Dull Hair

Adding Polish to Dull Hair
 
      The biggest difference between the average woman’s hair and the hair you see in the fashion and beauty magazines is the way it shines. Those magazine images always feature long locks of shiny hair that seem to glow with a light all of its own. It can leave you feeling that you’ll never have hair that looks like that. Well, the first thing to remember is that unless you are a model and regularly have your hair photographed under professionally-set lighting, the level of shine and glow seen in magazine photos is not likely to become part of your daily life.

This doesn’t mean that you can’t make your hair appear shinier and healthier. It means that you have to remember which are real and which are special effects. Dull hair looks less healthy, and absorbs light rather than reflecting it. It can also make the color appear lifeless and leave you feeling that your hair is unappealing, when in fact it can be beautiful with just a few simple tips.
 
      There are many causes of dull-looking hair – chemical damage, heat styling damage, improper styling techniques, and even environmental soils and stresses. Fortunately, there are a lot of tricks and tips to make the hair look shiny again. Here are some simple ways to make your hair look shinier:

Cool Rinses
 
      We know from previous discussion that heat and moisture affect the shape of the hair shaft and that heat can cause the hair shaft to swell and the cuticle to open up. An open cuticle reflects light less effectively and can leave the hair looking especially dull.
 
      Yet one of the easiest ways to restore shine to the hair is by rinsing it in cool water. You don’t need to endure a cold shower to get the benefits, either. Simply remember at the end of your shower to switch the water to cold and chill your hair under the spray. The cold water helps the hair shaft contract and the cuticle close up. This leaves the hair looking smoother, shinier and more light-reflective.
 
      Just remember not to undo the benefits of the cold rinse by roughing up the hair while drying it. Squeeze the hair in the folds of a towel to remove excess water, and pat the hair at the scalp.
 
Natural Rinses
 
      There are also natural products that can be used to give the hair a little added “oomph” when it comes to shining the hair. The cold water rinse is great, but there are other simple techniques that can make a big difference as well. One such trick is to use vinegar as a finishing rinse after shampooing and conditioning the hair.
 
      You can add ½-1 cup of white vinegar to a gallon of cool water and pour that over your freshly washed and conditioned hair before you leave the shower. The vinegar is acidic, and works to counter the slight alkalinity of the shampoo and conditioner products. This helps to tighten the cuticle layer of the hair and makes the hair look shinier and healthier in the process.
 
Shampoo Choices
 
      The correct shampoo for your hair goals is another key element to making the hair appear shinier. Dry hair tends to appear dull, so be sure to use a shampoo that will add moisture and clean gently. Follow it up with a moisture rich conditioner and you can soon see dramatic results in the healthy look of your hair. Fortunately, modern advances in hair care products has brought us a wide range of shampoos from many makers that are geared toward improving shine by smoothing the cuticle layer and helping to maintain a smooth and silky look in the hair.

Source


Related articles:

Top 10 reasons for hair loss in women
10 Ways You're Ruining Your Hair but Don't Know It

Top 10 reasons for hair loss in women

A woman’s body goes through a lot of changes through her entire course of life. These changes can at times be a contributing factor in hair loss. But in order to treat this problem, we first need to figure out the root cause of it so that the apt treatment method can be suggested. We list 10 common reasons for hair loss in females.

#1 Bad hair etiquette

Excessive use of hairstyling tools like strengtheners and curling iron or hair products like gels, mousse, sprays, colours, etc. can damage the hair shaft and prolonged usage can hamper its growth. Tight ponytails, wrong combs, parting your hair, can further aggravate the condition. According to trichologist Dr Apoorva Shah, even excessive colouring can lead to hair loss. Can shampoo cause hair loss? Click here to find out.

#2 PCOS

In this condition, male hormones or androgens are secreted in excess and they form small fluid-like sacs in the ovaries which are known as cysts. It is due to hormonal imbalances in your body which negatively affects your hair growth as well. While you may notice more hair growth on your body, it can trigger hair fall from your scalp. Read more…

#3 Anemia

Anemia is a result of low iron intake in one’s diet. Many women may be anemic due to heavy menstruation or inadequate folic acid in their body. This results in low production of hemoglobin which means less oxygen to your organs. When oxygen does not reach your hair follicles, they tend to be weak and break easily. This results in hair fall. Here are 10 tips to beat this.

