, cool setting. Avoid using curling irons and only use them on a low heat setting.

Use a wide-toothed comb to detangle your hair, and if you use a brush, it's best to use a boar bristle brush. Start brushing or combing at the ends of the hair, slowly working upwards and being very gentle. Some of the worst damage to hair is caused by careless brushing!

Split ends are something to watch out for. Here's a page on how to deal with them.

"it's more than just hair...it's an attitude!" -lorraine massey
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