5 Little Known Truths About Maintaining Healthy Hair

By Jackie Burns, MSN Shopping Contributor

Having healthy, vibrant hair helps make a great first impression which is bad news for me because my straw-like mop is probably scaring people away lately. After a lengthy consultation with Christine Singh-Gaglia, an owner at ONE Salon + Boutique Inc., she came to the conclusion that I burned my hair through the improper use of my flat iron. She cut my hair, used a deep conditioning treatment and prescribed a mask to use twice a week. My latest hair debacle (and there have been many) got me to thinking about other little known truths about maintaining a healthy head of hair. I asked Singh-Gaglia to share some of her best stylist secrets:

1. Natural Products Aren't Always Better

Natural does not always mean better, nor does it mean it will meet the needs of your hair. Many so-called natural products are not natural at all. There is very little regulation in the natural health market so companies are able to market their products whichever way the like. There are, however, some very reputable hair care products that have moved away from using harsh ingredients and are committed to providing products that are sulfate, DEA and paraben-free. The next thing to consider is the type of haircare product that your hair requires. Fine hair needs volume, weak hair needs protein and dry hair needs moisture. It is important to use the correct haircare products on your hair in order to keep your hair looking healthy and manageable.

2. Caution When Combing Conditioner Through Hair

To get the most from your conditioner, you need to work it well into the hair. This may be achieved by using your fingers or by using a wide-tooth comb. While it not recommended to comb wet hair with an average comb, the teeth on a wide-tooth comb are spaced out enough to ensure that hair does not get damaged. Not only will this work through your conditioner but it will detangle your hair as well. Look for a comb who’s teeth are about ¼ inch apart.

3. Limit Flat or Curling Iron Use to Once or Twice a Week

Flat irons and curling irons are often necessary in order to achieve the desired style. Keep in mind, however, that these tools are very hot, much hotter than anything our hair was meant to endure. In order to keep your hair in optimal condition, use a heat-protecting spray prior to applying the hot tool. Remember to adjust the heat setting as required for your hair type. Simply using the hottest setting may damage your hair, while using the correct lowered temperature will achieve the same look without the damage. Processed hair requires less heat. Most importantly, limit the frequency in which you use a hot tool. No more than once or twice a week.

4. Certain Hair Types Should Only be Washed Once a Week

Hair density, texture, condition as well as your lifestyle, will play a factor in how often your hair requires
washing. By washing your hair everyday, it removes your natural oil often resulting in, dry frizzy hair.  This oil, called sebum, is necessary as it keeps the scalp and the hair from drying out. It is recommended that you wash your hair two-to-three times per week at the most. Thick, coarse or curly hair may only require washing once a week, while fine hair may require three times a week. If you must wash your hair more often it is imperative to restore the removed oils with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner.

5. Masks Aren't Just for Your Face

While hair contains no living tissue, there are ways to make it appear lustrous and healthier. One way to do this is by using a hair conditioning mask. There are many types to choose from, so identifying what needs to be addressed is the first step. Dry, brittle hair requires moisture, while weak, limp hair requires protein. Consistency is key with these products. Once or twice a week for about six weeks will truly demonstrate the progress that your hair is making. Keep in mind that over time, the needs of your hair may change, and hair that once required a protein mask, may now require a moisture mask.

What are your secrets to healthy looking hair?

Comments

For extra moisture, I sometimes use coconut oil in my hair. In the Arab world, women will use almond oil, from what I understand, but in South Asia, a lot of women use coconut oil to keep hair healthy. I leave it in my hair overnight (putting a towel on my pillow so the oil doesn't soak into my pillow) and then wash out in the morning. You can have to heat it up since it's congealed when cool, but it saves you from spending a lot of money on brand name hot oil treatments. You can usually find coconut and almond oil in any Indian store.

any kind of oil is good for the hair. i'l use any i can get my hands on, coconut, olive.. almond is waaay too expensive. @ a professional salon in paris--it was private, exclusive--the stylist explained that women or men with long hair should coat their hair with oil for at least an hour every day. but i got addicted to the healthy look so now i also use lanolin. kheil's makes a great masque if anyone's interested, but working a natural oil into THE ENDS of your hair (ie, not baby oil) after a shower will make your hair look as if you just had a trim, i swear: it shapes your 'do. another trick jazmin, the french stylist, taught me was that body lotion works just as well, especially some like cake that smells amazing. if you keep your hair properly moisturized after a trim, it could potentially look great for another 6 months with no split ends or flyaways. oil is a great styling agent as well as a hair-repairer/preventative agent against damage. it makes the hair glossy too, i love it.

