Is Your Hair Shampoo right for your hair?
Hair Shampoo contains cleansing agents, perfume, preservatives and conditioning agents that can coat your hair shaft and make it appear thicker.
The conditioning agents smooth the cuticle scales to prevent the hair from tangling and eliminate static electricity from the hair when you dry it.
Hair shampoo is available in different formulas to suit all hair types and conditions. Make sure you choose the right one for your hair type and use it as often as necessary to keep your hair clean.
Always be sure to rinse out any shampoo thoroughly.
Shampoo pH Values – What do they mean?
The letters ‘pH’ refer to the acid/alkaline level of a substance, which is calculated on a scale of 1 to 14.
Numbers below 7 are acidic and numbers above 7 are alkaline.
Most hair shampoos range between a pH factor of 5 and 7, although medicated hair shampoos have a pH value around 7.3, which makes them near neutral.
[blockquote]Important… Your natural sebum will have a pH value of 4.5 to 5.5, which is mildly acidic. Bacteria cannot survive in this pH and it is important to maintain this protective layer in order to keep your skin, scalp and hair in optimum condition.[/blockquote]Some hair shampoos are labelled ‘pH balanced’ and this means they have the same acidity level as hair.
If you have fragile, permed, or colored hair you should use a medicated shampoo. However, for strong hair in good condition a pH balanced shampoo is unnecessary, providing you condition after you shampoo.
Shampooing Your Hair Properly…
Always, always, always use a hair shampoo that has been formulated for your hair type – dry, greasy, normal or chemically treated – and before shampooing brush your hair to free any tangles and loosen dirt and dead skin cells.
Wet your hair, then apply a small amount of hair shampoo. too much is just waste, and gently massage down to the roots, using the pads of your fingers; never your nails.
Pay special attention to your hairline, places where make-up and dirt can become trapped. Allow the lather to work its way to the ends of your hair, and don’t rub vigorously or you will stretch you hair.
When you’ve finished shampooing rinse your hair thoroughly and wash again only if you think it really needs it. Finally, blot your hair with a towel to remove excess water before applying your conditioner.
Shampooing Your Hair … Always buy the best shampoo for your hair type.
There’s little point in spending your hard earned cash on the most popular or expensive brand if it doesn’t suit your hair type or lifestyle.
If you can’t find a shampoo to suit your hair type or budget, then use the mildest shampoo you can buy.
Always read the instructions, some shampoos have to be left on the scalp for a few minutes before rinsing.
Your hair can become resistant to some ingredients so change your shampoo every year or so.
Before changing to a new shampoo try to find some sample sachets of the same product and test it out on your hair.
Never wash your hair in the bath. Bathwater isn’t a perfect environment and you’ll never rinse properly unless you have a shower attachment.
Sometimes the less lather, the more effective the shampoo. So, don’t throw out or stop using a shampoo because it doesn’t lather up as well as another. Lather is dependent on the active level of detergent, not the effective ingredients. Check how it works for your hair before discounting it.
Scalp Massage – Treat Yourself
A regular massage helps maintain a healthy scalp and brings extra blood to the tissues, which enhances the delivery of nutrients to the hair follicle.
It also reduces scalp tension, which can contribute to hair loss, loosens dead skin cells and helps reduce the overproduction of sebum, which can cause greasy hair.
How you can give yourself a scalp massage at home …
Use warm olive oil if your scalp is dry or tight – try equal amounts of witch hazel and mineral water if you have an oily scalp – or equal parts rose water and mineral water for a normal scalp.
Begin by gently rotating your scalp with the tips of your fingers. Start at your forehead, move to the sides and work over the crown to the nape of the neck.
Then place your fingertips firmly on your scalp without exerting too much pressure. Push your fingers together and then pull them apart, through your hair in a kneading motion, without lifting or moving them off your scalp.
When you’ve massaged for about a minute move to another section of your scalp and continue until you have treated your entire scalp and your upper neck.