#4 Menopause

A lot of changes take place in a woman’s body once she hits menopause and one of them can be hair fall. This is because estrogen hormone levels are low in the body. They can make the hair dry and also cause hair loss if due care isn’t taken. It is essential to use mild shampoos and condition your mane as well as eat right. Here are a few remedies you could try.

#5 Labour

Many women experience hair fall after their delivery. This is because, during pregnancy, there is a peak in the hormone estrogen so you can expect a full head of hair. But once the baby is delivered, hormones go back to their normal phase which may result in hair falling out at once. But this is a temporary phase and hair growth returns to normal after a few weeks.

#6 Protein deficiency

Our hair is made of a protein called keratin. When we do not eat protein-rich foods, it depletes from our body making the hair brittle. This leads to weak strands which fall prematurely. Here are a few essential nutrients you need to eat to prevent hair fall.

#7 Medications

Women who are on birth control pills can have side-effects like hair fall if they abruptly stop using them. Other hormonal pills and therapies can have a similar effect. Chemotherapy sessions also result in hair loss. Here are 5 methods to combat hair loss after chemotherapy. 

#8 Extreme weight loss

Crash dieting and losing a lot of weight suddenly or too quickly can adversely affect the growth of your hair. This is because, usually these diets deprive your body of essential nutrients or put a ban on eating certain food groups which then impact your hair growth.

#9 Medical illnesses like thyroid disease, autoimmune disease

Thyroid is responsible for secreting triiodothyronine and thyroxine hormones which are needed for proper growth and development of our body. When a person suffers from hypo or hyperthyroidism, there is excess or low secretion of these hormones which can lead to deficiencies if not treated on time. Hair loss is one of the complications due to various changes taking place in your body. In an autoimmune disease, our body creates antibodies against our own cells and tissues. They attack hair as well as other organs resulting in hair loss.

#10 Any acute or chronic medical conditions

Conditions like diabetes, psoriasis are also responsible for loss of hair. Diabetes negatively affects the body’s circulatory system. This means that less amount of nutrients and oxygen reach the upper and the lower extremities of the body i.e. the feet and the scalp areas. If diabetes is causing poor blood circulation to the scalp, the hair follicles will die resulting in hair loss. Psoriasis is a skin disease which also affects the scalp and hair follicles.

While shedding of 60-100 strands every day is the norm, anything more than that over a period of time can cause hair loss. If you notice this, it is best to get yourself checked for any underlying condition which could be causing your hair fall. Here are 20 treatment options to combat hair loss.

With inputs from Dr Shuba Dharmana, a celebrity hair transplant surgeon. 

Image Source: Getty Images

Source

Related articles:

6 THINGS YOU'RE DOING THAT ARE RUINING YOUR HAIR

Hair Damage – Causes and how to avoid

6 THINGS YOU'RE DOING THAT ARE RUINING YOUR HAIR

When split ends, breakage and unmanageable frizz start to appear, take that as a major cry for help from your hair. Although heat is one of the most common factors for damaged strands, there are also many other ways you can be harming your hair.

In order to get to the bottom of these bad habits we turned to John Frieda celebrity hair stylist Sebastian Scolarici to find out just what we’re doing wrong and how we can never commit these hair sins again!

Sleeping With Wet Hair

While sleeping with wet hair isn't entirely disastrous, it could lead to nasty breakage. "What creates this breakage is putting your wet hair in a ponytail or tight hairstyles to sleep in," Scolarici explained. "If you need to sleep with your hair up, use a fabric hair holder and make sure you tie it at the very top of your head."

Over-coloring

Although trying new trends may be fun, coloring your hair too frequently can be killing your tresses. "I find the biggest cause of hair damage is over-coloring, specifically highlighting too frequently," Scolarici said. "Don't run to the salon every time you have a little root growing. You can use products like the John Frieda Go Blonder In-Shower Lightening Treatmentto get you by and stretch the time in between those salon appointments."

Turning Up the Heat

Step away from the plancha, ladies. By now we all know that heat can cause some vicious damage to your hair, but Scolarici said the true issue lies within how often you use heat on your hair. "Often women reach for their heating tools to combat frizz. Opt for the John Frieda Frizz Ease Hair Care line to find another option to fight frizz. [There] you can also find a styling aid to avoid the need for high heat."

Read More

Related articles:

8 Ways You're Damaging Your Hair

Hair Damage – Causes and how to avoid

8 Ways You're Damaging Your Hair

Grab while you still can! This is the lowest price you could get for 3 hair treatment.

