Hair health: hair care products and types of hair shampoos
There are a lot of hair care products in our time, and it is very important to understand this variety. There are dozens of types of shampoos alone, let alone various masks, lotions and tonics!
How to make hair healthy, and what products are needed for hair to maintain its attractive appearance, you will learn from the material offered below.
Hair structure
To be clear about what exactly our hair needs in order for it to remain healthy and beautiful, let's talk about the structure of the hair.
What is hair and what does it consist of? Hair, like nails, are appendages of the skin. We are used to talking about hair as some kind of homogeneous concept, but in fact, hair is very different: for example, the hair on the head is significantly different from the “fluff" that covers our arms and legs. Strictly speaking, there are three types of hair: long, bristle, and vellus.
Everyone has heard about the notorious structure of hair to one degree or another. At least, this is the most common phrase used in advertising for hair care products. But not everyone knows what hair consists of. However, it is necessary to have at least a minimal understanding of the structure of the hair: only then will you be able to understand the nature of the effect of shampoo or balm on the hair and choose the right hair care products.
The hair is made up of several parts. The part of the hair that is freely located above the skin is called the shaft, and the part hidden in the skin is called the root. The hair root at the base expands, forming a hair follicle. It is in the bulb that hair grows: the so-called hair papilla protrudes into it, leading to the root of the vessels necessary for nourishing the hair. The hair root is surrounded by a kind of sheath – the hair follicle, into which the duct of the sebaceous gland flows.
The hair shaft includes a core consisting of keratinized cells (it is also called the medulla, it is completely absent in vellus hair, which makes them so soft), a cortical substance, which is formed from cells containing pigment, and cuticles – the outer layer hair shaft, the cells of which are arranged relative to each other like tiles or scales: one cell partially overlaps another.
A few words about the pigment. Whatever the colors and shades of luxurious hair, any of their colors is inherently made up of only two main pigments: eumelanin and pheomelanin. Eumelanin gives hair a black-brown color, while pheomelanin gives it a yellow-red color. It is easy to guess that the hair of burning brunettes contains only eumelanin, and the red-haired women whom Titian loved to portray so much contain only pheomelanin. All other shades of hair are made up of eumelanin and pheomelanin, combined with each other in different proportions. Without pigment, hair becomes white. This happens when they turn gray or when they are bleached before dyeing.
Usually, we notice hair growth about once a month, when we state that it's time to go to the hairdresser to update the hairstyle. In fact, hair grows continuously. Every day, the hair lengthens by approximately 0.3-0.4 mm. Do you think that this is a negligible amount? However, it is about 1 cm per month (or even more), and about 11 cm per year. So if you want to grow your hair, after a year, with patience, you can already achieve good results and boast relatively long hair.
Reasons why hair falls out
There are at least three reasons why hair falls out: partly it depends on our heredity, partly on lifestyle and, finally, on caring for them. We have no power over our heredity: it is inherent in us at the genetic level. We hope you are already leading a healthy lifestyle, or, in any case, at least you are starting to reconsider your value system and while you are tuning in to activity and healthy eating, which is already good in itself: moving towards health in small steps is better than not taking any measures in this direction. It remains, therefore, the right hair care.
The process of hair loss is quite rightly considered a disease, but we can only talk about its presence depending on the amount of hair that has fallen out. Here's the thing: nature initially provided that the "waste" hair dies off. Strictly speaking, the hair in its growth and development goes through several stages. It is not our intention to bore you with technical terms, but we will nevertheless name a few.
In the anagen phase, the hair grows intensively, in the catagen phase, the hair follicle gradually shrinks, and in the telogen phase, the hair “rests”: it no longer grows and can either fall out or be removed during combing. This is quite normal: a new hair will begin to grow in its place. So four or five hairs left on the brush after combing is not at all a sign of any disease. You can lose up to fifty hairs per day, and this will be the norm. In addition, it is noted that in women after childbirth, for some time, hair falls out in greater quantities than usual. This is understandable: pregnancy and childbirth are a serious burden on the body. Don't worry, everything will be back to normal soon.
Healthy hair and care
Only then will you have healthy hair when it is properly and regularly cared for. Hair care products are needed to keep hair clean, healthy and, if necessary, make it feel better. Now there are so many types of hair shampoos alone that it is not surprising to get lost in this abundance, because among all the variety that you see on store shelves, you need to choose what suits your hair.
Not so long ago, only one hair care product was known – shampoo. But cosmetology is constantly being improved: now many drugs are being developed that have actions of different directions. These are balms, and conditioners, and masks, and conditioners, and lotions.
