Keeping a Shiny Coat

No, we are not talking about putting Armor All on your jacket. We are referring to taking care of that patch of hair on top of your head (look here if that location has been vacated). Taking good care of your hair will keep it looking healthy and ensure your follicles remain unclogged, promoting growth. Maintaining a shiny coat of hair is all about product and technique.

Selecting A Product Type

Hair is composed mainly of a protein called keratin. Keratin rises out of the hair follicles as a soft substance and hardens as it rises up and out into the hair shaft. Each hair follicle contains a Sebaceous gland that produces natural oil called sebum. Too much or too little production of oil from this gland can cause symptoms of oiliness or dryness in the hair and scalp. Therefore, the first part of developing a good hair maintenance program is choosing the right product for your hair type:

  • If your hair gets greasy at the near the scalp within 24 hours of washing, choose a product made for oily hair.

  • If you can usually go a couple days before a slight oiliness appears, use a shampoo for normal (to oily) hair.

  • If you can go three days or more with hair that remains relatively ungreasy, you'll need a product for dry (to normal) hair.

Shampoo

Shampoos are designed to remove dirt, excess oil (sebum or styling product), dead skins cells, and pollutants from the hair and scalp. They are primarily made up of molecules called surfactants that act to cleanse the hair and scalp. The goal is to remove the unwanted build-up without stripping out so much that it leaves the hair damaged and unmanageable. Your lifestyle and level of physical activity will play a role in how often you need to wash. Higher levels of activity need to be followed by cleansing to rid the hair and scalp of the build up and bacteria sweating leaves behind.

The most common surfactants used are sodium or ammonium laureth sulfate, sodium or ammonium lauryl sulfate, and TEA(triethanolamine)-lauryl sulfate. These surfactants cleanse the hair and produce foam, but some are more damaging to the hair because they remove too much natural oil. Here's a quick rundown of popular types and their effects:

  • Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate - very, very, harsh
  • Ammonium Laureth Sulfate - very harsh but better than the above
  • Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - better than the above, but still a little harsh
  • Sodium Laureth Sulfate - gentler
  • TEA lauryl Sulfate - mild
  • TEA Laureth Sulfate - mild
  • Sodium Olefin Sulfate - very mild
  • Sodium Methyl Cocyl Taurate - very mild

Conditioner

A conditioner leaves a smooth coating on the hair, strengthening the cuticle (outer layer) by forming a protective layer over the cortex (middle layer). By adding a coating that smoothes out rough or raised cuticle edges, conditioner helps keep your hair from tangling. This coating also helps reduce static electricity and seals moisture into your hair, keeping it from getting dry and brittle.

Hair Care Routine

Now that you have an understanding of the basics, let's put them into a 5 step routine:

1. Wash - Apply an appropriate amount of the product you selected (enough to work up a good lather). Work the product by rubbing the scalp with your fingertips, but don't overdo it on the scrubbing action, as hair is weakest when it's wet... you're not looking to rub it away! Leave it on for a good two minutes and then make sure rinse well or you'll be looking at a flat, dull mop later on.

2. Massage - Massaging your scalp in between shampoo and conditioner will simply feel good, but it will also release essential natural oils from your sebaceous glands that help keep your hair healthy and moisturized.

3. Condition - Work the product in just as you did during the wash phase. Again leave it on about two minutes to they the conditioner take action and leave hair and scalp well moisturized. Rinse thoroughly.

4. Dry - Self-explanatory. Grab a towel and get to work

5. Style - Grab your favorite high quality styling product that does not dry out your hair or leave it feeling greasy. Always remember that you don't need to pile it on here, a small nickel sized amount should be sufficient for most shorter hairstyles.

A nicely coifed, shiny coat is sure to turn a few heads!

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