Hair tips for all kinds of hair

HOME MADE HAIR RINSES
Hair rinses are very important as it corrects the hair’s pH level and removes residue from shampoo and other hair products like gels, hair spray, etc.
Vinegar can remove residue from hair and close the cuticles. It has the power to restore the natural pH level and can prevent your scalp from itching. You may use ordinary white vinegar but I suggest that you use apple cider vinegar. I know that a lot of people find the smell of vinegar to be a bit trying but believe me it is worth it.
Below are some of the home rinses that you can make and use:
Rinse to soften your hair:
Mix 1-2 tb sp of apple cider vinegar with 3 cups distilled water.
Direction: pour the mixture over your hair as the final rinse. This will leave your hair softer and it can be used on all hair types.
Rinse to make your hair shiny:
Mix 2 tb sp of lemon juice, 2 tb sp of apple cider vinegar and 1 cup of water.
Direction: After shampooing your hair and rinsing it with normal water, pour the mixture over your hair and massage into the scalp. Rinse with water (preferably not hot water) and you will see a marked improvement in the luster of your hair!
 HOME-MADE HAIR CONDITIONERS

Curd and egg conditioner:
Mix one whole egg with 4 table spoon of bitter curd and apply to your hair. There is no need to massage it on to your scalp. Just apply it to the hair. Keep it for 20-30 minutes and rinse with normal water. It will make your hair soft and less frizzy.
Castor Oil & Egg Yolk
Mix an egg yolk with 2 teaspoons of castor oil and massage into your hair. Rinse and wash your hair as usual after keeping it on for 15 minutes.
Mayonnaise Conditioner
Apply 1/2 a cup of mayonnaise to damp hair. Work into hair and cover with a shower cap or towel for up to 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and then shampoo as usual.
Milk conditioner:
Milk is a very good conditioner for hair. Take some cold milk and apply with using a spray bottle, comb your hair gently, wait for 30 mins, wash your hair with shampoo, do not use conditioner after shampoo as Milk is a natural conditioner which will leaves your hair feeling silky and soft.

Hot oil treatment for dry hair:

Take 3 tb sp of castor oil and massage on your scalp and hair. Dip a towel into hot water and wring and cover your hair with the hot towel. Leave it for 10 minutes or till the towel stays hot then re-dip the towel into the hot water and re apply. Do this 3 times and wash your hair with cold water.
For healthy and long hair:
Mix 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of olive oil and 1 tsp of lime/lemon juice. Add 1 egg to the mixture and apply on your hair from the roots to the tips. Leave

General advise:
Try to avoid washing your hair daily as it strips your hair from the natural oil that your hair has, making it secrete more oil and hence making your hair greasy. Thus, the more you wash your hair the greasier it becomes.
Dry, coarse and brittle hair needs to be nourished from within; a conditioner that just rinses out would not do the job. Get hold of an intensive moisturising shampoo which will cleanse without excessive rubbing and follow with a hot oil treatment. Heat opens up the hair cuticles allowing the moisturiser to penetrate the hair shaft giving it suppleness, bounce and movement.

5 Healthy Hair Tips

Hair follicle cross-section.

Care for split ends for healthier looking hair with regular trims.

Protect your hair in style with a hair scarf.

