10 Things You Are Doing Wrong When You Blowdry Your Hair

Don’t let these bad habits ruin your do.

l you need is a few strokes to style hair and spread the natural oils from roots to ends. "Anything more than that is unnecessary friction

Nothing beats walking out of the salon with a fresh blowout — it's almost a guarantee for a great day or night ahead. But why is it so hard to create such a look at home? It's not that it is impossible to get a salon-worthy style on your own, you just have to know the right tricks. We chatted with hairstylist Frank Rizzieri about some common blowdrying bad habits that might be making your locks look less than perfect.

1. Not getting rid of excess moisture
After you wash your hair, you want to make sure to towel dry it has much as you possibly can. Getting the excess moisture out of your hair will help you get the maximum effect out of the products you are using and make sure they go through your entire head of hair.

2. Using too much product
More is not always better — if you are using quality products, a little can go a long way. If you are overdoing it, your hair can get weighed down and greasy. If you rub the product in your hands first, it will ensure you use less than if you just put it straight in your hair from your hand in a glob.

3. Choosing a brush
If you have long or curly hair, a brush might not get through all the tangles causing you to pull and yank and possibly causing damage. When your hair is still wet, you should first go through it with a comb — leaving the brush for in-between maintenance.

4. Not dividing
You should never blow dry all your hair at once. Depending on its density, always divide your head into two or three sections. Make a part from the corner of your brow across the crown of your head in a semi circle. If you need another section go from ear to ear below it.

5. Making sections that are too big
The smaller the section the more you can blow out and straighten your hair; the bigger the section the less control you have.

6. Not combining the sections
After you finish drying each section, combine it with the still damp section above it and blow dry them together. When you blend the hair together it creates a much more fluid and natural shape.

7. Applying products all at once
You should not apply your products to the whole head of hair, but to each section as you blow dry it.

8. Not spraying top and bottom
Be sure to spray your product on the top of the section, then flip it over and spray the bottom so it gets evenly spread out.

9. Not starting at the right place
First blow dry the bottom sections, then when you reach the top section start from the flat part of the crown of your head and work your way up to your hair line.

10. Not using a nozzle
Always have a nozzle or a diffuser on your blowdryer. It allows you to control the direction you want your hair to go in, and prevents any burning or damaging.

5 Ways to Fight Frizzy Hair

Keep tresses smooth in even the steamiest weather.

1. Wash in sleekness

Start in the shower with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. "They contain ingredients, like dimethicone, that smooth each strand's outer layer — the secret to shiny, frizz-free hair," says Hannah Williams, a stylist with Blow Salons. If your hair is fine, apply conditioner only from the mid-shafts to the ends, to prevent flat locks. Steer clear of volumizing formulas, which make hair swell and can exacerbate frizz.

2. Style with serum

The styling ingredient silicone can tame even the unruliest tresses. "Thick or coarse hair needs a lot; you'll find it in a serum," explains Heather Warnke, director of global haircare innovation for John Frieda. If you have thin locks, opt for a cream or lotion, which has less of the frizz fighter. Apply your choice to soaking-wet hair: "If it's dry or even damp, the product can leave a greasy feeling," says Warnke.

3. Forget air-drying

"When you let hair air-dry, it absorbs humidity, which is the culprit behind frizz," says Williams. "The faster your hair goes from wet to dry, the quicker you lay down the cuticle and the less likely it is to frizz out." If you can't dry right after showering, rewet hair when you're ready to blow-dry it. Then make sure hair is 100% dry: Any residual moisture will cause frizzies later. (A final shot of cool air will help further seal the cuticle.)

4. Check your brush

Parched or fried hair is especially frizz-prone. But your scalp's own oils can keep strands supple, with the help of a boar-bristle brush (good for everyday brushing and blow-drying). "These natural oils attach to the bristles, and the brush distributes them down the length of your locks, coating and protecting them," says Eva Scrivo, author of Eva Scrivo on Beauty.

