It feels great to run fingers through soft hair but due to various factors, our hair aren’t as silky and smooth as we want them to be. Dr Niranjana Raj shares tips that can help to maintain the tresses
Shiny, healthy, and tangle free strands are what everyone desire. On the other hand if you like to style your hair with hot tools, experiment different products, and also color it regularly; then silkiness seems only a dream. It feels great to run fingers through soft hair but due to factors like hair type, hair damage and environmental factors, at times our hair aren’t as silky and smooth as we’d like them to be. Fortunately, with the some tips and tricks, we can improve the quality of our hair in just few weeks. The condition of our hair depends mainly on our health and condition of the cuticle which is the outside layer of our hair.
Be mindful when shampooing
When shampooing, we usually pile our hair on top of our head and wash the entire length of the hair. This method not only forms tangles but also dry the ends of the hair which already lack moisture especially in curly hair. In naturally straight hair the oil goes from scalp to the end of the roots very quickly because gravity pulls it down but when it comes to curly hair, the oil travels around the coiled shaft and therefore the oil doesn’t go to the roots as quickly.
This means that people with curly hair do not need to shampoo their hair as often. While washing curly hair consider using cleansing conditioner than the regular shampoo which strips the hair of its necessary natural oils.
Comb when wet, brush when dry
It has been observed that most people do not brush their hair gently, which impedes hair from looking its best. The best way to detangle hair is using a wide toothed comb when your hair is wet or can use a brush specially designed for wet hair or to brush when hair completely get dry. Detangling of hair is best done from ends to root of hair rather than root to tip.
Use T-shirt instead of a towel to dry your hair
We always knew the basic method to dry our hair was rough drying that is by rubbing a towel back and forth; touching it but the fact is that we have wrongly learned it. This method generates friction which fluffs up the outer cellular layer of the hair. And then they catch on one another which are the reason of breakage and knots, and result in frizz. The key to have smooth and silky hair is no friction. Super tangly hair is the result of the open cuticle. The snugger the outer cellular layer of the hair, the more unaffected is the openings and the smoother the hair will be. So, switch your towel with a smoother cotton T-shirt. Also, try not to rub your head and instead wrap the ends of the hair in the shirt and squeeze out all the water.
Always finish blow dry with a blast of cold air
It sounds little time taking step, but the fact is after the hair is dry the key for locking the amount of volume, movement of your hair and direction of your style is finishing a blow out with cold air. It also helps close the outer cellular layer of the hair. Always make sure to use a concentrator or nozzle as it directs the air to go from roots to the ends and helps in closing the outer cellular layer of the hair rather than roughing it up. Use your fingers to comb your hair.
The writer is Dermatologist, Dermatosurgeon, Joint Managing Director-YCDC