The living parts of hair are the follicle, the root, the root sheath, and the sebaceous gland. All these parts are beneath the skin. The hair shaft emerges from the skin and actually has no living processes! Any damage to the shaft can't be repaired by a healing process, but there are many products available that can care for the cuticle, and limit the damage. So hair care really involves more than what you see on your head; true hair care includes a healthy scalp as well. If the scalp is not cleaned regularly, the buildup of dead skin and bacteria can lead to infection, but other conditions such as dandruff defies explanation! Sebaceous glands produce sebum which travels down the hair shaft helping to keep the ph between 5. and 6.8. This is a natural lubrication, and this protects the hair shaft. Brushing also helps to distribute the sebum evenly, producing a healthy shine.
Shampoos work by breaking the surface tension of the water allowing the hair to become soaked. The shampoo attracts water to the hair shaft while shampoo molecule is attracted to the grease, dirt and oil on the hair shaft. Massaging the shampoo makes the grease and dirt become an emulsion that can be rinsed away with the water. Sulfate free shampoos are less harming as sulfates strip away natural oils as well as hair dye. Soapless shampoos are acidic and therefore closer to the natural pH of hair. The thing is to find a shampoo to suit your hair type, that does not swell the hair shaft, and doesn't strip away the natural oils. Conditioners smooth down the cuticle layer of the hair which can become disturbed during the physical action of shampooing. There are three main types of conditioners: anti-oxidant conditioners, which are mainly used in salons after chemical services, and prevent gradual oxidation; internal conditioners, which enter into the cortex of the hair and help improve the hair's internal condition; and external conditioners, or everyday conditioners, which smooth down the cuticle layer, making the hair shiny, combable and smooth. Conditioners can also provide a physical layer of protection for the hair against physical and environmental damage. Some minerals can cause hair to feel dry and damaged..
Calcium can cause hair to feel dry and lack shine and volume. It can prevent the proper processing of color, highlights, perms or relaxers or straighteners and can also cause a perm to appear relaxed. Calcium can also build up on the scalp causing flaking and looking like dandruff. It can also choke the hair at the follicle and the hair can break off and block new hair growth.
Iron can also leave hair feeling dry brittle and heavy. It may cause dullness, and dark hair can tint darker and blonde hair can turn orange, inhibiting the proper processing of perms, color, highlights, and relaxers/straighteners.
Copper discolors hair with blonde hair turning green and dark hair to tint darker. Copper can weigh hair down and cause dryness, and can also inhibit the proper processing of perms, color, highlights, and relaxers/straighteners.
Magnesium causes dullness feeling dry, heavy, with no volume, and can also inhibit the proper processing of perms, color, highlights, and relaxers/straighteners.
Silica causes many of the same effects on the hair as calcium, causing hair to feel dry, lack volume, and can cause dandruff-like symptoms of flaking. Build-up of silica can choke the hair follicle causing hair to fall out.
Lead can cause the hair to feel dry and can also prevent the proper processing of perms, color, highlights, and relaxers/straighteners.
The level of calcium that is found naturally determines how hard the water is.
Hard water minerals and the sanitizing agents like Chlorine and Chloramine may also build up on the hair over time. Swimmers in chlorinated or salt sea water can apply conditioner to damp hair. There are also products on the market that remove chlorine after swimming in pool water. Swimmers also benefit from a diet high in antioxidants.
As one would expect, diet plays an important role in healthy hair, as it does in our overall health, and often one can see reflected in our hair when our vitality is low. Eat a healthy, well-balanced diet with lean proteins plenty of fresh fruit, raw vegetables, nuts and seeds, whole grains, legumes, omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon or flaxseed oil will keep hair at its healthiest and drink plenty of water!
0 comments:
Post a Comment