Depending on the severity of the condition, treatment should be done at least 7-10 day after last treatment.

You might think something like washing your hair is a simple task that anyone can do it without much thought. However, such improper techniques and products can damage your hair and can even lead to hair loss. We have created a guide to proper hair care routine that even the busiest people should adopt. Read on for more.

Looking for the right product

It is important to know what is your hair type. One way is to observe how your hair looks and feels like after a few days without washing. See how it feels, whether your hair and scalp is oily or dry. If you would like a more in depth analysis of your hair, you can see your trichologist in Singapore for a scalp and hair diagnostics.

After you have determined your hair type, it is time to pick the right hair care products. For the basics, you need to have at least the right shampoo and conditioner. Pick the product that suits your hair type as different shampoos have different properties. For instance, a shampoo for dry hair will contain a lot of moisturisers that could add oil when used for oily hair. Shampoos for oily hair have drying properties that can further harm those with brittle hair. People with dyed hair need to use a different shampoo that protects the hair and colour from fading out. When you picked your ideal shampoo, you can also get the matching conditioner too. It does not have to be the most expensive product but it has to be a brand you can trust.

Also, look out for ingredients that can harm your hair as these ingredients can dry out your hair, irritate the scalp or even cause cancer. Such ingredients include sulfates, parabens and alcohols. You can often these find lists of ingredients on the Internet and product reviews before making a decision.

Washing your hair

Firstly, it is not recommended to wash your hair everyday. Washing your hair everyday will dry out your hair as you will be washing away all the natural oils and irritating the scalp. This promotes hair loss as your hair can become brittle and dry. At the same time, in order to compensate the natural oils lost, the scalp produces more oil which can also lead to greasier hair. If you feel that you need to wash your hair everyday because it feels too greasy, you might be using the wrong product or that product has some ingredients that dries your scalp and hair. If you do feel the need to wash your hair, simply rinse your hair with water or use a dry shampoo.

While washing your hair, do not wash it in hot water as the high temperature will dry out the hair and scalp. Go for warm or cold water when you wash. Warm water opens up the pores on the scalp and washes away the dirt while cold water keeps in the moisture, closes up the pores and promote blood circulation. What you can do is that start off with warm water and end with a rinse of cold water.

While shampooing your hair, massage your scalp. It will help work the lather and also promote blood circulation on the scalp. Use your fingertips and gently rub the shampoo onto your scalp in circular motions. You can also use scalp brushes to wash your hair though you need to vary of some of these products as they can irritate the scalp.

Shampoos and conditioners are not meant to be used for the whole scalp and hair. Shampoos are meant for your scalp while conditioners are meant for the hair, especially the ends. Shampoos wash away excess oil and dirt on the scalp which can dry out your hair ends. Conditioners moisturise the ends of your hair which can contribute to more oil if applied on the scalp.

Drying and styling

Try to air dry your hair instead of using a hot hair dryer. The hot air will dry the hair and become brittle. Firstly, towel dry your hair by gently squeezing out the water as contrary to a rubbing motion (the rubbing motion can break your hair). Once you got most of the water out, you can leave it alone to dry by itself or finish off with your hair dryer at the coolest setting.

If you need to comb your hair while it is wet, use a wide tooth comb or a brush with flexible bristles. When you hair is wet, it is at its weakest where it can break easily. A fine tooth comb or a hair brush can pull and break your hair strands, causing you to lose more hair.

If you need to use heat to style your hair, use a heat protection spray. These sprays provide an external layer of oil and keeps moisture in. Some are enriched with vitamins to supplement the hair while you dry it. They can also protect against free radical damage from the sun so you can apply it when you go out in the sun

Related Article: Meso Scalp Remedy

Having a proper hair care routine may seem like a simple issue on face value, but not doing it properly can lead to damage and hair fall. If you need advice or recommendations to kick start towards having healthier hair contact us here.

Ever find your hair getting greasy even only through mid-day and having to constantly have your hair tied up to hide it? The root cause of greasy hair is sebum that comes from sebaceous glands, is an oily substance that serves to protect and moisturise the skin. The lack of proper hair care is one of the root causes of overly-greasy hair.

