Tips on cleaning Hair

Cleaning your hair is one of the most important things that you should to maintain healthy and glowing hair. Untidy scalp can result in dandruff formation and hair loss. Therefore it is important that you keep your scalp and hair clean, in order to have healthy lustrous hair.

Here are a few suggestion how you can keep your hair clean.

1.             Shampoo – Shampooing is one effective method of keeping your scalp clean and dirt free. Clean scalp keeps it free from diseases and promotes healthy hair growth.

Cleansing agents called Surfactants are present in shampoos which is a molecule containing hydrophilic (water loving) head along with a lipophylic (attracting oil) tail. Application of shampoo along with water on your hair generates lather. During this the hydrophilic head is drawn towards the water and the lipophylic tail is drawn towards the oil and grease on your hair or scalp, which mostly contains skin and dirt particles. A push and pull effect is created on the oil and grime of the hair when the lathering action of the head and tail takes place. This helps in lifting the dirt and grease from your hair shaft. Hence if there is more oil and grime present on your hair the more shampoo will be required to remove the dirt and so if you apply shampoo the second time, it lathers more easily than the first application. During the rinse, the hydrophilic pulls along the water away from your hair and drains it away.

Therefore, shampooing your hair at proper intervals, depending upon your exposure to pollution, dirt and oil, is extremely essential to keep your scalp and hair clean.

However, selecting a shampoo which does not have a proper PH Balance and along with it a wrong method of shampooing can cause more harm than good to your hair.

Therefore, choose very wisely, the shampoo that suits the type of hair that you have.

The way you shampoo your hair contributes a great deal in causing damage to your hair. However, you cannot eliminate the process either. Therefore it is crucial for you to know the right procedure to shampoo and also understand why and how a wrong method of shampooing can cause damage to your hair, which would help you in reducing the negative effects.

Here are a few aspects that are worth understanding about the process and the product.

·               Constantly swap your shampoos amongst several natural shampoos that have perfect pH-balance. A majority of the chemical bearing shampoos that people often use are to a greater extent responsible for damage caused to your hair. For additional protection while shampooing, remember to choose a vitamin or herbal shampoo as they do not have the harmful effects on your hair like chemical laden shampoos that contain harsh detergent or chemicals.

·         Vigorously massaging or scrubbing your scalp with either fingers or scrubbers can cause abrasion to your hair while it is wet during shampooing, as that is the time when your hair is most susceptible to damage. Therefore it is advisable that while washing your rub the scalp of your head lightly using the ball of your fingers and in a circular motion.

·         Researches have proven that your hair is 3 times weaker while it is wet rather than when it is dry. This makes your hair more vulnerable to effects like breaking, stretching, and upward split ends. Wet tangled hair is the perfect time for hair breakage and hence it is essential that at this point of time, you treat your hair with utmost care. Application of leave on conditioner or hair serum before drying or combing wet hair is ideal to prevent hair loss.

To help you understand the method of shampooing better, here is a Step-by-Step instruction about how to wash your hair:

·         Rinse your hair thoroughly prior to application of shampoo on your hair.

·         Use the shampoo suitable to the length of your hair. Too much shampoo can cause harm to your hair. One tablespoon of shampoo is sufficient for long hair and lesser than its quantity for shorter hair.

·         Massage the shampoo on your scalp in order to remove the dead skin cells from your scalp. Dead skin cells are one of the primary reasons for dandruff.

·         Wash your hair properly and ensure that no shampoo is left on your hair.

·         Once the shampooing is done, apply conditioner. While applying conditioner, remember to avoid application of conditioner on the roots. Rather apply conditioner on the hair strands, especially towards the ends that needs extra care and more conditioned. Leave the conditioner on your hair for the duration as is mentioned on the product bottle. If it is leave on conditioner, do not rinse off, else wash off with little water.

·         Now squeeze out the water from your hair as much as you can.

·         Next, blot your hair using a towel in order to get rid of the extra water. Remember not to rub the towel. Rubbing your hair with the towel may cause the fibers to hold and thereby causing damage to your hair.

·         It is advisable to avoid making use of a blow dryer as much as you can. Let your hair dry naturally.

2. Cleansing Agents – There are a few effective cleansing products available from your kitchen that can help you clean your scalp and hair to keep it healthy and shining.

a.       Baking Soda – Mixing a tablespoon of baking soda along with your shampoo can give you a squeaky clean hair. Baking Soda removes all the chemicals and other junks like the build up from conditioners, or mousses or sprays deposited on your scalp along with water impurities as well.

b.      Lemon – Lemon is an effective cleanser. Using squeezed lemon juice with water to clean your hair can keep your scalp oil and grease free thus giving you naturally clean and lighter hair.

Clean hair is healthy hair that has enhanced growth, healthy and natural strength and shine. Therefore, cleaning your hair plays a major role for problem free and healthy scalp and hair.