In the lexicon of hair, the F word is “frizz”. Nothing is harder on a hairstyle, except, perhaps, a red-eye flight or a typhoon.
Here’s how to avoid an uprising:
1. Shampoo and Condition
hair Wash hair, concentrating on the scalp, using a low-detergent shampoo (the tip-off is that it doesn’t lather very much, but when in doubt, buy formula for fine hair). Rinse and apply conditioner, leave it in for a few minutes, and rinse with cool water. Then press – don’t rub – wet hair with a towel. Comb your hair gently with a wide-tooth comb.
2. Apply Styling Products
hair While hair is still soaking wet, rub a blob of silicone gel, cream, or serum between your palms and run hands down the length of hair to seal the cuticles shut. The coarser the hair, the heavier and richer the product should be. To make sure every strand is coated from the roots to the ends, pin up the top layers of hair and smooth gel or serum on the bottom layers first.
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Hair normally has a moisture content of approximately 10%. If your hair’s moisture content drops below this level the key is to increase the hair’s ability of attract and retain moisture. This is accomplished by using moisturizers.
Good ones have “humectants” that not only replace lost moisture but actually attract moisture and retain it in the cortex of the hair. Essential fatty aids (EFA’s) are great moisturizers. One of the best and most cost effective essential fatty acids is safflower oil. It is the kind you can buy to cook with. It is rich in EFA’s.
The scalp produces the best EFA’s called sebum. The problems is once the hair grows past the neck line or does not have direct contact with the scalp the scalps natural oils can not be utilized throughout the hair shaft.
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Coloring your hair is perhaps the quickest and most dramatic way to change your look. It is also an excuse to go out and buy a new wardrobe of clothes, because you’ll find that what suited you as a brunette looks rather drab on a new blonde.
There are two types of hair dyes: permanent and semi-permanent, with variations of each.
A) Permanent Tints:
Must be mixed with hydrogen peroxide to lift hair color. The peroxide opens the hair cuticle so that the tint can penetrate the cortex and form the color. The higher the level of peroxide, the quicker and lighter the result.
B) Semi-Permanent Colors:
They don’t actually lift the color – you can either vary the tone within your natural highlights or go darker. Quasi-color contains ethanolamine and 3% peroxide which slightly opens the cuticle. This means that the color can last up to 20 washes and will softly fade as you shampoo, causing no regrowth problem.
C) Semi-Permanent Vegetable Colors: Read the rest of this entry »
