Hair loss and Hair Care

Often the first stage in helping hair loss can be in they way you actually care for your hair, your daily regime should include proper cleaning and care of your hair.

Shampooing

Clean shiny hair is seen as a sign of good health, but this is not strictly true as hair is actually dead matter. It is very much more likely a sign of someone who has looked after their hair with proper care and attention to detail.

It is important to choose a shampoo and conditioner that is right for you, hair gets dirty when sebum, an oily substance secreted by the skins sebaceous glands, coats the shaft. Dead skin cells and air bourne dirt stick to the sebum.

It goes without saying that a well-balanced diet is essential to healthy hair growth. Poor diet can be reflected in hair quality to quite an amazing degree, dandruff, dry hair and even hair loss can result.

Stress can also cause a problem in both hair loss and dandruff. Both of which can be detrimental to a lovely shiny head of hair.

The type of shampoo that you use is a purely personal choice, the cosmetic companies that produce them have spent millions of pounds on research over the years so you can usually be sure that the shampoo will clean your hair.

Try to avoid using a shampoo that is very mild, like a baby shampoo as this will make your hair very flyaway. One of the best shampoo types to use is a shampoo with a balanced P.H. value.

These shampoo's will return your hair to its natural P.H. level and make manageability very easy.

Some of today's new line of shampoos have a special ingredient advertised as a hair thickener as well as a shampoo that will make your hair look thicker. These shampoos actually coat each strand of hair with a layer of protein each time you use it thus making the hair appear thicker. These shampoos are really very good and can have quite a beneficial effect on most people.

Check the label on the back of the shampoo or conditioner to see what it contains. Proteins, keratin and amino acids all bond to the hair shaft to fill-in the cracks caused by poor treatment of the hair, these will strengthen and protect your hair.

However egg protein will not bond with your hair so is really just a gimmick. Moisturisers rehydrate your hair as they do your skin. Look out for urea, lactic acid and lecithin. Balsam is a resin that stiffens hair to add volume, which explains why conditioners containing it are the best sellers.

Panthenol, vitamin B5, unlike most vitamins, does penetrate hair and is essential for strength and healthy growth.

Protein shampoos do not penetrate the hair, but they coat it, thus providing more bulk. A protein shampoo acts similar to a shampoo and conditioner in one. 

Silk helps to make hair appear shiny by coating the hair and reflecting the light. Jojoba is a richly moisturising oil so is great for dry and damaged hair, but it's also very expensive and the amount found in conditioners may be minimal.

In fact probably just enough to put it on the label. You can see how many different ingredients can be added to conditioners and shampoos to help take care of the hair.

You should try and find the one that suits your own hair type and not just buy one because the manufacturers say it is the best, everyone's hair is different.

Choosing the correct shampoo and conditioner for your hair can be a matter of trial and error.

You should avoid using the same shampoo all the time as your hair will eventually build up a resistance to it and your hair will suffer so about every ten washes you should use a different shampoo to wash out all your old one. The results will make rather a noticeable difference to the shine of your hair.

Hair that is not washed at all and even in some cases left unbrushed or uncombed will after about three months actually become self cleaning.

Your hair will be shiny and bright without ever having to wash it again. A strange but interesting fact, although you would have to be quite brave to be able to walk about with unwashed hair for three months.

Try to avoid the use of hair spray or mousse after you have washed your hair as this will cause the hair to bond together and thus make it very hard to cover any area that is slightly thinning.

If possible, wash your hair leaning over a basin or the bath, so that blood circulation is increased around your scalp and hair roots.

Continue this by gently massaging your head with your fingertips while shampooing, begin at the nape of the neck and use the pads of your fingertips, keep your nails well clear and don't use your entire hand. Gently rotate your scalp (not your hair) with circular movements, travelling towards the crown of your head.

Do this in a slow gentle fashion for a couple of minutes. Next exert a little more pressure as you move towards your hairline. At the same time use the thumbs to move over your ears towards the temples.

Take your time and relax and enjoy your shampooing ritual, you will feel the benefit after you have finished. After shampooing rinse your hair well, then pat your hair dry with a towel as opposed to rubbing it with the towel. If you can get someone of the opposite sex to shampoo and massage your hair and scalp for you then you will feel that it relaxes you even more.

Try to use a conditioner after every wash as it smoothes down the tiny scales that cover each hair. This seals the inner core of the hair against damage from the weather. Conditioners also help to prevent static. Rub the conditioner into the ends of the hair (not at the roots or they may look greasy) and leave for a couple of minutes.

Rinse off and wrap hair in a warm towel to absorb the excess moisture. Do not rub the hair dry with the towel just pat dry then brush hair into required style.

A good brush and comb should be used to keep your hair in good condition. A comb should have rounded teeth with no rough edges. Your brush should be made from a good natural bristle, these bristles should be firm but flexible, with rounded ends to prevent damage.

Every time you wash your hair, wash your brush and comb, and make sure everyone in the household has their own brush and comb. Cleanliness is very important in looking after the condition of your hair.

Your hairdresser should be a friend to you and not just someone who cuts your hair. Find someone that understands your hair and your style of haircut. Tell them about your worries, they will be glad to give advise to you about anything that is a problem for you.

If your hairdresser does not give you proper advise change hairdressers, there are lots of them about, and once you find the one for you stick with them.