How to start caring for your hair? {Hair Care}

[Source:happynews.com]

Ok, weird title!!! I know. Actually, what happened was that I had ignored my hair for too long and got horrible case of split ends because of which I was so angry that I chopped off a good length of my hair and now, my hair is back to the shoulder level. Now, I am trying to improve my hair health and grow them out.

So, I thought I would revisit the basics. So, in one way, you can say that this post is for my benefit instead of yours :P I shall try to include as many things as possible in this. And, I do get a lot of queries regarding hair care and hair loss so guess, next time, I can simply point to this link :D Ok, let's get started.

Moisturise the hair regularly

As I talked about in my hair diaries, I got cocoa butter for myself last month. I wanted to use it to as a hair mask because last year, the Lush Caca Noir really softened my hair a lot. And, I'm making it a point to not skip on the conditioner ever. 

Get a good hydrating conditioner as well which doesn't weigh the hair down. Ok, I can't recommend anything because I am on the search still but I remember that Biotique Watercress did very well for me so I might just get that.

Weekly hair conditioning is very important but don't forget to do the lighter conditioning every time you wash your hair.

Use good comb

I can't stress this enough coz I know how much the condition of my hair has improved since I switched to the TBS Wooden Comb. It really keeps my hair happy. Or, get any wide-toothed comb for yourself.

Scalp Care

Yes, very important. Try to massage the scalp everyday. That helps with hair growth and is relaxing as well. Also, if you feel your hair is not behaving, I would suggest to go for a hair wash immediately. Don't forget to get a gentle shampoo as it will keep your scalp in a good condition. 

Use satin pillow covers

The cotton ones suck all the moisture from hair and also increase the static in your hair so get the satin pillow covers or silk is even better!!! Make sure that you change the pillow covers regularly too to keep away the bacteria and the oils on the pillow cover from the face.

Oil lightly before washing

Even if you are not big on oiling your hair and I can understand that in summers but it helps a lot. So, to make a compromise, try coating your hair lightly with oil just half hour  to an hour before washing your hair. That really helps. 

These are some of the tips I am following regularly. And, next time, I shall talk about few remedies which were helpful in my hair growth.

Sunsilk Keratinology Dual Treatment Shots {Product Review}

PS: This is a requested review and I tried to find the one who requested it on facebook but seems like she has deleted her profile. So, if you are reading this review, hope you find the review satisfactory.

[Source:stylecraze.com]

Price: Rs 300 for 1 pack which includes a 15ml Conditioner and 5 ml leave-in serum

Pros

- leaves the hair well-conditioned 

- defines the curls and waves well

Cons

- no ingredients mentioned

- packaging is very unfriendly

- expensive for the quantity

- not sure if it really works

My Experience

Keratinology range from sunsilk definitely has created waves. And, I was very attracted to the product so I bought it. Now, whether it still attracts me or not is the question. Let me start with saying it is expensive. A 15ml conditioner and a 5ml leave-in serum for 300 bucks is way too expensive for me. I hate the packaging too.

Moreover, the tubes are probably supposed to be a one time use. The tubes do not have screw-on caps but a cap which has to be broken off. So, if you can't use all at once (which you never will unless you have a knee-length hair), you have to store it at your hazard. I had to keep the tubes vertically positioned in the bathroom. 

Conditioner - Also, when your hands are wet, the contioner tube keeps slipping from your hands because the surface is slippery and also the size doesn't help. So, squeezing the conditioner is a challenge. The conditioner is white in color and smells good. Its just like any other conditioner as Dove or Pantene and I didn't really feel any difference. 

It has to be kept for 1 minute on the hair. Its a Keratin treatment and I don't know how much of the treatment really gets absorbed in a minute. Anyways, I used to keep it for 2-5 minutes. The tube lasted me for four washes.  

