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Dandruff
To rid dandruff within a few days, pour apple cider vinegar into the hair, massaging the scalp with it. Leave on a few minutes, then shampoo. Repeat this daily until the dandruff is gone. (Usually within just a few days.)
 
Damaging To Your Hair
Did you know that your pillowcases can actually damage or dry out your hair? Many women with long hair will not sleep on anything other than satin or silk because cotton, especially linens with less than 250 thread count can be scratchy and damaging to the delicate strands of hair. Hair that is kept short is less likely to be damaged because it's cut often. But for those who have longer hair and want to maintain their hair's health, a silk or satin pillowcase can be a good investment.
 
You all know about using conditioners on your hair after you shampoo. For those who have problems with dryness, a pre-shampoo oil treatment is something that will benefit your hair. Olive oil is usually the oil of choice used in hot oil treatments when doing this at home. Olive oil penetrates the hair and will improve the health of the hair. One drawback to olive oil however, is that it can fade colored hair. An alternative to those who color their hair and want to keep it looking fresh, is to use sweet almond oil or sesame oil. Both do the same job and will not fade hair.
 
The amount of oil you use on your hair is up to you and according to the length of your hair. You may find that applying the oil to your ends is sufficient, you may need to do your whole head. Apply the oil heated by either warming it in the microwave or on the stove. No need for it to be hot, just warm will do. Apply the oil, wrap in plastic wrap or put on a shower cap and leave on 30 minutes before shampooing throughly. You can use an instant conditioner to detangle if you like.
 
Dry & Over-Processed Hair
If you've managed to dry up your hair with too many perms and too many colorings, don't despair.  There's a cheap and effective alternative to those high priced commercial hot oil treatments.  Here's a way to make your own:
Take 1/4 cup mayonnaise and combine with 2 tablespoons mashed avocado.  Smooth the mixture through your hair, cover it with a shower cap or hot towel, and leave it in for 30 minutes.  The fats from the avocado and mayonnaise act as a great moisturizer for your damaged tresses.  Shampoo as usual, and it's done!  
 
Some helpful hints and who would think.....
 
  • Budweiser beer conditions the hair   
  • Cool whip will condition your hair in 15 minutes
  •  Mayonnaise will KILL LICE, it will also condition your hair
  •  Shiny Hair - use brewed Lipton Tea

Finding the right hair products for your type of hair can make the difference between a good hair day and a bad one. Here are some guidelines on what to look for depending on the type of hair you have. 

Oily or limp hair
Shampoo with a clarifying shampoo to remove oil and product buildup that can make hair look limp. Condition with a lightweight detangler that won't weigh hair down. Style with a fluffy mousse that will build body and plump the hair up. A fluffy mousse won't flatten the roots.
  
Dry or damaged hair
Shampoo with a conditioning shampoo that have lightweight moisturizers in them. Look for the word moisture or moisturizing on the label. Condition with a hair mask conditioner. These replenish lost moisture and give your hair more shine. Style with a protein-based leave-in conditioner that will coat, protect and repair stressed hair.
  
Frizzy hair
Shampoo with nutrillieum, a complex that softens and unkinks hair to neutralize frizz. Condition your hair with a protein-based conditioner that has shine-enhancing silicones that aid in eliminating frizz. Style with a cream-based anti-frizz serum. This softens the hair and holds down frizz. Silicones also block out moisture which is what causes hair to frizz out.  
 

If you like using gel, but don't like your hair quite as stiff as some gels make your hair, try this for a moisturized look with hold. Mix equal parts of gel and conditioner in the palm of your hand. Distribute it evenly through your hair and either leave it air dry or style as usual.
 
