Lifestyle Choices

Like the skin, the hair reflects inner health and well-being. If you are eating well, getting adequate sleep and feeling good about yourself, chances are your hair will show this. Medications, ill health, stress and fatigue can all affect lustrous, healthy hair, leaving it dull and hard to manage and making you feel that you’re having a ‘bad hair day!’Regular visits to the hairdresser can do wonders for your soul! It’s time out and there is nothing nicer than having your hair washed by someone else. But keeping hair healthy does not have to take a lot of time or money. Treatments at home are also effective and beneficial.

Choosing good-quality hair-care products is one of the first steps to healthy hair. Many shampoos claim to be ‘herbal’ but when you read the list of ingredients, the herbal content is somewhere very near the bottom, meaning there is very little of it in there. So be discerning about what you buy.

Commercial shampoos are basically made with the same formula as carpet shampoos. One of the main ingredients is Sodium Lauryl Sulphate, an emulsifying agent (see page 160), also found in engine degreasers. We have become accustomed to believing that foam and lots of lather is a sign that the product is an excellent cleanser. But this is not the case; all that lather is for our gratification.

If you really like your shampoo regardless of the ingredients, then try diluting it by half with water. You may be impressed to see it cleans just as well, is far more gentle on your hair and has cost you half the price! Detergent-based shampoos can strip the hair of all its natural oil, which is why you often require a conditioner as well. Opt for shampoos free of the more harmful ingredients. There are definitely more natural ones available and once you start using them you may well notice a significant difference

<lip tip>Just remember, if you have been using more harsh shampoos and conditioners for a while it may take a few weeks for the hair to adapt to the less harsh ones. As with skincare, allow 21-28 days for new products to take effect

Hair Rinses

After you have washed and conditioned your hair, a lovely way to finish is with an aromatic hair rinse. These add shine and lustre to your hair and leave a gorgeous light aroma around your head. Before you get in the shower or bath to wash your hair, simply fill a 100-m1 glass bottle with warm water. Add four drops of your chosen essential oils then shake the bottle well. Just before you get out of the shower, turn the tap off, squeeze the excess water out of your hair, take your bottle and shake a couple of times, then tilt your head back and allow the aromatic rinse to pour through your hair.

Essential Oils for Your Hair Rinse

Dark Hair

1 drop Geranium, 1 drop Lavender and 2 drops Rosewood

Light Hair

2 drops Rosemary, 1 drop Chamomile, 1 drop Lemon

Red Hair

1 drop Orange, 2 drops Geranium, 1 drop Frankincense

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