As it says up above that flat irons & curling irons are bad for your hair .. so is blow drying it on hot high heat .. not good ! I have very healthy hair & I use flat irons as much as the regular girlygirl.. So when washing your hair leave the conditioner on extra long maybe 20 minutes then rinse (Gives it extra moisture I find), give it a break and let it air dry in a towel and once it is damp (not wet because your hair is weakest when wet) then brush it until completely dry. Cuts out the step of blow drying & keeps your hair extra shiny :)

My hair is really really soft and smooth compared to many of my friends, and many people have told me so. My hair is really fine, and it's quite short, so I wash mine everyday-yes, and if I don't, my hair will be greasy the very next day. So, my hair is soft everyday, and NOT dry at all-I don't even use conditioner-just shampoo. Also, I haven't had my hair bleached. That stuff kind of kills hair. I also haven't had perms, or any other silly hair treatments that are damaging. So, my hair's really soft and luscious.

cocnut oil ... use it over night or an hour before you shower. twice a week atleast ! healthy fantastic hair guaranteeeed !

i wash my hair every day and i use a blow dryer almost every time and my hair is soft and silky,i have very wavy hair and it is sometimes hard to manage but i use a really good shampoo and conditioner and have my hair trimmed as it is very thick every 2 weeks or so..i have been lucky so far

Coarse. Not course. :)
However, interesting article :)

My Hair is curly, thick, frizzy, although it is light and soft and fluffy. I use olive oil twice a week and leave it on for a hour before I wash my furry mop. I have very long hair, and that's good to use oil to keep it long and healthy. I never flatiron my hair, but I will once a week or twice a month blow dry it strait with my hairdryer straightening attachment to keep it easy to manage for a carefree day. I also use a mask once a week or more, leave in conditioner and will wash it with a clarifying shampoo 2-3 times per week and the rest of the week, I will use a curl moisturizing 2-in-1. I love it! It makes my hair sooooo soft!

you should put oil on every night before sleeping.........its jus great you are not only gonna have thick but shiny hair too!! gauranteeeeeeed!!!!!!!!!

I also wash my hair everyday, I have to or it is very oily. I have thin, straight hair and it is very healthy as I don't color or put products other then shampoos and conditioners in there... So I disagree with the 3 times a week max note.

So many comments about cocoanut and olive oil - do you mean ordinary oil or something special. Can someone please confirm if the bottles say for "Hair"

I have very thick, long hair, and I've been told that it looks very shiny and feels very silky. I wash my hair twice a week. I brush it out first before getting into the shower (otherwise, it gets extremely tangled and hard to manage later). I shampoo twice, since I just have way too much darn hair, then use a conditioner called "Opal" which I have completely fallen in love with. I got it from a store in Chinatown, and it's reportedly fairly popular in Hong Kong and some areas of China. Anyway, I leave this conditioner in for only about two to three minutes before washing it out, and my hair comes out fantastically soft, silky, and good-smelling. I blow dry (towel-drying also makes my hair very tangled), and while blow-drying, I brush it at the same time, rather than just letting my blow dryer fling my hair all over the place. I oil it when it's about eighty percent dry, blow dry once more, oil again, brush it out, and I'm done. I don't know if oiling it TWICE actually works, and I've gotten seemingly random results when I try oiling twice versus once, but I oil it twice, just because I was taught to that way.

That, and having a hair dresser as a family friend and an ex-hairdresser as a father really helps. XD

Those of us with very fine straight hair simply cannot use oil - it soaks in and doesn't wash out, and then you have limp greasy hair. trust me I have tried it, every kind of oil, even just a drop of oil smoothed onto my hands and worked through is disastrous.
so for short fline hair, the deal is don't have it too long, chin length or shorter, very few layers, and wash daily if you have to, but dilute your shampoo and wash gently. use conditioner only on the ends, or better yet, omit altogether and rely on a pritz - on leave in conditioner .
Oil may work for kinky hair, but on baby fine hair it will never ever help!

Wash your hair once or twice a week?? And then the author says "It is recommended, . . ." Recommended by whom exactly. To say one should not wash one's hair once a day is like saying one shouldn't wash their face more than once a week. Imagine what our complexions would look like if we did not keep it clean. The same goes with your hair. Jackie Burns sounds like she gets her information from an old wive's tale book that was published during the Victorian Era. Bathing wasn't too popular back then, either.

