Gentle Handling And Thorough Rinsing Key To Healthy Hair

As for general care for your hair, one of the most important things you can do to give it more life is to handle it gently. Blow-drying, overcurling, overstraightening and tugging it roughly into styles that pull on the root can all be hard on your hair. If you can find a style that lets you dry it naturally without a dryer, this could give your hair a well-needed rest.

Another tip is to be very careful to thoroughly rinse out shampoo before applying a conditioner. Shampoo trapped under a coat of conditioner can make your hair dull and irritate your scalp.

Conditioners can make hair look more shiny, but they can't repair damaged hair. They simply fill in microscopic chips or splits in the hair, making these individual hairs less bumpy and rough. These smoother hairs reflect the light better than do the rough ones, and hair then looks shinier. Conditioners also temporarily stick obvious split ends back together.

If you over-condition your hair, it may feel oily and limp. Using only shampoo for a few washings in a row, then starting to use a conditioner again, may get rid of accumulated conditioner that may be weighing your hair down.

You may also need to experiment with how often to shampoo your hair. Every day may remove too much needed oil but once per week may allow too much oil and dirt to accumulate. Try to find out how often you have to shampoo to keep your hair clean but not stripped of the oil it needs.

Remember, too, that under the microscope each hair is covered by a series of scales. Shampooing raises these tiny scales so the hair is less smooth after being washed. Some people think rinsing hair in cool water helps flatten these microscopic scales and makes the hair look smoother and more shiny again.

These are just a few basic tips for hair care. If you need more specific advice because of a medical problem with your hair or scalp, see your doctor.