Taking care of hair

(Note: I have compiled the information in this post to participate in a contest . At the time of submitting the post, I noticed that the contest was already closed. Even if I had participated in the contest, the chances for me to win is very remote that many participants have already submitted wonderful postings (poems,pictures,write ups etc). However , I wish the share the information gathered by me with the readers.)


Hair care is very important because it is the crown of the human body. I give below the information of hair care gathered from other sites and also my own experience about Dandruff care.


Basic Information about Hair:

In general, there are five different types of hair that will determine what hairstyles you can choose and consequently, your beauty.


Fine Hair

About 15% of all women have fine hair. Fine hair has a diameter of 50 microns. Fine hair reflects light the best. When it is healthy, fine hair will often have a natural shine. Blondes have fine hair most often, since blonde hair is the thinnest.

Fine hair is: soft, shine, limp, flyaway, lifeless and flat.

Fine hair is much easier to damage than medium or coarse hair. The biggest problem with fine hair is to gain volume and get hair to hold a style.

To gain volume color and heat style your hair and it will hold a style easier. Use volumizing products and styling gels and mousses. Use a gentle shampoo.

It is also important to use a lightweight conditioner! Put conditioners onto the lengths and ends of your hair rather than the roots.

A short blunt cut will create the illusion of more hair. Avoid layers and long hair.

The general rule for fine hair is that the shorter it is, the lighter it is and therefore the less limp and flat it is.

Streaks are a good idea for fine hair, because they add volume to the hair.


Medium Hair Type

Most people have medium hair. Medium hair is not too thick, not too thin, and has a diameter between 60-90 microns.

Medium hair has lots of body and usually holds either a blow-dry shape or any type of hairstyle very well. It has the most styling flexibility of the three hair types.

Medium hair is:

• Softer than coarse hair.

• More voluminous than fine hair.

• More manageable than fine hair.

• Medium hair is regularly considered as normal hair.


Coarse Hair Type

Coarse hair has a diameter of 100 microns and above.

Coarse hair is:

• Rough

• Wiry

• Heavy

• Wild

• Strong

Coarse hair is often dry. Coarse hair needs conditioning to keep it under control.

Wear it long so the weight of the hair drags it down. Get a layered cut. Stay away from a blunt cut.


Thick and Thin Hair Type

Whether your hair is thin or thick depends on the number of hairs on your head not on the thickness of each hair strand.

The average head has between 100,000 and 150,000 hairs, and normal daily fall-out is 50-100 hairs.

People with thick hair have about 150,000 strands on their heads.

People with thin hair have about 90,000 strands on their heads.

Thick hair will look too bushy if cut into a short style. Layer thick your hair since layering adds mobility.

If you hair is thin, short haircuts look best. Adding highlights and low lights give the illusion of thickness.

Read more: http://www.hair-styles-secrets-revealed.com/hair%20type.htm#ixzz1dZFttt8I


How to take care of hair?


Good hair care contains simple steps like brushing and combing, shampooing and drying, treating baldness, hair conditioning, dandruff, hair dyes, split ends and hair loss treatment and some other methods. We can start hair care from home. With right care and interest you can bring back its vitality and glossy shine.

. Keep your head clean. Don't neglect the hygiene of head.

• Brush your hair before shampooing to eliminate the tangles.
• Brushing is less damaging than combing but a long brushing can also damage the hair.
• Back combing is also harmful for the hair. It causes knotting which is not easy to untangle. 
• Always use a good comb if you feel more comfortable in combing. A good comb can be categorized as a comb which have rounded and soft teeth.
• Nylon brushes with pointed ends also break the hair. 
• If you are suffering from the Dandruff-the most common problem, immediately get rid of it by applying good and suitable hair oils.

• Use good shampoos and conditions for healthy looking hairs. Nutritious shampoos are the best choice because hairlessness is caused due to insufficient nutrition.

Source:http://forumhealthcare.org/what-s-the-importance-of-hair-care-t28002.html

Dandruff control for hair care :


Dandruff is the worst enemy of hair care. If sufficient precautions are taken we can avoid dandruff problem. 

Causes


Dandruff is thought to be caused by a fungus called malassezia, a fat-eating fungus, which lives on the scalp of most healthy adults. While it does not cause problems for most people, malassezia can sometimes grow out of control and begin feeding on the oil on your scalp. The result is increased cell turnover and a large number of dead skin cells. These cells, combined with dirt and oil from your hair and scalp, form flaky white scales.

Symptoms

The common symptoms of dandruff include itching and white, oily flakes. That said, there are several conditions, including psoriasis, dry skin, seborrheic dermatitis, or contact dermatitis, which present similar symptoms. Before beginning treatment for dandruff, it is important to consult your dermatologist to make sure you're treating the right condition.

Treatment
While controllable, dandruff can be persistent and requires consistent treatment. There are several types of over-the-counter shampoos available for treating dandruff. If you try one and it doesn't have the desired effect, move on to the next. Following are four common types of dandruff shampoos:

·         Zinc pyrithione shampoos, such as  Head & Shoulders, contain an antibacterial and antifungal agent (zinc pyrithione) which has been shown to fight the fungus that causes dandruff.

·         Selenium sulfide shampoos, such as Selsun Blue, can prevent cell turnover and may help control the malassezia fungus. These types of shampoos may discolor blond or gray hair and can cause significant discoloration in chemically treated hair, so follow the directions carefully and rinse well.

·         Ketoconazole shampoo, like Nizoral, contains a broad antifungal agent.

·         Tar-based shampoos, such as Neutrogena T/Gel, contain coal tar, which slows cell turnover and reduces the formation of dandruff's scaly flakes.

Use of these shampoos above is recommended daily until dandruff is controlled. Once the dandruff is under control, use dandruff shampoo two or three times a week, alternating with a good moisturizing shampoo. If the dandruff shampoo loses its effectiveness, switch to another type of shampoo or try alternating between types. Be sure to follow directions carefully. Should over the counter treatments fail, see your dermatologist. Stronger treatments are available by prescription.

In addition to using the proper shampoo, other steps can be taken to control dandruff, including: eating right, exfoliating the scalp with a facial scrub , managing stress, and reducing the amount of styling products used. Consistently following a dandruff control routine should keep your hair and scalp looking healthy and flake free.


Source:http://menshair.about.com/od/scalpcaretips/a/dandruff.htm


My own experience of dandruff control:


I used to have a lot of dandruff which used to cause a lot of irritation ion the hair. After seeing an advertisement of Aswini Hair Oil, I started using it and after some days I had great relief from dandruff problem. 

I also take the following precautions to avoid dandruff:

• Always using a clean comb. Never use a comb used by others.
• Don't us the pillows used by others since we can easily get the dandruff through it.