 
Questions regarding shampoos are always debated and I sometimes take a little, (a lot) of heat for not pushing the professional brands over store brands. I was in the "hair business" long enough to know there are good and bad at both ends and the expense of the salon brands don't always or necessarily make them any better. The bottome line, whatever works on YOUR hair is what you should use. All shampoos, no matter where you buy them sometimes seem to "quit working" and it's usually because a buildup is on the hair. Using a clarifying shampoo or switching brands temporarily can help. No matter which shampoo you buy or use, the ingredients in them are interesting, to say the least. Check out this list and you'll probaby shake your head as I did and wonder where the "important stuff" for my hair went. These names are all long, halfway pronounceable and probably listed to further confuse all of us.
 
Ammonium laureth sulfate or ammonium laurel sulfate...Cleans hair and adds lather to the shampoo.
  
Citric acid...Adjusts the PH of a shampoo.
  
Cocamide DEA, cocamido-propyl betaine, lauramide DEA...Adds to the  
lather's richness and volume of the shampoo.
  
DMDM Hydantoin, iodopropynl butylcaramate, and get a load of this  
ingredient...methylcholoroisothiazolinon, (I'm not kidding you). Those are preservatives and by the length of that last one, I'm sure by the time you can pronounce it, your shampoo isn't so "preserved" anymore.
  
Panthenol...Added as a hair conditioner, but all hair experts feel it isn't that great of a conditioner.
  
Propylene glycol...Keeps shampoo clear, homogenized and prevents the shampoo from freezing.
 
Sodium Chloride, ammonium chloride...Product thickeners.
  
Tetrasodium EDTA...Helps the preservatives in shampoo and removes trace metals and ingredients in hair (such as a clarifying shampoo).
  
Water...Dissolves and dilutes ingredients. 
 
Colorants...added to make shampoo eye appealing, (heck with the hair,  
as long as the color of the shampoo is pretty?)  
 
Kiwi Fruit extract, passionflower extract, hydrolyzed whey protein, chamomile, aloe barbadensis extract, thiamine HCI...At the level of concentrations these and other "natural extracts" are at, they are mainly added to market the product and have little or no effect on giving your hair a healthy boost.
 
Basically, everything is marketing and what helps a product sell whether the product does or doesn't do what it's supposed to? Fragrance...THink about it, we open a bottle of "whatever" and if it smells nice, chances are we'll be trying it out. My advice? If you're going to buy on smell alone, don't spend a lot of money and sniff away while testing what products work good for your own hair. Hair stylists out there, you may want to step away from the computer...Yes, Suave, and the less expensive brands can do as well for your hair as (fill in the blank) salon only brands. Settle down stylists of the world, salon brands are great also, specially the ones, that smell good.

We all know that our hair's health is affected by many things such as hormonal fluctuations, exposure to different weather elements, (sun, wind, pollution), and of course, the trauma we, ourselves put on our hair, (color, perms, blow drying, irons, etc). While there are products on the  
market that are made to improve the health of your hair, eating certain foods will imrpove the health of your hair. Some of these are... 
 
Fatty acids like omega-3's such as salmon, walnuts, canola oil and flaxseed oil will improve the shine in your hair.
 
Zinc is very important for the production of protein, hair's main  "ingredient." Zinc not only can prevent hair loss and thinning, it can actually promote hair growth and certain dandruff shampoos that contain zinc in them have been shown to be successful in slowing down hair loss and growing new hair. You can also find zinc in shellfish, red meat, pork, chicken,(dark meat) and turkey. 25-35 milligrams daily should do it, (one six-ounce burger).
 
Strengthen your hair and nails with niacin which delivers nutrients to them. Chicken, tuna, whole-wheat foods will provide the needed niacin. 25 milligrams a day is all it takes which amounts to one bowl of fortified cereal.
  
Sulphur binds with protein in the hair to make hair stonger, flexible and full looking. Eggs, asparagus, onions, and garlic will do it for your hair. 1-3 milligrams, or the amount in two hard boiled eggs will do the trick.
 
The enzymes in hair that are responsible for hair growth need silica to do their job. Find silica in beets, bell peppers, soybeans and leafy green vegetables. Just 25 milligrams, (about one cup of cooked spinach or a large green salad) can prompt new hair growth.
 
