Summer Hair Care Guide

During the summer we feel more compelled to let loose, enjoy the sun, take a deep dive into the ocean. By all means, you should continue doing these activities, but not at the expense of your hair’s health! Don’t worry, you don’t have to compromise, we have created the perfect summer hair care guide so your beautiful locks maintain their shine and health during the warmest (and most damaging!) months of the year.

Cover it

Whenever possible use a cute hat, cap or scarf to cover your hair when you know you are going to be exposed to the sun for long periods of time. It will protect you from the sun’s damaging UV rays, it will also help you against dryness. You should be especially mindful of this if your hair is color-treated or loses moisture easily.

Don’t wash it too much

We know that during the summer heat that sounds awful, since after a long day enjoying the pool or tanning under the sun all you want to do is take a shower and take the day off. But excessive washing can do two things: one, take away the monster of your hair, leaving it dry and frail, or two, stripping your scalp of its natural oils, which will cause additional oil production, causing you to feel like you have greasy hair and need to wash it more often. It’s a vicious cycle, don’t fall for it. Try using dry shampoo, baby powder or rinse it with water and no shampoo to extend the washing period a little longer.

Put down the heat

Stop going for your flat iron or curling iron. Also, try to give your blow-dryer a rest. These tools are always damaging to your hair, but they are especially so during the summer when your hair is already receiving heat every day from the sun. Try to let it dry naturally and then style it with a little bit of argan or coconut oil.

Be gentle with your hair

Try not to put your hair in very tight hairstyles, since the pull and tear will probably cause damage. Nice and loose styles are the best during the summer, and they will also give you that natural, chic, “just out of bed” look. Try a messy bun, beach waves, a soft braid with a hat or a loose ponytail. Also, this might not be the best time to bleach it or color treat it too much.

Moisturize, moisturize and moisturize

A nice recipe from TreeHugger.com is a mix of water, aloe vera juice, and avocado oil, which you can keep on hand to spritz whenever a bit of moisture and control is needed. Coconut oil, argan oil, shea butter are also great options for controlling and detangling your hair after taking a shower, and you should definitely try to use a hair mask at least once a week for deep conditioning.

6 Winter Hair Care Tips You Should Definitely Follow

Winter has already set in! While it is time to thank the stars for putting an end to all the sun damage that your hair was being put through, it is also time to start planning a haircare routine that is fit for winter. Summer might be gone, taking its troubles with it, but winter means a whole new set of problems that you need to deal with.

While the season is perfect to get comfortable with a cup of hot cocoa, you can’t ignore the fact that the dry and dreary weather can wreak havoc on your hair if the right precautions aren’t taken. Your hair starts to find it harder to retain moisture, making it brittle and prone to breaking and damage, not to mention the frizz and static that often comes with your winter wardrobe. However, these are all problems that can be avoided with ease as long as you have the right hair care routine for winter.

Hair care Tips For Winter

1. Fight The Flakes

 

 

Your scalp is drier and itchier than ever during the winter months because of the lack of moisture in the air. This leads to issues like dandruff and aggravated scalp irritation, which can lead to hair fall. What most people don’t realize is that the dandruff problem can be super manageable with the right care. All you will need is a couple of tablespoons of olive or coconut oil and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Heat the oil for a couple of seconds until it is warm and then mix it with the lemon juice. Massage the oil into your scalp and leave it in for 20-30 minutes. Rinse it out with shampoo and condition.

2. Control Frizz

One of the most annoying things about winter is all of the static. The hoodies, sweater, scarves, gloves, and beanies all seem to gang up on your hair, making it a static, frizzy mess. To tackle this, use a vented hair brush that has a combination of plastic and boar bristles while combing your hair. Wash your hair only with lukewarm water, not hot water, as the latter will strip away the natural oils that protect and nourish your hair. Apply a leave-in conditioner to keep your hair smooth.

3. Shine And Bounce

The lack of moisture in winter not only dries out your scalp and makes your hair frizzy, but also leaves your hair looking dull and lifeless. Brush or comb out your hair with a wide-toothed wooden comb to remove tangles and apply raw honey to the length of your hair from the roots to the tips. Cover up your hair with a shower cap or towel and leave it on for about 30 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water. Honey is a humectant that seals in the moisture and helps restore shine and bounce to dull and damaged hair.