to confirm for JOAN, it may sound hard to believe, but ANY kind of plant-based oil will work. in other words, the olive oil doesn't have to say "for hair" on it, it's the stuff you have in your kitchen. i think it's a less well-known styling trick because it's relatively inexpensive compared to salon products, and the results are jaw-dropping. still it's catching on; aveda's basing a conditioning line around this one ingredient. if it's your first time, may i suggest that you wash & condition your hair as usual, and then, when the hair is STILL WET, pour a dime-sized amount of oil into the palm of your hand (less for short hair). you'll need just enough to coat your ENDS ONLY, about a half inch up the strand. style hair as usual and once it is dry you'll be pleasantly surprised, as the other comments have "guaranteed": this will give any hairstyle swing, bounce and a defined shape without weighing it down. the reason plant-based oils are so important is because they mimic our hair's natural sebum. furthermore, they wash out with one warm-water shampoo and don't leave a greasy residue; rather, hair is shiny & clean but softer & stronger (all natural oils are emolient so they dissolve & are easily cleansed with even the gentlest shampoo). btw, in order to deep-condition, coat the whole shaft & wash out after 1 hr. i like to wrap mine in a hot towel for good measure since i find it increases the penetration under the hair's cuticle-coating. so, in summary, ANY PLANT-BASED OIL is good, including shea butter. but peanut oil has a pungent odor so i'd pass on it, personally. another trick: if you're heading to the beach for the day, you can opt for a "european" look and comb thru a bit more oil than usual; it'll protect you from sun/wind/salt damage.

one more thing: i have baby-fine, razor-straight hair hair too and oil is even more of a must because my hair gets dry & flyaway very easily. a little oil on the ends is the only answer, it eliminates static, makes hair look totally amazing and it's a mega-MUST if you wash your hair more than 3 times a week. it even makes my thin, fine hair look thicker & more textured, frankly. the key is to experiment with small-enough amounts to "seal" the ends so they don't split. in limited amounts, the oil is absorbed quickly & it provides incomparable body; i wish someone had told me this years ago (i too thought it was only for coarse hair; how wrong i was)!

My stylist tells me I have very healthy hair. She rarely finds split ends, and my hair is usually shiny and soft. I have long, fine hair, so I have to wash it every second day too keep it looking clean.

Some tips from me:

A) About once a month, I do a "chemical strip" to strip out the residue that products may leave in hair. I use equal parts shampoo and baking soda, lather it up in my hands a bit first, then use it like I'd use shampoo alone. I always follow this up with a conditioner.

B) I only blow dry my hair on Warm or Cool.... never Hot

C) People seem to think that your hair won't come clean unless you use hot water in the shower. Cooler water is actually less damaging (hey, our ancestors washed off in cool streams, it's natural)

D) If you want your hair to be really shiny and smooth, find a recipie online for a Beer Shampoo. Google a simple recipie you can make at home. Usually, you will heat up or boil the beer to concentrate it, then add it to your shampoo. It's like three easy steps, and worth the minor effort.

wow! all these are really great ideas!
i think the oil at the ends is a great one, im gonna try it!

i have thick-straight-shiny-soft-silky hair..
but i don't flat iron/curl my hair..or use any type of oil..or anything
but i take a long shower..shampoo..conditioner..
i think its best to keep your hair natural.[no oils..no flat irons,etc..] question: why is it best for people with thick hair to take a shower once a week?

ill try those natural oils and thankss for the tips

I have VERY fine hair, I do need to wash it every day or I would look like someone dumped oil on my head. I found a shampoo and conditioner that works very well for me (Infusium), as well I try to die my hair only once a year, I never curl it or put any product in my hair, a good hair cut will help with no product and no straightener, also I found that because my hair is so fine, I cannot perm it either.
I think it just takes some time and trying many things to find out what is best for your hair. These suggestions are all VERY good ones too.

yea, infusium leaves hair feeling really soft and light.! i liked that one ;]

I don't get why people with thick hair should wash only once a week. It's summertime--what if you sweat? Is getting your hair wet enough to get it clean and not produce some musky smell?

Flaxseed is great to make your hair shiny, just put a spoonful in cereal, salad, porridge, smoothies, its great & you don't taste it .

Muse:

Lots of people wash their hair only once a week. I have extremely curly, thick hair, and I rinse it through everyday with conditioner, or use a cleansing conditioner. Once a week I use a non-sulphate shampoo, and clarify shampoo once a month. My hair is shiny, clean and healthy. There's not just one hair type out there. Do what works for you.

i think ppl mean that those with VERY CURLY or even BLACK hair should not wash it super-often. if choose to do so and don't take meticulous care, it may become gnarly. and less moisture in the hair--shampooing strips moisture--equals dry hair, which breaks & means even more frizz. curls need more conditioning than straight hair in order to keep them somewhat relaxed and bouncy, depending on texture (incidentally, straight, asian hair is also considered "thick," tho i think it tends to break less than caucasian hair). it also takes longer longer for curly hair to look dirty, as some of us with straight, fine hair may have noticed & envied, because the sebum doesn't make its way down the strand as quickly if the hair is curly; it rests away from the scalp instead of falling upon it. another suggestion: if you want extra shiny hair for a special occasion, rinse hair in HOT water. it removes any dulling film, but i wouldn't recommend adding it to a regime.. thanks for the flaxseed tip tho, that's ground flaxseed, right?

This advice actually helps..but i mean im probably still gonna shower more than once a week!

I used a mix of 2 tablespoon of cider vinegar in one litre of lukewarm water for to rince my hair after the shampoo, the vinager balance the PH in the water so makes my hair very shiny.