5. Try an updo

If you'll be outdoors en route to your destination, shield your tresses from humidity by putting them up till you arrive. "Only the top layer will be exposed, while all the hair underneath will stay sleek," says Williams. And skip elastics, which can create creases. Take your hair down upon arrival, and run your palms over any stray frizzies; the natural oils on your skin will help smooth them.

10 winter hair care tips

Keep the gloss this winter

Winter can take its toll on your hair - cold winds, pouring rain, icy snaps, central heating all take their toll on your locks. So it's worth starting a change-of-seasons care regime to keep your hair in the best shape possible.

Follow this advice from hairstylist to the stars and creative director at the Daniel Galvin salon in central London, Asgar, to keep your tresses looking glossy, moisturised and full of life - whatever the weather.

1. The winter months can dull hair, so invest in a good quality shampoo and conditioner to get a healthy shine. Wash and condition your hair, then blast it with a cold water rinse to help seal in the conditioner to add shine and make your hair easier to style.

2. Your winter hair may already be in damage deficit from exposure to the sun and sea during the summer months, so needs to be nourished from within. Choose an intensive moisturising shampoo and conditioner: look for products with the word ‘replenish’ on them.

3. Add a hair treatment mask once a week to your hair care routine.

4. Moisturise your hair once a week with a hot oil treatment to promote a healthy scalp and nourished hair. Some natural oils that work particularly well include coconut oil and almond oil.

5. Give your hair a new lease of life in the autumn/winter months with a cut to get rid of split ends. Aim to get your split ends trimmed every six to eight weeks as this will promote healthy hair.

6. As the weather becomes colder and the air drier, it takes its toll on your hair and can cause it to become brittle and dry and to break. Indoor heating can also damage hair. Wear a scarf or hat when outside, and add humidity to the air in your home or office - your hair and skin will benefit.

7. To avoid frizzy, static-prone hair in the winter months, keep your hair tied up as much as possible, particularly when out and about, and especially when exercising.

8. If you use heat styling tools, like curling tongs or hair straighteners, then you must always use a good quality, nourishing heat defence spray or leave-in conditioner to protect your hair and keep it looking glossy and hydrated. This is especially important during winter, when cold wind, rain and the added heat from styling tools all contribute to hair damage.

9. Try not to leave the house with wet hair: the cold weather can cause your hair to freeze at the cuticle and cause it to break.

10. Lastly, why not rejuvenate yourself and go for a new look this winter by dyeing your hair a dark, warm colour? On-trend colours right now include mahogany, plum and chocolate brown.

Hair Care Solutions That Won't Cost You a Penny

From finding the right shampoo to eating the right foods, there is so much that goes into taking care of your hair. Here's how you can get the hair of your dreams every day without breaking the bank or your schedule.

Shampoo

Find the right shampoo for your hair type, scalp type and washing frequency, and use only lukewarm or cool water. Fortnightly or monthly, use a clarifying shampoo to deep-cleanse your hair of product build-up.

Mumbai-based hairstylist Nisheeta Bavadekar says, “When wet, hair stretches by over one-third of its length and requires extremely gentle treatment. Avoid rough, vigorous shampooing and sleeping/leaving home with wet or dripping hair.” Sweat, friction and windy days can damage the hair shaft terribly.

Condition

After every shampoo, condition mid-lengths and ends, and very delicately, untangle knots with a wide-toothed comb before rinsing. Always use a towel to blot dry (never rub) excess moisture. Then, quickly blast-dry with a blow-dryer on a cool setting.

Nisheeta says, “Conditioning helps untangle hair when it is most vulnerable to breakage. When drying, always towel it till it’s 70 to 80 per cent dry, before using a hair dryer.” Don’t forget that a hair dryer is used to give shape and set hair. So use sparingly to avoid damage.  