4. Olive Oil For Maintaining Hair Health

Warm up two teaspoons of olive oil and massage it slowly on your scalp. This slow massaging helps the oil penetrate deep into the roots. This will help to keep your scalp moisturized and improve blood circulation, ensuring that your follicles get enough nourishment. It will also prevent hair fall. Optionally, you can use a few tablespoons of the oil to coat the entire length of your hair as a deep conditioning treatment.

5. Drying Your Hair: Do It Right

Drying your hair out completely can be a pain, especially if you have long hair. But you should never, I repeat, never put your hair up while it is still damp. Damn hair and scalps attract a lot of problems like dandruff, breakage, and split ends. You must also never rub your hair dry with a towel as the friction will cause damage. The best way to dry your hair would be to gently squeeze the excess moisture out with a towel and then use a blow dryer on the cool setting. If you are using hot air to speed things up, ensure that you are holding the dryer at least 15 centimeters away from your hair.

6. Conditioning: Do It Right

Your hair needs all the moisture it can get during winter, and this makes conditioning a vital part of your hair care routine. Using hair oils and deep conditioning packs at least once a week becomes vital for maintaining the health of your hair. It is important that you end every wash with a conditioner. Shampoo your hair and then rinse it thoroughly. Once all the lather has been rinsed out, start applying the conditioner from the mid-lengths to the ends of your hair. Concentrate on the ends as they are the oldest and most damaged parts of your hair. Leave the conditioner in for a few minutes and then rinse it out with cool or lukewarm water. It is advised to end a wash with cool water as this will seal in the moisture and leave your hair feeling smooth and looking lustrous.
Make these tips a part of your hair care routine and your hair won’t even notice that winter is here. A little extra care can go a long way when it comes to ensuring hair health. Try out these tips and tell us about your experience in the comments section below.

Guide for Keratin Treatment

Long, shiny, straight and manageable hair are every girl’s dream. Daily exposure to pollution, hair products with harmful chemicals and blow drying, all tend to damage the natural keratin of hair. Once the keratin from your hair is depleted, your hair cortex is exposed to more damage. From decades oiling and conditioning are considered the most reliable hair treatment for frizz-free and luscious hair. Not too long, around a decade ago, the world of beauty and glamor was introduced to an all new term i.e. ‘keratin hair treatment’. It has become so common today that any woman can easily have keratin treatment at home.

What is Keratin?

Keratin is a natural protein that actually is a part of our hair (nails and skin). But unsuitable atmospheric conditions and chemical based hair products destroy it. Keratin is essential for the inner (cortex) part of hair as well as for the outer (cuticle) one.

What is Keratin Treatment?

Keratin therapy itself is a chemical-based hair treatment to regain that lost elasticity and health of your hair. In other words, adding the lost keratin back in your hair, using an artificial method is called keratin treatment. It splendidly works to enliven your hair by ending all the roughness and unwanted curls. It is the best way to get rid of the daily fatigue of getting your hair straight. Once you opt for it, you have your hair straight, shiny and tangle free for about 3 to 4 months’ maximum. Though it’s not a permanent solution, but it’s the best alternative for a hair straightener.


Note: Keratin has chemicals in it. So, it would not be so simple to apply it. There are some conditions where you should not apply it without consulting some expert. Such conditions include different type of allergies and sensitive hair scalp.

How Does Keratin Treatment Work?

It’s a process that tends to bind keratin to hair. A hot flat iron is used for sealing process. The heat from ironing makes the mixture work for straightening the hair. There are other chemicals too along with keratin. Without those chemicals, keratin cannot function properly. This whole process takes about 90 minutes or so. If you have longer hair, it may take a bit longer. Once you have been through the sealing process, don’t wash your hair for about three to four days. As this whole process of locking the keratin takes time.


Note: To get the best results, make sure, the shampoo you are using does not have sodium sulfate as an ingredient.

11 Things You Should Know About Eyebrow Threading

Eyebrows’ main function is to prevent dirt and dust particles from going inside the eyelids, but in today’s beauty-conscious world, we have become used to modifying them for aesthetic purposes as well. So, stay tuned to know some interesting facts about threading eyebrows.

 

1. It’s not painful, but bearable:

Depending on how experienced and skilled your practitioner is, you may feel a little to no discomfort during the procedure. Apart from that, the pain experienced depends on each individual’s personal capacity. If you are generally more sensitive to pain, it is advised that you take a painkiller one hour before the appointment or ask your practitioner for a numbing cream.

