Dealing with hair can be difficult at times. We all want to have luscious and strong hair that shines and grows healthy. Unfortunately, a lot of us deal with hair issues such as hair breakage, damaged ends or hair loss. All of these problems can be solved to some extent but they require extra care and the use of special products. Hair products will help you achieve the ideal hair. The majority of products available on the market contain harmful ingredients that can be damaging and cause issues. Natural products will only benefit your hair. In order to solve hair issues, you must know the basics about hair.
Hair 101
Different hair types describe the way your hair looks and the pattern in which it grows. It can be either silky straight, super wavy or extremely curly. Hair also comes in different textures – this refers to the thickness of the hair strand. It can be fine, medium, thick or coarse. Fine hair is more prone to breakage, especially if it’s on the dry side. Medium or normal hair has more protein structure than fine hair, but it’s still less thick than coarse hair. Coarse hair is thicker strands, holds curls very well, but can be prone to frizz.
Hair porosity is the hair’s ability to absorb moisture and retain it. Hair needs a lot of moisture in general – moisturised hair looks great natural and grows faster.
Straight hair
This hair type is very straight and has a tendency toward becoming greasy and shiny. Straight hair tends to become greasy faster than curly hair because it’s thinner and the oil travels down the shaft more quickly. Here are the three subcategories for straight hair:
- Type 1A – Type 1A hair is very straight and fine
- Type 1B – very straight – this type is thicker with medium texture and more volume
- Type 1C – this type is very thick, coarse and shiny, but it’s still straight
Wavy
Wavy has has a nice wave to it and it tends to be a bit thicker than Type 1 hair. These are the three subcategories:
- Type 2A – very fine hair and thin with S-shaped waves
- Type 2B – this type of hair is wavy and medium-thick, it also tends to be more frizzy
- Type 2C – this type it is prone to frizz and difficult to style, it also tends to be almost curly
Curly
This is the curliest type. It has defined, springy curls and it tends to be easy to style. There are three subcategories for curly hair:
- Type 3A – defined curls with a thick texture but a bit frizzy
- Type 3B – tighter curls and can be a combination of different hair types
- Type 3C – very tight curls or kinks and is generally easy to style
Very Curly or Kinky
This type has very tight and well-defined curls. It’s coarse in texture and also sensitive and prone to heat damage.
- Type 4A – soft, well-defined curls
- Type 4B – very tight curls but less defined and soft
- Type 4C – extremely tight curls
Every hair type requires different hair products and should be taken care of.
Hair loss
Hair loss can affect just your scalp or even your entire body. There are many causes including heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or medications. It’s quite common to experience this, especially in men.
Baldness means excessive hair loss from your scalp. It’s normal that with age you lose more hair. Some people prefer to leave this untreated and hidden. Others may cover it up with hairstyles or hats. Little do they know that there are many products that help solve his problem, even shampoos. There are also some treatments that can prevent future hair loss and restore growth.
What causes hair loss and what are the symptoms?
Sudden loss of hair
A physical or emotional shock or general stress can cause hair to loosen. A lot of hair may come out when combing or washing your hair or even after gentle tugging. This type of hair loss usually causes overall hair thinning and not bald patches.
Gradual thinning on top of head
This is a very common type of hair loss and affects both men and women as they age. In men, hair often begins to recede from the forehead in a line that resembles the letter M. Women typically retain the hairline on the forehead but have a broadening of the part in their hair.
Circular or patchy bald spots
Some people experience smooth, coin-sized bald spots. This type of hair loss affects the scalp, but it sometimes also occurs in beards or eyebrows. In some cases, your skin may become itchy or painful before the hair falls out.
Stress, hormones, heredity, bad hair care, medications, supplements – these are all factors that cause hair loss.
Preventing hair loss
Most baldness is caused by genetics – this isn’t too preventable. Some things that can help you prevent hair loss:
- Avoiding tight twisting, hairstyles, braids, rubbing your hair
- Treating your hair gently when brushing and washing
- Avoiding harsh treatments
- Stop smoking
- Protecting your hair from sunlight
- Using special products (shampoos, ect.)