1. Feed your hair
What we eat does show up as a reflection of what we consume. Eating right and using supplements provides nutrients needed for healthy hair growth. We get these nutrients such as Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, and Omega-3 fatty acids directly from the foods we eat as well as through additional supplements. For a list of 10 foods for healthy hair see here.
2. Know your hair type - wash and moisturize appropriately
My mother always told me to wash my hair every other day. It’s a good general tip, but depending on your hair type, you can tweak how long you go in between shampoos. For example, if you have oily hair, two to three times a week may be good and if it’s extremely oily, you may find that you have to do it every day. However, you always want to be sure that you are getting enough moisture because washing tends to dry your hair out. Certain hair types such as porous curly hair only require washing once a week to avoid over-drying of the strands. Washing your hair in lukewarm water is better than with hot water, as it leads to stripping of naturally occurring essential oils. After conditioning, a cool water rinse helps close up your cuticles and avoid over-drying.
3. Trim it to get rid of dried split ends
Did you ever hear anyone tell you that cutting your hair allows your hair to grow longer? Seems counter-intuitive, but clearing away the dry dead ends does prevent your hairs from splitting more up the strand. The result is having healthier looking hair that is longer than it would have been if you were to cut off all of your dead ends.
4. Be gentle with your hair
We want to keep what we have and prevent damaging it. Avoid excessive coloring and use of heated styling tools. Protect your hair from the environment (sun and wind) by using a scarf or hat to cover up or when swimming using a cap. If you are in a social environment and want to avoid covering up your beautiful hair, use leave in conditioner for protection as well using products that protect from UV rays. Brush your hair with a naturally bristled brush with gently strokes. Use a wide toothed comb or your fingers when detangling. Be cautious using our fingers if your hair is oily because oil from your fingers can easily be transferred to your hair.
5. Be mindful of your scalp
This is the foundation of healthy hair since this is where your hair grows begins. Hair grows from follicles that reside in your skin forming your scalp. Your hair is nourished in the follicle in your scalp by proteins and blood circulation. Cleaning the scalp to remove dead skin cells and toxins is imperative. This is achieved when washing your hair. When shampooing, be sure to tend to your scalp and concentrate on massaging the scalp. You can wash the rest of your hair, but the focus on the scalp is important, as this is usually where your hair is naturally the “dirtiest.” The massage also helps with circulation of blood flow to the scalp, which is necessary for nourishment. Again, be gentle when massaging your scalp, as you don’t want to pull on your hair much. Achieve this by positioning your fingers directly on the scalp (under the hair) and moving in a circular motion with firm pressure. Very relaxing!
For more information on healthy hair and hair spa at home see Healthy Hair!

Ten Super Hair Tips for Natural Hair This Summer

Let Summer Be Your Guide For Healthy Hair

Summer time is upon us and what better way to celebrate by embracing the beauty of our natural hair, right? Summertime is a great time to re-evaluate the condition of our hair and make improvements where we can. So, while you are enjoying lemonade, summer barbeques, picnics, camp outs, and time by the pool, here are a few tips to enjoying and caring for your hair this summer:

1. Leave the Heat: Heat destroys hair cuticles, hair follicles, and dries the scalp causing disturbance in the micro-flora of the scalp. Forget blow drying or using a curling iron. Your hair will love you back.
2. Trim your hair. During the warmer summer months a hair trim would do your hair good. By trimming your hair – even by an inch - you can avoid plenty of split ends in the future.
3. Stop using synthetic products for your hair. Most of our hair products are petroleum based (that means in used to be crude oil in before it was refined and processed). Petroleum based hair products may smell good and be effective, but they can often dry out the cuticles, plug up your hair follicles, and irritate your scalp.
4. Reduce your shampooing. Most likely you are shampooing your hair more than three times a week. Experts agree that more than that will strip your hair of natural oils that the sebaceous glands produce to protect it.
5. Condition your hair naturally after a shower. Forget the expensive beauty store products! One of the best ways to condition your hair is to use natural virgin olive oil. Olive oil works great to seal in moisture and smooth out damaged hair shafts. In addition, it’s great to moisturize the scalp. This also helps to reduce your frizzy hair!
6. Consider using coconut oil and gently rub it into your hair. Like olive oil, this is a great alternative to synthetic hair products that are expensive.
7. Do you have a build-up of hair product in your hair that is weight it down? Here is a secret rinse your hair with a solution of baking soda. Make sure you rinse it out thoroughly!
8. Natural hair growth can only be stimulated by several essential vitamin compounds and trace minerals. If you are over-worked, over-stressed, exposed to pollution, the vitamins that promote hair growth quickly get depleted. Nourishing your hair from the inside can help restore the luster and beauty of your hair. Try Alpha Renew Hair Vitamins.
9. Protect your hair from the sun with a little dab of sun block. Yeah, it’s a little sticky but dilute it with a little water and rub it in. Your hair will be protected from the very damaging UV rays.
10. Probiotics. Huh? Yeah, probiotics have a lot to do with the health of your hair. Without these friendly bacteria your hair will soon be suffering and struggling to grow within a few months.
If you embrace your natural hair, you will feel better, look better, and save money too!