I have to apologize to my hair. Yes, you read it right. My hair has endured so much from my years of hairstyle experimentation I’m amazed it’s still growing, But as we grow older we tend to mellow, and my hair is thankful for that. I’ve learned to take good care of my hair this past few years and it’s learning to forgive me. Here’s what brought it back to life, an easy to remember H-A-I-R.
H – Healthy body, healthy hair. Eat the right kind of food. That means real food not junk food which may worsen the condition our hair is in. Eat a lot of nuts, fruits and vegetables that are rich in proteins, vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B complex, vitamin E, and folic acid. If it’s too much to remember, taking a multivitamin capsule everyday would help ensure our tresses gets what it needs and at the same time benefit our body as well. Thick, lustrous, healthy hair always gives an impression of youth and good health, just ask Sanjaya.
A – Action speaks louder than words. When I was growing up, my mom always told me to brush my hair a 100 times before going to bed. She said it’ll make it stronger and shinier. I didn’t listen. Then when I started going to salons, I learned that there’s some truth in that. Hair specialists say our scalp produces a certain oil called sebum. Combing action distributes this oil all over our hair making it shinier. This action also massages our scalp which means better blood flow that translates to stronger hair.
I – Invigorate with conditioners. Shampoos are good at cleaning our hair. Unfortunately, it also strips our hair of essential oils, that’s why it’s imperative we follow it up with conditioners to return moisture to our hair. One gal I know uses shampoo only every 5 days and a conditioner everyday. She can do this because she’s works from home and doesn’t go out often. For most of us who venture out because of work or school or some other activities, using the right shampoo is a must. Read the labels and choose between dry, oily, or chemically treated hair. I always choose shampoos and conditioners with the word “coconut” in them. Coconut contains rich oils our hair craves. Don’t forget to use cold water to rinse to lock in that moisture.
R – Rest your weary hair. Perming, coloring, relaxing, rebonding, very frequent blow-drying and ironing all put a lot of stress on our hair. It may turn out great after our trip to the salon but eventually when new hair grows you’ll see that it has lost its luster and hair has become brittle. Chemical treatments and excessive heat dries our hair. The recommendation by hair specialists is that we give our hair some rest for a few months between treatments. Allow it to breath. If we’re going to the salon at this time it’s because we’re either getting a hair cut or a deep conditioning treatment.
Damaged hair or not, our crowning glory needs care. Maintain it and you will always exude youth and health for a long time.
