Choosing the Best Products for your Hair

It can sometimes be daunting to choose suitable products for your hair. With more and more products being readily available on retail shelves the task of choosing a simple shampoo can become overwhelming. In order to help you navigate the retail aisles  I have put together a few guidelines to follow when choosing products for your hair.



Dry and Brittle
When hair is dry it simply means your hair needs WATER. Oil is not a moisturizer.

1. Moisturizing products main ingredient must be water 
2.  Softening agents to help the water penetrate the hair shaft
3.  Sealant such as oils or silcones that will seal the moisture in
4.  Make sure that you are drinking enough water, hair skin and nails are also a reflection of what is going internally. So if your are dehydrated your hair will be dry. 

Excessive Shedding and Breakage

It is normal for your hair to shed! The hair cycle is between 3-5 years from growth to shedding, it is normal for your hair to shed between 50 - 100 strands a day. If your hair is excessively shedding it could be because of the following:

1.  Illness or change of medication 
2.  Change of season 
3.  Chemical or mechanical damage 
4.  Post protective Styling 

For products that help alleviate excessive shedding choose products that will help fortify your hair. Your products should contain hydrolyzed keratin or amino acids, hair is made of Keratin so adding products that contain protein will help to strengthen hair. To minimize breakage due to mechanical damage(braiding, weaving and blow drying) stop over-manipulating your hair. Give your hair a break.

Color and Chemically Treated
If you have chemically altered your hair with Color, Relaxer or a Keratin you have to use the correct after care products that will help maintain the chemical service.

1.  All color fades even professional color. I strongly advise using color care products that will help maintain your color and help it last longer.
2.  If you have altered the structure of your hair with a Relaxer or Keratin such as as Hair Botox you need to use the aftercare products associated with that chemical process.
3.  For relaxers you need products that contain hydrolyzed keratin to strengthen the hair structure, for Keratin treatments such as Botox you need products that do not contain salt or sodium as these strip the effects of the keratin treatment.

Dry Itchy and Flaking Scalp 

If you do not have a skin condition that requires you to put oil or grease on your scalp stop putting things on your scalp.  This is the major reason for Itchy and flaking scalps especially on ethnic hair. If it is a recent development check your new products they might be irritating your scalp and start a process of elimination to find the culprit. Check that you do not have allergies to certain ingredients. For chronic dry scalp, itching and flaking use products that contain ingredients such as salicylic acid, peppermint or aloe. My advice for persistent scalp issues is to see a dermatologist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Oily and Greasy Scalp
Wash your hair! Your scalp produces sebum which is an oil that naturally moisturizes your hair.  When you find your scalp oily or greasy you need to wash your hair unless you have any underlying skin conditions. Make sure your are clarifying your hair at least once a month, using a shampoo that contains sulfates as these will help to de-clog and "deep clean" your hair and scalp of product build-up. Avoid co-washing your hair too often and minimize the use of heavy products too close to your scalp. Remember the conditioner is for your hair and you should not be putting it on your scalp.

I hope these tips on buying products are helpful and will cause less anxiety the next time you decide to venture into the aisles and purchase hair products. Let me know in the comments below!


XXX

Isabel