Maintain

Even if you’re growing your hair, you need to trim it once in three months for healthy new growth. For very dry hair, seek professional help. Avoid tying it too tightly or in the same place, to prevent thinning or traction alopecia. Change your parting regularly.

Nisheeta says, “The hair up to two inches from your scalp gets nourished from your diet. The rest of your hair needs continuous external nourishment via serums, conditioning masks and salon treatments. Regular trimming is a must, as split-ends travel upwards towards the scalp and must be cut off.”

Healthy lifestyle

Healthy hair comes from within; aim for a balanced diet rich in protein, nuts and greens as well as plenty of water. Hormonal imbalances, new medications, lifestyle changes and deficiencies play havoc with its health.

Nisheeta says, “Hair loss is usually internal. Hair products do not penetrate the shaft, and therefore cannot cause worrisome hair loss. We spend so much time indoors that we don’t get enough sunlight and thus develop vitamin D deficiencies. Proper diet and a little care go a long way towards body, mind and hair health.” 

Protect

You live in artificial AC temperatures and tropical outdoors that dry your hair out. Use leave-in conditioners, serums and heat protectant sprays to coat hair with protective layers. Extreme sun exposure, straightening, extensive blow-drying and constant hair processing for colour or change in texture can damage it irreversibly. So, it is important to protect your hair from harm as much as possible.

7 Home Remedies to Control Hair Loss

Owe it to our flawed genetics or hectic lifestyles and the falling standards of nutrition in our diets hair loss seems to have turned into a healthcare plague.

Use the following home remedies for controlling hair loss:

1. Regular Massaging with Basic Oils

Regular massaging of the scalp with lukewarm oil helps to stimulate the hair follicles. This is also an easy way to cure hair growth deterrents like dandruff and fungal infections. Regular massaging increases the blood circulation in the scalp. It is also useful for lowering anxiety or stress that is often the underlying reason for thinning of hair. Recommended oils for 3 to 4 times-a-week massaging schedule includes coconut oil. You can alternate this with mustard oil. Keep the oil on for at least six hours before washing it off with a mild shampoo. Other oils that can be mixed with coconut oil in trace amounts for faster results include almond oil.

2. Natural Concoctions for Preventing Hair Loss

Coconut milk is among the richest sources of tissue-nourishing, plant derivatives. It is an excellent home remedy for keeping the hair soft without depending upon chemical formulations and regenerating dead hair follicles. You can also use a concoction of coconut oil mixed with half the amount of Amla oil. Just add a dash of lemon juice to this mixture and you have an effective, dandruff-fighting and scalp-healing concoction that arrests receding hairline.

3. Nature’s Effective Hair-stimulating Juices

Wheatgrass juice is one of the most effective remedies against hair fall. It is known to decrease the shedding tendency of hair within a few weeks of regular intake. Aloe vera juice has a similar effect. However, aloe gel can be applied to the scalp too. This is helpful for preventing hair loss due to irritated, dry or infected scalp. After massaging the head with aloe gel, wash the hair with lukewarm water. This can be done twice, every week.

4. Slightly Demanding But Very Effective Natural Therapies

You can make your own hair fall-preventing medicine at home by frying some fenugreek (methi) seeds in coconut oil. Strain this mixture and apply it in minimal amounts, rubbed gently into the hair roots. Alternatively, you can boil some henna leaves in mustard oil. After cooling and straining this preparation, add drops of it in your coconut oil container that you are using for regular massaging.

5. Homemade Pastes

You can wash the hair with a paste made from Neem leaves. This is particularly effective for hair loss caused due excessive build up of scalp oil or invasive skin infections. For restoring the alkaline balance of the scalp and preventing hair fall, you can follow this with washing the hair with apple cider vinegar. Other homemade pastes that can be very useful include a mixture prepared from adding honey and olive oil to some cinnamon (dalchini) powder.

