sithembile
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I found this article, some of you might find it interesting:
Eight hair myths that stand between you and great hair
Author: Pamela Edwards
Truth be told, some of that old-school hair advice you've heard from your sisterfriends and relatives is, well, just plain incorrect. For a professional reality check, we talked to some leading hair-care specialists who demystified the myths for us. Heeding their advice could make all the difference between tired-looking tresses and fabulous, healthy hair.
1 "Oiling your scalp is an absolute necessity." Your scalp needs to breathe to function properly, so it's best not to clog hair follicles with heavy agents like petroleum jelly, mineral oil or lanolin. "In most cases, your sebaceous glands alone produce enough oil for the scalp," says veteran stylist and educator Olive Benson of Olive's Beauty Salon in Boston, who rarely oils her clients' scalp. She adds that a light hairdressing is fine if your scalp is particularly dry. In many cases, Benson says, a dry or flaky scalp is the result of using the wrong products. For example, a gel or shampoo with a high alcohol content can dry out the scalp, and a too-heavy conditioner may leave a flaky residue. "And the last thing you want to do is add oil on top of residue," says Benson. She advises holding off on the oil until you check what you are using on your hair: "We've ended so many cases of dry, flaky scalp by simply altering products."
2 "Your hair will grow if your stylist has `growing hands.'" There is no magic when it comes to hair growth. It's a matter of biology. Depending on your hair's natural growth cycle, it may grow anywhere from a quarter of an inch to half an inch per month. So abandon the notion of "growing hands." Most likely, a stylist's ability to keep hair on your head is based on his or her understanding of your hair type, texture and hair-care needs.
3 "If you want your hair to grow long, don't cut it." "If you don't keep the ends trimmed--we're talking a quarter of an inch snipped every six to eight weeks--strands will unravel up the hair shaft, leaving thinner, more fragile tresses that will eventually break," says stylist Diana Harewood of the Expectations and Innovations Salon in New York City. Regular trimming keeps hair strong and, perhaps, long. As Dallas trichologist Rodney Barnett reminds us, "Not everyone's hair will grow to the waist. As with height, there's a genetic, predetermined limit to how long hair will grow."
4 "With locks or braids, you don't have to wash your hair every week." Braids and locks may require less styling, but all heads (especially scalps!) need cleaning. The environment (pollen, pollution) dirties the hair and scalp, and so does residue from hair products, perspiration and bacteria. "The only way to remove all this debris is to shampoo," says Pat Grant-Williams of Colomer USA, a leading hair-care manufacturer. She adds, "Don't forget to keep the hair moisturized and conditioned, especially natural styles. Our hair usually needs extra lubrication to keep it from breaking."
5 "You can never overcondition your hair." Too much of a good thing can be damaging, insists educator and trichologist Reginald Mitchell of Namaste Laboratories. "Too much protein will harden the hair like a twig, causing easy breakage, and too much of a moisturizing conditioner will cause the hair to go limp," explains Mitchell. Your best bet: Have a trusted professional assess what you should use, when and how often.
6 "You should choose your relaxer strength based on the style you want." The relaxer strength should be based on hair type (the diameter of the individual strand--fine, medium or coarse) and texture (the wave or curl pattern). Generally speaking, fine and color-treated hair require mild relaxers, while coarser hair requires stronger formulations. "We often confuse coarse hair with kinky hair," says trichologist Rodney Barnett. "Kinky hair is usually quite fine and therefore requires milder straightening agents." New York City stylist Harewood agrees, "Kinky hair responds to chemicals faster than a wavy head of hair." The bottom line: Don't make any assumptions; let a professional determine which strength is best for you.
7 "Chemical agents damage hair." It is possible to have healthy relaxed or colored hair, as long as you use the right products correctly and follow the proper hair-care regimen. Perfecting the balance of protein conditioners (which strengthen) and moisturizing conditioners (which hydrate) you use is crucial, especially if you're using too many detergentlike products or overdoing it with the blow-dryers, hot combs and curling irons.
8 "Natural hair doesn't need any maintenance." "There is no such thing as zero-maintenance Black hair," says stylist Olive Benson. Whether you're sporting a quarter-inch 'fro or wearing locks, you still have to take care of the scalp and lubricate the hair so it doesn't break. "Our hair requires maintenance, whether processed or natural," says trichologist and educator Reginald Mitchell. "In its most natural form, it is porous and tends to be dry, so you have to treat it with care."
