B. CliShea's Blog, page 2

Can Coconut Oil Be Used as A Deep Conditioner?

They didn’t call the coconut tree as the tree of life for nothing. A lot of people have been fans of this tree not only because of its fruit but also due to the nourishing oil you can get from it.

Coconut oil is highly nourishing and believe it or not it has hundreds of uses. You may also have heard elsewhere that you can use coconut oil for your hair. And yes, it can be used as a deep conditioner for your hair.

However, note that it is not for everybody. That’s a precaution that all those marketing people don’t ever tell you. Remember that it should be used only on certain types of hair and it should be used correctly.

If used incorrectly—just like any other good thing on this planet—then it can do more harm than good. Now, before you put coconut oil on your head, you should first know the how’s and they why’s about using coconut oil as a deep conditioner.

 

Why You Should Use Coconut Oil as a Deep Conditioner

The first reason why coconut oil is so good as a deep conditioner for your hair is that it is the richest natural source of MCFAs. That is short for medium chain fatty acids.

That’s a certain type of fatty acid that has antimicrobial. On top of that, coconut oil is also rich in Lauric acid, which is very helpful for preventing protein loss on one’s hair.

A lot of people also see fast beneficial results when using coconut oil on their hair. This is due to the structure of coconut oil, which allows it to penetrate hair unlike other oils.

 

Proven Benefits

There are numerous studies that support the benefits of coconut oil. It actually has a lot of health benefits other than supporting hair growth and health.

Benefit #1 – Prevents hair damage due to regular brushing and combing

According to one study the application of coconut oil based hair products helped to protect the hair from damage from the regular brushing and combing that people do every day.

The study was not solely dedicated to coconut oil only. They studies other products as well that were sunflower and mineral oil based. Now that doesn’t mean that mineral oil and sunflower oil weren’t effective.

According to the said study, all the oils were effective as a form of hair treatment. Nevertheless, comparing all three oils they found that coconut oil was the most beneficial.

The study further indicates that coconut oil helps prevent protein loss in hair. Note that coconut oil was used either before or after showering.

 

Benefit #2 – Deep Conditioning Effect

Other than the fact that coconut oil is better at preventing protein loss in hair strands, scientific studies also say that the chemical structure of coconut oil actually allows it to penetrate deeply into hair. This type of oil can actually penetrate into the inner structures of human hair.

This chemical structure is unique, which makes it the most penetrative oil available to us. Some people even call it the “magical powers” of coconut oil. Well, it isn’t really magic. It’s just how coconut oil naturally is. This is according to a study conducted at the George Mason University’s Department of Nutrition and Food Studies.

 

Benefit #3 – Hair Moisturizer

Since coconut oil is able to penetrate deeply into hair, then that means it is better at conditioning your hair. To put it simply, it is better at maintaining or retaining your hair’s moisture. This is according to a study published in the Journal of Cosmetic Science.

The same study also found that coconut oil was able to help hair maintain moisture in the hair for longer periods of time. The study compared the effects and benefits of coconut oil and mineral oil.

Half of the participants in the study applied mineral oil on their hair for a specified period of time while the other half used coconut oil. The study determined that when coconut oil is applied to hair, water is unable to fully enter hair follicles.

Water wasn’t able to go into the inner regions of hair strands. It was only able to enter the surface cuticle. This property is actually very beneficial for people who live in places where there is relatively low humidity.

That means if you live in areas where the climate is usually particularly dry then you may want to apply coconut oil on your hair. You can do it every now and then to provide your hair with significant benefits overtime.

Applying coconut oil on your hair will help maintain adequate moisture levels on hair strands. With proper moisture in your hair, it gets protected from the stress and friction from the daily grind of hair styling that we usually do.

When hair remains moisturized it prevents breaks and split ends. The key is keeping moisture locked in the inner regions of the hair strands. Not only does it prevent split ends, it also promotes the vibrant shine in your hair.

 

How to Use Coconut Oil as a Deep Conditioner

There is actually a lot of literature on how to use coconut oil as a deep conditioner. We won’t go into the fancy stuff that other people talk about. We’ll just show you how to use it as it is.

You can make your own coconut oil naturally if you have the time to do it. But if you have a rather busy schedule then you can just purchase virgin coconut oil from stores. It’s going to be pretty much the same thing.

 

Overnight Application

You don’t need a lot of coconut oil on your hair to get the desired effect. You only need about two teaspoons of the oil on your hair. Just spread it well across all hair strands.

One form of treatment will require you to keep the oil on your hair overnight. That means after applying coconut oil on your hair, you need to put on a shower cap (yes, you have to sleep with that on) to prevent the oil from getting on your pillows and other beddings.

Getting your hair soaked in coconut oil overnight will help work its magic. It does take time for hair follicles to absorb the oil. You can then wash the coconut oil off first thing in the morning.

 

2 Hour Application

Sleeping with a shower cap on is not exactly the best way to sleep. No one wants to sleep with that thing on their head every night. It can be a bit annoying if you it regularly. It can also be annoying to your spouse or partner.

An alternative to an overnight application is a regular 2 hour treatment. So how do you do that? The first thing that you should do is to find a 2 hour window where you can put on a shower cap and have some solid “me” time.

Next, apply ample amounts of coconut oil on your hair—you can use 2 tablespoons if you have really long hair. Just make sure you have enough oil on your hair. Put on a shower cap to keep the oil on your hair and not on your shoulders or anywhere else.

You can do that at night after dinner. Apply the oil, get the dishes done, watch TV, do your evening chores, check your emails, chat with friends on social media, or do whatever routine you usually do at night for about two hours.

After those two hours are up take the shower cap off and wash your hair. Make sure that all of the coconut oil on your hair has been thoroughly washed away. Notice that your hair is almost instantly more vibrant and a bit shinier.

Remember that this is not a quick fix. The more you use coconut oil on your hair the more noticeable the effects will be, although of course you’ll see some immediate improvements each time you use it.

 
Reminders When Using Coconut Oil

If you are looking to use coconut oil to use coconut oil on your hair, here are a few reminders:

Try to avoid getting it on your scalp as much as possible: we know that coconut oil has antifungal properties which is why probably some would like to put it directly on their scalp. That’s understandable.

However, just to be clear, there can be negative effects to putting coconut oil directly onto your scalp. The oil can clog the scalp’s pores and maybe cause an irritation.

That of course will depend on the type of skin you have. If you have a sensitive scalp then you may want to avoid this. But if you are using it as a treatment for dandruff and flaking then make sure to wash and rinse thoroughly.

You don’t want coconut oil to stay that long on your scalp. Well, sometimes you just can’t avoid getting coconut oil on your scalp anyway so just remember to rinse well as much as you can.

Use small amounts of oil: you should be familiar with the saying that getting too much of a good thing can also be bad for you. This piece of advice works very well especially if you are using coconut oil on your hair for the first time.

If you don’t know how your hair handles coconut oil then use small amounts at first. The goal at first is to test how your hair responds to the oil. If you use a small amount then it will be a lot easier to rinse that off.

Don’t forget to add other ingredients that can also benefit your hair and scalp: you’re already putting oil on your hair, but remember that coconut oil is a great type of base oil. Which means this oil goes very well with other ingredients.

Two of my favorite ingredients that work great with coconut oil are yogurt and honey. This ingredient blend increases the benefits that you can get from coconut oil.

 

When Not to Use Coconut Oil as a Deep Conditioner

Now, here’s a hard and fast fact—there is no such thing as a product that works for everyone. Yes, science has shown that coconut oil can be beneficial to hair but it is not a guarantee that it will work for everyone.

In fact, there are plenty of folks out there who have benefitted from using coconut oil as a deep conditioner. Some even report almost instant results. However, there are also lots of other people who have reported getting hair problems after using coconut oil. Some even say they have lost a lot of hair after regularly using coconut oil on their hair.

So, what factors are we missing here?

Well, here it is—coconut oil is not for every type of hair. Each hair type responds differently to different oils. Some hairs respond better to coconut oil, some work better with mineral oil, some with castor oil. All of these oils have been used for quite a while as hair treatments.

It seems that coconut oil is best suited for people who have hair that lack natural protein. Studies show that people with medium shiny hair will benefit from using coconut oil. It gives them the added boost to make their hair healthier. This oil also gives their hair more volume and makes their hair stronger.

People who have dry or coarse hair but who do not suffer from low hair protein may not be the best candidates for using coconut oil as a deep conditioner.

In fact, if their hairs have become brittle then applying coconut oil on their hairs may result in hair loss. These people may benefit more from using other oils on their hairs like argan oil for instance.

 

Sometimes It Is Better Just to Consume the Oil

Now, it doesn’t mean that you can’t benefit from coconut oil if your hair is coarse or doesn’t lack protein. You may ask what about the other benefits that you may get from it?

Well, if you can’t apply it on your hair then you can just add coconut oil to your meals. The antioxidants and its medium chain fatty acid content will help to promote hair growth from within. It’s a total win/win for everyone.

For more hair tips and tricks, check out this blog post.

DIY Coconut Hair Masks for Dandruff

 

You are in deep conversation with a hot looking guy, but you noticed that instead of being mesmerized by your eyes, he keeps looking on your shoulder.

You discreetly made a sideways glance and you saw white specks on your shoulder.

Oh no. What are those flaky white particles on your shoulder?

Dandruff is a common scalp problem and generally can be treated. But it can cause you major embarrassment.

 

What causes dandruff?

Dandruff is not a contagious disease. It is usually a by-product of improper hair care and treatment.

Some of the most common causes of dandruff include:

Improper washing of hair. The hair, like the body needs proper wash and requires hydration. You need to wash and shampoo your hair regularly to remove dead skin cells and oils. Dead skins build up in your scalp causing dandruff.
You are suffering from seborrheic dermatitis. Symptoms include greasy red scalp with white flakes or yellow scales. This usually affects areas rich in oil glands like the scalp.
Malassezia is innate in warm-blooded creatures like animals and humans. It feeds on warm oil on your scalp then turns it into byproducts like dandruff.
Medical conditions like Parkinson’s disease and HIV can cause seborrheic dermatitis that leads to dandruff.

 

How to treat and control dandruff?

Severe causes of dandruff can result to skin problems thus, you need to seek the help of dermatologist.

If you are showing early signs of dandruff, you can take steps to treat and prevent it.

Here are some tips you can follow to treat and prevent dandruff:

Hydration is the key. Keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids, especially water.

Use your nail and scratch your leg. If a white line appears, it means your skin is dry. It works the same way with your scalp. When your scalp is dry, it gets itchy and irritated. Flaking starts due to the shedding of dead skin cells.

Avoid excessive styling or using curling iron, straightening iron, hair dryer, and other heat-induced tools that is can cause your scalp to dry.

The scalp is part of your skin. It may be tougher and coarser than the skin on your body but it is still skin. Just like the skin on your body, you need to keep it moisturize.

Using heat-induced equipment to style your hair is like exposing your body under the sun to sunbath.  

Keep your scalp clean. The body produces a natural oil called sebum. The sebum acts as a natural moisturizer and hydrant of the skin.

Too much sebum can turn your scalp greasy and when this builds-up would lead to dandruff.

You can avoid this by washing your hair with shampoo and rinsing your scalp thoroughly. Regular shampoo can wash away oil build-up that causes dandruff.

If you already have a dandruff, you can use anti-dandruff shampoo to wash your hair.

This is the easiest solution to solve dandruff because these types of shampoo are readily available in the market.

However, do take caution because shampoos contain chemicals that can do more harm to your hair.