 

2. You will be asked to co-operate:

During the procedure, you will be asked to co-operate by holding your skin tight from different angles, various times. If you are new to threading, they will instruct you on how to pull your eyelids in different directions. Also, it hurts way less when you co-operate by pulling your skin tight.

3. You may want to avoid wearing too much makeup:

Avoid wearing thick foundation or heavy eye makeup when your threading appointment is due because makeup clogs pores and makes the whole procedure a lot more painful. Also, there is an increased risk of getting a nasty infection due to tugging and pulling of hair follicles when you are wearing too much makeup.

4. There can be small bumps afterward:

You may experience little red bumps on your brow bone and above your brows, afterward. Fret not! They are there due to tugging and pulling of hairs, but they will disappear in two-three hours. In case they do not, you can apply some ice on the region to fasten the recovery process. However, don’t try to squeeze the bumps mistaking them to be pimples, it may lead to infections.

 

5. You need to talk about your preferences:

Let them know beforehand how you want your end look to be. Whether you prefer thick and dense, or thin and sharp brows, or something else. Talking about your preferences will make it clear to your consultant about how you want your brows to look afterward and they would do them according to your needs, instead of doing what they think will look good on you.

 

6. Massaging the area will help:

Massaging the area with a bit of Grapeseed oil or other lighter density oils will ease the pain and bumps, that might have appeared on your face afterward.

 

7. It’s better than waxing for sensitive skin:

If you have an exceptionally sensitive skin which revolts to any kind of pain, then threading will be your best bet in place of waxing, as it is much gentler on your skin. Unlike waxing, it removes only the hair follicles and not your skin layer while giving you the eyebrows you dream of.

 

8. It’s pretty quick and not time-consuming:

You do not need more than 10-15 minutes to get your brows shaped and trimmed, so you can easily get them done on the go. Take out some off 10-15 minutes from your work schedule or while you run errands and you will have hassle-free eyebrows for quite some time.

 

9. It is more hygienic as compared to waxing:

Yes, you heard it right. You are prone to nasty infections while waxing, but threading keeps them at bay. While waxing, often the same stick is used to apply the wax on different people, while your practitioner is bound to use a different piece of thread every single time.

 

10. It gives more precise shaping:

Because threading gives more control and provides precision, you will have much better-shaped eyebrows than what you would have got had you waxed them instead.

 

11. Exfoliating beforehand will go a long way:

Exfoliating will remove dead skin cells on your skin’s surface and will make threading almost painless. Apart from this, exfoliating will help in getting rid of ingrown hairs as well.

6 Best Natural Vitamin Supplements for Hair Loss

We can’t bear the sight of seeing strands of our lovely tresses on our combs. However, did you know that a big cause behind your hair fall could be the deficiency of vitamins? Did you know that hair loss due to vitamin deficiency is known as telogen effluvium? Therefore without further ado, let us get into the essential vitamins that one should consume to battle against the problem of hair loss.

 

⦁ Biotin or Vitamin B7

Biotin is one of the key vitamins that can help you battle against hair loss. As you all know hair is made of keratin and keratin is formed with the help of cell enzymes and biotin. Therefore, a proper amount of biotin is extremely crucial for good hair, nails and skin.

 

Now since biotin is water soluble, the body often is unable to store the required amount. Therefore, to prevent hair loss, try taking biotin in the form of eggs, salmon, whole wheat bread, peanut butter, avocados, raspberries, and raw cauliflower. You can also take biotin in the form of supplements but make sure to check out for side effects when you do.

⦁ Vitamin C

 

Say hello to juicy, yum citrus fruits because they have lots of vitamin C which are vital for hair loss control and hair growth. Now hair is composed of collagen and collagen synthesis can take place only with the help of vitamin C. Vitamin C is also an antioxidant which helps you get good skin as a bonus, too. Therefore, enrich your diet with vitamin C by consuming lots of citrus fruits like orange, grapefruit, strawberries and also from broccoli, guava and raw green peppers.

 

⦁ Vitamin A

 

Carrots aren’t the key to only brilliant eyesight but they’re also an effective weapon when it comes to fighting against hair loss. Vitamin A is required for cell growth and it produces sebum or the natural oil in your hair, which will you help you fight against hair loss due to breakage. While carrots are the most evident source of vitamin A, other delicious options include dried apricots, sweet potatoes, mangoes, spinach etc.