Hey Mamooshka...I'm willing to try it...send him over.

Oddly enough, I've been using a flatiron nearly everyday for close to 4 years, I have also dyed and/or bleached my hair over 30 times. I have extremely healthy and shiny hair, and have been told so by several hair care professionals.
Goes to show everyone's hair type is different.

Nobody spoke about African hair. I am an African with a long soft hair.Once a while I have split ends. but generally I'm able to comb with no problem, thanks to pantene shampoo and conditioner.I have never used any oil.Of late, I have noticed that my scalp is becoming dry especially around my forehead. Is oil the answer? and how should I use it? someone shoul please write to confirm.

K I dont beleive any of this, I wash my hair , blow dry my hair,and strayten my hair everyday! Nad my hair is silky and soft and has volume and all that , So yeah I dont beleive all those tips. Sorry Editors . :) But some was nice advise

I also have thin straight hair and I have to wash it every single day or it gets oily..and my scalp gets itchy. And thank you to Anita for the heads up on the oil...I WAS going to try it

Ok, let's vote... which one of these blogs gave the best advice so far ?

... Blonde Girl, do I get him back when you're finished ?

I definitely don't agree with the 3 max a week wash either, I have to wash my hair at least every 2nd day or it gets too greasy. I find the hair near the scalp is always too oily but super healthy. so what I do is use coconut oil for the bottom half of my hair.

My hair is thick and wavy.. it doesn't get greasy. I usually wash my hair every other day, because I do agree with what other people have said.. it makes your hair frizzier if you wash it on a daily basis.. my hairdresser always tells me that I have really healthy, smooth, and shiny hair. What I do is I use Pantene Pro V ice shine shampoo & conditioner.. I absolutely love it! I always use an average amount of shampoo followed by just a bit of conditioner, because usually I find that when I use alot, my hair tends to get kind of greasy. Afterwards when my hair is still wet, I use the Marc Anthony true professional products.. I have the moisture gloss, and I put about the size of a quarter in my hand and massage it in, and after that I let my hair air-dry. My hair has actually never been so smooth and shiny, and now that I use the Marc Anthony products, I love them to death and it makes my hair feel sooo nice!

i have died my hair every 2-3 months since for 8 years now ad i naturally have straight fine hair that is still softer than all of my friends and looks really healthy all i do is shampoo,condition in the shower EVERY DAY....2 if i dont have time...(rarely).......then use a leave in conditioner

simple cheap and best of all it works for MY hair

wash your hair2- 3 times a week,use shampoo & conditoner that is for your tipe of hair and before blow-drying it use any oil on the ends to prevent split ends and you will have beautiful hair, that is from personal experience. I haven't cut my hair in six months and looks fantastic.(Do not forget to use a mask every two weeks or a month very important.)

I'm 20 yrs old and I have very fine and thin hair. I recently got a hair cut to add volume to my hair and cover up the bald spots. Everyday is a new challenge to find a way to hide my scalp from showing. I MUST wash my hair everyday or else its greasy like no tomorrow. I keep trying new shampoos and nothing works. As for putting oil in my hair b4 I go to sleep, thats a big no-no...I would look disgusting. I can't even manage to go the whole day without having greasy hair :| Plus I avoid having anyone touch my head because they would feel that i practically have no hair. Being so young its really sad to have to worry this all the time. I don't think there is nothing I can do to help myself because my mother has the same problem, just very much worse. I live my life insecure and I need help or advice.

As a 40ish gal who has mostly blonde, straight, fine hair along with oily scalp (and oily, younger looking complexion), I could and would not imagine leaving the hair cleasing at more than 4 days, Hummph! A week? Although I love healthy looking hair, I use a shampoo that is free of Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) and other chemicals, and opt for natural ingredients. If I want a bit of color, I will streak my hair myself using a 1/4 of a dye product. Don't forget sunscreen for your hair on the days that you are outdoors. And a good stylist is a God-send. Use a natural, bristle brush that will stimulate your scalp. Irons and blowdryers? Nope. Instead, work your hair as it is drying and once dry it will take on the shape you desire....with maybe a touchup with styling appliance required here and there.

A very interesting discussion girls--thanks for some great suggestions based on your own personal experiences. I have shorter (just below the ears) fine hair (but lots of it) that I colour twice a year. I find it sufficient to wash it once/twice a week. It's interesting to note that so few have indicated that they 'colour' their hair or use gels, hairsprays or other sprays that provide shine, etc. I use them all, plus a hair dryer and curling irons--the curling irons most days. Not only that, I admit to still (yikes!) 'backcombing' my hair to attain volume and style. I have been using Ojon and Nick Chavez products over the past three years and my hair is in better condition as a result. I especially love Nick Chavez' Angel Wings Hairspray--the best on the market because it doesn't build up like other types and. because if is so light, it combs out easily. I am intigued by the application of oil on the ends of the hair--I am going to give this a try.