6. Arrest Hair Fall With Elementary Household Items

Before washing your hair, apply the juice extracted from crushed coriander (dhania) leaves. You can also use a mixture of curd and gram flour (chana atta) that should be kept-on for at least an hour before bathing.

7. Hair Fall Dietary Recommendations

For a comprehensive, hair fall prevention regimen, you need to be equipped with a diet plan that includes foods that can arrest hair fall and stimulate better scalp health. Recommendations here include eating more seeds and nuts (almonds and peanuts) along with green leafy vegetables like spinach and sprouts of a variety of dals (legumes). Basically, foods rich in calcium, protein and iron are vital for ensuring overall health of the scalp. Combine this with some basic dietary supplementation, i.e. using over-the-counter products that help to ensure wholesome nutrition for your hair. Regular intake of Amla juice ensures adequate amounts of Vitamin C but you can boost this with eating more guavas. Ensure you take a multivitamin that combines beta-carotenes, Vitamin B complex, Vitamin E and trace amounts of zinc and iron.

4 Common Hair Care Questions Untangled

With all the hair care products available, consumers can easily become entangled in their choices. Some products promise to be gentler on hair, while others offer thickening or smoothing solutions, but not all of these claims are scientifically based.

Despite their uplifting promises, some products can be just a waste of money, and some can actually damage the hair, said Dr. Nicole Rogers, an assistant professor of dermatology at Tulane University in New Orleans.

Here are some tips to help you decide which hair care products to buy, as well as the lowdown on the science of some commonly touted ingredients. [ 7 Beauty Trends that Are Bad for Your Health]

Are sulfate-free shampoos really better?

Sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate are two of the most common shampoo ingredients. These chemicals are what make shampoos turn into a thick lather in the shower, which removes dirt and debris from hair.

Recently, sulfates have come under attack for being harsh on the hair by removing natural oils, causing frizziness and damage to dyed hair. Now, many products bear a "sulfate-free" label, and these are often more expensive than their counterparts.

However, Rogers said there is no scientific evidence that sulfate-free shampoos are gentler on the hair than shampoos that contain sulfate.

Similarly, no scientific data supports marketing claims that some sulfate-free shampoos extend the life of hair color or keratin treatments, Rogers said.

It is possible that some people, particularly those with the skin condition eczema, are sensitive to sulfates. There have been a few reports linking sodium laureth sulfate and sodium lauryl sulfate to contact dermatitis in some people. For these people, sulfate-free shampoos can be beneficial, Rogers said.

Are keratin treatments safe?

Keratin treatments are touted for their ability to smooth and straighten hair, turning the tightest curls into silky threads, with an effect lasting up to five months.

However, in addition to keratin, these products contain the dangerous chemical formaldehyde, often exceeding the concentrations permitted in Canada and European countries. Keratin treatment products have also been cited numerous times by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for using higher levels of formaldehyde than are allowed in the United States.

Formaldehyde can harm the eyes, lungs and nasal passages, Rogers said. The chemical is also thought to be a carcinogen.

Moreover, there is no data showing that keratin treatments can strengthen the hair. Rather, the high-heat flat irons needed to seal the formaldehyde into the hair shaft can cause long-term damage to the hair, Rogers said.

Are hair-thickening products safe?

Products marketed as hair thickeners temporarily coat the hair shaft to make hair look thicker, but they cannot change the natural density of hair. The thickening effect will only last until the hair is washed.

Rogers said that these products are very safe, and advised consumers to look for hair-thickening products that contain hydrolyzed keratin or dimethicone, which coat the hair shaft to make hair appear thicker.

Some hair-thickening products now being marketed also contain the drug minoxidil, which can boost the density of thinning hair and create noticeably thicker hair. Minoxidil is the only topical medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration to regrow hair and slow future hair loss, Rogers said.

Should heat protectants be used when blow drying?

