Washing your hair may seem a trivial and obvious gesture, but there are some tricks that you must take into account that make the difference.
Hair is made up of 95% proteins called keratins while the rest consists of lipids, minerals, and pigments. Keratin is a filamentous protein rich in sulfur and insoluble in water that gives the hair elasticity and strength.
The lipids present in the hair derive exclusively from sebum, produced by the sebaceous glands contained in the scalp, while minerals, also called trace elements, are nutrients, present in small quantities within the body but essential for the well-being of skin and hair.
Melanin is the substance on which hair color depends and is produced by specialized cells called melanocytes, the same ones also present in the skin. With advancing years, melanocytes will tend to decrease the production of pigment with the inevitable arrival of white hair even if this phenomenon could also occur prematurely, caused in most cases by genetic or pathological dysfunctions.
What gives our hair the shape of the hair: smooth, wavy or curly is the angle of the hair bulb from which the hair originates and the amount of keratin present inside it.
The secret to shiny, thick and thick hair also lies in the hydration to be done even before shampooing. Thin hair tends to become heavy after applying the traditional mask, so it is useful to apply a treatment rich in micro-emulsions that penetrate easily and that do not weigh down even before shampooing.
Giving a healthy look to your hair means giving it all the nourishment and hydration it needs, as well as for your skin.
A hair tends to be ruined by oxidative stress over time, thermal stress and chemical treatments. “Hardened” hair with that unbearable “straw-like” effect clearly indicates that it requires hydration and nourishment.
Lack of hydration, excess sebum, dirt, hormonal imbalances and poor nutrition are some of the causes that can alter the balance of the scalp. Generally, you should know that even too frequent washing dehydrates the hair if it tends to dryness. Things are no better even if your hair is oily, because washing it too often could cause the so-called rebound effect that produces even more sebum.
The frequency of washing also depends on the type of product used that may not be suitable for your hair type , so the person responsible for a bad hair routine can also be a wrong shampoo, in fact some detergents for example wash too little, thus making the hair dirty in a short time.
Each hair has its own needs and, just like the skin, also for the well-being of the hair it is important to choose the appropriate treatments.
Fine hair will need redensifying products, dry hair nourishing and moisturizing treatments, while oily hair will need purifying shampoos and conditioners. In the presence of sensitive skin or to fight against dandruff or other problems, it is essential to pick products and hair treatments specially formulated for these conditions and in case it is always good to contact a specialist.
Colored hair, on the other hand, will need a specific shampoo for treated hair that will help keep it colored and shiny for longer.
Even for the hair, as well as for the skin, oils are excellent allies to nourish and strengthen them naturally. Olive oil for example is rich in nutrients, coconut oil is great for strengthening the hair, but so are flaxseed oil and wheat germ in particular exceptional for promoting regeneration.
Shampoos, on the other hand, must not dehydrate either the hair fiber or the scalp, an indispensable condition for maintaining the vigor of the hair and the massage must help to penetrate the strengthening active ingredients. Also in this case the rule applies that to strengthen the hair, it is necessary not only to massage the skin during washing (with suitable products), an adequate diet and possibly the use of supplements, such as those based on keratin, the same protein of which the hair is composed.
Preferably use sulfate-free products and silicones would be ideal, in fact many products are composed with chemicals harmful to the hair, such as sulfates or silicones that risk occluding the pores, from which sebum is generated, and drying the hair.
You should opt for natural products that contain fewer harmful ingredients.
There are also numerous natural ingredients that come to the aid of your hair. Here are some remedies:
All the beneficial and healing properties of these plants are very fascinating, which are only a small part of are present in many products. In fact, many of them are already part of the active ingredients present in shampoos and conditioners and have the function of softening and detangling the hair, protecting it from external aggression and solving any problems of dryness, excess sebum or dandruff.
Among the eco-bio active ingredients are, for example, vegetable ceramides that strengthen and restructure the hair. In a shampoo you can also find vegetable collagen, with moisturizing and emollient properties or proteins from soy, rice, wheat with fortifying and moisturizing action. Aloe vera gel or other plant extracts such as nettle are also used.
In eco-bio products, silicones are avoided, as they create an occlusive patina around the hair, while vegetable silicones, obtained for example from red algae, are preferred.
As for the fragrance, eco-bio products are scented with natural fragrances instead of synthesis, or with essential oils that, in addition to giving the fragrance, also give properties to the cosmetic and can be considered active ingredients.
Always remember that despite being natural, they can give allergies in predisposed subjects, as they contain allergens, so it is always a good rule to read the ingredients.