For all the girls who MUST wash their hair everyday, keep in mind that you have an oily scalp condition because of the frequency of your washings. This takes into consideration that everyone's sebum balance is different. Your sebacious glands are designed to produce the proper amount of sebum (oil) for you to maintain healthy hair and a healthy scalp. Over-washing disrupts the natural secretion levels, and causes your glands to over-produce sebum, resulting in oily hair. With the exception of a few who actually have a problem, this over-secretion can be fixed. Just as you have created your oily scalp, you are able to balance it right back. It will, however, take patience, and some bad hair days in the interm. The answer is not to strip out he oils any longer, but to keep them on your scalp until your body realizes is no longer needs to produce more. For a two week period, wash your hair 2-3 times. Once this adjustment period is over, go to washing it every other day, about 3 times/week. Try this a few times if necessary, but it the problem persists, see a professional.

Once a week I shampoo my hair twice (back to back) to REALLY clean it, than I put about double the amount of conditionier that I usually do in my hair and leave it on with a shower cap for a good 20-30 minutes. It acts like a mask without having to buy one, than I rinse my hair out with cold water. My hair feels so solft and silky after doing this!!

I am a guy. I wash my hair everyday also. Cause it gets greasy after 24 hours.
I am also starting see hairloss on the frontal areas, and hair on my pillow.
I know not everything works for everyone.
What are some things that I can take or do to try and combat the male pattern baldness?
Anyone have any personal experience and success with fighting baldness?
Any experts/trichologists have any tips?

Thanks!

Hello! In response to the 20yr old with thin hair - my sister has the same issue. She went to doctors, tried vitamins, cut her hair short, reduced washing - nothing seemed to work. She did however find some positive results after using Nioxin (can get it at beauty shops and hair supply stores) its expensive but she liked it. Also, there is hope! She struggled with her hair thinning/bald spots in her late 20's, she is now 35, just had a baby and her hair looks wonderful! She didn't even lose any after the baby or through pregnancy everything seemed to get better! So that makes me think its about hormones....talk to your doc, ask about thyroid issues, hormone problems, maybe even see a naturopathic doctor. In the end, you can always fnd a wig - cut your hair super short, and wear one! They are beautiful and people may not even notice. Best of luck dear.

As for my hair...its medium thickness and long....the best way to keep it healthy is NOT colouring, NOT using the heat irons often, and letting it airdry. My hair looks and feels the shiniest after I've showered, put it in a towel for a while, gone to sleep and woken up - its wavy but feels amazing! I'm against oils b/c you just end up shampooing 2-3x to get it out which ends up drying it right back up - i'd say reduce shampooing instead to keep the oils in.

RE: Frequency of Hair Washing

It is true - the more you wash the more you NEED to wash because your hair ends up producing more oil. Balance it out - wash less and you'll see thats what I did! Also, if you really need to, you can just rinse with cool water and restyle in between washes - but don't shampoo it strips away the good oils!

Another tip if your hair gets oily and its not time to wash yet is lightly put BABY POWDER and brush it through. It absorbs the oil without stripping your scalp.

Wait one more tip for thin limp hair: this is my favorite secret of all times....in a spay bottle, put a tablespoon of sugar and warm water (should be medium sweet to taste). Let sugar dissolve...spray in wet/damp hair then blowdry. Instant volume, naturally! Don't ask how I got this idea...its a spin off using coke.

I have grown my fine, very thick (zillions of fine strands that amaze and shock hairdressers!)untreated hair down past my bum several times in my life, to many people's amazement but when I was thirteen years old I had serious issues with greasy hair as I was using a soap that was way too harsh & as a result the oil glands in my scalp got into high gear to compensate. By the time I got home from school everyday my long locks were fairly dripping with grease. I was horrified. My mother took my to an amazing old doctor who said I was not to wash my hair even once For Three Weeks! Thought I'd die. I started wearing it up and just extending Baby Dove Soap (perfectly PH balanced) a little way into the hairline framing my face when I did my morning abloutions so no-one would realize the grease problem I had. Oh, vanity! Anyway...at the end of the 3 weeks I finally washed my hair, gently, as the doctor instructed, leaving the soap on for a minimum amount of time:22 seconds, then rinsed with freezing cold water to close the pores on my scalp. WHAT AN OH, MY GOD THAT'S AWESOME, CHANGE. After this I've never had to wash my hair, for the rest of my life (even now) more than once or twice (if I've been out in a dust storm or frying steak!) a week but I always rinse with cool water. For Dry Hair OR Dry skin the best remedy WILL ALWAYS BE: W A T E R. There is nothing else. After shampooing, if your hair is un-dyed or un-permed no need for chemical conditioners whatsoever, wrap your hair in a towel when it is soakiing wet and leave it like that til it is dry or if it is long french braid it or wind it into a bun - whatever you can to retain the moisture. Do this twice a week at least & you won't get split ends and it will grow, grow, grow. Remember, close the scalp pores with cold water (boiled rain water is preferred!). You can wash it everyday if you want, in the method described above: quickly, gently, cool rinse but do do the towel dry thing to cover every strand as the unmoisturized hair will eventually dry out. If your hair is treated (unnatural) do use a good oil or mask as described above. But in addition, do what I do, and I guarantee, no matter what type of hair you have, you will be glad you listened!