   

 ⦁ Vitamin E

 

A lot of people call vitamin E the wonder hair ingredient. Not only does vitamin E act as a powerful antioxidant that repairs and builds tissue, it is important for countering hair loss and promoting healthy hair growth. Not only this, applying vitamin E capsules topically on your scalp can improve blood circulation and promote hair growth. Therefore, always remember to take your healthy dose of vitamin E through avocados, almonds, broccoli etc.

⦁ Vitamin D

 

Most urban women suffer from vitamin D deficiency. Vitamin D is responsible for stimulating new cells and tissues. While the easiest way to get vitamin D is to soak in the sun for around 15-20 minutes, that might not be the best option in summers. Therefore, it is important to supplement it through diet. Include foods like fish, cod liver oil, eggs, mushrooms, salami and sausages to get your requirement of vitamin D.

⦁ Niacin or Vitamin B3

Our hair is made up of nutrients. Replenishing the scalp by improving blood circulation and flow can take place with the help of vitamin B3. It helps in bringing blood, oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles. Niacin can be consumed by eating fish, avocado, chicken and sunflower seeds.

 

What to do for your hair during pre-wedding days

“Regardless of how long or short you decide your hair will be, get a trim two weeks before your wedding to eliminate dead ends and freshen bangs, if you have them. Switch to a cleansing shampoo that removes residue, and pay more attention to conditioning — “consider overnight treatments or oils.” A week before your wedding, use a gloss or mask on your hair to boost shine.“

Which Hormones Affect Hair Growth and Hair Loss?

 

Hormones That Affect Hair Growth and Hair Loss

 

The female cycle, in Biological terms, or her entire life in the common-man’s term, is hugely effected by the hormones alone. Be it her puberty, the delay or onset of it; her pregnancy, the frequency or lack of it; her Menopause, its late or early arrival; is all controlled and monitored by the good old hormones. Good locks of healthy hair are as important to a woman as her heritage jewels. However, sometimes, despite the very best of care and treatments, you find yourself suffering from hair fall and hair loss. Well, blame the female hormone imbalance. So, which of these ‘little invisible demons-of-hormones’ are we talking about? Let’s locate them and catch them to help your hair growth, shall we?
A woman’s overall health is a play of hormones; maybe that is why they are often known to be rather unpredictable. It is the hormones that are responsible for the ‘fire and ice’ likeness of a female mood; sometimes credited to the lack of judgment that she can be a victim to or the mysterious sensuality that she can exude. However, the striking part is that, aside from just her psych, it is also a woman’s physical attributes that often fall on the not-so-friendly-side of the hormonal imbalance. One such physical aspect is her precious head of hair (and you thought it was the ‘oil’ that your mother applied when she was carrying you!).

Hair Fall And Hormones

Gonadotropins

Derived from the ‘Gonads’ which imply the testes or the ovaries, Gonadotropins are our little wonders of hormonal magicians which indirectly effect the hair growth. Gonadotropins are Partner-in-crime with other set of hormones called the ‘Progesterones’ and together they manage to create a havoc to the overall growth of your hair. However, when behaving rather well, the hair hormone rewards you with envious mane of thick, luscious hair.
The Gonadotropins are responsible for boosting hair growth, as they produce the FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormones) and the Luteinizing hormones. These hormones are in turn directly responsible for your hair fall or hair growth.

Hair Growth Hormones in Men

Androgens

These are the male sex hormones and are responsible for the secondary sexual characteristics in men, like their body and facial hair growth. However, this particular hormone is also present in females in trace-amounts. While the excessive production of Androgens leads to increased facial and body hair, they are also singly responsible for the Pattern-baldness in both males and Females. So, if any of you girls have recently spotted patchy-baldness, get hold of a nice Endocrinologist and get to the root of the problem.

Hair Growth Hormones in Women

Estrogen

Our very own female hormone is the Estrogen. This particular hormone is responsible for you to be ‘catty’ at times and a complete ‘lamb’ at the other times. A well-balanced Estrogen level in females is responsible for boosting hair growth. However, any amount of dip or high can lead to thinning of your hair. Now, the main reasons for the Estrogen levels to play ping-pong can be plenty. Rapid weight loss or gain, certain medication, or the Estrogen-receptors that are present in the hair follicles that get directly influenced due to the hormonal fluctuations.
Pregnancy has also a huge role to play when it comes to Estrogen behaving like a spoilt brat, as both post and pre-pregnancy conditions are reported to witness large amounts of hair loss and hair fall.

