Home hair care treatments

The first step to having healthy hair is your diet; not diet, as in losing weight, but the correct diet.In this day and age of no fat and low fat diets, people are doing a number on their hair, leaving it dry and lifeless.Our bodies need a portion of fat at every meal.This may be hard to swallow for some die hard dieters, but take heart: this doesn't mean you butter every roll or put an extra dollop of sour cream on your taco.Eat foods rich in omega-3 fats, such as olives, olive oil, avocados, nuts, and fish.These will promote overall body health and will cause your hair to shine.Hair is made mostly of proteins, so a diet rich in healthy proteins is also important.Lean meats, cheeses and dairy products should be eaten regularly.Vegetables and fruit are an important part of every diet, but alone, they won't do much for your hair.Balance is everything.

The next step is to consider how you shampoo.Vigorous scrubbing is unnecessary, especially for most of us who wash our hair daily.Use a small amount of gentle shampoo and work it into a lather, concentrating on the scalp and roots.Any shampoo is fine, especially one for dry hair.If you have longer hair, avoid getting shampoo on the ends more than once a week.If you suffer from product build up, once a week you can mix a tablespoon of baking soda in with the amount of shampoo you regularly use on your hair.Rinse it thoroughly and you'll see even more shine.

As for conditioner, the one you use isn't as important as how you use it.Do not use a two-in-one shampoo and conditioner.These are double trouble because they don't clean your hair well, nor do they condition well.Every time you shampoo, use a nutrient rich formula conditioner with ingredients that include olive oil, avocado oil, or shea butter.These will moisturize hair and help to repair any small cracks in the hair shaft.Try to deep condition about once or twice a month; more if your hair is exceptionally dry.Use the same type of conditioner you have for daily use, but leave it on for up to an hour, if possible.And when you dry your hair, don't rub it; instead pat or squeeze it dry.

The tools you use on your hair can be terribly damaging if they are the wrong type or simply not used correctly.Curling irons, hot rollers, hair dryers and crimpers will dry out and even burn hair, causing breakage and a dull, dingy look.If you must use these appliances, try to do it sparingly, and use a heat-resistant conditioner first.Try setting your hair dryer to the cool setting or letting your hair air dry.Brushes should be avoided; combs with wide, set apart teeth are easiest on hair.If you insist on using a brush, use one with boar bristles.Plastic brushes will snag and break hair.And the experts agree, sleep on a satin or silk pillowcase at night: this will eliminate friction that can cause drying and more damage.

Lastly, chemicals are brutal on hair.Permanents, bleaches and dyes dry out your hair.Spending a lot of time in the sun or in salt water or chlorine will also cause damage.Go natural if you can: avoid perms and colors, or use colors made from natural ingredients like henna.If you go out in the sun, wear a wide-brimmed hat that will cover all your hair, and use a conditioner with a high SPF.