 
Sometimes the difference between "bad hair days" and "good hair days" are the haircuts and styles you choose for the type of hair you have. The same rule that goes with following styles and fads with your wardrobe follow with your hair. If it doesn't look good or you don't have the right type of hair, the style of the year isn't going to work. Here are some ways to give you more "good hair days" than bad.
 
If your hair is fine, but curly or wavy...Have your stylist razor cut your hair. This gives the fine hair volume without creating bulk. Even if your hair happens to be straight, but fine, razoring will work great. Another option for fine, straight hair is a blunt cut, (all one length), which will make hair seem fuller, especially at the ends where fine hair has a temdency to look stringy. Fine hair always gets tangled after shampooing. The problem with conditioners on fine hair is that it makes hair limp by being too heavy on the fine hair. Instead, try using a detangler, which is lighter in weight and will remove the tangles.
  
Thick and curly hair has its own set of problems. If your hair is thick and straight, try having your hair cut in long layers. Too short layers and you will get "puffy". Long layers made with texturizing or thinning shears will remove excess bulk and give your hair an airy and lighter  
look.
 
If your hair is thick and curly, have your hair cut in angled layers rather than regular layers. Having the layers angled doesn't disrupt the natural curl pattern and will keep the curls springy. If you hair is thick and curly, keep the length at the shoulders or longer. Unless you go extremely short, anything shorter than shoulder length can give you the "pyramid  
head" look.
 
If your hair is wavy and not quite as curly, the same angled, layered cut should be given. THe best type of product for thick, wavy and/or curly hair? A smoothing cream or balm. It is a silicone based product that coats the hair's cuticle and lock out humidity which is public enemy number one to curly, wavy hair. 
 
These silicone products work wonders and should be used on towel-dried hair.
 
 
This treatment is great for removing chlorine and mineral build-up due to hard water from the hair. Using it once a week will keep you hair healthy and shiny. This will also remove the lovely shade of green that a build-up can cause. 
 
2 Tbsp baking soda  
¼ cup fresh lemon juice   
1 tsp mild shampoo  
Mix all of the ingredients together. Apply it to dry hair and cover with a plastic cap or plastic wrap. Leave it on for 20 minutes, then shampoo and condition as usual.

Shampooing your hair...  
Most people throw on the shampoo, and rub it around, then rinse it. Admit it, you do don't you? Massaging the scalp is THE single most important  
part for the health of your scalp. It removes the dirt and grime of course, but also stimulates the blood flow to the scalp, which in turn, nourishes the scalp, which of course, promotes healthy follicles. Increased blood flow to the scalp can, in certin cases, slow down hair loss and thinning.
When shampooing, use your fingertips, NOT your nails, and give a thorough scrubbing, don't be wussy, use a firm pressure. If you have arthritis, no hand strength, etc, buy a rubber scalp massager for a few bucks. They are available at almost ANY store you go into. Make sure its rubber, plastic will scratch your scalp and increasing the blood flow OUT of your scalp is NOT the goal here. Massage back and forth, up and down, 
around and around. (You get the idea). Do it before, during, or after your shampoo, itmakes no difference as long as you do it.  
 
 
So many people suffer from oily hair. Oily hair is caused by a dry scalp believe it or not. Shampoos contain detergent, which dries out the scalp, which causes the scalp to work harder to produce more oil to compensate for the dry scalp. Combine that with the feeling of wanting to wash your hair more often and it becomes a vicious circle that won't be won unless you change the way you treat the oil. Use a shampoo that is gentler and has less detergent. A baby shampoo, a shampoo made with natural ingredients and less chemicals such as Aveda, Abba, (available in salons),or Neutrogena.
  
The problem won't be solved overnight as it will probably take a few months for the scalp and the hair to balance out. Be patient and you'll gradually lose the oil slick you have come to know. 
If you have oily hair or a dry, itchy scalp, try mixing an antiseptic mouthwash with water, (equal parts) and pour it through your hair after shampooing. Massage into the  
scalp and use a lightweight conditoner, if needed afterwards. 
 