Buy 2 of any Lao Fo Ye hair treatments and you will get additional 1 for FREE. From the usual price of $358, now for only $188 - big savings up to 47%.
You may start to enjoy hair and feel it grow healthier. Call +65 6383 8333 now!


8 Ways You're Damaging Your Hair: Perms, highlights, extensions: In our quest for beauty are we sacrificing the hair on our heads? Here’s a breakdown of the damage too muc...

Hair Damage – Causes and how to avoid

All of us long for healthy and lustrous hair as your hair is considered your crowning glory. How your hair looks on a particular day makes a lot of difference to your appearance . But alas, I remember in my younger days when I had a crown not of glory but of thrones. My hair was unmanageable with lots of split ends. To tame my curls, I would comb my hair every single day hoping for better hair day but all in vain. My hair was so damaged and unmanageable that I would always keep my hair tied down. I never knew how one could use different products to define the curls. And this is the problem with most of people with curly and wavy hair. The foremost cause of this persistent problem is people are just not aware of how to take care of their hair and how to use products to define their curls. Even salon professionals are not able to help you in taking care of your hair and to get the defined curls and waves.

If you are a regular reader of my blog, by now you already must have known different ways to get the defined curls. But the other important thing is to keep your curls healthy. To achieve that goal, we should first know what damages our hair.

Appearance of our hair depends mostly on the quality of hair cuticles. Cuticles are flat, overlapping scales like shingles on the roof which provides a resistant barrier protecting the hair from outside environment and play a very important part to keep the hair healthy. Cuticles are hydrophobic (water resistant) in nature and keep the hair away from excessive moisture and humidity (know how excessive moisture and humidity affects hair). The more damaged the cuticles are, the more unmanageable are our hair and we can see this cuticle damage by noticing below things.

• Fly aways and static charge on hair – Our hair carries negative charge. More the hair is damaged, more negative charge it carries.
• Frizzy, out of control hair – Due to damaged cuticles, hair absorbs more moisture from air and swells to cause frizzyness.
• Dry and rough to touch hair – Hair loses its moisture due to damaged outer cuticle layer.
• Tangled hair – Hair gets more knots due to damaged cuticles.
• Dull hair that lacks shine
• Breakage
• Split ends

So, lets see what are the causes of cuticle damage.

Mechanical Damage

Everyday grooming routine such as shampooing, combing or brushing and tie your hair with clips and rubberbands can result in hair damage. These actions result in friction between hair fibers and also friction between hair fiber and the grooming tool like comb, brush, bands etc. Due to this friction, the hair cuticles get lifted and results in separation from the underlying cuticles called de-cementation of cuticles. Also, when you brush or comb through tangled hair, it stretches and elongate the hair causing strain on hair fiber which results in breakage and split ends.

Read More

Other articles:

10 Ways You're Ruining Your Hair but Don't Know It

5 Foods as your DIY hair conditioners

10 Ways You're Ruining Your Hair but Don't Know It

10 Ways You're Ruining Your Hair but Don't Know It: Everyone knows that endless  flatironing ,  bleaching , and using tons of styling product aren't exactly the best thing for your hair....



Ruined hair? Worry no more! Select 2 from any of your favorite hair treatments and get 1 FREE - Hair Growth, Alopecia Areata, Scalp Detox & More. Avail our promo for only $188. Usual price is $358 - big savings up to 47%, enjoy big discount. Don't miss! Grab our amazing deals. Promo 'til November 30, 2016 only. Call +65 6383 8333 now!

20 Best Home Remedies for Hair Growth

Best Hair Care Tips for Hair Growth

Does long, shiny and thick hair that is shown in TV ads mesmerize you? Are you worried about those commercial products loaded with harmful chemicals? Do you think that commercial hair growth products are too pricy for you to purchase? If so, then this blog is only for you.

In this blog, we are going to talk about top 20 totally natural home remedies for promoting hair growth. The most noticeable things about these remedies are that these are 100% natural and safe, inexpensive and above all, these remedies work. These include some common kitchen ingredients, essential oils and a few dietary needs for better hair growth. Let’s read on.

Hibiscus Flower for Hair Growth

Hibiscus Flower or otherwise known as gudhal in Hindi is popularly known as the flower of hair care. It addresses every type of hair problems and hair growth tops the list of the benefits. It is rich in amino acids, vitamin A, vitamin C and alpha Hydroxy acids with other nutrients required for hair growth. Make a smooth paste of Hibiscus flower with a few drops of essential oil. Apply the paste on your scalp and hair. After 20-30 minutes, rinse it with a mild shampoo. Use it twice a week for promoting hair growth effectively.