Serum - This is a follow-up treatment for shine and smoothness. Its a leave-in serum and does add shine to the hair. And, it gives a good definition to my curls and waves which I particularly like. But, it doesn't add any smoothness to my hair. I use 10 drops of serum after every wash and it is still left so I have preserved the tube. 

The product has not really done anything different to my hair which might have impressed me. Moreover the effects seem to wear off the next day. I don't know if its worth trying or not. If you feel like, you can give it a try. And, who knows, it might suit your hair. Its an average product for me but I do wish the packaging gets improved. 

Have you tried this? What do you think?

Liz Earle Botanical Shine Treatment {Product Review}

Price: 14 Pounds (around Rs 1200) for 150ml

Ingredients
It has a huge list and the pic was really not very clear.

Aqua (water), Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) leaf juice, Cetearyl alcohol, Calodendrum capense (yangu) seed oil, Glyceryl stearate, Glycerin, Vitellaria paradoxa (shea butter), Rhus succedanea (sumac) fruit wax, Parfum (fragrance), Citrus aurantium dulcis (orange) fruit extract, Kappaphycus alvarezii (red algae) extract, Pyrus malus (apple) fruit extract, Tocopherol (vitamin E), Crambe maritima (blue seakale) leaf extract, Gossypium herbaceum (cotton) flower extract, Behentrimonium methosulfate, Cetrimonium chloride, Panthenol, Butylene glycol, Phenoxyethanol, Limonene, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Linalool, Benzoic acid, Phytantriol, Maris aqua (sea water), Dehydroacetic acid, Sodium hydroxide, Fructose, Glucose, Inositol, Sucrose, Trehalose, Isomaltulose, Trehalulose, Citric acid, Sodium citrate. 

My Experience

The ingredient list is pretty impressive anyways. So, I was obviously very excited to try out the product and wanting it to really work. Btw, my hair is not very coarse or dry and this product is meant for very rough hair and my hair is in fact fine but yes, it is dry to an extent and I can definitely use some softening and shine.

The product has to be applied like a conditioner and kept for minimum of 10 minutes after shampooing. And, for extra boost, 30 minutes is the stipulated time. To be frank, I am always in a hurry and staying patiently doing nothing for 10 minutes is a little difficult for me coz I do not proceed with my shower before washing off my conditioner.

Anyways, keeping that aside, somehow I do manage to keep it for 10-15 minutes on my hair after shampooing. Results? My hair wash extremely soft and manageable. The frizziness was definitely tamed to an extent and I would say that the shine is very subtle and natural, not like the serum shine or anything. It didn't weigh my hair down too. Since I have not used their shampoo and conditioner, I have no idea how well it complements the botanical range.

The texture of the is very light and gets easily applied on the hair. And, it also smells really wonderful but some might not like it. That's my gut instinct. The smell stays on the hair after the conditioner is washed off. But, it is very subtle and doesn't bother your head or nose. But, of course, it doesn't do anything to the split ends. And, you have to follow with a leave-in for better results.

Availability

Online - Liz Earle Website

PS: Product provided by the brand.

Other reviews from Liz Earle: 

Liz Earle Brightening Treatment Mask

Liz Earle Deep Cleansing Mask
Liz Earle Sheer Skin Tint - Beige
Update on Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Liz Earle Skin Repair Moisturizer
Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic
Liz Earle Cleanse and Polish Hot Cloth Cleanser

My Hair Diaries - February 2012

So, the second month is over and I am putting down my second entry in my hair diaries journal. I didn't try out any DIY or any hardcore deep conditioning treatment coz I am too lazy. But, some product probably saved my hair.

What did I do in February?

• Ok, I added rosemary EO to the shampoo to give it a nice twist and see how would the results turn out. So far, its fine but nothing extra-ordinary. 
• Now, you would also be interested in how rosemary EO worked for me which I mentioned in my last month's hair diary. I have not seen any major improvement or anything but to be honest, it's a little soon to say anything as hair always takes time to show any difference. 
• Also, I heard that cinnamon is amazing in increasing blood circulation so I was thinking of getting its EO. And, I would be researching more on the EO's good for hair and would be reporting back.
• And, I did regular oil treatments, not even hot. That was the limit to my hair care routine. I know I gotta try harder to reach my goal!!! 
• Btw, my hair is already developing split ends. I know why? Because, my hair had been uncut for a long time and the hair cut last month had not been more than a little trim and style change so I gotta trim my hair a little regularly till all the split ends are resolved.

