This
site is not intended to offend anyone, but some
of the pictures some folks may find offensive.
While not pornographic, they are sexual in
nature. Please enjoy
Hair that is longer than 30 cms has been dead for
around three years!
It is extremely difficult to bring
about a lasting change in the condition of anything dead.
So the results of most attempts to condition the hair
shaft, a completely dead and inert structure are
superficial and transient. It is worth bearing in mind
that given its average growth rate, hair that is more than
30 cms long has been dead for around three years.
Even though the hair shaft is
dead, a conditioner can improve its appearance.
It is possible to make the hair look
better. On healthy hairs the scales of keratin lie
smoothly one on top of the other so that they overlap.
With neglect or maltreatment the scales become curled at
the edges distorted or even disconnected. Hair in good
condition has scales rather like a bird's wing when the
feathers are ruffled. A conditioner can smoothen the
scales and so improve the hair's appearance.
Use a mild shampoo with a pH
value of 5.
To improve the physical condition of
the hair in any sense that goes beyond the merely
cosmetic, it would be necessary to affect the hair-forming
organ, which lies well beneath the surface of the scalp at
the time the hair was actually growing. Because the hair
mirrors the general state of body health so faithfully the
best hair conditioner of all is to get healthy and stay
healthy.
Because the scalp needs to be
treated gently, it makes sense to use a mild shampoo. In
this respect it is impossible to beat a baby shampoo. If
this does not suit you look among the makes that state
their pH (a measure of acidity and alkalinity) and choose
one that is near pH 5. This will be very close to the
normal acidity of the scalp.
There are no reasons for using a
medicated shampoo. An antiseptic is called for only if an
infection is present and anyone with a scalp infection is
in need of a doctor and not a medicated shampoo.
Ensuring that hair is clean and
shiny is the most important step in hair care. Choose a
shampoo from a reputed manufacturer to suit your hair
type. The active ingredients vary considerably in quality.
A shampoo should cleanse thoroughly without irritating or
demoisturising the scalp. This is more important than the
acid and alkali balance.
Overwashing robs hair of the
necessary moisture and oil.
It should not be necessary to use
much shampoo to get good results, nor should shampooing
leave the hair "squeaky clean" as this indicates that too
much oil and moisture have been removed. Such additives as
herbs and fruit or protein do not affect the hair's condition.
Really greasy hair may be washed
once a day but it is not advisable to shampoo more than
once or twice a week if your hair is dry, as overwashing
can rob the hair of moisture. Dry shampoos, made of a
grease-absorbing fine powder can make the hair look
fresher when there is no time to wash it.
A conditioner helps to make each
hair more light-reflective and prevents penetration of
anything harmful to the inner core.
As tap water is mildly alkaline,
hair that is dried straightaway after shampooing may
become charged with static electricity making it flyaway
and difficult to manage. Our grandmothers resolved this by
adding vinegar or lemon juice to the final rinsing water
to neutralise the alkalinity. A modern day equivalent is
to use cream rinse or conditioner after every shampoo. In
addition to stabilising the pH value of the hair these
include light-reflective ingredients, which coat the
length of each hair to increase shine and gloss, as well
as adding bulk.
Perms and permanent colorants can
affect the water preserving cuticle layer.
The outer layer of the hair or
cuticle swells and flaps open when any alkaline substance
such as hard water, shampoo, dye or a perming solution
touches it. A cream rinse or conditioner helps to smooth
down the cuticle. The cuticle seals each hair to guard
against water evaporation, the major cause of dryness. A
conditioner also helps to make each hair more
light-reflective and prevents the penetration of anything
harmful to the inner core.
A mild shampoo should be used,
followed by a conditioner formulated for dry hair. Hair
should be trimmed regularly to eliminate split ends, which
may travel up the length of the shaft, giving a roughened,
brittle appearance. The condition of the scalp and the
condition of the hair can be quite different. The scalp
can be oily and the hair dry because overwashing has
removed the moisture from it.
Hot oil treatments may be helpful
where a dry scalp accompanies dry hair. The oil
temporarily seals the surface of the skin and hair, so
that no moisture can escape, allowing time for the natural
moisture to restore itself. Warm olive oil should be
massaged into the hair and scalp which should then be
covered with a towel for an hour. Remove oil, by first
applying shampoo, then gradually adding water.
Greasy hair is caused by an
overabundance of sebum from the sebaceous glands, which
lie next to the hair follicle. The sebum is spread along
the shaft by matting of the hairs and friction of one
against the other. The excessive activity of the sebaceous
glands cannot be suppressed and so the hair needs to be
washed more regularly than normal since its greasy state
attracts dirt more quickly. Dry shampoos are particularly
useful and effective for greasy hair.
Combination hair is oily at
the scalp and dry and brittle at the ends. This may be
caused by overzealous washing with the wrong shampoo when
the natural state of the hair tends towards greasiness.
Use of a milder shampoo, one based on high quality
wash-active ingredients, which cleans gently without
demoisturising the scalp, and conditioning the ends of the
hair to counteracts the dryness, is very effective.
Fine hair has static, which makes it
flyaway and difficult to control. It is particularly
important to use a conditioner regularly on this type of
hair to counteract the static. A conditioning rinse helps
to add bulk.
This
site does not provide medical or any other health care advice, diagnosis or
treatment. The site and its services, including the information above, are for
informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical
advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment.Always seek the advice of your
doctor. Medical information changes rapidly
and, some information
may be out of date.
This
site does not provide medical or any other health care advice, diagnosis or
treatment. The site and its services, including the information above, are for
informational purposes only and are not a substitute for professional medical
advice, examination, diagnosis or treatment.Always seek the advice of your
doctor. Medical information changes rapidly
and, some information
may be out of date.