Use natural home remedies or try products with natural organic ingredients.

You may not know it but your kitchen is an arsenal of homemade remedies.

Fruits like banana and avocado are good sources of nutrients that can help treat your hair.

Spices like rosemary and sage can also be a remedy.

Olive oil, Jojoba oil and particularly coconut oil are good moisturizing products for your hair.

Coconut oil and its benefits to your hair

Coconut oil is an edible oil extracted from the flesh of the coconut fruit. Coconut oil is rich in vitamins, carbohydrates, and minerals that is beneficial to your skin.

Some of the benefits of coconut oil on your hair include:

Repairs hair damage
Prevents hair loss
Keeps your hair and scalp moisturized
Conditions your hair
Helps protect your hair from lice
Acts as hair toner and styling aid
Reduces early signs of baldness and graying of hair
Prevents dandruff

Coconut oil and dandruff – how it works

What makes coconut oil a good remedy for dandruff? The coconut oil has many properties:

Coconut oil has Vitamin E that aids in keeping hair smooth and silky.
Coconut oil is rich in moisture. This moisture property keeps your hair and scalp hydrated.
Among its medicinal properties, the saturated fats in the coconut oil act as antioxidant and anti-aging agents. This helps reduce graying of hair.
The antimicrobial properties of the coconut oil can protect you against conditions like dermatitis.

 

DIY Hair Masks Recipe for Dandruff

If you are a big fan of organic recipes, you can prepare you own hair mask recipe to help control dandruff. Preparing your own treatment will ensure the quality and safety of the ingredients you are using.

The best part, preparing your own treatment recipe is much cheaper than if you buy ready to use treatments.

Here are three recipes of coconut oil dandruff treatments that you can try:

Natural Cedar wood-Rosemary in Coconut Oil Dandruff Hair Mask

Rosemary gives many benefits to your hair. Rosemary has organic compounds that can help stimulate your scalp and hair growth.

Cedar wood stimulates the hair follicles and treat many types of alopecia.

The tea tree oil removes dead skin cells build up and help increases the supply of nutrient and oxygen to your hair follicles.

Ingredients:

8 drops of cedar wood essential oil

8 drops of rosemary essential oil

6 drops of tea tree essential oil

1 teaspoon honey
4 ounces coconut oil

Preparation:

In a container, mix all the essential oils with coconut oil.
Add the teaspoon of honey.
Mix the ingredients well.
Makes 2 to 3 applications
Transfer to an airtight container and store up to 10 days.

Application:

Massage the mixture from on your scalp.
Leave it on for about 20-30 minutes. If you have a severe condition, leave it on overnight.
Shampoo and rinse after.

 

Avocado-Banana in Coconut Oil Hair Mask

Avocado is rich in vitamins that help in hair growth and damage hair repair. The natural oil in avocado can help moisturize and rejuvenate the scalp.

Bananas are rich in natural oils, potassium, and vitamins that help soften and protect hair. The nutrient compound of bananas help control and prevent dandruff.

Ingredients:

1 Banana, ripe
1 Avocado, ripe
2 tablespoon of coconut oil

Preparation:

Mix banana and avocado in a blender until it thickens.
Add the two tablespoons of coconut oil then blend again until the mixture softens. If you have thin hair, just add 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.
Yields two to three applications.
Transfer in a lid-covered container and store inside the refrigerator where you store vegetables.

Application:

Pour mixture through a sieve to remove grainy elements that didn't dissolve
Massage the mixture on your scalp and spread it over your hair strands.
Allow it to set for 20-30 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly and apply shampoo and conditioner.

 

Egg yolk and Coconut Oil Hair Mask

Egg yolks has an abundance source of nutrients and proteins to feed your hair.

Feeding on these nutrients, your hair becomes healthy and helps prevent dryness, split ends, hair loss. It gives your hair enough elasticity to resist damage.

Ingredients:

2 egg yolks
2 tablespoon coconut oil

Preparation:

Sift the egg to separate the white from the yolk.
In a mixing bowl, whisk the egg yolk and the coconut oil together until it becomes smooth.
Yields one application.

Application:

Apply the mixture to your hair. Massage on the scalp and roots of your hair then work your way down to the tips.
Once the mixture thoroughly covers your scalp and hair, let it set for an hour.
Wash your hair using a mild sulfate-free shampoo and cool water to rinse. Do not use hot water because it can cook the egg on your hair.
Do this 1 to 2x a week.

These three DIY recipes are easy to prepare and the ingredients are readily available either at home or in the supermarket.

Alternative solutions

Not everyone is into DIY projects. With family and career to worry about, who has time to make these homemade recipes? You can buy ready to use hair masks in the market without the stress of preparing one.

You can try any of these brands as an alternative solution:

Amplixin Hydrating Hair Mask

Features:

Paraben-free and sulfate-free hair loss prevention formula.
Intense moisturizer for dry and itchy scalp.
Helps restore the vitality, shine and body of your hair follicles.
Nurtures the scalp, repairing damage cells from dirt that causes dandruff.
Clinically tested to help reduce hair loss for both men and women.
Suited for all hair types.

Application:

Apply Amplixin Hydrating Hair Mask by massaging to your wet hair.
Focus your application on roots down to the end of your hair.
Use a comb to comb through your hair.
Leave on for 3-5 minutes.
Rinse and shampoo thoroughly.

 

True Pure Natural Hair Mask

Features:

Made from combination of coconut oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil.
Paraben and sulfate free, no animal testing done.
Fragrance free.
Helps reduce thinning hair and stops DHT activity.
Improves the circulation of vitamins and nutrients to your scalp.
Reduces scalp redness and inflammation that causes dandruff.
Reduces build-up of excess oil and dirt.
Keeps your hair smooth and shiny

Application:

Apply a generous amount to wet hair.
Apply and massage from roots to tips of hair.
Leave in for 3 to 5 minutes.
Rinse thoroughly.

 

Luxe Organix Deep Conditioner Hair Mask

Features:

No sulfate, parabens, sodium chloride, gluten, phthalates, phosphates, and drying alcohol
The combination of quinoa protein and avocado helps transform dull, dry hair to shiny, soft and manageable hair.
Certified Organic Virgin Coconut Oil and Certified Organic Fair Trade Shea Butter.
Enhanced by Marshmallow Root Extract to relieve and sooth dry scalp and effectively control dandruff.
Relieves itchy and red scalp.

Application:

Shampoo and rinse your hair before use.
Towel dry your hair to remove excess water then apply the hair mask.
Comb your hair from end going up to the root using a wide-tooth comb.
Leave it on for 5 minutes. You can leave it on a bit longer but do not leave it on overnight.
Rinse thoroughly.
Apply once a week.

 

Coco & Eve Like a Virgin Hair Masque

Features:

Sulfate-free, paraben-free, cruelty-free, phthalate-free, and gluten-free
100% vegan
The coconut oil deeply penetrates hair follicles leaving the scalp healthy.
Shea butter and essence of fig helps detangle and moisturize hair without heavy build-up.
Has linseed to give your hair extra shine and soft texture.
Argan oil helps to tame frizz.

Application:

Rinse and shampoo your hair using sulfate-free shampoo.
Towel dry your hair.
Apply a generous amount of hair masque on your hair. Make sure it coats your hair evenly.
Brush your hair with a detangle brush
Leave on for 5 to 10 minutes.
Rinse with warm water.
If you have dry hair, apply 2 to 3 times a week, for oily hair, apply just once a week, and for normal hair apply 1 to 2 times a week.

 

Kopari Organic Coconut Melt

Features:

100% organic and unrefined coconut oil.
Multi-functional product
Serve as a hair mask for hair hydration, body moisturizing lotion, make-up remover, dry shaving oil, bath boost, eye circles remover, baby cream, and stretch mark remover.
Contains protein and Vitamin E to help protect and moisturize your hair and skin.
Sulfate free, paraben free, cruelty free and non GMO.
Comes with a spoon to help you scoop out the oil.

Application:

As hair mask, simply apply mixture on your head and massage from your scalp to the end of your hair.
Leave on for an hour or overnight.
Rinse with shampoo and water thoroughly.

You can still maintain quality and safety of your treatment products even if you if it not a DIY recipe.

Choose products that has natural organic ingredients and are chemical free.

Not just an empty nut

The coconut has been touted an “empty nut” because there is very little that you will find edible in the fruit.

However, it brings many benefits not just to your body but your hair as well.

Because of this, it is no big surprise to find coconut oil sitting inside every home.

 

 

The Hair Loss Plan to Hair Growth

Both men and women are conscious about their hair. After all, it is their crowning glory. Men associate a head full of hair with masculinity while women associate it with beauty. Balding and hair loss, on the other hand, is typically associated with aging and ugliness.

Certainly, a head full of hair leads to positive emotional, psychological, and mental results. Those who have healthy looking hair tend to be happier and more confident. On the contrary, people who experience balding and hair loss often isolate themselves or avoid social interactions.

With this being said, you can conclude that hair is very important. Hair loss should be prevented and hair growth should be encouraged. So, without further ado, here are some guidelines to help you create a plan to attain and maintain healthy hair:

 

Minimize stress.

Start by minimizing stress. As you know, stress can cause chronic illnesses and lots of other problems, including hair loss. Stress can cause your hair to start shedding and stop growing. It can also cause your own immune system to attack your hair follicles, leading to hair loss.

Relax your mind and body by meditating, taking naps, and engaging in pleasurable activities. See to it that you also exercise on a regular basis. Refrain from smoking, drinking alcohol, and using illegal drugs. Simply put, do your best to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

 

Try balayam yoga.

It is an ancient acupressure exercise that promotes hair growth. It involves rubbing your fingernails together to stimulate scalp activity. It can reduce pattern baldness in both women and men if done regularly.

 

Shampoo your hair properly.

The way you shampoo your hair can have a significant effect on your hair growth. Too little or too much shampooing can cause hair loss. Ideally, you should shampoo your hair twice per week. However, you should condition and rinse your hair on a daily basis.

Also, you should choose volumizing shampoos that deposit ingredients, such as keratin and wheat protein, into your hair. They can thicken your hair shaft as well as create spaces between your hair so that it can appear thicker. Aside from that, you can use shampoos that contain ceramides to bulk up your hair.

 

Use an oil-rich conditioner.

The tensile strength of your hair can be improved by oils because they contain properties that make hair less vulnerable to pressure. If your hair is thinning, you should use a conditioner that contains natural oils, such as avocado and coconut oils, to make it stronger and less likely to break, especially during styling or brushing.

Coconut oil is particularly beneficial since it can penetrate hair deeply, making it stronger. Just be careful not to overuse it. Otherwise, your hair may dry up.

 

Use rosemary essential oil.

This essential oil is fragrant and effective in promoting hair growth. Make it a habit to add one to two drops of rosemary essential oil into your shampoo. Then, massage your shampoo mixed with the essential oil onto your scalp.

 

Use scalp tonic.

A healthy scalp can lead to better hair growth. Keep your scalp healthy by using serums with procyanidins or peptides. They can reduce inflammation and prevent hair loss.

It is also ideal to use scalp tonic with minoxidil, a drug that promotes hair growth. It would encourage minoxidil to penetrate deeper into your scalp, preventing any possible irritation.

 

Use collagen powder.

Researchers have found that marine-sourced collagen can promote hair growth. It can thicken your hair after only three to six months of regular use. You can mix it into your drinking water, coffee, or tea.

 

Use vitamins and supplements.

See to it that you use enough vitamin D to prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. Remember that a deficiency in this vitamin can result in hair thinning.

