Hair Care Q& A
Split Ends
Q: What Causes Split Ends?
A: Split ends, the small tears to the shaft of the hair follicle that make the
hair look like it's literally split in two, are caused by the all of the things
we do to look beautiful. More specifically, split ends are caused by heat
styling - hair dryers, irons, crimpers are all culprits here - sun damage, and
chemicals such as hair dyes and permanents. Split ends are also caused by time.
If you didn't use any styling products, stayed indoors, and gave up your hair
dryer and Sedu for good, you would still get split ends.
Repair Split Ends
You can minimize hair damage and split ends by curtailing your use of chemicals
and heat stylers as much as possible, and by using deep conditioners and hair
repair products, which go a long way to undo the damaged caused by excessive
styling. You can minimize the damaged caused to your hair by the sun by using a
shampoo with sunscreen and by wearing a hat when you're in the sun for a long
period of time.
The absolute number-one thing you can do to minimize the damaged done to your do
by split ends is by getting regular trims, as trims are the only way to get rid
of split ends for good (that is, until they come back again).
Frizzy Hair
Q: I have messy, frizzy hair that rarely looks pretty or under control. I'm
starting college and really want to look good. How do I tame my frizzy hair?
A: It should give you some solace to know that a lot of people struggle with
frizzy hair. And it seems as through there are just as many "solutions" for
frizzy hair as there are people suffering from it, but most of the things
available at the drug store just don't do the trick. How often have you bought
a hair product hoping your hair will look as sleek and pretty as the girl in the
commercial only to have it weight your hair down, and not fully control the
frizzies?
Frizzy Hair Home Remedies
A lot of the things you can do to tame frizzy hair are free, and a lot of
products that really help fight frizz won't even say "frizz" on the bottle.
Let's look at the free ones first.
Most frizzy hair is dry hair. To treat dry hair, apply a natural hair "mask"
made of mayonnaise, mashed avocado or mashed bananas (the darker the better).
Leave the mashed fruit on for fifteen minutes; leave the mayonnaise on for a
half-hour to an hour, and rinse, washing the mask out with a conditioning
shampoo.
Avoid stripping your hair of its natural moisture by washing it every other day
or every third day, depending on your hair. (You can still "do" your hair. Just
skip the shampoo and condition as normal.) Help your hair "soak up" as much
moisture from your conditioner as possible by leaving the conditioner on for
five minutes or more. (Some people even have luck leaving a little conditioner
in their hair, while others find that extra conditioner can weigh down their
hair, so you will have to play with it to see what works for you).
When you're out of the shower, be careful with your hair. Don't rub it or
scrunch it with a towel, but twist it up (after combing with a wide-tooth comb)
in a towel for five to ten minutes. Never ever brush your hair – and only comb
it while it's wet.
Frizzy Hair Products
Now onto the money. You will need a product or two for your frizzy hair. But
you should limit it to that. (Too many products will frazzle your locks.) Get a
good gel that will keep your hair tame. But don't use too much, as too much gel
will make your hair look crunchy. If you're too busy for frizzy hair home remedies, consider investing in a hair repair product like H2 Thermal.
Natural Hair Color
Q: I recently did a detox and eliminated a lot of chemicals from my life. Now
it's time to dye my hair and I don't want to use a traditional hair dye. Are
there any natural hair dyes out there?
A: As more and more people are becoming aware of the harmful chemicals in
everyday household products and beauty products, many are choosing products made
from natural botanicals that are good for their bodies and the environment. As a
result, there are a few companies now making natural hair color, such as Eco Colors. Rather new to the market, these hair colors
are available at some salons and in at-home kits.
Most natural hair dyes contain vegetable dyes and/or henna dyes and other
nourishing ingredients including Vitamin E, castor oil, and jojoba oil, among
other ingredients.
These products are non-toxic and tend to be very good for people with allergies.
Even women who are pregnant and nursing can safely use these natural hair color
products.
You can also use henna hair dyes. These products use the same natural henna used
in henna tattoos to safely dye the hair for up to 4-6 weeks.