Biotin for Hair Growth

Biotin, also known as vitamin H, serves as a water soluble B vitamin supplement that maximizes hair growth. It helps renew hair follicles and increases the elasticity of hair cortex, thus preventing hair breakage and making your hair look fuller as well as healthier. You can take biotin tablets orally or it can be applied topically. To apply it directly on your hair, simply crush the biotin tablets and mix with a few drops of essential oil. Massage this paste on your scalp and keep it overnight. Next day, wash it out with your regular shampoo. Use it at least once a week for healthy hair growth.

Beetroot Juice for Hair Growth

Beetroot juice is packed with all nutrition required for hair growth. When applied on your scalp, it supplies an adequate quantity of protein, carotenoids, vitamin B, vitamin C, iron, magnesium, potassium, silica, calcium and phosphorus. It strengthens your scalp and prevents hair loss. Simply crush beetroot juice in a food processor and draw its juice in a bowl. Now dip a cotton ball in the juice and apply it on your scalp. Keep it for 10-20 minutes and then rinse off with normal water. Use this remedy twice a week for promoting hair growth.

Garlic Juice for Hair Growth

Top constitutes of garlic: sulfur and selenium help fortify the structure of the hair shaft that means it not only help to replenish the lost hair, but also strengthen the existing hair. Vitamins and minerals contained in garlic juice naturally condition the hair and add strength to your hair root. Extract the juice of garlic and collect it in a bowl. Now apply this juice on your scalp and hair strand. Keep it for 30 minutes and then rinse off with a mild shampoo. Use it two times a week for healthy hair growth.

Hair Care with Curry Leaves

Curry leaves are abundant with proteins and beta-carotene. We all know that proteins are extremely good for hair and these prevent hair thinning. On the other hand, beta-carotene of curry leaves prevent hair fall while offering thick and shiny hair. Simply, crush the leaves to make a paste of it. Add a few drops of olive oil and massage the paste on your scalp. Keep it for an hour and then wash off with a mild shampoo. Use it once a week for expected results.

Henna for Hair Growth

Henna is popular for giving attractive texture to hair. But it has surprising effects on promoting hair growth too. Henna deeply conditions the hair, making them healthy and shiny. Make sure that you use 100% natural henna for expected results. Make a thick paste of henna in combination with amla juice and curd. Apply the paste on your hair and scalp. Keep it for an hour and wash off using a mild shampoo. Use it thrice a month for better hair growth.

Hair Growth with Rosemary Oil

Rosemary oil is one of the oldest remedy for promoting hair growth. It stimulates cell division and dilates blood vessels. This, in turn, stimulates hair follicles for promoting fast hair growth. You can apply the oil directly on your scalp and hair. You can also add it to your shampoo or conditioner and also with other essential oils to boost the healing power of rosemary oil.

Vitamin E Oil for Hair Growth and Hair Care

Vitamin E is an unbeatable source of antioxidants that helps repair and build tissues. When the vitamin E oil is applied on the scalp, it reduces inflammation and repair damage to the follicles making them healthy, thus promoting healthy hair growth. Wash your hair and scalp with a mild shampoo. Once your hair gets dry, apply the vitamin E oil on your scalp properly. The oil works more effectively on clean scalp.

Black Pepper for Hair Care

Black pepper is often used in Ayurvedic medicines for hair growth. Black pepper is rich in vitamin A and C, flavonoids, carotenoids and other anti-oxidants that cleanses scalp and a healthy scalp leads to healthy hair growth. Mix crushed black pepper with two tablespoons of lime juice and apply the paste on your scalp. Keep it for 30 minutes and then rinse off with a mild shampoo. Use it once a week for effective results.

Onion Juice for Hair Growth

Onion is rich in sulfur. This mineral is one of the main building blocks of hair. It improves blood circulation and provides the hair follicles with sufficient nourishment. Onion also has anti-bacterial properties that help with scalp infections that cause hair loss. Simply, you will need to peel the onion and chop them into small pieces. Squeeze out the juice using a food processor. Massage the onion juice into your scalp. Keep it for an hour and then wash off using a mild shampoo. Use it once a week for effective hair growth.

Hair Growth with Fenugreek Seeds

Fenugreek seeds contain proteins, nicotinic acids and large amounts of lecithinare that are extremely effective in strengthening the hair from the roots and treating follicular problems. Soak a handful of fenugreek seeds in water overnight. Next day, grind the seed to make a paste of it by adding water. Apply it as a hair mask on the hair and leave it for an hour. This remedy is very helpful for hair growth as well as dandruff.