You should likewise consume enough zinc and iron to prevent hair shedding. In addition, you can use red ginseng, which has an anti-apoptotic effect on hair. It slows down hair follicle death and encourages hair growth.

 

Use the right medications and products.

Of course, you need to consult your doctor before you take any medication or supplement. Nevertheless, the following are the most commonly recommended drugstore products for hair growth:

 

Minoxidil

It is a topical non-prescription drug approved by the Food and Drug Administration. You can use it if your hair is thinning, but make sure that you use it continuously. Once you stop, your hair can start falling out again. Ideally, you should use five percent strength once a day. You may see results within four months.

 

Hair fibers

These are small charged fibers that stick to the scalp. They stay there until they are shampooed and rinsed away. Choose hair fibers that match your hair color so that they look natural.

 

Pyrithione zinc shampoo

This shampoo contains zinc pyrithione, which is an anti-dandruff ingredient that mitigates hair loss caused by dandruff. When using this shampoo, make sure that you use a conditioner that does not contain any silicone to avoid having limp hair.

 

Use finasteride.

It is also commonly referred to as Propecia. It prevents the formation of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), which is a male androgen hormone that makes hair follicles short and thin. DHT can lead to hair loss because it disrupts the anagen phase or the hair growth cycle.

 

Get platelet-rich plasma (PRP).

It uses your own platelets to encourage hair growth. First, you need to have your blood drawn. Then, you’ll have it spun inside a centrifuge. This would separate your plasma and red blood cells.

Next, your plasma would be drawn and injected into your scalp. It contains lots of platelets, which promote hair growth. Ideally, you should undergo this process once a month for four months initially. Have it done biannually or quarterly afterwards.

 

Undergo diagnostic tests.

You can also go to your dermatologist to find out why you are experiencing hair loss. Some of the common reasons why this problem occurs include genetics, hormone levels, inflammation, and nutritional deficiencies.

The series of tests typically involve plucking several pieces of hair from the back of the scalp and examining them under the microscope to find out how much they rest, grow, and fall out.

Your blood will also be tested for nutrient and hormone levels. If it is found to contain high levels of androgens and other male hormones that contribute to hair loss, you will be prescribed with medications or supplements to improve your condition.

You may even be advised to undergo a scalp biopsy if your tests are normal. This would determine if your hair loss is caused by genetics or medical conditions.

 

Go through regrowth therapies.

You can undergo laser treatments that will expose your hair to laser, which increases the level of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in the hair follicles and stimulates hair growth. Opt for weekly sessions for three months.

You can also have platelet replacement therapy and microneedling. These procedures spur wound healing and encourage hair regeneration. Ideally, you should go for combination therapy since it is much better and more effective than monotherapy.

 

Eat foods that promote hair growth.

Avoid consuming caffeine, alcohol, sugar, processed foods, and trans-fatty acids because they are bad for your hair health. Eat foods that promote hair growth such as the following:

 

Eggs

They are excellent sources of biotin and protein, nutrients that encourage hair growth.

Protein is vital since your hair follicles are practically made of it. A deficiency in this nutrient can cause you to suffer from hair loss.

Likewise, biotin is necessary to produce keratin, which is a type of hair protein. This is why you often see biotin supplements being marketed for stimulating hair growth. Researchers have also found that consuming biotin improves hair growth in individuals with biotin deficiency.

Moreover, eggs are rich in selenium, zinc, and other nutrients that are beneficial for the hair.

 

Fatty Fish

Herring, mackerel, and salmon are examples of fatty fish that are good for your hair. They are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which promote hair growth.

In one study, one hundred and twenty women were asked to take antioxidants as well as omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acid supplements to improve their hair density and reduce hair loss. The researchers obtained positive results.

In another study, the researchers found that using fish oil supplements significantly improved hair growth and minimized hair loss in women with thinning hair.

Furthermore, fatty fish is an excellent source of vitamins B and D3 as well as protein and selenium, which are all beneficial for hair growth.

 

Berries

They contain vitamins and other compounds that stimulate hair growth. For instance, they contain vitamin C, which has antioxidant properties that protect hair follicles against free radical damage.

Vitamin C also produces collagen, which strengthens hair and prevents it from breaking. In addition, it helps your body absorb iron better. Take note that iron deficiency can lead to hair loss.

 

Nuts and Seeds

They are great for snacks. They also help promote hair growth since they contain a variety of vitamins and minerals. They even reduce risks of heart disease and inflammation.

For instance, almonds contain vitamin E, which is good for your hair. Similarly, you can eat chia seeds and flaxseeds because they contain omega-3 fatty acids.

Seeds also contain vitamin E, as well as selenium and zinc. Ideally, you should eat a variety of nuts and seeds to maximize your benefits.

 

Spinach

This green vegetable contains vitamins A and C, as well as folate and iron. These nutrients are necessary for hair growth.

For example, vitamin A stimulates the production of sebum, which is an oily substance that moisturizes your scalp and keeps your hair healthy. Iron also helps your red blood cells transport oxygen throughout your body so that you can have functional systems and healthy hair.

 

Go for protective styling.

The way you style your hair also affects its health and growth. Make sure that you always protect your hair against damage by using products such as heat protectant agents.

 

Refrain from trimming your hair too much.

Some people think that trimming their hair once a month or at a certain interval will make it longer and more beautiful. This is not correct. When you trim your hair often, you take away its opportunity to grow.

Keep in mind that the average hair growth is only ½ inch per month. Hence, it is really not advisable to trim your hair every month. Nonetheless, you should regularly cut split ends to prevent hair problems.

 

Comb your hair the right way.

Yes, the way you comb your hair also affects its health and growth. For starters, you should refrain from combing your hair too much. Otherwise, you may only end up with more hair loss.

Whenever you do comb it, make sure that you use a clean and wide-toothed comb. Oils, dirt, and chemicals may accumulate on your comb. If these elements get on your hair, your hair can be damaged. Make it a habit to clean your combs regularly.

Also, wide-toothed combs are ideal because they do not pull out hair strands. If you do not have a wide-toothed comb, you can simply use your fingers. Always comb your hair gently and carefully.

 

Now that you have reached the end of this blog post, you should already have an idea on how to increase your odds for hair growth. If you still want to learn more about this topic, just click here.

A 5 Step Natural Hair Guide (That ANYONE Can Follow)

Is your hair looking dull and unhealthy? Are you getting more hair fall lately? Maybe it’s because you aren’t taking care of it enough, or maybe you are taking care of it the wrong way.

Shampoo commercials always exaggerate how beautiful your hair will be when you use their product, but these commercials will remain what they really are: exaggerated. The truth is that naturally beautiful hair cannot be achieved by just using one product; it requires patience and a few simple steps.

Wondering how to build an effective natural hair care regimen? Here are 5 steps anyone can do to achieve naturally beautiful hair.

 

Step 1 – Apply oil to your hair regularly

Applying oil regularly can help promote healthy hair strands and also boost hair growth, as well as protect hair from dandruff and pollution. There is a wide variety of oils that can be applied to hair but beauty experts recommend using coconut oil, preferably organic and cold-pressed. Other oils that can be used are macadamia nut oil, neem oil, and even olive oil.

Oiling hair is popular because of the following benefits:

It prevents moisture loss from hair.
Using coconut oil can help make hair more resistant to breaking during washing or styling.
Oil enhances softness.

You can oil your hair by following these steps:

Heat about 3-5 tablespoons of coconut oil. If using a microwave, set the timer to a maximum of 10 seconds.
Massage a moderate amount of oil onto the scalp before going to bed. Don’t forget to wear a shower cap so the oil won’t soak into your beddings.
Leave the oil on your hair overnight. This gives the oil enough time to work its magic.
After waking up, leave the oil on for another 30-40 minutes before rinsing it off in the shower.
Towel dry your hair. Brush it once it’s dry to evenly distribute the oil.

If you don’t like the idea of leaving oil on your hair overnight, it’s best to let the oil soak for 1-2 hours before washing it off. If your hair tends to be greasy, it’s also best to not let your hair soak in oil overnight. If you do decide to leave the oil overnight, washing your hair twice can help prevent greasiness. 

For sensitive hair, it’s best not to use tea tree oil or neem oil as it might cause reactions on sensitive scalp.

 

Step 2 – Brush your hair using a wooden brush

While it may sound insignificant at first, but the way you brush your hair and even the type of brush you use has a dramatic impact.

Wooden brushes are sworn by many because of their quality and how effective they are in distributing natural oils evenly on the hair. The following are a few more benefits of using wooden brushes.

 

Wooden brushes have bristles that are very porous, effectively absorbing natural oil from the scalp and distributing it to other parts of the hair.
Using a good quality wooden brush massages different pressure points along the head, improving blood circulation, and therefore promoting healthy hair growth.
Compared to metal or plastic brushes, wooden brushes don’t produce static.
A wooden brush is made from smoothened wood, so hair glides easily over it. This means lesser chances of hair getting tangled and lesser chances of breakage.
Wooden brushes have rounded bristles, which is more ideal for sensitive scalp.
The wood and rubber materials of wooden brushes make it a sustainable hair tool. Wooden brushes also last longer compared to plastic brushes, which are harmful to the environment.

To make brushing smoother, comb out any tangles or mats using your fingers or a wide-toothed wooden comb. People would normally brush their hair from scalp to ends, but some people recommend brushing from the ends to the scalp. Others find it relaxing to flip their hair over and brush from the nape of the neck down to the ends.

 

Step 3 – Avoid (or minimize) any heating

Heat styling has been a popular go-to styling method for most hair enthusiasts, as heat makes hair easier to shape. It’s also the easiest solution to straightening out those unruly waves or adding bounce to an otherwise volume-less hair. Because of its convenience, more women prefer the instantaneous effects of heat styling rather than sitting long hours on a salon chair.

However, as hair becomes continuously exposed to heat, the higher the chances of it becoming dull and lifeless. This is why avoiding (or minimizing) the use of heat styling is recommended for natural, well-maintained hair.

Here’s what you can do about heat styling.

Start in the shower

Use good-quality conditioner in the shower to strengthen and moisturize your hair, then rinse in water that’s between normal to slightly cold. Avoid brushing when hair is still wet; towel dry your hair first before using a wide-toothed comb to remove the tangles before brushing.

 

Always protect your hair before styling

Before using heat tools, make sure to use products that are specially formulated to protect the hair from heat. A heat protectant spray will likely be sufficient as it creates a shield of heat protection on each hair strand. Others recommend using a heat protectant cream as its effect can last up to four days without the need to reapply.

 

Use tools that have adjustable temperatures

There are lots of generic heat styling tools being sold that do not have adjustable temperatures. Every person has hair that’s different in thickness and texture from others. This is why you should only use tools with adjustable temperatures.

 

Avoid heating for too long

Stylists use heat tools quickly, only allowing their clients’ hair to stay under the heat for a few seconds. This is because hot irons have the tendency to burn hair when left on for too long.

 

Switch to air-drying your hair

To reduce the amount of time your hair spends under a heated blow-dryer, try air-drying your hair and only resort to blow-drying if you absolutely have to.

 

Step 4 – Use natural hair products

The best rule of thumb when looking for natural hair care products is to look for those with the fewest ingredients. This would mean examining the labels not only to look at what the product can do for your hair, but to read the list of ingredients. If you want an all-natural hair care product, you might want to be wary of the following ingredients:

Alcohol
Artificial fragrances
Chlorine
Diethanolamine (DEA), momoethanolamine (MEA), and triethanolamine (TEA)
DMD hydantoin and imdiazolidinyl urea
FD&C color pigments
Mineral oil
Polyethylene glycol (PEG)
Propylene glycol (PG)
Sodium laureth sulfate (SLES) and sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)

Other than the fact that they negatively impact hair growth, these ingredients are known to cause allergic reactions, slow cell development, and some are even carcinogenic. While some symptoms may not display up front, most people wouldn’t risk waiting until the long-term effects appear.