 

Cortisol Boosts Hair Regrowth

Do you find yourself ‘tearing your hair out and sawing-off your nails’ when tensed? (For girls, it could be a simple situation like a lost ‘lucky pen’ before exams!) Well, it is our good-guy Cortisol helping you deal with it, so that you do not end up cutting your veins altogether! (God…Am I evil or what?). Well, I am trying to translate that, when under a threat or a stressful situation, our body produces a hormone named Cortisol, which in turn convert the body Proteins into energy and releases Glycogen.
This finally helps counteract inflammations, which means you are now ready for ‘flight or fight’ situation in order to deal with the problem in hand. While our little hero-hormone Cortisol is saving you from danger, however on a repeated scenario your body finally wears-down, thus the hair fall. So, in order to boost hair regrowth, be sure to keep your Cortisol calm as well.

Insulin Stops Hair Fall

No, I am not necessarily discussing Diabetes. But did you know that Insulin is one such hormone which is directly responsible in boosting hair growth as well? If the Human body was ‘Bollywood’, Insulin surely is ShahRukh Khan. It is that famous, thanks to the PR skills of the disease known as ‘Sugar’! The well-known Insulin is produced in the Pancreas of the Human Body. While it is commonly known that Insulin regulates the Blood sugar, however, this hormone is also responsible for various other processes like fat-accumulation, overall working of the Heart and the Hair fall. So, it is recommended to keep your Insulin levels under check in order to boost hair growth and stop thinning of existing hair.

Thyroid Hormones

Thyroxin is a vital hormone secreted by the Thyroid Glands. Hypothyroidism or the active Thyroid production leads to rapid hair-loss, along with substantial weight-gain and weakness. Therefore it is a good idea to get your Thyroids checked within a certain period of time, if you happen to notice rapid hair-loss and weight gain. However, it is also to be noted that under the condition of Hyper-thyrodism too, hair loss is evident along with rapid loss of weight as well. So, Thyroxin is one such hormone that needs to be at the right balance in order to boost hair growth.

Other Reasons for Hair Fall and Hair Loss:

Since we have the hormones responsible for boosting hair growth or stimulating hair fall covered, there are however, a few other medical situations you need to know:

• In case of women, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome is one such condition, where it is found to have increased growth of Facial hair and a subsequent loss of scalp hair.
• Hirautism is a term given to the Male-patterned-Baldness found in women. This is mainly due to the over production of the Male hormones in women.
• A good well balanced diet goes a long way in ensuring you nice long locks of hair. This is mainly because, if you do not have nice nutrition, your stomach is not able to secret the right amount of Hydrochloric Acid under stressful state. With lowered Acid levels, the stomach is unable to lower the PH in order to digest the Proteins, thus, this finally results in rapid hair loss. So, be sure to eat well to maintain a sound stomach-working condition.

 

How To Treat Hair Fall Due To Hormonal Imbalance?

Now that you know about the various aspects of hormones affecting hair loss, let us take a look at some of the dietary options that can help you maintain the right balance of these hormones in order to boost hair growth.

• Soaking of Nuts and Legumes over night with a few teaspoons of a good quality Apple Cider Vinegar goes a long way in reducing hair fall in females.
• Silica rich food should be an essential part of your daily dietary portions. Some of the best known Silica-rich food items are Bell Pepper, Celery and Sprouts.
• Simply avoiding a few unhealthy food items like Diary, White Sugar and various forms of processed food is quite effective in helping you restore your crowning glory.
• In the age of Organics, it is high-time you went ‘organic’ as well by including Hemp Proteins, organic eggs, fresh Berries and milk in your kitchen.

Lastly, ‘in order to get healthy tresses, get rid of stress’. Learn life-management and how to deal with tricky situations without having to go overboard on your health-systems. Being a woman is a gift, as you are a natural born ‘superhuman’ who knows multi-tasking and how to look gorgeous while you are at it!(Ultraviolet? Catwoman?anyone?) Never neglect yourself in the name of ‘sacrifice’, as such a thing simply does not exist.
Remember, your family and kids need you, so it is important to be there for them and for that, you need to look after yourself first. So, woman, treat your hormones well and you will be rewarded with thick and long hair with a nice, healthy life for a long time.