Coconut Milk for Hair Care

Coconut milk contains a significant amount of protein, which helps to prevent hair breakage and promotes hair grow. Use coconut milk as a hair and scalp treatment for hair growth. This natural treatment is totally safe, has no chemical dangers, and has no side effects. The coconut milk will nourish your scalp and encourage thicker and more luxurious hair. Coconut milk is good in providing long and thick hair with its organic hair conditioning properties.

Indian Gooseberry or Amla for Hair Growth

Amla or Gooseberry is a magical Indian fruit that offers innumerable health benefits for the hair. It is loaded with antioxidants and is a rich source of Vitamin C that is very effective in promoting hair growth. Take a fresh amla and squeeze out its juice into a bowl. Apply it directly onto your scalp and massage with your fingertips gently. Let it sit for an hour. Then, wash off with a mild herbal shampoo. Regular application of this hair tonic will nourish your scalp, thereby making hair strands stronger.

Use Unflavored Curd for Hair Loss

Curd is a perfect tonic for improving the quality of hair. Curd is rich in vitamin B5 and proteins that are beneficial for hair. The protein content in curd helps to moisturize hair as well as hair growth. Apply curd on the scalp and left it for 20 minutes. Wash it with a mild shampoo. It helps to give shine and dandruff free hair as well as promoting hair growth. Curd provides many nutrients for silky hair. Curd is one of the brilliant natural home remedies for hair growth.

Hair Loss Treatment with Flax Seeds

Flax seeds are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids, which are extremely necessary for nurturing our hair follicles and increasing the elasticity of hair fibers. As a result, our hair becomes healthier, stronger and less vulnerable to breakage. You can prepare an effective hair gel with flax seeds right at your home. Start with boiling 2 cups of water. You have to simmer the whole thing for next 15 to 20 minutes. It would become thick and sticky. Apply it on your scalp for reducing hair loss and hair growth.

Hair Loss Treatment with Aloe Vera Juice

Aloe Vera can help prevent frequent hair loss and promote hair growth.  With hair loss, using Aloe Vera regularly will rejuvenate the hair follicles and reduce thinning. Along with hair loss prevention, Aloe Vera enzymes promote hair growth by helping your locks retain moisture, and by clearing dead skin cells off of your scalp. 100% natural Aloe Vera gel can be applied directly to the scalp. Leave it 20 to 30 minutes and wash with mild shampoo.

Olive Oil for Hair Growth and Hair Care

Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, A, essential fatty acids and several antioxidants that protect hair keratin and promote healthy hair growth. Olive oil is filled with antioxidants that enhance scalp health, locks in the hair moisture. A good hair massage with olive oil is one of the best remedies for luscious long hair and hair growth treatment. Apply olive oil to your hair and massage gently. Make sure the oil reaches the roots of the hair and surface of the scalp. Leave for one hour and wash it with herbal shampoo.

Coconut Oil for Hair Care and Hair Growth

Coconut oil contains both antifungal and antibacterial properties, which protect against dandruff and lice, both of which can affect hair growth. Using one to four tablespoons of oil and start massaging the oil into your hair with your fingertips, ensuring you work it into the hair follicles by applying to the roots. To get the full benefit, massage for a few minutes. Now, cover your hair with a towel or a shower cap and leave it at least twenty to thirty minutes and wash with mild shampoo.

Castor Oil for Hair Growth

Castor oil has natural antibacterial and antifungal properties and is high in Vitamin E, minerals, proteins, and Omega 6 and 9 beneficial fatty acids. Its unusually high ricinoleic acid ratio makes it beneficial to the hair. Castor oil has a thick consistency, so you can mix it with jojoba oil in a half and half ratio. Use your fingers or a brush and start applying it onto your scalp with circular motions. Wrap your hair in a warm towel and leave it for two to eight hours. Wash your hair as usual using shampoo and conditioner.

Take Protein Rich Diet

Our hair is made of a special protein called keratin. So taking protein rich diet works great for making your hair healthy. Include food that is rich in protein like kidney beans, tofu, soybean, eggs, yogurt, nuts, lentils, almond, oats, milk, broccoli, cereals, peanuts, etc. Taking food that is rich in protein promotes hair growth and makes your hair shiny, thick and smooth. 

Read More

Related Articles:

Lao Fo Ye - Natural Hair Growth Treatment