Natural Products IS the way to go... but not necessarily in the specifically named hair products you purchase off the shelf.. more so in products like EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) , jojoba, coconut oil, shea butter, avocado etc. for moisture. NOT conditioners that are chalked full of SILICONES and chemicals like Pantene products.
FRESH ground Henna which is a plant, for colour NOT like the chemical colours, PPD (Paraphenylenediamine) that can actually burn your skin and have a severe permanente alergic reaction too.
White Vinegar for blonds and balsamic vinegars for darker hair to give your hair beautiful shine. and rinsing in the coolest water temperature your scalp can handle.. never hot water. Silicone in those products like Pantene are also supose to give shine.. but Silicone actually coats the hair and makes it more brittle. vinegar has the same PH balance as your hair does. so that equals no damage.
Using hot water to wash your hair is like using all of those heated hair products..blow dryer, hot irons etc. Hot water along with the hot hair appliances make those small little white dots you see on shafts of your hair. the beginings of a split end. the moisture that happens to be in your hair when exposed to hot appliances makes it steam expand in the process it damages the cortex of your hair shaft.
Shampoo, try to find shampoo that doesn't have (SLS) Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, (SLES) Sodium Laureth Sulfate these are surfactants (what makes the foaming bubbles) but are very toxic to the human body.. It is difficult to find products that don't have this ingrediant in them but there are. just a few I have come across myself. Burt's Bees, Aubrey Organics, Kiss My Face, Pureology.
Natural cloth or spongy hair rollers NOT velcro! is safter for your hair and gives the same affect as a hot iron.
smooth wooden hair accessories are much more hair friendly than the jagged sharp edged plastic, metal hair accessories you purchase at the stores.
Trimming your hair to keep it healthy is important. but trimming it as often as most hair salons tell you too.. is mostly so they can stay in business. ;) Hair grows differently for everyone. some people there hair grows an inch over the course of one summer month.. while others will grow if they are lucky a quarter of an inch.
The one most important key to healthy shiney hair is what you intake internally. your food diet. once hair IS damaged or weak from a poor food diet. nothing you put on your hair will repair it.. just makes it more managable till it can grow out the next stage of hopefully more healthy hair.
I myself have almost knee length hair. have had it for many years.. I still get compliments from the hair salons I walk into when I take my kids to get there hair done. they all ask the same questions.. how is it so shiney and smooth and healthy? I tell them all the same.. not necessarily what they want to hear though lol.. no hair appliances (hand manipulation), no chemical treatments, and to the best of my knowledge no harsh shampoos and conditions. :)

In response to the 20year old with fine hair- I have very fine hair. It was getting so thin that I thought I was going to hae to move to some country where baldness is acceptable. There were however some products that helped my hair considerably. Hair-Cur(Brelil) Anti-Caduta products, also the Hair-Cur scalp peel and the Schwartzkopf Seah line. Best of luck to you.

I colour my hiar every month and over the years have found my hair a lot more coarse - like straw...when it is wet...but when I put that magic conditioner on that comes with the L'Oreal colouring kit....it is like magic....I have fine hair, but a lot of it, that is curly and medium short. After I shampoo - and I like to use PH balanced ones, and a good conditioner, I towel dry my hair and use what I like to refer as 'liquid plastic' - because that is what if feels like, Zero Frizz Correcting Hair Serum...which I love, but am finding it hard to find lately...and then when I brush my hair I run my fingers thru it...and spray with a firm hold hair spray while it is wet...and continue to style...and never use a hair dryer or curling iron (but Ihave used curling irons in the past to make the curls go the way I want them to) but not for years now. I would consider my hair dry, but my twin sister has extremely curly hair (way more curly than I) and she washes her hair every day and never uses conditioner and considers her hair oily, and she has absolutely terrific looking hair.

Agree with most of your advice, Sheila, and love Burts Bee's Avacado, etc. But the advice you give about using VINEGAR is to be used with great caution. Vinegar is tolerated by some people and to others it is poison. I would never advise using it as it is very harsh. Lemon, lime, grapefruit (any citrus) is good for blonds, occasionally, only. Moderation in all things, eh?

i have very fine, curly hair that dries in ringlets. i usually LOVE my hair, but recently my hair has lost its shine, softness, and bounce. all the luster is gone, and i am DESPERATE to get it back!! i need a really good moisturizer but i am clueless at what i should use. i will definately try olive oil, but does anyone have special advice for curly hair?????
thanks!!!!

