1) Can you repair damaged hair?
"Hair damage results from both mechanical
AND chemical trauma that alters
THE physical structures of
THE hair," says Dermatologist Zoe Diana Draelos, of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. "There is
NO easy fix for hair that has become dull, brittle
AND porous, but there are certainly products
AND tips that can help individuals minimize
THE damage that occurs
TO the hair every day."
The hair has three basic layers:
THE cuticle,
THE cortex
AND the medulla.
- The cuticle is THE outer layer of protective scales. It is THE main hair structure AND is responsible for THE strength, shine, smoothness, softness AND manageability of healthy hair. THE cuticle can BE damaged by chemical or mechanical means, such as dyeing or blow-drying.
- The cortex provides strength TO the hair shaft, AND determines THE color AND texture of hair.
- The medulla is THE innermost core of THE hair where THE body AND strength of THE hair is determined.
There is also a layer of sebum, an oily substance secreted by
THE hair follicles, which coats
THE cuticles
AND adds shine
AND manageability
TO the hair.
Environmental factors, such as exposure
TO sunlight, air pollution, wind, seawater
AND chlorinated swimming pool water can also cause damage
TO occur. When
THE cuticle is damaged like this,
THE protective scales are peeled away
AND the rest of
THE hair shaft is exposed.
IN some cases, even
THE innermost layer --
THE medulla -- is exposed for further damage.
"The best way
TO improve
THE cosmetic value of
THE damaged or weathered hair shaft is
TO use conditioners, which cannot repair
THE hair shaft, but can increase shine, decrease static electricity, improve hair strength
AND provide ultraviolet (UV) radiation protection," says Dr Draelos. "These are four factors which are very important for a healthy head of hair."
2) How do you make your hair shine?
Shiny hair has always
BEEN equated with healthy hair, even though
THE health of a hair follicle cannot
BE determined due
TO its location deep within
THE scalp.
THE shine is due
TO light reflected by
THE smooth surface of
THE individual hair shafts. Conditioners containing polymer film-forming agents can increase hair shine by helping
THE cuticle "scales" lie flat against
THE hair shaft for a smoother appearance.
Another thing
TO watch out for is static electricity. Combing or brushing
THE hair allows
THE individual hair shaft
TO become negatively charged, creating static electricity
AND preventing
THE hair from lying smoothly
IN a given style. Fine hair is more susceptible
TO static electricity than coarse hair due
TO the greater surface area of
THE cuticle.
Conditioners with
THE ingredient
quaternary ammonium can minimize static electricity by imparting cationic properties, or positively charged ions,
TO the hair
TO neutralize
THE static.
3) How can you get stronger hair?
Increasing
THE hairs' strength can
BE attempted by using conditioners with ingredients such as hydrolyzed proteins or hydrolyzed human hair keratin proteins, which have a low molecular weight. They can easily penetrate
THE hair shaft
TO replenish
THE hairs nutrients, providing a high degree of improvement.
These proteins can also
BE used
TO smooth down split ends, also known as trichoptilosis. "Split ends develop after
THE protective cuticle has
BEEN stripped away from
THE end of hair fibers as a result of chemical or physical trauma," says Dr Draelos, "but it can also
BE a result of vigorous brushing." While there is
NO way
TO reverse split ends, trims every four weeks
AND deep-conditioning treatments can keep strands supple
AND flexible.
4) How can you protect your hair from THE sun?
While
THE hair is made up of nonliving materials
AND cannot develop cancerous qualities, its cosmetic value can
BE diminished through excessive exposure
TO the sun. UV exposure can induce oxidation of
THE sulfur molecules within
THE hair shaft, which are important for hair strength. If this oxidation occurs,
THE hair can become weak, dry, rough, faded
AND brittle.
Individuals who bleach or lighten their natural hair color may also notice slight color changes
IN their hair when it is exposed
TO UV rays. Blonde hair may develop "photoyellowing," a process where chemicals
IN the hair shaft react
TO UV exposure, causing yellowing, fading
AND a dull appearance. Even natural brunette hair tends
TO develop reddish hues due
TO the photo-oxidation of melanin pigments
IN the hair shaft.
To protect your hair from
THE damaging rays of
THE sun, look for a leave-in conditioner that contains zinc oxide. Wearing a hat made of a solid material is another form of protection. When selecting a hat for sun protection choose carefully. Some hats, which may
BE fashionable
AND look nice, have open spaces, especially straw hats, which cannot give you much protection.
"It's important
TO take care of
THE hair
TO prevent obvious damage," recommends Dr Draelos. "Hair truly is
THE crowning glory on every person,
AND it only takes a few extra moments
TO add proper hair care
TO a daily routine."