On the other hand, here are what natural hair care products should have:

Aloe vera – a natural ingredient that can help treat some scalp problems and also promote hair growth
Avocado / avocado oil – contains vitamins A, D, E, and potassium
Castor seed oil – a humectant (aids in moisture retention) and also has anti-fungal properties while aiding in hair growth
Coconut oil – aside from acting as an emollient, it also improves shine and strength
Extra virgin olive oil – another emollient that helps lock in moisture in the scalp and hair
Honey – a humectant that is also anti-bacterial
Jojoba extract – helps balance the production of oil in the scalp, preventing the hair from turning greasy
Shea butter – high in fatty acids and acts as an emollient, locking in hair moisture.
Tea tree oil – an anti-fungal, antibacterial, and antiseptic in one. It helps treat dryness of the scalp.
Vegetable glycerin – known for retaining moisture in the hair

 

Step 5 – Maintain a healthy diet

The last and most important step of all is to maintain a healthy diet that’s full of nutrients. It is true when they say what is seen on the outside is a reflection of what’s inside. Brittle and dull hair may be caused by dehydration or a deficiency in nutrients, which is why food and supplement intake is just as important as the previous steps mentioned.

Below is a list of important nutrients that will help you maintain naturally beautiful hair.

Vitamin A – helps produce sebum—an oil-like substance that helps moisturize the scalp and aid in hair growth. Foods rich in Vitamin A include carrots, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach, and some animal products such as eggs, yogurt, and milk.
B-vitamins – aids in biotin production, which helps boost hair growth. Other B-vitamins like vitamin B3 can improve blood circulation, while vitamin B5 can help prevent early greying. B-vitamins can be sourced from almonds, whole grains, fish, meat, and dark, leafy greens.
Vitamin C – this is a powerful antioxidant that helps eliminate free radicals from the body. It creates collagen, which is an important part of hair and skin structure. It also helps the body absorb iron, which is a vital nutrient for hair growth. Vitamin C can easily be found in citrus fruits, strawberries, guavas, and peppers.
Vitamin D – deficiency in this vitamin leads to alopecia—a medical condition where hair falls out in large patches. Vitamin D helps create the follicles on which hair would grow. Aside from direct sunlight, Vitamin D can be sourced from cod liver oil, mushrooms, fatty fish, and other fortified foods.
Vitamin E – also considered an antioxidant that boosts hair growth. Vitamin E is found in avocados, spinach, almonds, and sunflower seeds.

In addition to these vitamins, it’s also helpful to maintain a diet rich in iron and protein—two more nutrients known to keep the hair healthy.

Each person’s hair is different so following these steps to the last detail doesn’t guarantee fast results. Maintaining naturally beautiful hair requires patience and commitment to following the first four steps and more importantly, the fifth and final step. As long as you follow these steps, you won’t have to rely too much on salons just to achieve those naturally beautiful locks.

 

 

 

5 Best Flat Irons for Kinky Hair

Kinky hair looks fabulous and those who wear their natural tight curls ooze with confidence. But if you have Afro hair, it’s normal to sometimes want straight and silky locks.

The good news is that there are lots of flat irons that can temporarily straighten even the most stubborn hair. The bad news is that you can end up having damaged hair if you use the wrong product.

It’s no secret that kinky black hair is extremely delicate and fragile. It’s the type of hair that’s most susceptible to mechanical and heat damage. Therefore, it’s super important for you to choose a flat iron that can handle your strands gently.

Which flat iron is best for kinky hair? Here’s a look at five high-end straighteners available on Amazon for your tight curls.

 

The Best Flat Iron for Kinky Hair


Bio Ionic OnePass Nano Ceramic Straightening Iron

The Bio Ionic OnePass Iron is a great choice for those who want to straighten their hair without damaging it. Its ceramic plates are fitted with the brand’s proprietary silicone speed strips that reduce the amount of time required to straighten hair in half.

The flat iron hydrates dry and damaged hair while straightening or styling it. Its plates are infused with healing minerals. When powered on, these minerals emit negative ions and infrared energy. They break down clusters of water on your hair into smaller particles, allowing moisture to penetrate deeper, hydrate hair, remove frizz, and make your hair look shiny and healthy.

One of the major causes of hair damage when using straighteners is applying too much heat. Thankfully, this flat iron only heats up to 400° F. And as its name suggests, you only need to pass the iron through your hair once to straighten it. This significantly reduces the risk of damage, although the result will vary, depending on your hair characteristics.

NuMe Megastar X Hair Straightener

The Megastar X hair straightener has 1.75” wide plates. This is a good choice for those with long and thick kinky hair. If you have sensitive scalp, you’ll appreciate its floating plates that tug at hair much less than fixed plates do.

The flat iron is fitted with tourmaline ceramic plates that conduct negative ions and far infrared heat to prevent frizz, maintain moisture, and reduce breakage when you straighten your kinky hair. It’s also equipped with an ion booster, offering a more effective negative ion conditioning technology.

When turned on, the straightener automatically heats to 390°F – the ideal styling temperature for kinky hair – but you can easily adjust it and set the temperature anywhere between 190°F and 450°F. It’s geared with a digital temperature display. This way, you won’t have to guess what temperature it’s currently set at.

Like other high-end flat irons, it has an automatic shut-off feature that is activated after 60 minutes of non-use.

GHD Platinum+ Professional Performance Styler

If you’re into smart stuff, then you will love the GHD Platinum+ Styler. This innovative product claims to be the world’s first ever smart hair straightener. The technology isn’t simply there to make it appear advanced. It actually works, and it’s what makes this unit one of, if not the best straightener for those with kinky hair.

The Platinum+ uses a matrix of sensors to recognize your hair’s thickness or thinness, the amount of hair it’s working on, and how fast you’re styling. Taking them into consideration, it determines and delivers the right amount of power for an optimum temperature that will straighten your hair. In addition, it only takes 20 seconds for the plates to heat up.

The optimum temperature is another thing that differentiates the Platinum+ from other straighteners. It’s been widely known that the minimum temperature for straightening kinky hair is 392° F. However, the Platinum+ maintains a significantly lower temperature of 365° F. According to GHD, you can expect 70% less breakage, two times more color protection, and 20% more shine.

The styler is designed with an automatic sleep-mode. It will turn of if left idle for 30 minutes, so there’s no need for you to worry if you’re the type who constantly forgets to turn off electrical devices.

The Wide Iron Hair Straightener by Cloud Nine

The Cloud Nine Wide Iron is like GHD Platinum Styler’s big sister. They have the same basic features, but the former has wider plates.

Majority of flat irons use plates that are 1” wide or less because they expose hair to less heat in less time, minimizing damage. However, this type of plate is inadequate when used with voluminous hair. With 1.5” wide plates, the Wide Iron is best for those with long and thick kinky hair.

The Wide Iron is fitted with mineral-infused ceramic plates that smoothly glide over stubborn kinks and lock in moisture, creating healthy and straight hair. It’s also equipped with a smart controlled heating system and thermal sensors, allowing the tool to adjust temperature according to what your hair needs.

With its one-touch temperature control, you can easily set the temperature between 212°F and 392°F and the iron heats up in less than 30 seconds. It has LED display that shows the level of heat and it automatically shuts off after 30 minutes of non-use.

CHI PRO G2 Digital Titanium-Infused Ceramic Flat Iron

The flat iron is equipped with ceramic plates infused with high-grade titanium. This combination allows the G2 to take advantage of the benefits of the two most popular materials used in straighteners.

Having titanium-ceramic plates makes styling smoother, quicker, and completely snag-free. The ceramic part ensures even distribution of heat and versatility. The titanium metal allows for better heat conduction for quicker results. It also adds durability to lengthen the unit’s lifespan. If you’re a bit clumsy, you may want to consider this flat iron.

The temperature of the G2 can be set up to 425°F and it heats up in about 40 seconds. It uses a color-coded LED light to indicate that the iron has sufficiently heated up.

 

How to Choose the Right Flat Iron for Your Kinky Hair

You can never go wrong selecting any of the above flat irons. But if you don’t think that they’re the right ones for you, don’t worry. Here’s what you should look for in hair straighteners if you decide to buy something else:

Plate Composition

The two most common types of materials used in making the plates of flat irons are ceramic and titanium. Each one has its own benefits and risks to natural hair and produces different results.

Titanium plates may be too harsh on your kinky hair. Therefore, you should always choose straighteners with 100% ceramic plates or ceramic infused with titanium or tourmaline. However, stay away from cheap straighteners that boast of nano-ceramic plates. They’re most likely made of filler materials that don’t heat evenly and could damage your hair.

Plate Size

If you have short hair, consider trying flat irons with plates that are at most 1” wide. If you have thick and long hair, look for plates over an inch wide.

Negative Ion Technology

Ions are particles with positive or negative charge. Positively charged particles cause static and create frizzy hair. If your hair often gets frizzy, you should choose a straightener that releases negative ions to neutralize the charge in your hair.

Automatic Shut Off Timer

This feature is important if you’re a forgetful person. Most high-end flat irons have this feature although there are some that don’t.

 

Tip for Straightening Kinky Hair

No matter what flat iron you use, you should never go straight to ironing your hair. Natural kinky hair is dry and directly applying heat from flat irons will dry it out and ruin your fragile curl pattern. Before straightening your hair, make sure that you infuse it with enough moisture, so your curls won’t get damaged and fall apart.

 

Top Blogging Tools for Hair and Beauty Bloggers

Every beauty blogger, whether on makeup, skin care, or hair care, needs a starting point to grow their online presence and make money. However, with so many blogging tips and tools available online, it’s confusing to choose which one to use.

Below is a list of suggested tools will help make every beauty blogger’s life easier.

 

Web Hosting

First things first. Every blog needs a reliable web host. Here are two recommended web hosting services for bloggers:

1. Bluehost

This is one of the largest web hosting services around, and also one of the most trusted providers. In fact, it is already hosting over 2 million websites worldwide. One main selling point of Bluehost is that its pricing plans come with a free domain name. This is something not offered in other web hosting platforms.

 

PROS:

Easy to set up

Bluehost’s interface makes it easy to set up, especially for WordPress. Other services will require you to manually install WordPress, but Bluehost’s built-in WordPress installation makes it a convenient choice.

 

Cheap pricing plans

At $2.95/month, users get access to the tools needed to successfully run a website (e.g. support, SSL certificate, and domain name, to name a few)

 

24/7 Customer support

Bluehost has 24/7 technical support for all its customers, and can easily be reached via chat, email, or phone.

 

Round-the-clock security

Bluehost’s web hosting service is also one of the most secure, as it is capable of auto-correcting any security threats that may potentially affect blogs.

 

2. Fast Comet

Fast Comet is a relatively new web hosting platform. In fact, it only started making its name in the cloud hosting business in 2013. Even so, many startup businesses, and even larger corporations, have chosen to host their websites on this platform for the following reasons:

 

PROS:

Feature-heavy

Bloggers can optimize their websites by utilizing the features offered by Fast Comet. Examples of these features are cPanel hosting, daily backups, SSL certificates, site transfer, and many more.

