Healthier and Stronger Hair

Foods rich in Vitamin E (wheat-based foods, avocado), Vitamin B12 (meats, poultry, fish and dairy products), copper (lamb, liver, lobsters, black pepper and wheat bran) and zinc (red meats, nuts and legumes) are good for hair. Eggs are a natural conditioner and egg white prevents brittle hair. And of course, there’s a gamut of hair-grooming products to choose from.
Identify your hair type. You can follow one of two accepted ways. The first is a classification based on the texture of hair devised by Andre Walker, the well known American hairstylist. According to him, hair can be (a) kinky—very tight curls, (b) curly, (c) wavy and (d) straight.
The grease content of hair is the basis for the second classification that says hair care can be (a) normal to oily/normal to dry, (b) oily and (c) dry. This is the most practical and functionally useful way of classifying hair. To identify your hair type, do the following test:
Dab a tissue on your scalp, a day after you shampoo your hair.
If it has just one oil stain, you have normal to dry hair.
If there are 1-3 stains, you have normal to oily hair.
If the tissue shows no stains, it means you have dry hair.
If strands stick to each other on the scalp as you remove the tissue, your hair is oily or greasy.
More important, what comes in the way of your hair care, are the random hair myths floating around.
Some hair-splitting facts:
It is harmful to wash your hair everyday?
Fact:
Certainly not. the frequency of shampooing required depends entirely on your hair type. Oily, straight hair may need to be washed daily. Straight hair within the oily to normal range can also be washed every day. If you have oily to dry, straight or wavy hair, use a shampoo 2-3 times a week. Dry hair requires washing once a week. In case you wear your hair short and need to wash it every day, take care to use a conditioner along with your shampoo in that case.
Bottom Line:
The composition of your shampoo and conditioner is hair loss treatment all important. If you have oily hair, use a shampoo that contains a base of sodium lauryl sulphate. A gentler base like sodium laureth sulphate is suitable for dry hair. These ingredients are always listed on the label of the shampoo. If your hair is treated/coloured, make sure you use a conditioner and serum (an oil-free concentrate, used in small quantities, to smoothen dry, rough, tangled, unmanageable hair).
Only straight hair can look healthy and shiny.
Fact:
Not true. Straight hair, because of the flat outer layer or cuticle, does take on shine easily. However, with the use of the right grooming products and diet all hair types can look shiny.
Bottom Line:
If your hair is dry to normal, pre-condition with an oil massage one hour before washing. Use a mild shampoo and a separate conditioner. If your hair gets badly tangled, use a serum after the wash. To get a healthy shine let your hair dry naturally.
Natural colours like henna can never be harmful for hair.
Fact:
Henna can make your hair dry and brittle if used excessively. If your skin is allergic to henna it can also cause a rash called contact dermatitis.
Bottom Line:
All chemical treatments, natural or otherwise, can damage hair. If you have treated hair, take extra care of it. For example, use shampoos that contain cocobetyl diamine and a conditioner regularly. Never brush wet hair and use leave-in conditioners or serums.
Special Tip:
Overloading your hair with products will leave it looking limp.
Tight hats/helmets cause baldness.
Fact:
Baldness is a kind of hair loss. It is caused neither by wearing hats/caps, turbans or helmets nor by the presence of “poisons” in the air. Classic baldness in both men and women is due to the over-activity of an enzyme and is hereditary. All treatments for baldness revolve around this enzyme.
Bottom Line:
An early diagnosis by a dermatologist can help correct this condition. You can opt for popular hair loss treatments like minoxidil and finasteride. Remember that all hair fall is not a lead-up to baldness. Often it is just a symptom of poor health.
Trim your hair to avoid split ends.
Fact:
Ideally, trim hair once in 6–8 weeks, especially if you have straight or wavy hair. Otherwise you’ll end up with dry hair tips or worse, split ends.
Bottom Line:
A quarter to half-inch trim once in two months is ideal for maintaining healthy hair.
Special Tips:
If your hair is prone to drying and split ends, use a leave-in conditioner on hair tips after you shampoo.
Hair oil does not do anything for my hair, it is only the massage that helps.
Fact:
Hair oils—especially coconut oil—act as a good pre-conditioner prior to a shampoo. They also help prevent over-drying of treated hair after a shampoo. A massage increases circulation, which is good for follicular stimulation.
Bottom Line:
Those with greasy hair or a chronic dandruff problem should consult a dermatologist before using any hair products including hair oil .