If your goal is to grow your hair long, you have probably already done a bit of research on how to retain hair length by preventing breakage. You've learned that caring for longer hair requires more time AND more product. When I say "more product" I am not referring to the number of products you use, but rather to the amount of product you will need, now that you have more hair.
Let's address the issue of time: Longer hair is older hair, which means fragile hair. Even with proper care, older hair is generally more delicate than newly grown hair that's closer to the scalp and therefore, much stronger. It has been repeatedly exposed to a number of different things over time, such as sun, wind, extreme outdoor temperatures and depending on your hair care routine, dyes, heat, etc.
Longer hair can get tangled easily, so it must be gently detangled to prevent tearing and breakage. The amount of time it takes to detangle your hair depends on your hair type and length. The curlier your hair, the more time it will take to detangle. It's best to set aside time to carefully detangle your hair prior to shampooing. If you rush through the process, you will cause more tangles and breakage. Attempting to detangle hair during or after shampooing will result in more tangles that are difficult to loosen.
Another important thing to remember is the natural occurrence of shedding. Human hair grows in three distinct phases: the growth (anagen) phase lasts anywhere from 3 to 10 years. In the second (catagen) phase, which lasts about three months, the hair does not grow at all. At the end of that phase, the hair enters the final (telogen) phase of its cycle. At the end of a hair's cycle, a new hair pushes the one out of the follicle and the cycle begins again.
The hairs on your head are in a different phases at different times. Some hairs are growing, some hairs are stagnant while others have reached the end of their cycle and are shed. The average person sheds approximately 100 hairs per day.
Healthy hair, no matter what type, grows approximately ½ - ¾ inch each month. If you have difficulty growing your hair past shoulder length, chances are it's breaking off due to friction caused by clothing. This occurs when the tips/ends of the hair repeatedly rub back and forth on clothing, break off and leave behind split and frayed ends. Once you stop this breakage, you will see longer hair lengths.
To get beyond this "sticking point", you can wear your hair in styles that prevent it from brushing/rubbing against your clothing. Once your hair has reached approximately 3 to 4 inches beyond shoulder length, these protective-type styles won't be necessary any more, since the ends of your hair will fall below the friction point of the shoulders. If you don't like wearing your hair up, be mindful of the type of material your hair is rubbing against. Silk or satin scarves worn over your jacket, coat, etc. will provide a smooth surface and greatly reduce breakage due to friction.
Deep and thorough hydration (moisture) is essential for healthy, strong, break-resistant hair. You need to replenish moisture that's lost every day through evaporation. Slowing down evaporation is the simplest and most cost effective way to keep your hair hydrated. There will be no need to replace moisture if you don't lose it in the first place!
Many people believe and insist that water is the best moisturizer. I have read lots of beauty and hair care articles that advise you to use water or water based products, followed by an oil to "seal" in moisture. Based on science and personal experience, I respectfully disagree with this theory. Water wets, it does not moisturize. Water is extremely lightweight, so it evaporates rapidly.
It is impossible to seal water in through the use of oil, no matter how heavy that oil is. The best you can hope for, if you rely on water as your main source of moisture, is for the oil to reduce the time it takes your hair to dry. In that case, the water is not providing any moisture; it's just keeping your hair wet. If you must wet your hair every day because it feels dry by the days end, you are not moisturizing it properly and/or thoroughly.
I rely on organic aloe vera juice as my main source of moisture. It's heavier than water, so it evaporates at a much slower rate. It also provides nutrients to the hair to build strength and protect against breakage.
Finally, regular and routine deep conditioning strengthens the hair and increases its ability to hold onto moisture. You should use a good quality leave-in conditioner immediately following deep conditioning. This will add moisture and nutrients to the hair and improve its ability to resist breakage.
Remember, as your hair gets longer, the ends need the most attention and care. Focus your deep, daily and leave in conditioning treatments on the ends of the hair, not the healthier, younger hair that's closer to the scalp.
I hope you found this article useful. Brendita's Body Works offers restorative and repairing deep conditioning treatments and hair care accessories that are absolutely ESSENTIAL for beautiful, long and healthy hair.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brendita_G
0 comments :
Post a Comment