More than any other part of our body, hair is loaded with symbolism: a symbol of strength in mythology, a symbol of femininity and sensuality in most cultures.
They frame our face, they reflect our personality, as well as our look. It is therefore understandable that the appearance of our hair is a concern for many women and also for many men!
Like skin, hair also needs a regular and systematic beauty routine. For hair "en beauté", let's learn how to take care of it naturally with the help of this guide which explains the right things to do on a case-by-case basis and helps you choose the ingredients and cosmetics suitable for your hair.
Before going into the details of individual cases, let's start with the basics that always apply to all hair types.
A gentle cleaning
Wash your hair every two to three days. More frequent shampooing can cause an overproduction of sebum which will weigh down the hair.
Shampoo is a beauty gesture, so opt for a product suitable for your hair type (dry, oily, coloured, etc.) and a gentle formula with surfactants that respect the scalp by moisturizing and softening the hair fiber. Avoid ammonium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate, today eco-bio cosmetics offers surfactants derived from vegetable substances that have nothing to envy to traditional ones in terms of efficiency ( Mater Natura Shampoo ).
Start by wetting all your hair well (the jet of hot water is wonderfully relaxing, take advantage of it). Then take some shampoo in the palm of your hands and apply it as evenly as possible to your hair. Gently massage the scalp first and then work on the lengths. Leave it to act for a few moments, especially if you have chosen a shampoo enriched with specific natural active ingredients ( Mater Natura Shampoo ).
Don't shampoo twice unless it's really necessary, in general one shampoo is more than enough.
The after shampoo
To rebuild the protective film of the hair, regenerate it and make it more beautiful, apply an after-shampoo. Conditioner or mask whose task is to sheath the hair, to strengthen it and to facilitate the passage of the comb thanks to ingredients with a detangling power such as Behenamidopropyl dimethylamine or Coco Glucoside, all of vegetable origin or vegetable oils and waxes which, fixing themselves on the keratin of the hair and filling the fissures between the scales of the stem, will smooth the hair making it softer and easier to comb ( Melilot Balm ).
Apply the after-shampoo on the lengths. Leave the product to act for the necessary time and then rinse carefully. The bravest ones will finish with cold water to make their hair shiny and shiny. We do not expect heroic deeds in January, however we advise you to use water that is warmer than steaming.
The advantage of the balm ( Balsamo al Meliloto ) is that it does not require long exposure times (3 to 5 minutes). If you are really in a hurry, you can use a leave-in conditioner. The conditioner with or without rinsing, however, brings shine and re-disciplines the hair.
The mask ( Sunflower Seed Restructuring Mask ), on the other hand, is a more intensive treatment that aims to deeply nourish the hair to make it stronger, more resistant and healthier.
It allows you to restore vitality to hair damaged by aggressive treatments (straightener, hair dryer, atmospheric agents, styling). Shutter times change. To give the mask time to act, take into account at least 15 minutes. On damp and washed hair, apply a knob of hair mask, insisting well on the lengths: massage the mask to make it penetrate the hair shaft. Leave on and then rinse thoroughly. Frequency: once a week.
The compress: the SOS treatment
The third option is the restructuring wrap. We often don't realize it, but our hair is exposed to a sum of factors which, in the long run, can alter the state of health of our hair in a more or less important and visible way: weakened, brittle, dehydrated and fragile.
Even if you think your hair is relatively healthy, the changing seasons can be hard on it (winter winds! summer sun!), not to mention stress, nutrition and repeated chemical treatments. So periodically it is wise to intervene with a natural restructuring pack ( Passiflora pack ) to try to keep our hair in good condition and above all in the long term.
How often should the restructuring wrap be done? It depends on the state of health of the hair, if they are very damaged, dry and breakable, a shock treatment is needed by applying the compress 1 or 2 times a week for a series of 3-4 sessions, if, on the other hand, the hair is not too defibrated is fine 1-2 times a month.
The shutter speeds recommended for this kind of treatment range from a minimum of 20 minutes (just if you're in a hurry!), to a maximum of several hours. Obviously the longer the hair wrap is maintained, the greater the effects will be.
The compress can be applied to dry or slightly damp hair (before shampooing. Brush them well if you need to remove residues of styling products). Apply the product, comb the hair with a wide-toothed comb, concentrate particularly on the ends, perhaps adding a little more compress. The ends are the most fragile part of the hair and are most likely the part that needs the most care.
Collect them in a shower cap or wrap them in food film or with a sponge towel. At the end of the exposure time, wash your hair with the most suitable shampoo.
If you want, you can use a small amount of conditioner after shampooing ( Melilot balm ), or a leave-in conditioner … consider it a hair make-up.
Let's move on to drying
Squeeze and dab your hair in the towel, don't rub as if your life depended on it.
If you use a hair dryer, the heat must be medium and the air jet a breeze, not a hurricane. The hair dryer should be kept about fifteen centimeters away.
The straighteners or hair curlers should be used in moderation and never without first applying a heat-protective product.
Finally, when choosing your brushes, prefer those with natural bristles that respect the hair fiber and do not electrify it.
If you like them, a series of finishing products (or styling, as you prefer) help you get the look you like best and can transform limp hair into waves and curls with just a few gestures and create all the hairstyles you want.
In general, finishing products are based on resins, polymers and silicones which certainly give immediate and eye-catching results but in the long term the hair is affected, in fact these substances create an impermeable barrier and consequently also prevent the passage of moisturizing and nourishing substances which, on the other hand, are essential for the hair. Not to mention the fact that used in quantity they are difficult to eliminate, which leads us to an excessive use of shampoo ... in short, the classic case of the cat eating its tail.
Fortunately there is an eco styling with light and natural formulations that are also excellent from the point of view of performance.
Knowing your hair is essential to treat it in the right way. Sometimes you just need to start with the most suitable shampoo. Or take advantage of essential oils…. Or... With the right routine you can correct the blemishes of our hair. How to recognize them and what to do?
Stories of Hair continues.