Types of Shampoos for Hair Health
The main hair care product is, of course, shampoo. It is he who removes excess sebum, dust particles from the hair. In order for the use of shampoo for hair health to be beneficial, you must be able to choose it correctly.
Shampoo for oily hair contains the largest amount of detergent. This is because the appearance of oily hair suffers from excess sebum secreted by the glands.
Shampoo for normal hair includes a smaller amount of washing components. This is due to the fact that normal hair needs regular cleansing, which does not require any nutrition or removal of excess sebum.
Shampoo for dry hair contains the least amount of detergent. Since dry hair corresponds to dry scalp, a moisturizer is additionally added to this shampoo, which prevents overdrying of the skin and hair.
These are the main types of hair shampoos – it is worth noting that some of them are suitable for several types of hair. For example, some shampoos contain an amount of detergent that can be suitable for both normal and oily hair, or normal and dry (or dry at the tips) hair.
Types of shampoos and their effect on hair
In addition to the main types, there are also varieties of shampoos, which are called special. These types of shampoos help treat problematic hair. These are, for example, anti-dandruff shampoos containing substances that slow down the division of skin cells and help remove its dead scales, as well as shampoos for colored hair.
It remains to mention the soft shampoo. Gone are the days when women had to wash their hair no more than once a week, fearing that with more frequent washing, the secretion of sebum would be more intense and the hair would begin to “grease” faster. Today it is quite possible to do without these torments. Mild shampoo is very weak. The content of detergents in it is optimal in order to cleanse the hair without irritating the scalp and without overdrying the hair. With this shampoo, you can wash your hair at least every day, you will not cause any harm to your hair. If you need a mild shampoo, carefully read the instructions for its use: it should indicate that the shampoo is suitable for frequent use.
The effect of shampoo on hair will be beneficial only if it is properly selected. It is best if you use other products in conjunction with shampoo.
The best hair care products
Additional funds will help to improve their appearance and make them more healthy and obedient for combing and styling. The best hair care products are balms, conditioners and rinses. They are often confused, especially since now many of these products combine several functions (balm conditioner, conditioner balm). However, there is a significant difference between them.
The balm penetrates under the hair scales and fills the voids between them. Due to this, the surface of each hair is leveled. In addition, the substances contained in the balm remain in the hair follicle, affecting hair growth and regulating sebum secretion.
A special kind of balm is a protective balm for daily use. This product can be applied to the hair without rinsing. Throughout the day, the hair will be protected from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays, leading to overdrying.
Rinse aid – a composition that covers each hair with a kind of protective film, due to which the hair is easy to comb and acquire more volume. In addition, the substances contained in the rinse tone the hair, promoting their growth and healing.
Conditioner is a hair care product that allows hair to dry faster without overdrying. In addition, many air conditioners contain substances that neutralize static electricity. This is what will allow you to comb your hair without fear that they will begin to reach for the comb, thereby making styling difficult.
Remember that after-wash products don't really heal your hair; they just help keep your hair healthy. It is necessary to apply them, since various unfavorable external factors (such as stress, dust in the air) adversely affect the condition of the hair.
If your hair is problematic, you should not place too high hopes on regular shampoos or after-wash products: you will have to choose special hair care preparations.
Hair care products
Serum is a wonderful hair care product. Applied to the hair, the serum envelops them along the entire length, restores their structure and enriches them with proteins. Under the influence of serum, hair quickly becomes smooth and shiny. It is enough to use the tool once or twice a week.
The lotion allows you to take care of your hair, giving it a healthy shine and strength. The substances contained in lotions help to care for the hair and protect it from harmful external influences.
It is necessary to mention one more hair care product, namely a mask. A hair mask is a composition containing a variety of useful substances in a concentrated form. With the help of a mask, you can take care of your hair, drying oily, moisturizing dry, toning and nourishing it. However, the hair mask should not be used too often. Remember that it gives a stronger effect than regular shampooing, and its frequent use "overloads" the hair, so you should not use it more than once or twice a week.
Each type of hair requires special care: what is ideal for dry hair is completely unsuitable for oily hair. Each type of hair needs its own shampoo. However, this is not enough: the hair will become healthy and shiny only if the care for them is comprehensive. Choose the shampoo, mask, balm, serum suitable for your hair type, and luxurious hair will become your main decoration.
Hair care products should be a single line. If possible, try to use the products of the same cosmetic company: this will minimize the risk of unwanted mixing of the chemical components of the products, because different companies tend to have slightly different approaches to hair problems.