Factors that contribute to oily scalp:

Over-shampooing

Over-shampooing whilst over-massaging your scalp stimulates your sebaceous glands which stimulates excessive oil production in the scalp, making your follicle hair greasy.

Genetics

Hereditary characteristics such as having oily hair or certain medical conditions that induce the presence of oily hair could be highly likely passed down to offspring.

Humidity

Humidity in a country like Singapore can cause excess perspiration, dirt, and oil to be clogged up in the hair follicles causing the hair to look greasy.

Hormonal disturbances

Hormonal disturbances such as pregnancy, birth control pills, menopause, puberty and stress can induce a rapid increase in the production of oils in the hair

Excessive usage of hair products

Excessive use of hair products such as hair oils, gels and waxes cause build-up in the hair if not cleansed properly, leading to greasy-looking follicle hair.

Tying of hair

Excessive tying of hair causes built-up of oil in the hair, thus causing too much oil in the scalp.

Vitamin B deficiency

Vitamin B comes from whole grains, meats and eggs, which plays a salient role in the regulation and production of sebum. The lack of vitamin B can induce the overproduction of oils in the hair.

How do we combat greasy hair? :

1. Have A Balanced Diet

Studies show that diet affects the production of sebum in the sebaceous glands whereby excessive consumption of dietary fat and carbohydrates can induce excessive sebum production in the hair, causing your hair to be greasy.

2. Increase the frequency of Shampooing

Shampooing allows for collection of dirt and oil accumulated in the hair. It is recommended that hair should be washed every day with a shampoo curated specially for greasy hair.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

A naturally occurring fungus named malassezia is found on the scalp. However, without proper hair care such as regular washing, it can grow out of control and induce itchiness and greasy scalp which may potentially cause dandruff. With just two to three tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a cup of water and rubbed into the scalp, you will be able to rid of the fungus, thus decreasing the greasiness in your hair.

4. Condition Hair Sparingly

Hair conditioners can make hair look greasy due to oils that may pile up without thorough washing, hence do not over-condition your hair by applying it on the scalp but only the ends of your hair for nourishment.

5. Baby Powder

Baby Powder acts as an absorbent of oil. By putting some baby powder on your brush and combing through your hair, the oils in your hair are absorbed while giving you a pleasant scent on your hair.

6. Tea Tree

A study showed that antibacterial tea tree oil reduces greasiness, itchiness and dandruff in the scalp as it unclogs your hair follicles and nourishes your hair roots. Use a shampoo that has incorporation of tea tree oil in it to maintain a healthy scalp that does not excessively produce sebum.

7. Egg Yolk Hair Mask

Egg yolks contain high levels of sulfur, allowing relief of dandruff and greasy hair symptoms. You can choose to infuse tea tree oil with beaten egg yolks, and leave it in your hair for a maximum of 20 minutes. Wash your hair thoroughly after which, to achieve a clean and grease-free scalp.

Finally, consider consulting a trichologist to receive a thorough hair examination. A professional hair analysis is a vital first step in properly diagnosing hair loss and scalp problems, as well as possibly identifying certain underlying medical conditions.

Determining the cause of this as early as possible can prevent hairloss problems that come later with prolonged follicle hair damage.

AIR CONDITIONING AND HEATING

Most of us can’t imagine a life without air conditioning or central heating, and most of us spend quite a bit of time in climate-controlled conditions. And those conditions tend to be dry; central heating, in particular, lets us move from the dry, cold outdoors to a dry, warm indoor climate. But our bodies aren’t designed to maintain optimal scalp health in artificial weather: we’re still built for real-world weather. Climate control can rob your skin of its natural oils, particularly your scalp. Moisturizing conditioners and hair masks can help, but they can also lead to other problems. For example….

PRODUCT BUILDUP

The same chemicals that make your shampoo, conditioner, and styling products so effective can also irritate your scalp or even cause allergic reactions. People with strong allergic reactions to a given product tend to learn quickly what they need to avoid, but not every allergic reaction is so pronounced. Some are subtle enough to be mistaken for other causes. And when those irritants build up over time, their effects can be magnified. Product buildup can even interrupt our bodies’ natural schedule of hair loss and regrowth, which leaves drier, more brittle hair in place for longer than our bodies intended. The straightforward solution to this problem is to simplify your hair-care regimen, starting with a close look at any silicone-based styling products you might be using.