 

Three types of hosting

There are three types of hosting offered at Fast Comet: shared (most economical option for startups), VPS (similar to shared, only there are fewer sites in the servers), and dedicated (a more expensive option where a website occupies its own private server).

 

Drag-and-drop site builder

Fast Comet offers more than 40 ready-to-use widgets that bloggers can readily drag and drop into place. This makes it easier to customize websites, even without experience in graphic or web design.

 

Website Themes

Of course, one thing that sets one blog apart from the other is the aesthetic. Using website themes not only adds color and style to a blog; it also adds to the overall look that may please the eyes of a blog’s target subscribers.

Here are some suggestions on where bloggers can get their website themes:

 

1. StudioPress

StudioPress is the company behind Genesis Framework, a framework that provides bloggers access to a wide variety of themes to use on their websites. This is particularly made for those using WordPress.

 

PROS:

Search Engine-Optimized

Each theme is optimized to help sites improve its ranking in search engine results. This is one feature that cannot be found in free themes.

 

Automatic updates

The codes used in StudioPress themes are always updated so bloggers don’t need to worry about their themes not working after a few months.

 

Updated designs

Another good thing about StudioPress is that it regularly adds new designs and themes. This way, users will be able to update the look of their website and stay relevant to the current trends at the same time.

 

Hassle-free makeovers

Just like in beauty, giving websites a makeover helps keep it more interesting to current and potential subscribers. What’s more, changing the child theme won’t affect SEO rankings in any way, which is always a benefit to bloggers.

 

2. My Theme Shop

One of the best places to purchase plugins and themes for WordPress is My Theme Shop. Here, all products can be bought individually, but it also offers membership options where users can access a huge catalog of plugins and themes.

 

PROS:

Flat pricing

All plugins are priced at $29, while themes can be bought for $59. Users who pay the annual membership fee of $167 also receive customer support, and full access to various PSD files for Photoshop.

 

Membership licenses

This allows My Theme Shop products to be used on an unlimited number of websites, making it a good option for freelance workers and agencies.

 

Regular release of products

Bloggers need to generate new content regularly, and My Theme Shop understands this need. This is why it releases new products every couple of weeks. In fact, it has done 30 new releases on themes and plugins in 2015 alone.

 

24/7 Support

My Theme Shop provides 24/7 support to all its users, whether free or subscribed. It has a public support forum where users can post and read about other users’ troubleshooting experiences, as well as an email support. Also, My Theme shop publishes video tutorials where users can learn how to use their products.

 

3. Creative Market

Another reliable online marketplace for great design content, graphics, photos, themes, fonts, templates, and many more is Creative Market. Compare to the first two, Creative Market hosts design products from independent makers. From business card templates to blog header photos, Creative Market has almost everything bloggers need for their websites.

 

PROS:

Simple to use

Even without graphic design experience, the graphic design tools and assets offered here are easy to use. This is an advantage for bloggers who are just starting out.

 

Learning opportunities

Creative Market also houses discussions and blog posts that help readers learn new skills and how they can use some of their products.

 

Huge collection of digital design assets

From fonts to logos, to photographs and themes, Creative Market offers a lot of options to help bloggers and content creators achieve their dream websites.

 

Community

Creative Market has informative articles posted on its blog section, offering to help its readers understand creative designs and how it can be used to grow their businesses.

 

Amazing deals and freebies

By simply signing up for their email list, subscribers get 6 free products. They also publish great deals and discounts on their home page regularly.

 

 

Email Marketing Tools

Around 78% of smartphone users check their emails on their phones, making email the #1 most popular activity done on a smartphone. This is why it’s also important to pay attention to email marketing.

 

Here are some of the best email marketing tools used by most bloggers today:

 

1. SendInBlue

Since it was established in 2011, SendInBlue has been among the go-to email marketing tools for businesses. Today, it has over 100,000 users, both large and small businesses.

 

PROS:

Automation

While automation is not a standard inclusion in other tools, SendInBlue offers automation with their free 60-day plan. It allows users to send up to 300 emails a day.

 

Subscriber list

Users can easily manage their contacts in SendInBlue by creating a subscriber list. Here, users can list, edit, segment, and even see stats on how engaged these contacts are.

 

Easy-to-use email builder

Sending emails is made easier with SendInBlue’s drag and drop email builder. Users may also use HTML to customize their emails.

 

Social media marketing

SendInBlue understands the importance of social media marketing, which is why it features a Facebook ad maker for users to easily manage their social media campaigns.

 

Simple interface

While other email marketing tools require technical knowledge to use them, SendInBlue has a simple interface where even beginners can start sending out email blasts in minutes.

 

2.  Get Response

This email marketing platform understands the importance of templates in email marketing, which is why it has created over 150 different kinds to suit each blogger’s needs.

 

PROS:

Landing Pages that Convert

Get Response is one of few email platforms that allows you to create top-notch landing pages for opt-in, thank you, sales, webinars, and more in less than ten minutes without touching a single line of code.

 

Webinars

This email marketing platform is the very first to provide a complete marketing webinar solution. No need to purchase other services when you can set up your own with Get Reponse. 

 

Email Marketing Automation

Get Response allows you to create email autoresponders based on customer journeys. 

 

Auto Funnel

Get Response has a ready-made, automated step-by-step system to build your landing pages, automate your emails, sell your products, recover abandoned orders, and earn you money.

 

3. ConvertKit

Among all email marketing platforms, ConvertKit is probably the most favored by most bloggers. This is because it focuses on “converting” site visitors into subscribers, allowing bloggers to easily manage relationships with their target market.

 

PROS:

Affordable pricing

ConvertKit’s pricing is based highly on a blogger’s subscriber list. This means the more subscribers you have, the higher the price.

 

Simplifies campaigns

Creating email campaigns are made easier with ConvertKit’s drag-and-drop feature. Sent emails are also marked as published.

 

Email marketing automation

Automation highly helps to deliver content relevant to a blog’s subscribers. This saves time, and also allows other nifty options such as sending follow up emails to inactive subscribers.

 

Simple to use

ConvertKit makes email campaigns easier through its automation and tagging features. While automation helps make it easier to manage subscribers, tagging helps segment the contact list so there’s no need to do everything at a snail’s pace.

 

Landing page designer

Bloggers with no design experience or skills will be delighted with ConvertKit’s landing page designer. Users can just upload images, change the text, and change the colors to get their landing site done.

 

 

Content Writers

Even the most successful of blogs run out of good ideas sometimes, which is why it’s forgivable to use content writing services from time to time.

 

1. The Hoth

The Hoth is a premium blog writing service that produces highly relevant and well-research articles for blogs and other platforms.

 

PROS:

Professionally written content

Quality written content is usually what makes blogs more attractive to potential subscribers. It also helps blogs rank better in search engine results.

 

Expert level content with blogger pro

Sometimes, even bloggers themselves find it hard to produce content that reflects their brand’s style and tone. The Hoth’s blogger pro feature makes it possible to hire writers who are experts in specific niches.

 

 

Social Media Products

In addition to websites, social media websites are hotspots for bloggers to market their content. Pinterest, for example, is a highly visual platform perfect for beauty bloggers.

 

1. Tailwind

The Tailwind app is one of the trusted schedulers for the social media platform, Pinterest.

 

PROS:

Automatic scheduling

Timing of posts is vital in social media, which is why Tailwind’s automatic scheduling feature greatly helps to grow one’s business.

 

Can schedule a lot of pins

Users can schedule up to 150 pins at a time. However, the time set for posting these pins should be strategically planned for it to be effective.

 

Browser extensions

Can be used as an extension for browsers such as Chrome and Firefox, allowing users to manage their pin schedules even while on a computer.

 

Online Course Creation Tools

More and more content creators are looking to market their products or services by creating online courses or tutorials. Below are three recommended online learning sites where bloggers can publish their own courses (and gain a little income from it).

1. Podia

Podia is a digital storefront that houses lots of online courses. This is especially useful for course creators who have already published their courses elsewhere.

 

PROS:

Creators are prioritized

Course creators who sell a course receive their payouts instantly, with absolutely no transaction fees. This is Podia’s main selling point.

 

Comprehensive and intuitive platform

The platform is easy to use, and can be learned easily.

 

Loaded with content

Users get access to lots of online courses, digital downloads, and even email marketing campaigns.

 

2. Skillshare

Skillshare is currently one of the most popular online learning platforms around for just about anything—blogging, marketing, graphic design, photography, and many more!

 

PROS:

Exposure

Teachers on Skillshare are given exposure through their students who enroll in their class, as well as the thousands of people accessing the platform every day.

 

Communication and engagement

Skillshare allows students to give feedback to classes, and also allows engagement with instructors through discussions. This promotes interaction between content creators/teachers and students, even opening possibilities for students to subscribe to a teacher’s blog or website.

 

Steady income

Teaching on Skillshare can be rewarding. As long as students watch 30 minutes of premium time on a course, the teacher gets paid every 16th of the month.

 

3. Teachable

Teachable is another online learning platform with tons of options on content creation, online marketing, blogging, and so much more!

 

PROS

All-in-one solution

Teachable handles everything related to creating courses. It takes out the headache that accompanies the brainpower and technical knowledge needed in creating courses.

 

Professional-looking sales pages

In addition to hosting your courses, Teachable has attractive sales pages that will help your courses sell.

 

Reliable Security

While it’s not possible to keep content stealers away 100%, Teachable has features that minimizes similar incidents.

 

Affiliate system

Teachable can provide affiliate links that will help bloggers and course creators generate income from their published courses.

 

4. Click Funnels

Click Funnels is a software catered specifically to help people who want to learn how to monetize blogs through funnels.

 

PROS:

Lead funnels/Opt ins

Click Funnels allows creating free offers in exchange for email signups.

 

Sales funnels

Essentially, Click Funnels is designed to convert visitors into buyers or subscribers. Users can easily create funnels for services or products they want to feature.

 

Webinar funnels

In addition to making sales, Click Funnels also has webinar funnels, which aim to make visitors sign up for courses published on websites.

 

Learn How to Sell From Your Laptop

Amazing courses on how to make tons of cash from your laptop

 

Ad Revenue
1. Ezoic

Ezoic helps provide automated content, ads, layouts, and more. This is most helpful for bloggers who want to try hosting ads on blogs.

 

PROS:

Optimization goals

Ezoic has a feature that analyzes users based on their behaviors toward ads, and sends users reports.

 

Monitoring section

Ezoic’s monitoring feature identifies objectionable content, platform updates, Google updates, and even error pages.

 

Higher Payout Than Other Ad Networks

Do you have at least 10,000 viewers to your website per month? Use this ad network over Adsense to increase revenue exponentially. 

 

Create & Grow Your Blog Business

In addition to these tools, here are some recommended sites for bloggers who need to learn skills that’ll help them grow as a business.

 

Create and GO

Create and Go is a website filled with tips, short courses, and articles to help bloggers who are just starting out, or are stuck in the design phase.

 

PROS:

Launch Your Blog course

It’s easy to start a blog, but not as easy to understand the whole process. This is a sworn by course that aims to help people to build their own blogs and make a steady living off it.

 

Email marketing

Here, bloggers also learn the importance of email marketing and how they can start to collect emails from site visitors.

 

Private Facebook group

Those who have enrolled in courses get a chance to connect with a community of helpful people.

 

Lady Boss Blogger

The blog Lady Boss Blogger is an online resource catered specifically to aspiring female bloggers and entrepreneurs, particularly those who aim to be full-time business owners and bloggers.

