Ten Tips to Liven up Long Hair Care
If you are flipped out about dull, lifeless-looking locks, frazzled over the frizzies, or frustrated about how to get your hair in shape, then you are not alone. You share these concerns, and probably a lot of others, with those who wear shoulder-length or longer hair.
Unless you were born perfect, beautiful hair doesn it just happen.
Getting it into healthy, shiny condition takes a commitment to
continuing care. Besides professional cutting or trimming every two
months to promote natural bounce and remove split ends, giving long
hair special attention at home each day will help make it the best it
can possibly be. Even if you have neglected your hair in the past, it
is never too late to get to the root of the problems associated with
it, or to practice some preventive maintenance.
One
reason long hair requires extra care is because it becomes more fragile
with age. The most widely-cited problems are oil at the scalp, hair
that tangles when wet, dry split ends (the number one problem), loss of
healthy sheen, and hair that won not stay where you want it to.
To achieve today is beautiful longer-hair look, beauty experts recommend that you let these tips go straight to your head:
- FINGER RAKING - Upon waking, run fingers through hair to remove snarls and tangles.
-
BRUSHING - Bend forward allowing hair to fall. Use a large oval brush
to bring hair from the nape of the neck over the head and down to the
ends. Then, stand straight again with hair falling normally and brush
from the underside of the hairline down the strands to the ends. Now,
brush the top layers into place with long, even strokes. After each
stroke, smooth hair with hands to reduce static. Increase the number of
strokes daily until you find a comfortable routine. (Note: because wet
hair is the weakest, brush hair only when dry. Don not brush or comb
hair against the grain of the growth pattern, an action that can injure
hair.)
-
COMBING - Separate hair into small sections. With a wide-tooth comb,
carefully work from the ends in a downward direction only. Never pull
or yank hair.
* DRYING HAIR - Air dry hair whenever possible. If blow drying is necessary, blow in downward strokes only on cool setting.
- CURLING
- Use regular hair rollers, winding hair loosely around them. Avoid
electric rollers, hot combs and curling irons or use on cool setting.
-
SHAMPOOING - Choose shampoos containing only natural ingredients with
conditioning properties. First, remove surface dirt through gentle
sudsing. Rinse and lather again, massaging your head to increase the
blood supply to the scalp and roots.
-
DETANGLING - Work a detangler into well-rinsed hair. Flush with tepid,
then cold water, until hair squeaks clean. Twist gently and wrap hair
in a towel for a few minutes. Unwrap hair and let it fall naturally
into place. To protect ends, use a pomade to keep ends from frizzing
and splitting.
- CHEMICALS - Seek professional advice about coloring or perming hair.
-
ENVIRONMENT - Protect hair from over-exposure to sun, salt or
chlorinated water, wind and pollution. Wear a hat, cap or scarf if you
can. Seek out hair products with sunscreens.
-
UP, UP & AWAY - To keep cool and look stylish, sweep hair upward.
Use natural materials (i.e., tortoise shell combs, clips and fasteners)
instead of rubber bands, plastic and metal which snag and pull hair.
Try to avoid all products containing alcohol as it dries hair.
Whether
you are male or female, young or old, your hair is a reflection of who
you are. Healthy hair isn not only about looking good. It also can make
you feel good.
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