HEAD LICE

Lice have been with us forever, but most of us tend to think of them as something passed among children at school. That’s less true than it used to be. Increased urbanization across the globe means that more people are living closer together than they once did, and that’s about all lice need to move from one scalp to another. The same applies for Demodex mites, which can also cause itchiness and rashes on the scalp. While it’s unlikely that you’ll ever run into someone wearing a hat that reads “Stay Away: I’ve Got Lice”, you should know that a wide range of over-the-counter medical remedies are available, along with therapeutic oils and, yes, the old-fashioned lice comb. If you have Demodex mites (which are often cause itchiness and rashes on the scalp), don’t feel left out as there are also very effective treatments for Demodex hair mite control.

DANDRUFF

Some people are naturally prone to dandruff, for reasons that can only be treated after the fact. But the factors listed above can also cause dandruff to develop, or to worsen cases that had been kept in check. Start by making sure that your hair is completely dry before going to sleep. Take a close look at your shampoo’s list of ingredients and avoid shampoos that contain sulphates. Anti-dandruff shampoos containing zinc are still effective and might be smart additions to your rotation if you’ve put yourself at risk.

AUTOIMMUNE COMPLICATIONS

No conclusive research has proven that modern conveniences contribute to complications like eczema and psoriasis. These are autoimmune issues and aren’t communicable, so climate control and urbanization don’t seem to be contributing factors. But science is starting to catch up. Along with topical treatment like those available for dandruff, medical doctors specializing in hair-related issues (or trichologists) have developed a growing range of treatments specifically for eczema and psoriasis. Seek relief from over-the-counter remedies, but consider seeing a doctor or a hair specialist for a real diagnosis of any potential condition your scalp might be having as well. Often what starts as slightly irritating itchiness can lead to more severe issues and even hair loss.

Modern conveniences can involve sneaky trade-offs. Your scalp certainly knows this, and now you know a bit more about it, too.

Use colour protectant shampoo

The type of shampoo you use plays a major role in keeping your hair color from losing its vibrancy. When you do wash your hair, use a specially formulated shampoo for color-treated hair. It will protect your hair as well as balance its natural pH. Color-safe shampoos maintain your hair color and ensure that it does not fade quickly. They also contain hydrating and nourishing ingredients that restore and repair your hair. Avoid shampoos with harsh ingredients such as sulfates and alcohols. They will strip color and moisture from your hair.

Condition your coloured hair

Every time you shampoo your colored-treated hair, you must use a conditioner. Ensure that the conditioner is also color-safe. These conditioners form a protective barrier on the hair strands. This helps in sealing the cuticles and locking in moisture which adds shine, volume, and luster to your hair. Thus, it leaves your hair soft, healthy, and glossy.

Don't colour your hair too frequently

Too much of a good thing can become a bad thing, and that includes hair color. Coloring your hair too often can cause damage, so don’t do it more than once every five to six weeks. When your roots begin to show, there are a variety of products on the market that help you get through until the next coloring. At-home touch-up kits, hair mascara, and spray-on root concealers can all help get rid of this “zipper” (grown-out roots around your parting look like a zipper) and hide grays between hair-color treatments.

Don’t Double-Process Color-Treated Hair

Again, don’t overdo the chemicals on your hair. If you color your hair, try to avoid perming or relaxing it simultaneously. If you want to do both, stagger the treatments, and be sure to ask your stylist for low-ammonia, botanical formulas that condition your hair while processing it.

If your hair is damaged, don't skip regular trims

If you have not been trimming your hair every 6-8 weeks, it is time you started doing so. Since your hair is much more prone to damage after coloring, regular trims become crucial for maintaining hair health and preventing the spread of damage. This will also help prevent split ends and breakage. If your dyed locks are frizzy, your hair may be damaged. The best way to keep your color-treated hair looking its healthiest is to get regular cuts or trims. You don’t have to get a super short cut – just trim it enough to keep frayed ends at bay.

