Looking for a more natural approach to hair care? Here are
some tips to help your hair look and feel its best.
1. Avoid shampoos that contain sodium laurel sulfate, or
sodium laureth sulfate. These chemicals are synthetic
detergents that are used in dishwashing liquid and other
cleansers. They are valued because they lather well, but
they are very harsh, and can dry out your hair. Instead, look
for shampoos made with decyl glucose, or decyl glucoside,
which are much gentler.
2. Give yourself a hot oil treatment to deep condition your
hair. Warm oil penetrates the hair shaft making the hair
more flexible and giving it shine. This can also help to
prevent split ends which result from dry hair.
3. Eat right and consider taking vitamin and mineral
supplements to encourage healthy hair. Several vitamins
and minerals have been shown to help hair growth and
condition including biotin, vitamin E, vitamin B, vitamin C
and MSM.
4. If you are an African American, or if you have extra curly
hair, avoid brushing your hair. Use a wide toothed comb, or
your fingers to work with your hair. Brushes can destroy
African American or extra curly hair by shearing it out of the
scalp.
5. Look for essential oils, herbs and vegetable oils in your
hair care products. Essential oils such as rosemary,
ylang-ylang and west indian bay help to stimulate hair
growth. Lavender and tea tree and naturally antiseptic and
help to fight dandruff. Vegetable oils such as soybean oil,
safflower oil and corn oil are moisturizing and conditioning
to the hair shaft.
6. Avoid sleeping in hair accessories such as barrettes,
scrunchies, head bands, etc. This can lead to hair damage.
7. Massage your scalp to help stimulate hair growth.
Massaging helps stimulate hair growth by increasing the
blood flow to the scalp. This nourishes the hair roots and
helps to stimulate the hair growth process.
8. If your hair ends are damaged, give yourself a trim every
so often to remove damage.
Ololade Franklin publishes Making Good Scents(TM), a
newsletter for people who make their own bath and body
care products. For information about Making Good
Scents(TM) visit http://www.MakingGoodScents.com