Fashion and beauty writer Pamela Edwards talks to experts in "Eight Myths That Stand Between You and Great Hair" "Don't let hearsay get in the way of healthy hair," she says.
http://www.hairstyles-and-hair.com/hairstyles_and_hair/hair_articles/Hair_art_eight_tip.htm
Eight hair myths that stand between you and great hair
Author: Pamela Edwards
Truth be told, some of that old-school hair advice you've heard from your sisterfriends and relatives is, well, just plain incorrect. For a professional reality check, we talked to some leading hair-care specialists who demystified the myths for us. Heeding their advice could make all the difference between tired-looking tresses and fabulous, healthy hair.
1 "Oiling your scalp is an absolute necessity." Your scalp needs to breathe to function properly, so it's best not to clog hair follicles with heavy agents like petroleum jelly, mineral oil or lanolin. "In most cases, your sebaceous glands alone produce enough oil for the scalp," says veteran stylist and educator Olive Benson of Olive's Beauty Salon in Boston, who rarely oils her clients' scalp. She adds that a light hairdressing is fine if your scalp is particularly dry. In many cases, Benson says, a dry or flaky scalp is the result of using the wrong products. For example, a gel or shampoo with a high alcohol content can dry out the scalp, and a too-heavy conditioner may leave a flaky residue. "And the last thing you want to do is add oil on top of residue," says Benson. She advises holding off on the oil until you check what you are using on your hair: "We've ended so many cases of dry, flaky scalp by simply altering products."
2 "Your hair will grow if your stylist has `growing hands.'" There is no magic when it comes to hair growth. It's a matter of biology. Depending on your hair's natural growth cycle, it may grow anywhere from a quarter of an inch to half an inch per month. So abandon the notion of "growing hands." Most likely, a stylist's ability to keep hair on your head is based on his or her understanding of your hair type, texture and hair-care needs.
3 "If you want your hair to grow long, don't cut it." "If you don't keep the ends trimmed--we're talking a quarter of an inch snipped every six to eight weeks--strands will unravel up the hair shaft, leaving thinner, more fragile tresses that will eventually break," says stylist Diana Harewood of the Expectations and Innovations Salon in New York City. Regular trimming keeps hair strong and, perhaps, long. As Dallas trichologist Rodney Barnett reminds us, "Not everyone's hair will grow to the waist. As with height, there's a genetic, predetermined limit to how long hair will grow."
4 "With locks or braids, you don't have to wash your hair every week." Braids and locks may require less styling, but all heads (especially scalps!) need cleaning. The environment (pollen, pollution) dirties the hair and scalp, and so does residue from hair products, perspiration and bacteria. "The only way to remove all this debris is to shampoo," says Pat Grant-Williams of Colomer USA, a leading hair-care manufacturer. She adds, "Don't forget to keep the hair moisturized and conditioned, especially natural styles. Our hair usually needs extra lubrication to keep it from breaking."
5 "You can never overcondition your hair." Too much of a good thing can be damaging, insists educator and trichologist Reginald Mitchell of Namaste Laboratories. "Too much protein will harden the hair like a twig, causing easy breakage, and too much of a moisturizing conditioner will cause the hair to go limp," explains Mitchell. Your best bet: Have a trusted professional assess what you should use, when and how often.
6 "You should choose your relaxer strength based on the style you want." The relaxer strength should be based on hair type (the diameter of the individual strand--fine, medium or coarse) and texture (the wave or curl pattern). Generally speaking, fine and color-treated hair require mild relaxers, while coarser hair requires stronger formulations. "We often confuse coarse hair with kinky hair," says trichologist Rodney Barnett. "Kinky hair is usually quite fine and therefore requires milder straightening agents." New York City stylist Harewood agrees, "Kinky hair responds to chemicals faster than a wavy head of hair." The bottom line: Don't make any assumptions; let a professional determine which strength is best for you.
7 "Chemical agents damage hair." It is possible to have healthy relaxed or colored hair, as long as you use the right products correctly and follow the proper hair-care regimen. Perfecting the balance of protein conditioners (which strengthen) and moisturizing conditioners (which hydrate) you use is crucial, especially if you're using too many detergentlike products or overdoing it with the blow-dryers, hot combs and curling irons.
8 "Natural hair doesn't need any maintenance." "There is no such thing as zero-maintenance Black hair," says stylist Olive Benson. Whether you're sporting a quarter-inch 'fro or wearing locks, you still have to take care of the scalp and lubricate the hair so it doesn't break. "Our hair requires maintenance, whether processed or natural," says trichologist and educator Reginald Mitchell. "In its most natural form, it is porous and tends to be dry, so you have to treat it with care."
Fashion and beauty writer Pamela Edwards talks to experts in "Eight Myths That Stand Between You and Great Hair" "Don't let hearsay get in the way of healthy hair," she says.
http://www.hairstyles-and-hair.com/hairstyles_and_hair/hair_articles/Hair_art_eight_tip.htm
