Washing your hair is probably one of the things in your life that you do automatically without even thinking about it, like brushing your teeth, but, maybe you should give it a little thought. A lot of people take their hair for granted but it is an important part of your appearance and deserves a little consideration. Here are a few factors you should think about and a few questions you should ask yourself:
How often should I wash my hair? This depends primarily on your type of hair – oily or dry, fine or coarse, and so on.
Unless you are living in a big city with lots of smoke and dust around you probably won’t find it necessary to wash your hair every day, particularly if it’s dry or curly, or very fine. Washing too frequently in these circumstances could leave your hair weakened and fragile, and more susceptible to split ends. If you have normal hair you can wash it up to five times per week, but even this may not be really necessary, especially if you have long hair that makes it time consuming. Oily hair can be washed daily, or you can skip some days if you use baby powder to soak up the oils.
Should I use conditioner? If you are lucky in that you can wash your hair frequently yet it stays naturally shiny then you may not need conditioner. However, most people find that their hair benefits from conditioner. It helps to moisturise the hair, smooth the cuticle, and make it easier to comb through.
If your hair tends to be coarse and dry then using a conditioner can benefit it enormously. The important thing is really have a close look at your hair because if you use a lot of conditioner on a naturally moist hair it can cause your hair to look greasy and be weighed down and flat-looking.
What sort of shampoo should I use? These days there is a wide variety of shampoos on the market, and there is bound to be one suitable for you. If your hair is healthy and normal, not tinted in any way, then you do not need to be too concerned about which shampoo to use – just go for a protein enriched one. If your hair is tinted however, you will extend the life of the tint by using a specifically formulated shampoo.
If you prefer natural products you can get shampoos with chamomile for blonde hair or henna for brunette, and these seem to work quite well. If your hair is damaged, or extremely fine, then you should use a shampoo with the label “substantive protein”. Most shampoos are slightly acidic as this helps in restoring the cuticle and making the hair shine.
There are shampoos formulated especially for excessively oily hair, e.g. lemon containing types. Also modern technology offers special shampoos for very dry hair with “depth-enhancing moisturisers” and all manner of wonders.
It may be useful to try alternating the type of shampoo that you use. Use one type say, once or twice a week, and then the other once or twice a week. Also try changing brands of shampoo every so often as you may find one suit you better than another, and there is always something new on the market. Treat your hair kindly to maximise its health and shine. It is worth it to maintain this vital asset.
Author: Erica Mate is an skilled hairdresser in London. She can help you to obtain the best out of your hair. For a short time you can obtain a free haircut in her salon. To grab this offer make sure you visit her website here.