 

PROS:

Full Refund

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The Surprising Secret to Creating Oil-less Hair

Your skin and scalp have sebaceous glands that produce oil or sebum. Sebum keeps your skin properly hydrated, supple, and healthy. It also gives your hair its healthy shine.

When your scalp produces excess sebum, however, your hair becomes greasy. Overproduction of sebum by the scalp is one of the leading oily hair causes.

 

Oily Hair Causes

Other factors include:

Hormonal changes

The body goes through hormonal changes under certain conditions. Puberty, the use of birth control pills, pregnancy, and hormonal health issues are just some of the reasons for increased hormones.

People with increased hormones are also more likely to have oily hair.

Personal care routines

Oily hair can also be attributed to certain personal care routines. These routines include scrubbing the hair too much while shampooing, over-brushing the hair, and using too much moisturizing hair products like creams, waxes, and lotions.

The constant use of ponytail

Putting your hair up in a ponytail causes dirt and oil to accumulate on the scalp beneath the ponytail band. The oil gets trapped and cannot be distributed to the hair shaft. The roots and strands in this area are oily.

 

How to Get Rid of Oily Hair

There are a few things that you can do to stop or prevent oiliness:

 Shampoo your hair the right way.

Wash your hair by gently working a suitable amount of mild shampoo into your scalp and hair roots. Don’t scrub too aggressively; this will only make your scalp produce more oil. Don’t use your nails or create undue friction on your hair strands.

Use the shampoo on your scalp, where the grease is. Don’t use the shampoo directly on the tresses. When you rinse the hair, allow the shampoo to simply run through the length of your hair.

Omit the repeat or second cleanse.

 

Use a shampoo that contains natural grease-fighting ingredients.

Look for a shampoo that has tea tree oil or seaweed extract. These ingredients help to get rid of excess oil.

 

Use clarifying shampoo.

If regular shampoo fails to remove excess oil from your hair, incorporate the use of clarifying shampoo into your schedule. Wash your hair with clarifying shampoo once or twice a month.

A clarifying shampoo is stronger than regular shampoo. It is effective in removing stubborn dirt, excess oil, and buildup from mineral deposits and hair styling products.

Don’t use clarifying shampoo on color-treated hair as it is likely to make the color fade.

Clarifying shampoo tends to make hair feel dry. Always follow up its use with a conditioner.

 

Use an anti-dandruff shampoo.

If you have excessively oily hair, you are also prone to develop dandruff. Oil buildup promotes the growth of malassezia, natural yeast that causes itchy, tender scalp, as well as thick and greasy dandruff flakes.

If you’re struggling with severely greasy hair, prevent the complication of dandruff by using anti-dandruff shampoo. This particular type of shampoo contains zinc pyrithione and other similar ingredients which reduce the levels of dandruff-causing yeast.

When you apply anti-dandruff shampoo on your scalp, don’t rinse it off right away. Allow it to stay for a couple of minutes so it can do its job.

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Wash your hair in the morning.

The glands in your scalp continue to produce sebum even while you sleep. Over-production of sebum can leave your hair looking and feeling greasy when you wake up -- even if you’ve just washed your hair the night before.

Win the fight against morning grease by washing your hair upon waking up. Changing your shampoo schedule enables you to enjoy clean, fresh, oilless J hair for a longer period of time.

Use conditioner with prudence.

Shampooing your hair can leave it dry. Conditioner is formulated to bring back the shine. It leaves hair silky and smooth – which is just short of being oily.

As a general rule of thumb, apply conditioner only to the ends of your hair. Don’t use it on your scalp or on the roots of your hair. Doing so will make your hair greasy.

Be sparing in the use of conditioner. Use just a dollop which is about as big as a small coin. Rinse thoroughly after use.

If you have serious grease issues, use a leave-on, spray-on conditioner instead of a regular hair conditioner.

Avoid frequent hair washing.

If you don’t wash your hair as often as you should, it becomes dirty, greasy, and dull. On the other hand, if you wash it too frequently, you remove too much of your scalp’s natural protective oils. Your hair becomes weak, brittle and highly vulnerable to split ends and other types of hair damage.

Try to find your hair’s sweet spot, a happy balance between under-washing and over-washing it.

Avoid over-brushing your hair.

Excessive hair brushing produces more grease. It spreads the scalp sebum all over your hair shafts.

If you’re teasing out a bun or detangling your locks, it is better to use a wide-toothed comb. The wide spaces between the teeth of the comb prevent the comb from distributing oil all over your hair – reducing the unappealing look of greasy hair.

Always use a clean brush.

Residues of styling products, grime, and grease can linger on your brush. When you use this brush on your freshly-washed hair, you transfer all the muck on your hair – and make your locks greasy and dirty all over again.

Regularly use a mild soap to remove the buildup of dirt and oil on your brush. Keep all your combs and styling tools clean, too.

Dry your hair with a hair dryer.

Instead of leaving freshly shampooed hair to air dry, use a hair dryer. Blow drying helps to get rid of grease. It plumps up the hair follicle and absorbs excess oil.

Prevent heat damage by using the lowest heat setting.

Don’t use oils on your scalp.

Your scalp produces its own natural oils. When you use oils like coconut oil, olive oil, jojoba oil, or argan oil on your scalp, you promote oil buildup and greasy hair.

Stay away from products that promise to make your hair shiny and luxurious.

If you have naturally oily hair, be wary of any product that promises shiny hair. Using a shine serum may result in beautiful, shiny hair – but only for a while. Your hair will eventually turn greasy and unattractive.

If you insist on using such products for important affairs, apply the product mid-strand; never apply it right on your scalp. Remember to carefully wash off the product afterwards.

Use hair products with non-sticky formulations.

Use styling solutions formulated from lightweight and non-sticky ingredients. These products help you manage and control your hair without the unnecessary buildup.

Use dry shampoo for an emergency fix.

If you don’t have the time to shampoo your greasy hair and you need a quick fix, use a dry shampoo.

Dry shampoo absorbs excess grease from hair. It makes your hair feel great, look revitalized, and smell nice and fresh.

Dry shampoo comes in spray and powder forms. Use it in-between shampoos or during the times when you need to quickly freshen up your hair.

Don’t use it more than you have to, though, if you want to avoid white buildup. Use it lightly. Apply it only on hair layers closest to your scalp; these are usually the greasiest areas.

Keep your hands off your hair.

Touching your hair excessively stimulates the production of sebum. Also, you tend to transfer the oil (and dirt) from your hands to your hair. Get your hands off your hair if you want a quick and simple way to prevent oily hair.

Avoid the ponytail or bun hairstyle.

Keep your hair down if you want to reduce greasiness.

Confining your hair in a bun or in a ponytail traps the natural oils on the scalp. It prevents natural oils from moving down to the hair shafts. With a high concentration of oil on the scalp, you get a greasy scalp, and dry, brittle hair that is prone to split ends.

Go on a hair detox.

Some people use a ton of hair cream, mousse, and wax to give dull, lifeless, and oily hair some shape and lift. Using too much of these products are likely to make your locks look greasy and feel flat.

Restore the natural vitality of your hair by going on a hair detox. Use a high-quality shampoo to deep-cleanse and clarify your hair and remove residue from the creams, sprays, and hair waxes that you use.

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Use apple cider vinegar.

If your hair is too fragile for store-bought shampoo, use apple cider vinegar instead of shampoo.

Apple cider vinegar promotes healthy, beautiful hair. It works as an astringent to control excess oil. It removes stubborn grime and hair product buildup. It helps the scalp maintain the balanced pH critical for overall hair and scalp health.

Dilute 3 tablespoons of the vinegar with a cup of lukewarm water. Apply the solution to your scalp and hair. Leave for 5 or 10 minutes. Use cold water to rinse off the solution.

Use the solution once or twice a week to remove grease buildup.

Wash your hair with oat water.

Prepare oat water by boiling 15 ml (1 tbsp) of dry oats in 120 ml (1/2 cup) of water for a couple of minutes. Remove the oats using a strainer. Allow the leftover water to cool completely.

Use the water for washing your hair. The water is a natural soap without harsh chemicals. It removes excess oil from your hair and leaves your hair clean.

Use a clay mask on your hair.

Look for natural mineral clay like rhassoul or bentonite clay.  Make a clay mask by mixing the clay in enough water to make a paste.

Wet hair. Working on one small section at a time, coat your hair with the clay mask. Cover hair with plastic wrap. Rinse out the clay mask after about 20 minutes.

The detoxifying clay mask will condition and restore your hair, making it feel light and manageable.

Apply citrus.

Lemon juice is recognized as an effective home remedy for greasy hair.

Dilute the juice of two small lemons with 240 ml or 1 cup of water. Gently massage your scalp with the mixture. After 5 minutes, rinse your hair.

 

Conclusion

You don’t want oily hair to give you a bad hair day.

It is not difficult to learn how to get rid of oily hair. Get your hair under control by using some of the options outlined above.

 

15 Shampoo Lessons That Will Pay Off

A bad hair day is a nightmare. No matter how great your outfit or skin looks, having bad hair can break your entire look.

Here are some of the top hair problems that you wouldn’t want to get:

Hair lice
Alopecia (hair loss)
Hair fall
Hair odor
Dandruff
Dry hair
Hair breakage
Oily hair
Split ends

Some of these problems have serious underlying causes that only a medical treatment can fix. But, some of these are preventable by proper care and maintenance.

LESSON #1 Rinse and soak your hair with lukewarm water

Before applying shampoo to your hair, it’s important to let it soak for at least a minute. It’s also crucial that you use lukewarm water. This will open up the pores on your scalp, thereby producing oils and other nasty things while washing.

NEVER use hot water on your hair. Intense heat can damage the hair follicles and scalp.

Simply turn the water heater on and check the temperature before getting into the shower. Make sure to rinse your hair well with water before using shampoo.

LESSON #2 Final rinse should be cold water

Rinse your hair with cold water after washing with shampoo or using conditioner. This will close the pores of the scalp after the lukewarm water wash. It seals the hair cuticles which makes them lay smoothly.

This is the same principle with washing your face with cold water. The hair would be shinier and silkier.

LESSON #3 Apply oil before shampooing

You may be thinking, “Why should I apply more oil to my hair when I’m trying to wash it away?” Washing hair that’s too dry and clean is unhealthy for your hair.

Your hair produces sebum, a type of oil that keeps your hair moisturized. protects your hair by preventing moisture from evaporating. This keeps your hair soft, hydrated, and healthy.

When the hair doesn’t have enough sebum, the hair can become too dry after shampooing. Applying oil before shampooing can keep the moisture in the hair.

TYPE OF OIL TO USE

But, you don’t want to use just any kind of oil. You have to use oil that can penetrate the hair. Go for coconut oil or olive oil. Apply the oil about 4 hours before washing. You can also apply oil before going to bed if you choose to wash your hair the next morning.

HOW MUCH OIL TO USE

The amount of oil you’ll use depends on the length of your hair and how oily it is. If you have oily hair, you may only add a few drops. If it’s long, you may need more oil. It will depend entirely on you so try to test it out until you get the best amount that will work for you.

HOW TO DO IT

Apply room temperature oil onto the hair. Then, cover it with a warm towel or a shower cap. This will help the oil spread through your hair evenly. Leave it for about 4 to 8 hours before shampooing.

You can do this method every time you wash your hair if it’s too dry. You can also do this weekly or twice a month. It will all depend on the severity of your hair damage.

LESSON #4 Detangle the hair before shampooing

Some people comb their hair after washing or detangling while washing. But, this is a big no-no. Combing or detangling the hair while wet can cause great breakage. Your hair is very fragile to breakage when wet.

