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Bring back the lustre
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Treat damaged hair immediately before you end up losing your precious locks
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THANK YOU for all your e-mails and queries, many of you have requested for tips to take care of damaged hair. So here are ways to treat damaged hair.
Caught up in our hectic schedules most of us neglect the hair-care routine and over a period of time end up with coarse, limp, scraggy and lustreless hair.
Damaged hair is usually brittle with split ends and can sometimes lead to hair loss. In case of damaged hair, the cuticle or outermost layer that lends lustre is usually affected. Scales in the cuticle get stripped in an uneven manner, giving hair a rough texture. Whenever we use chemical products such as perming lotions, hair dyes or straightening treatments they penetrate to the middle layer of the hair or the cortex. Hence, excessive use of these products damages the hair.
To find out if the cuticle of your is damaged, run a few strands between your thumb and forefinger, if you get a grainy or rough feel, it's cause for concern. Blow-drying hair often or using styling implements such as hot rollers, hair irons etc. also weaken the hair. Ensure your hair brush does not have nylon or wire bristles. Go in for one with natural bristles usually black in colour. Also avoid tying your hair tightly with rubber bands, especially at night, this pulls the hair at the scalp as well as damages the cuticle, and over a period of time can lead to hair loss. Excessive exposure to the sun, use of harsh shampoos (chemical based) and swimming in salty water cause dryness and make the hair look lifeless. Washing the hair frequently and vigorously can also damage the texture.
How to treat damaged hair
The first step is to find out the cause. As damaged hair is in a fragile condition, it needs to be treated gently.
Do not go in for chemical treatments like perming, straightening, bleaching or highlighting . Avoid colouring your hair often. If you need to cover the grey go in for ammonia-free colours. Use wide-toothed combs to remove knots. The best way to comb is to start at the ends and work upwards. Avoid pulling and stretching the hair.
Treatment of damaged hair depends on the hair type. If your hair has become very dry, application of oil will help. Apply warm pure coconut or pure olive oil to the hair and scalp. Do not massage vigorously, massage the scalp gently with fingertips in a circular motion. This helps to improve the blood circulation. Avoid rubbing your hair like a piece of cloth. This causes further damage. Keep the oil on overnight and wash it off next morning.
Use a mild shampoo, preferably herbal that suits your hair type. Shampoos containing herbal extracts of amla, brahmi, arnica, shikakai and reetha help to improve the health and condition of hair.
Oily hair needs to be washed more frequently than dry hair particularly in the warm-humid weather of Chennai. After washing the hair with cold water use a hair rinse. You could also use the all-purpose conditioning rinse about which I had mentioned earlier, but for those who missed it, here it is again.
Mix 1 tsp of castor oil, 1 tsp of amla or brahmi oil, 1 tsp malt vinegar, 1 tsp glycerine and 1 tsp of shampoo.
Castor oil gives body to the hair, herbal oil acts like a hair tonic, vinegar restores the acid mantle, glycerine moisturises and shampoo is the medium that blends the ingredients. Before washing the hair gently apply the mixture and leave it on for 20 minutes. Shampoo with clear water and feel the marvellous change in the hair texture.
It is important to dry your hair the right way to prevent further damage. Do not rub the hair with a towel, allow it to absorb excess water by wrapping it around your head like your grand mother did, remove the knots with a wide-toothed comb and allow the hair to dry naturally. Avoid using hair dryers when your hair is in a vulnerable condition. Regular conditioning is also essential especially when your hair is damaged. These days special clinical treatments are available to improve the condition of the hair. This procedure involves stimulation of the follicles using specialised tonics. These treatments along with regular home care can help reverse the damage and improve the appearance of your hair.
LILY MADHOK
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