Lost and confused....... I don't know what to do with my hair! X_X Help?

Hair-type: My hair is a little longer than shoulder-length. I'm not sure what 'frizzy' means, but I think my hair can be described that way! It's also dry, and I do believe I have a moderate amt of splitends. I'm not sure whether my hair can be described as being 'thick' though! hehe...... maybe my hair is just limp and dead. 0.o; I'm Asian, I've got wavy, thick-strands of hair.

My usual haircare: I wash my hair (shampoo/conditioner) my hair every 2 days, and simply conditioner/rinse my hair every day. I use hairdryer/flat iron once in a blue moon, that shouldn't be causing a problem XD And so........ 99.9% of the time, I airdry!
I sometimes sleep with wethair as well, and no matter what....... my hair always looks dry and unmanageable. Can anyone offer me some tips? I'm gonna try to find an oil to put on the ends of my hair! Do you guys have suggestions on diets to make your hair/skin etc look healthier?

Hey how do I send this articale to all the girls that have the same problems as I do with my hair, cause I do love the ANSWERS that you give on how to take care of your hair . THANKS EVERYBODY

this is a reply to MysticMyst. just a suggestion.. maybe try using a different type of conditioner. I see you do the C/O (condition only) wash too. it could be a build up of the conditioner you use on your hair as specialy if it has alot of "cones" in the ingrediance. try finding a lighter conditioner with not as much cones in it.. that could be what is making your hair look and feel dry, crunchy, frizzy. that and if when you go to the hair salon to get your hair cut.. and they use a rasor on your hair..that damages hair something fierce too. As far as diet. you could try adding some more gelatin to your diet. and vitamine E.

a reply to Rhonda Godwin. I was unaware that vinegar caused an alergie to some folks. thanks for the heads up! I forgot to mention to dilute the vinegar if you use it. and the citrus juices is good also for lightening your hair too. to give it that sunkissed look.. but like you said.. in moderation! it can also strip and dry out your hair.. it's PH balance isn't the same.

when people say they use olive oil for their hair do they mean the olive oil the one yyou use to make food with or an olive oil for hair??

As soon as I'm done using a certain kind of shampoo, i go and buy a different brand . I found that when I stuck to the same brand after a while my hair ended up still being oily after I washed it. But by switching brands every once in awhile it alleviates this problem.

I've really had some luck with my hair, it's wavy. I wash it every other day, I've straighten it almost everyday for just about 5 years, using a heat-protection spray. I also blow dry it on high heat, and still manage to have shiny and soft hair. I've even bleached my hair and it came out fine, it was still shiny and soft. I usually color it every few months, maybe one or twice a year.
I switch shampoo and conditioners a lot too, usually I'll use a color safe shampoo. I leave the conditioner on my hair for roughly about five minutes, helps my hair to stay soft. I've also never put oil on my hair, or a mask.

I have curly hair... i wash every other day but only to make styling it easier, i can go days without washing and it never gets oily or "dirty" (as far as i can see :P). Um someone asked about what they can use to keep their curly hair moisturized, and i recommend using a leave-in conditioner after showering, i used to use a salon product but it got expensive after a while so i started using one by Fructis (they have a special one for curly hair but ive tried both and i think they both work well). Also recommend using a hair serum (i use Frizz-ease) and if you want more definition a bit of mouse or gel. hope i helped :) (oh and dry with a diffuser!!)

I need help!!!
I have blonde hair, a little bit past shoulder length, its a little wavy too, and i just can never get it to look shiny and silky and nice!
Haircare: I wash it every 2 days, (shampoo and conditioner), i comb it after i get out of the shower and then airdry it (always). I have never dyed my hair or used a curling iron, but i do sometimes straighten it. and thats pretty much it!

can anyone give me advice on what to do?? to make it look nice!

One trick I use is to give my hair a vinegar rinse about every 6 months or so. I just use regular white vinegar over all of my hair, rinse it out and then wash as normal. I sometimes do it a second time a few days later. I do this because it strips all the environmental and chemical buildup from the hair without damaging it. Works great for me!

hey!
so my hair has been getting greasy lately after only a day of washing...and its near my face too.
i hate it...but could it be cuz i've gotten highlights four times in two years? lol

reply to Maggie. olive oil like you use for cooking.. doesn't have to say for "hair". :)

Ive been told that Brazil Nut oil is good for masking your hair? My hair is very fine and tends to get oily quickly.
I do believe in the less hot of anything is proven to work, I stopped blow drying my hair and using the straight iron unless im going somewhere important, I also rinse with cooler water, and try to have my hair trimmed every 10-12 wks, and it has grown and ive noticed it!!