Hair care
Straight hair should be washed more often since it has a lot of natural shine and can get oily fairly quickly. Volumising shampoos and conditioners can be helpful and will give your fine, straight hair a little more texture and body. Try not to use products that are heavy or rich in their consistency. When it comes to styling, flip the hair upside down when blow-drying to give it more volume. Dry shampoo is also helpful for adding some volume while also soaking up excess oil. Blunt haircuts leave this type of hair looking thicker. Layers also can give your hair some movement and body. This can cause problems and this can get in the way of trying to get into the movement. This causes
Wavy Hair tends to be more frizzy. It’s important to control the frizz without weighing down the hair and ruining the waves. Adding volume and moisture gives the hair life and movement. Shampoos and conditioners for this hair type should be hydrating and helpful in reducing frizz. Styling mousse on damp hair will help with frizziness and volume. Using a diffuser will help with keeping your hair tamed – blow-drying dries out the hair and leaves it frizzy. A layered haircut will give you some volume and keep the hair looking thick.
Curly Hair is quite frizzy. The key to controlling frizz is to constantly moisturise the hair and keep it under control. The ideal shampoo and conditioner can keep the hair hydrated, moisturised and add some definition to the curls. For defined curls it’s good to apply a bit of mousse and gently comb the hair. The shorter you cut your hair, the curlier your hair will get.
Bad ingredients
Chemicals are widely found in hair products available on the market. They are very harmful for your hair so it’s important to double check the ingredients to see if your product contains any of these:
-Propylene glycol (PG)- found in many shampoos, conditioners, styling gels and lotions. They break down healthy proteins and cellular structure and cause scalp irritation.
-SLS- sodium lauryl, aka sodium laureth sulphate. This chemical is in a lot of shampoos, so it can be hard to avoid. It dries your hair out and strips it from its natural oils. Sulfates can cause irritation, redness and itching, especially if your scalp is sensitive.
-Synthetic fragrances- these can cause many bad reactions such as headaches, chest tightness and asthma. Fragrances are often used in hair care products to give a nice scent, but most people don’t know that they don’t serve any functional purpose. They should especially be avoided by those with sensitive skin.
-PEG or polyethylene glycols. These are synthetic petrochemicals found in hair care products, especially hair dyes. They also dry out the hair and leave it brittle.
Switching to natural, organic shampoos that help with hair loss is a good option.
Revita Hair Growth Stimulating Shampoo
- Therapeutic and cleansing
- Highly-effective delivery system
- Natural ingredients
Lipogaine Big 5 All-Natural Shampoo
- Safe for all hair types
- Gentle formula
- Good for men and women
Classic Lipogaine Big 3 Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo
- Designed for men and women
- Gentle formula
- Safe for all hair types
Ultrax Labs Hair Surge
- Remains on hair until it’s actively absorbed
- Proven results
- Backed by a money-back guarantee
SheaMoisture African Water Mint & Ginger Detox & Refresh Hair & Scalp Gentle Shampoo
- cleanses the scalp without drying it out like harsh chemicals can do
- powerful shampoo without compromising moisture.
Pura d’or Hair Loss Prevention Shampoo
- contains Argan oil – works to moisturize and stimulate growth at the root
- biotin which works to strengthen each strand of hair
Nature’s Gate Biotin Strengthening Shampoo
- vegan, includes only natural ingredients, and is free from parabens and sulfates
- packed with vitamin B5 that fortifies follicles to rebuild damaged strands
Evlogies Naturals Hair Growth & Damage Repair Shampoo
- contains Quinoa Pro NPNF, a multi-functional protein that promotes hair color retention
- Hair will be both conditioned and moisturized with the antioxidants, nourishing oils, and vitamins that seal the hair’s cuticle layer to create a defensive shield
Hair loss can be why you feel insecure or self-conscious about your appearance. Treating it can be stressful as well, but thanks to natural helpful shampoos, you can improve the condition of your hair easily. Always remember to see a professional if the hair loss is severe.