You should comb or detangle the hair before washing or wetting the hair. It’ll be easier to detangle hair when you divide it into smaller sections.

Use your fingers or a wide-toothed comb. If possible, use a wooden comb. This will prevent any frizz and damage to your hair. Following this tip will make a great change to your hair regimen.

LESSON #5 Choose the best shampoo for your hair type

Hair is classified into different types. Each type requires a different type of hair product. You should choose the best kind of shampoo for your hair. You should also consider if your hair has a type of condition like dandruff.

Here’s a simple guide on choosing the best shampoo for different hair and scalp types:

Oily scalps – choose volumizing, balancing, or strengthening shampoos; avoid smoothing, hydrating, or moisturizing shampoos.
Dry scalps – choose hydrating, moisturizing, and smoothing shampoos; avoid strengthening, volumizing, and fortifying shampoos.
Curly and coarse hair – choose hydrating or moisturizing shampoos.
Limp or fine hair – choose volumizing shampoos.
Damaged hair – choose fortifying or strengthening shampoos.
Curly hair – choose intense moisturizing shampoos.



LESSON #6 Dilute your shampoo

If you’ve experienced hair problems from your shampoo such as flaking, don’t throw it immediately. Your shampoo may be too concentrated. Try diluting it in water to make thin it out before applying to your hair.

This trick may help prevent hair problems. If it continues, then swap it out with a less harsh product. You may also consider making your own shampoo at home! With a DIY shampoo, you can mix in natural ingredients that will fit your hair and scalp type perfectly.

LESSON #7 Avoid shampooing every day if possible

It’s recommended to only wash your hair every 3 days or more. Washing hair with shampoo and other products may damage the hair. It’s best to leave your hair’s natural sebum alone for a few days before washing. But, this still depends on some factors.

Hair and Scalp Type

Every type of hair requires a different approach. Dry scalps and thick stranded hair can skip washing for a few days. But, oily scalps and thin stranded hair may need washing every day.

Lifestyle

Having an active lifestyle will require you to wash your hair more often. If you get sweaty, the pores of your scalp will clog up. This will make your hair and roots become dirty faster so you may need to wash every day. If you use a lot of hair product like hairspray, you’d need to wash it by the end of the day.

Natural Hair Color

Darker hair should receive less washing as well. Washing hair every day can wash off the pigments of the hair which may result in a lighter shade.

LESSON #8 Scrub and massage your scalp gently

NEVER apply too much pressure on your scalp while scrubbing. When shampooing, use small circular motions when scrubbing. Don’t use your fingernails. Instead, use the pads of your fingers.

Also, massage your scalp with the same circular motions. But, go back and forth from the front and back of your head. This will stimulate the scalp for healthier hair growth. It’ll also exfoliate dead skin cells.

LESSON #9 Use conditioner properly

Conditioners can protect and nourish your hair if used correctly. Here are some useful tips when applying conditioner to your hair after shampooing.

Wring out excess water from your hair before conditioning.
Do not apply conditioner to your scalps or roots. Instead, focus on the ends and the most damaged parts of your hair.
Using a wide-toothed comb, spread the conditioner into the hair evenly.
Let the conditioner sit depending on what type of product you’re using.
Rinse out the product thoroughly using cold water. Your hair shouldn’t have any slippery texture after rinsing.

People with oily scalps should also use conditioners. You won’t need to conditioner your scalp because it’s your hair strands that need conditioning.

You can use light conditioners like the Tea Tree Special Conditioner and Desert Essence Lemon Tea Tree Conditioner.

LESSON #10 Never shampoo twice

You may have heard some people say that you should shampoo your hair twice. But, this is harmful to your hair. Washing your hair twice can strip off the sebum and make your scalp dry. This will lead to bad hair health and growth.

Only wash your hair twice if:

You applied oil to your hair, and it didn’t wash off completely.
You used hair products that didn’t wash off completely the first time.
You suffer from an oily scalp and your doctor recommended that it’s okay to wash twice.



LESSON #11 Filter your shower water

No matter how great your products are, washing with rusty and mineral-rich water can make your hair dull.

Try getting a shower filter that can remove the impurities in the water. You’ll immediately see the quick change in your hair routine once you do this.

LESSON #12 Don’t use too much product

If you’re thinking that more shampoo or conditioner is better, then think again. It doesn’t work that way. Applying too much will only make it hard to rinse off. Too much conditioner can also build-up in your hair which can cause different kinds of problems.

Always start with a small amount of shampoo or conditioner. You can always add more if needed.

LESSON #13 Wash your hair immediately after swimming

Don’t let the chlorine from pools or salt from the sea set in your hair. After taking a dip, immediately shampoo and conditioner your hair.

You should’ve applied a protective product before swimming. When washing, use a special type of shampoo for swimmers and a deep-conditioning product. These products will wash away the chlorine or salt and replenish the lost moisture.

LESSON #14 Consider using dry shampoo

Dry shampoo is a simple hair product in powder form used to absorb oil and dirt. You can use this in between your regular washing schedules. Dry shampoo is great especially when you need to clean your hair when you don’t want to wash it.

LESSON #15 Towel dry your hair

The best way to dry your hair is by using a towel. Air-drying your hair can make it into a dust magnet. Your hair is more prone to damage when wet so air-drying may not be advisable. Blow drying is also another way that can damage your hair. Applying heat to your wet hair can instantly damage it.

That’s why the best way to dry your hair is by towel drying. But, don’t be too harsh when towel drying your hair. Gently squeeze out the water using the towel. Also, use a soft, absorbent towel. Coarse towel textures can damage your hair, too.

 

Conclusion

It’s not very difficult to maintain any kind of hair. All you need is discipline and the right knowledge to know where to start. Follow these 15 lessons for a more beautiful and healthier hair.

 

A Quick Guide to Shampoo

Usually, you wouldn’t think of using another shampoo brand unless your hair becomes dull and dry because of the shampoo you use. But it is important to understand the different types of shampoo available. More than buying products by scent and price, you will be able to easily choose what type of shampoo suited for your hair type.

 

3 Different Hair Types

Your hair can fall into one of these types:

Oily hair – Your hair looks dull and lifeless. No matter how much shampoo you use, your hair returns to its limp and greasy self after one or two days.
Dry hair – Your hair looks dry, frizzy, and has split ends.
Normal Hair – You’re extremely lucky to have this hair type! You have little hair loss and dandruff.

 

Here is a primer on shampoos, types of shampoo, and other important facts. You will also learn what to expect should you decide to use homemade shampoo.

 

Types of Shampoo

When you go to the supermarket, do you feel overwhelmed by all the shampoo choices? You aren’t alone. There seems to be a shampoo for every hair problem and hair type out there. But when you know the types of shampoo available, you can quickly go to the beauty aisle and find the perfect product for you.

 

Clarifying shampoo has a high acid content, making it a good choice for swimmers. Clarifying shampoo’s formulation helps in removing excess styling products left in your hair. However, because the acid content is high, use of this product should be limited to once a month. This is to avoid damage and dryness to your scalp.

Chelating shampoo is for you if you constantly take showers in hard water. This shampoo will remove all the minerals, slime, and residue that have built up on your hair. It will also detoxify your scalp.

Keratin shampoo is popular if you want to repair your hair and make it smooth again. Your hair is mostly made of keratin protein, this type of shampoo will bring back your hair’s natural moisture.

Sulfate-free shampoo is perfect for people suffering from eczema. It’s a medical condition characterized by dryness and inflammation of the skin. You can also use it if you have a sensitive scalp, because this shampoo won’t strip the natural oils from your hair.

Dry shampoo is ideal if you’re traveling and don’t have access to a shower. It’s a starch or alcohol-based spray that gives your hair volume while taking away the oil and grease. Generally safe for all types of hair, you can still feel clean until your next bath. Otherwise, you may find your hair feeling brittle and looking like you left sand in your hair.

Homemade shampoo is made from natural ingredients, as the name may suggest. Mixing your own shampoo may seem strange at first, but think about it: commercial shampoos, while convenient, may contain ingredients that aren’t safe for your hair. Going the DIY route is more cost-effective and there are plenty of recipes available online. You might find this book


Shampoo bars contain organic ingredients in a solid form. These were invented in the 1940s and were common before liquid shampoos became a thing. Some ingredients used in shampoo bars include butter, essential oils, and natural plant oils.

 

Shampoo PH Levels and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

You may think that soap suds means cleaner hair but think about it: the soap suds that go down your drain may be harmful. The dirty water from drainpipes can end up in a river, lake, or ocean and can be harmful to the fish and other undersea life.

Have you ever wondered why sulfate-free shampoos exist? Because most commercial shampoos contain sodium lauryl sulfate, an ingredient that makes bubbles in your shampoo. You can also find it in other beauty products like hand wash and cleanser.

However, sodium lauryl sulfate can irritate your skin, and irritated skin can cause eczema and dermatitis. If you continue using sulfate shampoos, your hair could feel much oilier as your scalp will work even harder. This is because SLS strips away your skin’s natural oils.

Another thing to be wary of is preservatives. Do you check your shampoo’s expiration date? Commercial hair products can have plenty of preservatives in them to keep them shelf-stable. Having preservatives in shampoos does prevent bacteria and yeast growth. However, this can also mean that your shampoo can be toxic for the environment, because these preservatives target and kill bacteria and yeast, which are still living organisms.

 

Why Your Hair Needs pH Balance

If you’re experiencing a dry and itchy scalp or want your hair to grow just a bit faster, your hair might be pH imbalanced. As you may know, pH measures the level of acidity of a substance. Generally, 0 to 6.9 is considered acidic, 7 is considered neutral, and 7.1 to 14 is alkaline. Aim for a pH level between 5 and 7 for your shampoo.

Besides keeping your scalp healthy, pH balanced shampoo can keep your hair cuticles closed, keeping your hair from drying out. It also stops your scalp from over-producing oil after you get your hair treated.

 

Switching from Commercial to Homemade Shampoo

Deciding to focus on natural hair care can do wonders for your hair. Your hair will gradually go through a detox process, stripping away all the build-up from your hair products.

But how do you know when your hair is trying to clean itself? Here are some signs to watch for:

 

Hair Detox Symptoms

 

Oily scalp and hair – If you feel like your head is turning into a ball of grease, this is because your scalp is used to shampoos stripping away your hair’s natural oils. As a result, your scalp will make more oil. After your scalp adjusts to sulfate-free or homemade shampoo, the oiliness will subside.

Sticky and heavy hair – a very common detox symptom. Your hair is removing chemical buildup as well as plastic from your old hair care products. These plastics will stick to almost everything, your hair included.

Brittle, dry, and rough hair – Expect this if you keep experimenting with your hair. After your hair is stripped away of silicone, it will reveal all the damage your hair has been through. It is important to brush your hair in the evening to stimulate the scalp, too.

 

As much as possible, resist from grabbing your commercial shampoo and returning to your old routine. It will take some time for your scalp to adjust, but afterward, you will wake up to locks that are fresh and clean.

 

The Basics of Homemade Shampoo

Making homemade shampoo isn’t as intimidating as it sounds. There are some shampoos that have only two ingredients—and they might already be in your pantry.

 

You can even make a simple clarifying shampoo using only two ingredients: baking soda and water. This is what people use when they go “no-poo.” Just be aware that if you make shampoo using these ingredients, don’t use this every day. Too much baking soda can make your hair and scalp dry.