I have curly dark hair, I usually don't get oily hair unless I have straightened it and don't wash it for about four days, I would do this so I didn't have to wash (shampoo and condition every day) I have usually try to do a mask on my hair once a week or a deep condition treatment in extremely dry conditions, as I get split ends quite often. Lately, I have lost alot of hair, it just falls out, I am finding that my scalp is fairly dry and itchy with dandruff, my scalp doesn't look red or infected. I have tried putting mashed avocados with bananas for moisture mask and also a rosemary rinse, I love my hair so I will try oil too but does anyone have any other ideas

There has been some fantastic advice about hair care. I'm definitely going to try the olive oil trick, and see if I can find coconut oil. The smell would be great. I used to have very fine, thin hair that is curly. I started taking Biotin (a vitamin from the B family) for my weak fingernails and have noticed that not only did it make my fingernails stronger, but it has also made my hair thicker and healthier.

Definately professional AND natural products are the way to go! Stay away from Sodium Laurel Sulfate, it will wreck your hair and scalp. I myself love the Lifetex brand by Wella, the Purity Wash with Grapefruit for fine hair, their Avocado line is good too. Use a good sunscreen spray if going out in the sun and there are some good styling products that contain sunscreen (again I use Wella Daily Protector Spray and Wella Sun Protection Styling Gel). Agree with the combing well wet, let it air dry before fooling with it. Also try not to dye your hair, I myself will occasionally put a few streaks (1/2 box of dye if that) and if I need to style with heat I use heat spray - especially on the ends. And if you are like me, your hair grows quicker on one side and is thicker on the other (strange but true), so I get my hairdresser to compensate for that and she does a awesome job. I will definately try the oil treatments on my ends when they become dry. Good advice here.

In response to MiMi - the 20 year old with thin hair - you should have a blood test done for B12 deficiency. I used to have the thickest hair you could ever imagine, and then in my mid-20s it started to fall out. I ended up losing about 1/2 my hair. I went to see so many specialists, and finally after harassing my family doc, he agreed to run a blood test for almost everything. We found out that I had almost no B12 in my body. B12 deficiencies are very common (although not always as extreme as mine), but often don't get diagnosed since many doctors do not think to test for this. I have been taking B12 vitamins for almost 8 months, and some of my hair has grown back (it also looks much healthier). It is important to get the blood test because some people cannot absorb B12, and a vitamin will not work for them - they actually need to get it with a monthly needle.

If your hair is long, you should also consider a chin-length or shorter haircut since this usually adds volume and makes your hair appear thicker.

If nothing works, you should consider a wig. Many women wear them, and it will probably help your confidence. I know first hand that hair loss can be totally devastating, but hang in there.

Only 2 people have mentioned ingesting certain things for having healthy hair! As the saying goes "Beauty comes from within." Load up on Omega 3's and silica! Omega 3's (fish oil, flax, salmon, hemp) play an important role in health skin and oil control. Silica helps your hair grow faster and potentially thicker! Get silica sourced from bamboo, not horsetail. Also, take a multi vitamin, this will also help with feeding your hair from the inside out. Take care of yourself not just on the outside. Also, your skin is your biggest organ and it's highly permeable! Those chemicals in your body products make their way into your deep tissues and circulatory system. Synthetic and unnatural shampoos/conditioners strip your hair of it's natural and healthy oils, and replaces it with a shiny waxy film that makes it appear shiny and soft! I suggest EVERYONE switch to a more natural shampoo/conditioner such as Giovanni or Aubrey Organics. If you want to know more about natural products, I highly recommend the cosmetic safety database. http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

If you have dry curly course hair than try this. Wash your hair once a week use pantene moisture renewal shampoo and conditioner. Leave the conditioner on for about 10 min to penetrate in hair. Rinse with cool water to close the cuticle to lock in the moisture from your conditioner. Before beginning to dry your hair with a blower make sure you use a heat protectant spray on hair and than add a good serum. A very good serum is grape seed serum fromthe body shop, its excellent. Than blow dry your hair. After you blow dry and straighten add more serum when done. You will see your hair super shiney. You don't need to spen a lot of money. This will work.

Products
Pantene pro v moisture renewal shampoo and conditioner
grape serum for the body shop
use an ion dryer and or straightner for hair

good luck

Hello my friend, thanks for share this information help me a lot, lately
I have suffered hair loss , i like this part of the blog:"2. Caution When Combing Conditioner Through Hair

To get the most from your conditioner, you need to work it well into the hair. This may be achieved by using your fingers or by using a wide-tooth comb. While it not recommended to comb wet hair with an average comb, the teeth on a wide-tooth comb are spaced out enough to ensure that hair does not get damaged. Not only will this work through your conditioner but it will detangle your hair as well. Look for a comb who’s teeth are about ¼ inch apart." is very good

Just another great tip to add to this article, I have been using beer for keeping my hair healthy for a couple of months now and it is great. I have read about beer for healthy hair in the internet bu never thought that it is so great!