Hair Care | Keeping your locks happy



Posted: Friday, February 19, 2010

by Greg Wells

We all know the displeasure of having a bad hair day, whether it be stubborn cow licks, frizziness or even just plain old bed head. When it comes to keeping your hair under control we often think of hair care products designed to tame the frizz, smooth out the cow licks and style bed head into something that looks a little more intentional.

Having great hair doesn't necessarily mean you need to spend on fortune of cosmetic fixes, start with the basics - your hair itself. Using the right shampoos and conditioners for your hair type is a good place to begin. If you have fine hair, you may want to use shampoo and conditioner designed to add volume, giving your hair the appearance of being thicker and fuller. Likewise, if you have extremely thick hair, look for shampoos and conditioners that don't promote extra volume but rather work on keeping your hair smooth and under control. These may sound like cosmetic fixes, but the reality is you need to wash your hair for proper hygiene, so why not use cleansing products that will work the best on your hair type.

Much of the damage our hair experiences in day to day life is caused by the way we treat it. High heat hair dryers are known to dry out the hair, thus weakening it and allowing for split ends to develop. Try drying your hair at a lower temperature or letting it dry naturally before styling. The same is true for curling and straightening irons, which also use extremely high temperatures to shape the hair. If you are prone to hair damage from the overuse of drying and shaping agents, look for shampoos, conditioners and leave-in treatments that help protect your hair from heat damage.

Over styling can also lead to damaged hair. We're not just talking about drying and heat shaping here, we're talking about styling products like hair spray, alcohol based gels and mousse, even waxes and pomades.  Many styling products contain alcohol, which tends to dry out the hair and leave it dull looking. Look for alcohol free styling products and try to use only the amount you need to achieve your style goals.

One last thing that lends itself to hair damage is the overuse of hair coloring. If you dye your hair blond or any shade lighter than your natural color, you are bleaching your hair, which will eventually leave your hair dry and brittle. Try going darker periodically to give your hair a break from the constant bleaching. Taking good care of your hair starts with you, so be sure to make sensible choices when buying hair care products and use care when styling.

Alysha Frederick is a Hair Care expert. She knows the best products for treating dry hair and, when she has free time, she shares her expertise with the readers of ThinkGlam.com.

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