Heat from hair dryers, flat irons or curling irons can be very damaging to hair, and cause a condition that dermatologists call bubble hair: When the water in the hair is heated and turns to steam, it causes bubbles to form within the hair shaft. The result is brittle hair, with frizzy ends.

To counteract the effects of heat, Rogers recommended using a heat protectant before applying any heat to the hair. These products are sprayed or applied onto the hair, and contain protective polymers and silicones that insulate hair from heat.

Also, it is better to use the lowest temperature settings on hair dryers, and use heat as little as necessary and for the shortest time possible, Rogers said.

For hair already damaged by heat, moisturizing the hair regularly can help reduce the appearance of heat damage, but it cannot repair the hair, Rogers said. Cutting damaged hair, and allowing healthy hair to regrow, can also improve your locks' appearance.

7 Hair Care Beliefs that are Actually Damaging

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So you are all set for your wedding, fixed appointments with your beautician, made your trousseau shopping list and decided your look for the big day. This is the time when everyone you meet is up with some advice for you, either for your outfit, makeup, skin or hair. Especially when it comes to hair care, there are at least a dozen beliefs and tips that every person wants you to follow. But did you know that some of these are actually not true at all, and can in fact damage your hair? Read on, as we bust 7 such popular notions.

1. More you comb, better it is for hair growth

Regular combing is necessary for tangle-free and healthy looking hair. It also promotes blood circulation in the scalp. So, this belief might have some creditable origins. But if you overdo it, and do not use a wide-toothed comb, there are all the chances that you pull the hair off the follicles making the strands weak. Frequent combing can also irritate the scalp, further damaging the follicles. So, just be gentle and use a wide-toothed comb to untangle hair.

2. Frequent shampooing prevents oily hair

Hormonal and genetic factors regulate how much oil is produced by our scalp. Shampooing will only cleanse your scalp and hair. It cannot control how much oil is produced. In fact, too much shampooing can leave your hair brittle by sapping it off the natural, essential oil.

3. Some hair products repair split ends

Split ends are caused by the wear and tear of hair because of rough handling. Another reason is not regularly oiling and cleansing the hair. The only cure for split ends is trimming your hair regularly, and conditioning it well. Experimenting with too many fancy products will not only burn a hole in your pocket, but also make your hair weak.

4. Frequent trimming helps in hair growth

This is one of the favourite beliefs that many of us hold and pass on. The known fact, however, is that hair grow at the roots, and trimming the edges has no significance whatsoever, on the growth. All regular trimming can do is to make you look well-groomed and your hair well-managed by eliminating split ends. So, go ahead and do get a trim regularly, but only with the intention to look better. As far as hair growth is concerned, everyone’s hair grows about half an inch every month. So as a matter of fact, too much trimming might actually slow down the results you are looking for!

5. Only animal protein is best for your hair

Animal protein from sources like eggs, chicken and fish, is actually very good for your hair. But it does not mean that vegetarians cannot have healthy hair! In fact, if you over indulge in animal proteins, you run a risk of piling on excessive calories as well. So, your regular pulses, lentils, nuts, soya, and milk products are absolutely perfect too.

Also Read: Fight Hair Loss with these 6 Common Foods

6. Some shampoos and oils can boost hair growth instantly

It is no secret that the quality and health of your hair is governed largely by your genes. This also holds true for hair growth. Your hair growth can slow down a little bit as you age. But with a well-nourishing diet, enough exercise, and regular hair cleansing routine, you can have a normal, healthy hair growth. Topical application of shampoos, serums or oils can do nothing exceptional for that.

7. Protein-based shampoos nourish your hair 'from within'

It is true that hair is composed of protein and it does need protein to remain healthy. But, all the protein that it needs, it gets from your diet. The scalp needs nourishment from within for hair growth. The so-called “protein based” shampoos will do nothing more than clean your hair; and, their excessive use will leave your hair dry.

We would say, not just for your wedding, but also for later, getting your facts right before you fall prey to hearsay would be great for healthy hair.

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