Lifestyle Choices

Final. Dos and Don’ts

Don’t use the wrong shampoo and conditioner just because they’re the products you have always used. Even the products that once left your hair soft and silky may now be doing a less-than-perfect job. Why? Seasonal changes, environmental, chemical, and emotional factors all have their share of the responsibility. Do have your stylist analyze the current condition of your hair and prescribe products accordingly. Use products that are right for you now, and that come from the same line they’re formulated to work best together.

Don’t shampoo too harshly. Piling up layers of hair on your head or vigorously scrubbing your scalp can result in snarls and damage. Do be gentle when you wash your hair; save your strenth for washing the family car or helping Mom with the pots and pans!

Don’t brush your hair when wet. Hair is at its weakest then, and brushing can cause stretching and breakage. Instead, do use a wide- toothed comb or your fingers to gently take out tangles, combing section by section from the ends upward to the roots.

Don’t overbrush your hair. Your grandmother may have told you that 100 strokes were necessary for shiny hair, but that much brushing will cause splitting and breakage. A few good strokes to smooth and adjust hair should be sufficient. Best way to brush: bend from the waist, flip hair forward, and gently brush from the roots down. Don’t brush vigorously from the hairline and back; you’ll only split and break the fragile hair in that area.

Don’t towel too roughly. Do you take your towel and vigorously rub and scrub your hair dry? Well, don’t! Such harsh handling causes hair to break, ends to split, tangles to form. Do begin by shaking excess water from your hair while still in the shower. Then, when you step out and into your robe or towel, gently pat hair dry with its own absorbent, fluffy towel, concentrating on the roots (not the ends) because they take longer to dry.

Don’t blowdry excessively. Don’t blowdry your hair until—and after—it’s fully dry. You could be causing it to become dry and brittle. Instead, you should stop while your hair is still ever-soslightly damp, experts say. Avoid directing heat toward the ends and the hairline; hair is more delicate there and dries faster on its own because of greater exposure to the air. Also, don’t use the hottest setting all the time; alternate with cooler temperatures, and give your hair a break from all that super hot air.

Don’t overcondition. Most types of hair don’t need a rich conditioning treatment after every shampoo, and if conditioning is too frequent, the hair could become greasy and limp. Consider using a moisturizing shampoo, or a creme rinse to detangle. Do use conditioner occasionally, following package directions. Keep in mind, though, that you can apply it to only the parts of your hair that need it most, such as the ends. Rinse carefully, using cold water for the final rinse.

Don’t use dirty hair tools. Do you shampoo frequently but still find your hair looks greasy and dirty? Maybe the culprit is your comb or brush. Wash them often and properly so that your freshly washed tresses aren’t picking up any dirt from them.

Do eat well. If you’re taking good care of your hair and following the rules, but your hair still appears dull and lifeless, maybe the problem is dietary. Insufficient protein can rob the hair of natural body, bounce, and shine, whereas a protein overdose or too little complex carbohydrate can cause your hair to thin, even fall out. The answer is a well-balanced diet that includes all the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.

Don’t go too long between cuts. Split ends and a generally bedraggled appearance, can be the result of waiting too long to get a bob. Short styles may require a trim or shaping every four or so weeks; longer styles can go six to eight weeks, but no more.

Don’t be a victim of weather. Too much sun, salt, and chlorine can strip and burn your hair. For fun in the sun, start by covering your hair with a big hat or a full cotton scarf while sunning, and wear a rubber cap when you swim in a pool or the sea. If you simply won’t use a cap, try the following: slather on conditioner before your swim, and then rinse hair thoroughly and immediately with fresh water or club soda to get rid of damaging salt, drying chlorine. Reapply a moisturizing conditioner to hair, and comb through well; wrap hair in a brightly colored towel or bit of patterned cloth for a glamorous, turbanlike effect. At the same time, let the heat activate the conditioner so that it penetrates deeply. Always wash hair gently with a mild shampoo at day’s end. For you ski-bunnies, tuck your hair snugly into a warm, woolly hat or under a thick scarf. Earmuffs are adorable, but they won’t protect you on the slopes, where harsh winds can turn hair into a mess. Use specially formulated moisturizing shampoos to combat subzero temperatures.

Don’t overstyle. Too much teasing, perming, and coloring can result in damaged hair. If you do want to tease your tresses, use a flexible nylon comb with narrowly spaced teeth on one end, wide on the other for creating both a tightly teased and a lighter, airier look. Never use metal; it can break hair, causing it to look ragged. Also, remember that repeated processing, such as bleaching, coloring, and perming, will break down the hair’s protein layer, resulting in dry, brittle locks that are so porous (poor dears!) that they will absorb too much of any preparation you use and end up limp from sheer exhaustion. Instead, spot-perm, highlight, or relax only newly grown-in hair.

Also, don’t perm and color on the same day. Experts agree that it is better to perm first, then wait two to three weeks before coloring, to give the hair a rest and insure that the perming doesn’t fade the color.

Finally, when coloring, remember that dark hair cannot be made too light without running the risk of looking strawlike, artificial, and stiff. The bleach used for lightening dark hair is a very powerful chemical, and too strong a dose—say going from raven to platinum—will seriously damage the hair, to say nothing of creating an artificial general appearance (how, for example, will you cope with dark brows and lashes?). Also, touching up the roots will be a constant job, as they will quickly become visible. Instead of moving in such extremes, stay within three shades of your own color for the most natural, flattering look, or you can try an all-over natural- based brightening product, like henna, that can safely be used at home. Don’t overlook clear henna either; it can add loads of lovely gleam and shine to any color of hair.

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