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! (more…)

Straight hair is often strong and beautiful hair. It can be lank, in which case you should treat it with a thickening product, which will enlarge the shaft of each hair and make it look fuller. It can also be lackluster, which calls for a conditioner to make the scales of the cuticle lie flat and enable hair shafts to reflect light better. Straight hair is often good blunt- cut and worn not too long, or tied up in a twist, or chignon.

Curly hair needs to be carefully cut, for this can make all the difference between its looking fantastic and frizzy. A layered cut is usually best, one in which the direction of each scissor snip goes counter to the direction in which the hair grows, so it makes the most of all your hair’s natural curves and idiosyncrasies. It is best not to impose a particular style on your hair, but, rather, to go with the natural swing of things. If your hair tends to be wiry, you can correct this by using a softening conditioner. (more…)

Herbal Conditioner for Oily Hair

Don’t think oily hair needs no conditioning; it needs it as much as dry hair, and a monthly treatment will ensure that your hair keeps its bounce and lustre.

75 ml (6 tbsp) rum

75 ml (6 tbsp) strong yarrow tea

3 egg yolks, well beaten

Liquidise all ingredients together. Wet the hair well. Section the hair and apply this mixture to each section, using cotton- wool pads. Rub into the scalp and hair. Meanwhile have a strong infusion of yarrow and rosemary tea warming on the stove. Dip a small towel into it and wring it out, as hot as you can bear. Wrap it around your head. Cover with a shower-cap to keep the heat in. Have another hot towel ready to replace the first one as it cools, the aim being to keep the hair warm to absorb the conditioner. Try to keep the treatment going for an hour. Finally, wash out with a good shampoo and rinse with yarrow tea. (more…)