oh! tillie

Have you ever watched daytime soap operas and wondered why the actor’s hair always looks immaculate, shiny and lustrous?? Apart from the fact that they have on set hair dressers following them around, they probably have an effective hair-care routine as well. It’s more than likely they don’t neglect their locks by leaving them to the ravages of sun; surf and sweat like the rest of us do, but never fear, you too can have a great hair day, everyday with the use of the right products and some tender loving care.

Finding the best cut, colour and haircare for you – and your lifestyle isn’t always easy but it’s actually never been easier to achieve salon results at home thanks to the array of brilliant products on the market and the expert advice provided by your hairdresser when you do visit them. No longer is the diagnosis of ‘split ends’ the end of your hair analysis, it’s almost guaranteed that your hairdresser, if asked will go into far more detail about your type of hair and its individual needs. However, only you can ensure that your hair is being looked after on a daily basis and the first step to shiny happy hair is to get yourself healthy, both physically and emotionally. Make sure you’re always eating well, getting enough sleep, exercise and plenty of fresh air, because your hair needs oxygen too. We often forget that the stress of daily life can result in hair that is dry, brittle and lifeless so therefore it is essential that you try and reduce stress levels wherever possible, because remember healthy hair depends on a healthy scalp and a healthy scalp comes from having healthy skin.

Healthy cells, be it skin cells or hair cells need the correct nutrients in order to function properly and there are a number of foods that can contribute to feeding your hair the right diet and they are:

· Fresh vegetables

· Yoghurt

· Wholegrains

· Almonds

· Figs and dates

· Olive oil/ Sesame Oil

· Pumpkin Seeds/Sunflower Seeds

· Fish

· Pure Water

As well as supplements such as, vitamins B, C and E, fish oil, linseed oil and zinc.

Hormonal fluctuations, weather extremes and pollution can also affect the condition of your hair and here are some other hair villains that can cause some serious damage:

· Bleaching, tinting

· Hair straightners, curling tongs

· Blowdrying at a high temperature

· Too much brushing with a sharp bristled brush

· Head and neck tension, which disrupt the supply of vital nutrients

· Anxiety, depression

· Crash dieting

· Some pharmaceutical drugs including antibiotics and sedatives

· Illness, shock and trauma

· Smoking

Even if you have been attacked by one or more of the above hair villains never fear, as your hair is not beyond repair. Start with a regular deep conditioning treatment to restore the health of your hair. Once a week, massage a treatment into your hair, such as Charles Worthington Takeaways Mineral Hair Spa.    Wrap your hair in a warm towel, and leave it on for 30 minutes then rinse. If you find that there is no improvement after four weeks, seek professional help as your hair may require a series of salon treatments or perhaps in more serious circumstances you may need to see a doctor or dermatologist if you have long-term or acute hair problems.

FA (Hair)Q’s

I’ve just been swimming in chlorinated water, how do I get the ugly green tinge out of my hair? First of all try and restore your hair’s blonde tones by rinsing it in mineral or soda water, the bubbles will help to lift out the chlorine. Alternatively try rinsing your hair with tomato or cranberry juice – the red pigment will neutralise the green tinge: simply pour the juice through your hair, leave for a couple of minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

How quickly will I see results after I start using intensive conditioners or hair masks? You should see immediate improvements but long -term results require frequent use of the conditioners or masks. Make sure you apply them once or twice a week.

I notice that there are still some 2-in-1 products available, will they do the trick? Yes, if you’re in a hurry try Nature’s Organics 2- in-1 Shampoo and Conditioner,  but if you use any 2- in-1 product on a long-term regular basis, your hair may not get all the conditioning it needs.

Is it necessary to shampoo, rinse and then repeat? Unless you have been caught in a dust storm, or frequently trail your hair through mud, double shampooing your hair is generally unnecessary. So why do they suggest the double shampoo technique on the back of the bottle? Well, because shampooing twice uses twice as much shampoo. Think about it.

Is sitting out in the sun in summer with lemon juice in my hair a natural way to lighten it? The acidity of lemon juice combined with sun exposure will dry out your hair just like any unnatural blonding method and it’s more than likely to sting your scalp as well.

Is my hair alive? Your hair is made from protein cells that are totally and utterly dead. The only part of your hair that is alive is the root.

What is the best way to wash my combs and brushes? Try and wash combs and brushes that are used frequently – once a week with warm water and a little shampoo. Or dissolve a tablespoon of bicarbonate soda in warm water, add a little antiseptic and allow the brushes to soak for about 15 minutes, then rinse and leave to dry.

Anti-dandruff shampoos don’t seem to be working for me, are there any alternatives?

You can make your own anti-dandruff tonic, with equal quantities of mouth-wash and witch hazel . Shampoo, and then apply conditioner to the ends of the hair only. Rinse well, dry gently with a towel and, before styling, sprinkle the mixture all over your scalp. Comb through and leave for half an hour and then rinse with warm water.

Hopefully, some of your hair myths have been demystified. Just remember, as superficial as it sounds, your hair is the first thing that people notice, and it usually portrays your sense of style, personality, possibly even your age and social status, so make sure you always set aside some time to achieve soft, healthy, lustrous, touchable, moveable hair like the characters in your favourite soap opera.  

Till next time………….

Oh! tillie xxx