by Conny Manero

Created on: June 18, 2010

Just like we have to take care of our face and body, so do we have to take care of our hair.  Neglecting our hair may cause it to become unhealthy, grow at a slower rate and become brittle.  Fortunately, proper hair care does not take long and requires only a minimum of effort.

A good way to keep hair healthy is by washing it regularly.  There is no need to wash hair every day, but every other day or at least twice a week is recommended.  You want to prevent dirt and oil build up.

To clean your hair, an organic shampoo and conditioner is best, but if you have to buy non-organic products steer clear from cheap commercial shampoos.  All these shampoos do is leave your hair with a wax build-up.

Avoid hair care products such as mousses and gels containing alcohol.  The alcohol will dry out your hair and irritate your scalp.  To feed your hair and make it more manageable it is far better to use a tiny amount of olive oil.

Eating right is a big part of proper hair care.  Like the rest of your body, hair needs vitamins and minerals, especially protein and zinc.  Without these two components you may experience hair loss.  Avoid junk food and alcohol.  Peas, olives and almonds on the other hand are very good for you hair.

You may also want to avoid swimming without a cap to cover your hair.  The water in swimming pools contains chlorine, which does a lot of damage to hair.  After swimming, even with a cap, always shower and rinse the chlorine out of your hair.

If your hair is damaged, give it a bit of a break and avoid blow drying it.  If you have to blow dry, use a low setting.
Avoid heat rollers, curling irons and flatirons, they cause devastation to your hair.

Heat from the sun doesn’t do your hair any good either, so always wear a hat when in the sun for extended periods of time.  Wear a hat in winter to protect your hair from the freezing temperature or ice wind.

Massage your hair regularly with the tips of your fingers, applying light pressure.  Never scratch your head though.

Get your hair trimmed regularly.  Trimmed hair not only makes your hair look healthier but it also promotes its good health.  Split ends are unattractive and can cause hair to grow weak and break.

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