 

Here are some more ingredients you can use to make your own shampoo:

 

Liquid Castille Soap. This soap’s name comes from a Spanish region, well-known for its olive oil production. In the old days, Castille soap was made with animal fat and olive oil. Today, this liquid soap is created by mixing plant oil with alkaline.

Liquid Castille soap has a high concentrate, and a little can go a long way. Be sure to dilute your soap with distilled water.

Vegetable oil. Creating shampoo with vegetable oil can keep your hair looking glossy. You can opt for olive oil, but you can also choose walnut, grape seed, jojoba, coconut, avocado, and argan oil.

Xanthan gum. You might have seen this ingredient in food and makeup. When you dilute your Castille soap in water, the mixture will become thinner. Adding this ingredient is like adding cornstarch in a soup; it will transform the soap into the slightly-thick liquid you may be more familiar with. Locate xanthan gum online or in your favorite health food store.

Essential Oils. You can customize your shampoo’s fragrance using your favorite oil. Best of all, there are some essential oils that can contribute to hair growth or will keep dandruff at bay.

Fresh or dry herbs. If you don’t want to use too much essential oil, you may use herbs instead. This will give your shampoo a milder smell. Before adding herbs to your soap, put the herbs in boiling water first. Some herbs you can use include marigold, lavender, jasmine, and chamomile.

Aloe Vera. You may already know that aloe moisturizes your skin. But it can also moisturize and cleanse your hair. Aloe Vera deeply cleans your hair and scalp, leaving you with clean and shiny locks. This works particularly well if you have dry hair.

Raw honey. It’s good for the Egyptians, and it’s also good for your hair. Honey contains sugar as well as minerals like calcium and iron. Honey’s pH level is between 3.2 and 4.5. This is what stops bacteria from developing. Best of all, each type of raw honey is different, depending on the flowers the bees were around at the time.

Egg Yolks. If you’re fond of egg white omelets, don’t throw away the yolks! The yolk has vitamin A in it, improving your hair’s moisture levels by encouraging sebum production. In turn, this keeps your scalp from drying out and forming dandruff flakes.

Coconut Oil. When your hair desperately needs some moisture, there’s nothing better than applying some coconut oil.

 

 

Whichever ingredients you choose, you are sure of one thing: knowing what goes into your shampoo will give you peace of mind. While making your own shampoo does take a bit of work, knowing that you are nourishing your hair with all-natural ingredients is worth it.

  

But if you think you won’t be able to create your own shampoo, do not worry. There are plenty of online shops that have homemade shampoos. Armed with this information, going into a supermarket or shopping online won’t be as confusing.

 

 

 

Hairy Truth – The Science behind your Shampoo

Your bathroom probably contains various paraphernalia for bathing and the one thing prominently displayed is probably your hair shampoo.

Sebum coats your hair follicles to give a healthy shine. But when Sebum accumulates, it can cause your hair strands become sticky and greasy. This attracts dusts and other pollen particles to stick and turns to dandruff.

To wash off the dirt and grease on your hair, you use a shampoo suited for your type of hair.

Different hair types

There is a shampoo made for each hair type, each kind of shampoo designed to suit and enhance the natural features of your hair.

It is important to know your hair type before you buy your shampoo.

If you have curly hair, it is best to use a shampoo for dry or chemically treated hair. This will help prevent damaged looking hair and tame frizzy hair
If you have fine hair, find a Volumizing shampoo to add bounce and body to your fine hair.
If you have dry hair, use a moisturizing or replenishing shampoo. Find a shampoo that has coconut oil, argan oil, avocado oil, grapeseed oil as ingredient because these are best emollients for hair.
If your hair is oily, find a shampoo formulated specifically for oily hair. Avoid shampoo that adds moisture to your hair. Dandruff is often a problem with oily hair so use one with anti-dandruff ingredients.


How does shampoo work?

Your shampoo has detergents that work as surfactants to lower the surface tension of water rendering it unable to bind with soiling particles and oils. Detergents have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic molecules that attracts and repels water at the same time. The hydrophobic molecules attracts the oil while the hydrophilic molecules attracts the water.

Pure water cannot clean off oil. The detergent acts as an emulsifier, allowing oil and water to mix and remove grime when rinsing your hair.

How often should you shampoo?

You shampoo every time you wash your hair.

Excessive washing can strip your hair of its natural oil. Then again, if you have an active lifestyle and sweat too much, your hair produces more grime and you need to shampoo often.

Can you see the dilemma?

Here are some tips you can consider to determine how often you should wash your hair:

Your lifestyle can affect the condition of your hair. If you have an active lifestyle, you need to wash your hair more often. You sweat more when you are active. Sweat can clog your pores, and the more t piles up faster it dirties your hair roots and scalp.
The type of hair you have should also be considered when determining how often you should wash and shampoo your hair. This is why there are different shampoos for every hair type.

Thin hair gets oily faster than thick hair. Oily hair needs frequent washing than dry hair. You can shampoo twice a week if you have dry hair but you need to shampoo daily if you have oily hair.

If you have dark hair, wash maximum of twice a week to avoid losing pigments that gives dark hair color and shine.

Generally, the recommended frequency of washing and using shampoo is once every three days.

What is in your shampoo?

Other than detergent or cleaning agent, your shampoo includes other ingredients:

Protecting Agent: Your shampoo contains ingredients meant to protect hair. Chemical ingredients that protect against build-up from styling products, heat damage, chemical damage and natural heat damage caused by the sun.

Aesthetic ingredients: These ingredients are for aesthetic purposes and may or may not help your hair. Example are ingredients to make your hair sparkle, smell nicer, and enhance color.

Conditioning Ingredients: Ingredients that can tame frizzy hair, make shiny and tangle free hair, and add volume and body to your hair.

Functional Ingredients: Ingredients that have specific purpose not on your hair but on the shampoo itself. Ingredients to keep your shampoo thicker or added preservatives to extend its shelf life.


What ingredients to avoid in shampoo?

The ingredients included in a shampoo each has its own benefit but some can actually do more harm than good.

Here is a breakdown of some of the most common shampoo ingredients and the effect they have on your hair:

Ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate. These ingredients acts as emulsifiers for your shampoo. This harsh ingredient can cause skin and eye irritation.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) serves as a foaming agent for shampoos and can cause irritation. This ingredient gives your shampoo its lather properties. Prolonged exposure to this ingredient can strip your hair of its essential oil, break down its protein and preventing hair growth.

Sodium Chloride. Sodium Chloride or table salt acts as thickener for shampoos that contains SLS. It can cause itchy scalp, hair loss, and dry hair and strips the benefits of keratin treatments.

Polyethelyne Glycol (PEG) is also a thickening agent in shampoos. This ingredient strips your hair of its natural moisture.

Diethanolamine (DEA) Triethanolamine (TEA) can strip your hair of keratin, cause bad allergic reactions, and scalp irritation. It can turn your hair brittle, dry and lifeless.

Parabens is a preserving agent that extend the shelf life of shampoos. Parabens can make your scalp unhealthy and irritate your skin. It can also cause a hormonal imbalance that leads to hair loss.

Formaldehyde is a flammable, strong smelling, and colorless chemical substance use in building materials and household products. Its chemical compound includes oxygen, hydrogen, and carbon. Exposure can cause eye, skin, nose, and throat irritation. Prolong exposure can cause cancer.

Alcohol. Most hair-care products including shampoos have alcohol content that can turn your hair dry. If alcohol is one of the first four ingredients in your shampoo, it makes sense that the alcohol content is high.

Synthetic Fragrance. There are thousands of chemicals involved in creating a fragrance. Mixing fragrances to your shampoo can cause allergy and irritation to scalp.

Synthetic Colors. Shampoos containing artificial colors can cause sensitivity to skin and scalp. You can easily recognize this ingredient as it often appears as FD&C (color #) or D&C (color #).

Lanolin, Mineral and Petroleum Oil. The ingredient often found in shampoos formulated for ethnic hair can turn hair dull and heavy. It can block naturally produced sebum from being absorb by the hair.

Propylene Glycol. An antifreeze ingredient that prevents your shampoo from freezing while in transit and storage. It can cause allergic reaction, skin irritation and alters skin structure.

Dimethicone. A synthetic compound or silicone used as a sealing agent for shampoos. It coats the hair to lock in moisture. It can cause skin and scalp irritation and could lead to rashes, burning, chapped skin, and itching.

Ketoconazole. A drug used to fight growth of fungus. Ketoconazole is one of the main ingredient in dandruff shampoos. It can cause severe irritation and burning on the skin.


Best ingredient in shampoo – going natural

If you really want to avoid all the chemical components, the best you can do is shift to natural ingredients.

Shampoo with natural ingredients are not only safe, they also live up to their claim.

Here are some of the best natural ingredients that you should look for when choosing your shampoo:

This seaweed is power-packed with minerals and vitamins, particularly Vitamin B that aids in hair growth. It is also rich in iron and calcium that can give you beautiful, strong, and healthy hair.

Although charcoal has been associated more with skin care, it is slowly becoming popular as a hair-detoxifying agent. The antifungal and antibacterial properties of charcoal makes it a good treatment for dandruff and unhealthy scalp.

Yes, the French hors d’oeuvres can an excellent ingredient for brittle and dry hair. Caviar contains Vitamin A that help balance the production of oil on your skin reducing split ends and hair breakage.

People suffering from hair loss should look for shampoos with rosemary as ingredient.

Coconut Oil. Coconut oil can help make your hair stronger. It prevents protein loss due to excessive blow-drying and brushing.

Avocado Oil. Avocado oil infused shampoo can give your hair Vitamins B and E. It can soften hair, replenish moisture and add shine in your hair.

Castor Oil. A great stimulant for hair growth and deep conditions hair. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that can aid in keeping your hair heathy.

Macha or Tea. Rich in Vitamin E that stimulates scalp circulation. Helps control dandruff and loaded with enough antioxidant to keep your scalp clean and healthy.

Choosing your Shampoo

It is more difficult to switch natural ingredients for hair care than skin care.

Buying products that contains natural ingredients may be more expensive but think of it as a long-term investment.

Check out these top three safe to use shampoos:

Degrease Shampoo for Oily Greasy Hair and Itchy Scalp

Features:

Washes away oil, flakes and dead skin cell to give you a fresh, clean.
Brings back the body and volume to lifeless, flat hair
Safe for color treated hair, short hair, and long hair
Includes natural oils like cypress, basil, rosemary and lemon to promote hair growth
Enriched with jojoba oil, keratin, and peach kernel oil for hair strength
Sulfate and paraben free

Application:

Rinse hair
Apply the shampoo and let it set for 3 minute
Rinse again to wash off the shampoo

Degrease Moisture Control Shampoo

Features:

Sulfate free
It is BPA free and hypoallergenic
Cleansing anti-bacterial shampoo for itchy scalp
Balances moisture levels

Application:

Rinse hair
Apply a quarter-sized amount throughout the scalp and work into a lather
Leave on for 2-3 minutes
Rinse then repeat shampoo application before final rinse.

Lemon Sage Oily Hair Shampoo with Tea Tree and Rosemary infusion

Features:

Helps reduce sebum secretion
Natural oily hair shampoo that deep cleanse pores
Sulfate free shampoo
Natural oils content like lemon, sage, tea tree, argan and rosemary
Relieves itchy scalp
Gently nourishes hair
Paraben free, chemical free that would leave hair lustrous and beautiful
Eliminates dandruff and flakes
Promotes cell growth and relieves irritation of scalp

Application:

Rinse hair
Work shampoo into a rich lather applying liberally throughout the hair
Allow hair to absorb shampoo for 2-3 minutes
Rinse