1. Split ends are a sign that your hair is damaged. Years of improper hair care, harsh chemical treatments, and improper way of brushing lead to split ends
   

2. They can also occur if you are malnourished and are not getting enough protein, vitamins, and minerals from food or supplements
   

3. As a result, the natural oils produced by the hair follicles are unable to travel down the length of the hair, making it look dry and frizzy.

What adds to the damage is not taking care of your hair externally by using natural conditioners. But don’t worry, you’ve still got time to repair your hair.

How to repair your hair? :

Argan Oil

Argan oil, also known as liquid gold, is extracted from the Argan kernels. It reverses hair damage and helps prevent split ends (2). The vitamin E, antioxidants, and fatty acids present in argan oil make it an excellent rehydrating agent.

You Will Need:

1. 1-2 drops of argan oil

2. What You Have To Do

3. Shampoo your hair and towel dry it.

4. While your hair is still damp, apply one to two drops of argan oil from the mid-shaft of your hair till the end.

5. Leave it on to dry.

How Often You Should Do This:

Apply argan oil every time you shampoo. You can also use it between your shampoo days if you use too many styling products or tools.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Apple cider vinegar smoothes the cuticles of the hair, thereby preventing hair strand breakage and damage

You Will Need:

1. 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

2. 500 mL water

3. Mix one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and five hundred mL of water in a bowl.

4. After shampooing your hair, wash it with the diluted apple cider vinegar.

5. Towel dry your hair.

6. What You Have To Do

7. How Often You Should Do This

8. Do this 2 times a week.

Folic Acid And Biotin

These supplements help strengthen the follicles and cuticles of the hair and prevent hair damage and hair loss.

You Will Need

Folic acid and biotin supplements

What You Have To Do

Talk to your doctor before taking folic acid and biotin supplements for split ends.

Take only the recommended dosage for best results.

How Often You Should Do This

As directed by your doctor.

Cutting And Trimming

Yes, you want to grow your hair, but if you have too many split ends, it is better to get your hair trimmed – just a little. Getting your hair trimmed will prevent it from looking dry and frizzy and also prevent further damage.

What You Have To Do

Take a professional’s help to get your hair trimmed.

The hairstylist can see how many split ends you have and will remove the damaged hair.

Get your hair trimmed at least once a month.

Be patient. Your hair will grow back. Dry and unhealthy hair doesn’t look good no matter how many hair products you use. Start taking care of your hair by oiling and applying hair masks regularly.

How to detect split ends?

1. Part your hair in the middle and section it.

2. Hold one section in between your middle and index fingers.

3. Take a look at the ends of your hair.

4. You will know that you have split ends if you see any of the following.

Types of split:

Basic Split– The typical Y-shaped split end. Your hair needs more nourishment and can be treated.

Mini Split – A smaller Y-shaped split that signals the beginning of a split end. Nourish your hair with the hair masks listed above before it’s too late.

Fork In The Road – A three-way split end. This shows your hair is damaged and needs immediate attention.

The Tree Split – Many split ends in one single strand of hair. Your hair is damaged, and you need to get a trim.

The Candle – The end of your hair has lost its cuticles and looks thinner than the upper part. You need to get a trim or candle cut.

The Knot – This is a common problem and can lead to hair breakage and hair fall. You should get rid of it by getting a trim.

1) Prevents dryness

Argan oil prevents dryness and prolong colour vitality and vibrancy.

2) Rich in fatty (Omega 3 & 6)

Oleic and linoleic acid that hydrates and provides nutrition to hair

3) Protect hair

Shields and protects hair from harmful UV radiation and environmental stress.

A 2013 study trusted Source found that the antioxidant activity in argan oil protected skin against free radical damage from the sun. This benefit may also extend to the hair, helping to prevent drying and other damage from ultraviolet rays.

4) Sooth Frizzy hair

Soothes frizzy hair, enhances elasticity and strength of hair.

5) Non- greasy

6) Vitamin E

Rich in vitamin E, heals, protects and restores hair vitality.