Products Used

• Shampoo - Dove Nourishing Oil Care Shampoo 
• Conditioner - Liz Earle Hair Treatment Mask + Wella Kolestint after-color Shine Treatment (only twice or thrice) 
• Leave-in Treatment - Biotique Bio Almond & Cashew Fresh Replenishing Serum + Dove Nourishing Oil Care Vita Oil Serum + The Body Shop Polynesian Monoi Oil
• Hair Oil - Biotique Flame of the Forest + Kama Ayurveda Brigandi
• Combs - The Body Shop Detangling Comb, Lass Cosmetics Neem Wood Comb, The Body Shop Wooden Quill Brush 

So, guys, any tips which I should use??? 

Related Posts:

My Hair Diaries - January 2012

Are eggs good for hair or not? {Your Opinion}

[Source: Google Images]

I came across a very interesting article a few days back and I wanted your opinion on it. The article goes somewhat in the fashion that eggs do not really do anything for the hair in the terms of providing nutrition and nourishment. They only end up coating the hair strands and that is all there to it. In fact, to get the advantage of eggs, it is advised to eat them and not apply them on the hair. And, also, the size of the protein molecules in the egg are too big to be absorbed by the hair. So, whatever you think egg treatment is doing to your hair is just a temporary and superficial result as compared to permanent treatment. [Please read the entire article here.]

I must say that the argument that the size of protein molecules being too large might be true and I have no idea about that. I don't know the source of this scientific fact so I am not going to say anything for or against it. But, in my personal experience, I have used egg and yogurt mainly to treat or deep condition my hair. And, even though egg smells pretty bad, the results have always been very fabulous and I can also go to the extent of asserting that egg does help the hair to grow. It may be possible that egg protein molecules are large enough to be absorbed by the hair follicles (I have no idea about that too).

So, what do you think of this argument? Do you think egg is good for hair?

Also register Your Opinion on:
Can you guess what they are?
Oil before hair mask?
How often should you change your pads?
How many products do you layer on your face?
How long do you leave the conditioner?
Is Vanity Silly?
Hair Mask first or Conditioner?
Budgeting on Shopping
Face Mask Sheets or Face Masks?

Oil before hair mask? {Your Opinion}

[Source: Google Images]

So, this question came out of one of the reader's queries. So, I wanted to ask you what you think - should you oil your hair before applying hair masks (homemade) or not?

Well, here is what I think. No. Why? Hair has a limited absorbing capacity and you would want your hair to absorb the nourishment you are providing the hair through the hair mask, whether it is an over-the-counter product or home remedy. And, when you oil your hair, the hair soaks in the oil because of which the hair's absorbing capacity reduces and it will not be able to soak in the entire hair mask's goodness. So, it is always better to apply a hair mask, any hair treatment or even oil on dry and, preferably, washed hair so that it is free from dirt, grime and its own oils.

It is often said that hair conditioner should not be applied on dripping wet hair. Why? Because, hair is already soaked in water so how will the conditioner be able to act on the hair except for simply coating it. Well, this is my opinion and I would definitely love to know yours. And, one thing I would like to make clear is that there is no hard and fast rule for hair or skin care. It all depends on the logic and a little understanding of how the skin and hair work and what works best for one.

What do you think? Pin It

Don't forget to register your opinion on:

How often should you change your pads?
How many products do you layer on your face?
How long do you leave the conditioner?
Is Vanity Silly?
Hair Mask first or Conditioner?
Budgeting on Shopping
Face Mask Sheets or Face Masks?