Having a bad hair day? No wonder. Hair, like skin, is the first to suffer from external factors like central heating, wind and cold weather. It’s also a good barometer of our health and happiness. When you’re feeling down or unwell you have to work that bit harder on your crowning glory. A few basic steps will help to avoid those days when you feel like wearing a paper bag over your head.

Basic care – it’s a snip

A good cut is essential. As well as looking good, well-cut hair is easier to look after. Have a cut every six to eight weeks, even if you’re growing your hair – regular trims will maintain the shape and stop it looking straggly.

How often you wash your hair depends upon your life style. If you take part in a lot of sports you’ll probably want to wash your locks after each session otherwise hair should be washed every three to five days, oily hair more frequently.
Before shampooing, brush hair gently to remove tangles and loose dirt. Doing this with your head bent towards the floor will give the scalp an extra boost, stimulating blood circulation.

Avoid very hot or cold water, lukewarm is best. Wet hair and, using the pads of your fingertips, massage shampoo into the scalp. Rinse hair thoroughly.

The shampoo will travel down the length of your hair.

After all traces of shampoo have been removed, blot dry with a towel and apply one tablespoonful of conditioner to long hair, a teaspoon for short hair.

Comb through hair, starting at root ends and rinse again. Wrap a warm towel around the head to absorb excess moisture. Do not pull or rub hair as it is at its weakest when wet. Allow air to dry naturally whenever you can. Use a hairdryer on nearly dry hair for best results.  

Afro hair 

Black curly hair is a very effective block against the damaging rays of the sun and keeping the head cool. However the structure means that the hair is often very dry as the curl allows the moisture to escape from the hair shaft. The way the curls loop into each other and get tangles means that the hair is also more brittle.

Although the hair is dry it does not follow that the scalp is also dry. The common mistake is to apply lots of oils to dry hair on a greasy scalp which serves only to block the follicles. Treat greasy skin before hair washing by separating the hair into sections and dabbing cotton wool soaked in orange flower water along the partings. This will lift excess oil and tone the skin. Shampoo gently and after rinsing thoroughly apply conditioner to the hair, not the scalp.

For dry skin, massage oil well into scalp and leave on for five to ten minutes before shampooing and apply a conditioner. Preparations containing jojoba are good for Afro hair, which also benefits from a weekly henna wax conditioning treatment.

Dry hair 

Hair that is naturally dry is generally coarse due to fewer follicles and fewer oil glands. Hair also becomes drier as we age and the production of sebum (oil) slows down. Hair may also become dry due to damage such as perms, too harsh or hot blow drying, harsh shampoos and lack of good grooming.

 
Symptoms

Dry hair tends to be coarse, brittle and easily damaged. The scalp may we tight and flaky. Curly hair is often dry (see Afro hair).
Actions

• Wash regularly – dry dirty hair is fragile and tends to snarl and split easily.
• Before washing massage the scalp with oil.
• Use conditioner after every wash.  
• Avoid heated rollers and hairdryers.  
• Use gel and scrunch dry to hair to protect it and make it shiny.

Greasy hair

This is common with fine hair because of more numerous follicles pumping out sebum. Hormonal imbalances especially during adolescence also speeds up oil production. Poor diet and stress can also contribute to this condition.
Symptoms

Lank, dull and stringy hair which doesn't hold a style well. Unless washed frequently, hair becomes smelly as it traps oil, sweat, dirt, dust and food odours.
Actions

• Wash frequently.
• Avoid rich, fatty foods.
• Try to expose the hair to at least half an hour of fresh air every day.  
• Use conditioner on the ends of long hair.