With all of the information out there about the ‘proper’ way to care for your hair, it can be hard to know is ‘right’ way.
When it comes to washing your hair, some say washing it too much can be bad for it. While others swear washing it too little can be even worse.
To understand what our hair needs when it comes to washing, we first have to understand what type of hair we have and how to properly deal with it.
Let’s say you have fine, straight hair and you work out often. Washing your hair more often would be wise. Your hair’s natural oils move through fine, straight hair more quickly, meaning your hair becomes saturated quickly. Additionally, working out often adds sweat to the mix. So, in addition to having oil build up, you have sweat build up as well. All of this build up, also called sebum, clogs your scalp’s pores and can be bad for your follicles. If you have this type of hair, you should aim for washing every other day. This will allow you to keep your hair clean while also allowing a break from washing so your hair can benefit from its natural oils’ nutrients.
If you have thick, curly hair and don’t often sweat or use a lot of hair-care products, you can get away with washing your hair very little. Your hair’s oils take longer to work through the hair due to the texture. Without the added build up of sweat or products, your hair stays feeling fresher, longer. With this type of hair, it only needs to be washed every few days or once or twice a week.
Ultimately, in order to determine how often you should wash your hair, you should determine what type of hair you have and how long you can go in between washes before your hair starts to feel dirty.
Tag Archives: shampoo
Suffer from scalp psoriasis? Try coal tar.
Do you suffer from scalp psoriasis?
Scalp psoriasis is a type of psoriasis (skin condition causes by a buildup of dead skin cells) that effects the scalp. It is often concealed under the hair, but can cause a multitude of problems to those who suffer from the condition.
Scalp psoriasis is similar to traditional psoriasis in its symptoms: itchy, flaky scales, redness, irritation, and if left untreated, hair loss. Psoriasis scales can be quite unsightly and uncomfortable.
Thankfully, there are options for those afflicted by the condition.
Steroidal medication is a proven prescription method in treating psoriasis. It can be taken in the form of a pill or ointment. The downside to this treatment method is that in order to remain effective over time, the treatment must be stopped after a certain amount of time (usually 2 weeks) whether or not the symptoms have subsided.
Salicylic acid is another proven course of treatment, specifically for those who suffer from scalp psoriasis. It is often an added component to psoriasis shampoos, and works to counteract the psoriasis. Unfortunately, this treatment isn’t effective for everyone.
Coal tar is a less common but extremely effective treatment for psoriasis, especially when it occurs on the scalp. Coal tar can be added to ointments or shampoos and is found at pharmacies. The coal tar works to neutralize the psoriasis, preventing the buildup of skin cells that creates the itchy and annoying scales.
If you suffer from scalp psoriasis and haven’t had success with steroidal or salicylic acid treatments, give coal tar a try. It’s safe and effective, and may be the key to treating your psoriasis.
Should you use a 2-in-1 combination shampoo conditioner in your hair?
2-in-1 shampoos sound like a good deal. Not only do you get two hair products for the price of one, you also save time applying the products and save space in the shower.
But, many men and women wonder: does a 2-in-1 shampoo conditioner really work? How effective is it at both cleaning the hair and moisturizing it? By using a 2-in-1 shampoo conditioner are you compromising how clean and moisturized your hair is?
We’ve done the research for you and found answers to the questions you’ve been asking.
2-in-1 shampoos became popular in the 80’s. Hair care brands discovered that individuals were not conditioning their hair as often as they should, so they decided to included conditioning ingredients in their shampoos, hence the 2-in-1 concept.
The question of efficacy of a 2-in-1 shampoo soon followed the trend by chemists who didn’t think it was possible to properly condition the hair when it was combined with a cleaning agent (the cleaning agent would negate the efficacy of the conditioner).
It turns out, hair care manufacturers were able to use a particular conditioning ingredient that isn’t effected or negated by the cleaning agent. Making the 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner an effective product at both cleaning and moisturizing the hair.
But how effective is it? There’s only so much a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner can do. Since the shampoo ingredients and conditioner ingredients clash by nature (read: positive vs. negative ion charges) you’re never going to get as good of a conditioning in a 2-in-1 as you would with a separate shampoo and conditioner.
The take-home? If you have the time, money, and space, opt for the separate shampoo and conditioner. Your hair will be able to reap the full benefits of the shampoo and conditioner alike.
If time, money, space, or just convenience is priority, you’ll be fine with a 2-in-1. They get the job done efficiently enough for most.
