Gorgeous Hair - Know Your Hair's Worst Enemies

by Elaine Woosey

Gorgeous hair is easy if you treat your hair well and keep it in good condition; when you know your hair's worst enemies having gorgeous hair will be easier than you think.

Hair by nature is both elastic and plastic: elastic because it can be stretched and pulled around without breaking; plastic because it can be molded temporarily or permanently into any shape you please.

Yet resilient as hair is, problems crop up time and time again. Home treatments for hair are often effective but any persistent or serious disorder should be treated by a specialist.

There are many things in every day life and your environment that are bad for your hair. Day in day out, whatever the climate, your hair is constantly exposed to heat, humidity, wind, cold, sun, water, central heating or air-conditioning.

Worst Enemy 1

Industrial pollution - particles of soot, grime and smog attach themselves to your hair, particularly if it is oily or sprayed with hairspray. This makes hair dirtier and it is thought that it can affect the color of tinted or bleached hair.

Worst Enemy 2

Sun - a little is good for your hair, but too much sun can be your hair's worst enemy. It dries hair out, often causing breakage and split ends. Sun lightens natural-colored hair, but seriously changes the shade of tinted or lightened hair, making it dull or brassy - it always brings out the reddish tints. If you are exposed to a lot of sun, try to keep your hair covered and have a deep conditioning treatment every three or four weeks. Hair often acclimatizes to sun so that women from the tropics find their hair deteriorates in a northern climate and of course the reverse is also true.

Worst Enemy 3

Heat - intensifies the natural condition of your hair. If your hair is dry it will become drier, if your hair is oily it will become even oilier. Heat usually makes hair dirtier due to your head perspiring and dirt clinging to the moisture. Normal balanced hair will need washing more frequently and deep conditioning once a month. Dry hair will require an instant conditioner after every wash and a deep one every three weeks. Oily hair requires more shampooing than usual, and a long conditioning treatment every three or four weeks.

Worst Enemy 4

Humidity - adversely affects all hair. Curly hair becomes curlier, straight hair becomes straighter and even balanced hair will lose its shape more quickly. Choose simple styles and a stronger styling product. A deep conditioner for all types of hair is a great help.

Worst Enemy 5

Water - rainwater is harmless - unless in polluted areas - but sea and swimming pool water can harm your hair. The chlorine in pools dries and bleaches normal and tinted hair; it is always better to wear a cap, and if you can't or don't want to, wash your hair immediately after coming out of the water, adding an instant conditioner if possible. Sea water dries and bleaches hair, often because your hair is also exposed to the sun at the same time, and the salt content in sea water accelerates both the drying and the bleaching processes. Always rinse your hair in fresh water after swimming in the sea; again add an instant conditioner, especially if your hair is naturally dry or chemically altered.

Gorgeous hair that bounces and shines; has a look of vitality and control is the result of a healthy body working together with a program of correct hair care. Treat your hair well and you will find it easy to have gorgeous hair.