Restore Health to Damaged Hair
Causes for damaged hair
Healthy, shiny hair is basic to beauty. Yet, we see so much damaged hair today. The most common causes of hair damage are hairstyling techniques that employ chemical lotions like colouring, dyeing, bleaching, straightening and waving. These procedures alter the structure of the hair and weaken it. Damage is also caused by heat applications like styling wands, irons and tongs. Some amount of damage is also caused by excessive use of hair dryers, wire brushes and the habitual tying back of the hair tightly. All this can cause trauma to the hair over a period of time. Other causes of hair damage are excessive exposure to the sun and the use of harsh shampoos. The cause of damage in individual cases is not difficult to establish. The first thing to do is to discontinue the procedure till health is restored to the hair.
The outermost layer :
The cuticle – protects the hair and contributes to hair lustre. In damaged hair, the cuticle is stripped off in an uneven manner. The hair loses its shine, becoming dry, dull and brittle.
Damaged hair is in a fragile condition and should be treated gently:
Discontinue the use of brushes for some time. Use a wide toothed comb with smooth edges, especially for wet hair. To disentangle the hair, start at the ends and work upwards. Avoid pulling or stretching the hair.
In cases of excessive dryness:
Twice a week, heat one part of castor oil with two parts coconut oil. Apply on ends too. Dip a towel in hot water, squeeze out the water and wrap the hot towel around the head like a turban. Keep it on for 5 minutes. Repeat the hot towel wrap 3 or 4 times. Avoid vigorous massage. Massage the scalp gently, using only the finger tips, actually moving the scalp in small circular movements. This stimulates blood circulation to the follicles. Keep oil on overnight and wash the hair next day, using mild herbal shampoo. Avoid very hot water.
To dry the hair:
Wrap the towel around the head and allow it to absorb excess water. Allow the hair to dry naturally. Regular conditioning is extremely important. Hair conditioners and hair serums soften the hair, improving its look and texture. They coat the hair and also help to protect it. Indeed, the hair is like a delicate fabric, so treat it that way.
Here are some home remedies to restore health to damaged hair:
Mix one teaspoon each of vinegar and honey with one egg. Massage the mixture lightly into the scalp. Wash hair after half an hour. Or beat yogurt and egg together to make a nourishing hair pack, which also adds body to the hair.
Hibiscus cold infusion: Allow the flowers and leaves to stand overnight in cold water, in a ratio of one to six. Next day squeeze the flowers and strain the water. Use the water to rinse the hair. Or add the water and the flowers to your henna paste for a total hair-food treatment.
Have a green tea rinse after shampoo: Make tea-water by adding hot water to green tea leaves, or using green tea bags. You should have 5 to 6 cups of tea-water. Cool, strain, add the juice of a lemon and use as a last rinse.
Mix banana and avocado pulp together and add one tablespoon olive oil. Apply the mixture as a hair pack, to restore health, soften and condition the hair. Wash off after an hour.
Rinsing the hair with beer helps to add shine and body to dry hair. Add the juice of a lemon to beer and use as a last rinse. Leave on for 5 minutes and rinse with plain water.
BIO
Shahnaz Husain, pioneer of the herbal beauty movement, has received unprecedented global acclaim for taking India’s herbal heritage worldwide. She heads the largest organization of its kind, with a global network of franchise ventures and 375 Ayurvedic formulations. Harvard Business School conducted an interview with her, which will be part of the Harvard entrepreneurship curriculum. She has received several prestigious international awards, as well as the Padma Shri Award. Indeed, Shahnaz Husain is a legend in her own lifetime.
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