If you want to add subtle highlights to your hair, (I said SUBTLE), this tip will do the trick.
 
Get an old toothbrush that you won't use again. You could spring for a new one for this tip actually. Get some facial cream bleach that you can buy to lighten up your facial hair. (ie. mustache). "Paint" it on, and in 10  
minutes, you will have highlights. Shampoo and condition afterwards. Please, don't think you are going to go from dark brown to white blonde in that amount of time and please don't think you should leave it on longer to do more. Listen to me will ya? I don't have sympathy for anyone who ends up pumpkin orange.  
 
If you like using gel, but don't like your hair quite as stiff as some gels make your hair, try this for a moisturized look with hold. Mix equal parts of gel and conditioner in the palm of your hand. Distribute it evenly through your hair and either leave it air dry or style as usual. THis works great for those with curly hair, (natural or permed). This will define the curls and control frizz.  
 
 
I have given this tip many times in the past and repeat it from time to time when asked. Head lice is a problem that seems to run rampant when school starts. Younger kids seem to infect each other more often because of how close they get to each other when in the primary grades. There are many products on the market to get rid of lice. Here are a few tips that may help in case someone in your home comes home with the little  
buggers.
  
Olive oil---Coat the hair, We're talking saturation of each and every strand of hair, nape of the neck, behind the ears, etc. Wrap the head and hair in plastic wrap or a plastic cap and leave on for 30 minutes to an hour. This will suffocate the lice and kill them. Take the cap off and comb through the hair with a wide- toothed comb. Apply shampoo to the hair BEFORE wetting, lather, rinse and repeat. If you don't have olive oil, use mayonaisse and follow the same directions as above.
  
Tea tree oil is beneficial as a retardant. It will not kill lice, but will help repel them and prevent reinfestation. Use a tea tree oil shampoo or add 10-15 drops of tea tree oil to an 8 ounce bottle of shampoo. Shake to mix and use it everytime the hair is shampooed until you feel the threat of lice is gone. Make sure all bedding, clothing, pillows, pillowcases, etc. are  
washed in hot water. Sterilize combs and brushes.  
 
 
If you overdo the gel or mousse and don't have time to re-wash your hair, take a cotton ball dipped in witch hazel and wipe it over the areas of the stickiness or stiffness. It will break down the styling products a little and make the hair easier to finish. Sprinkle cornstarch or baby powder on your hair and brush to give yourself a dry shampoo when you're pressed for time. The cornstarch or powder blots up excess oil that weighs the  
hair down.
 

Cleaning combs and brushes...  
Brushes and combs will come out like new if you soak them for 15-20 minutes in a pot of lukewarm water to which one tbsp. baking soda or a little ammonia has been added.  
 
Split Ends... 
Try using hand cream to seal split ends.  It works as well as expensive deep conditioning treatments and split end mending products.  Use on dry hair only. 
 
If you want to give your hair some natural sunny highlights, give this a try...  
Fill a spray bottle with 1 cup of distilled water  
Add 1 tablespoon of lemon juice if you're a blonde  
Add 1 tablespoon of orange juice if you're a redhead 
Add a handful of crushed, dried Rosemary if you're a brunette
 
Mist over damp hair and then blow-dry. Blow-drying activates the color. Sitting out in the sun will also do the same. For your mood, inhaling any citrus scents can give you a burst of energy. Rosemary can and will relax you.
 
Almost everyone likes the scent of vanilla and there are a ton of products on the market that have a vanilla scent to it. Here are a few ways to get that scent and not cost you an arm and a leg.
  
Take any inexpensive lightly or unscented lotion. Add to it, 1/2 tablespoon of vanilla extract. Do not use the imitation, it must be the pure extract found in the baking section of your grocery store. Mix it through. (A wooden chopstick works great for mixing it.) 
 
Do the same with any hair conditioner that may not have a strong fragrance and a vanilla fragrance is wanted.