HairTips

DID YOU KNOW? Hair grows about 12mm per month Hair would grow to a length of 107cm before falling out If you never cut it There are 120,000 hairs on the average adult head Blondes have the most (140,000) and redheads the least (90,000) Hair grows faster in the summer, during sleep and between the ages of 16 and 24 Between the ages of 40 and 50 women tend to lose about 20 percent of their hair Healthy hair can stretch 20 or 30 percent before snapping A human hair is stronger than copper wire of the same thickness A single strand of hair lives for up to seven years

Choose the right shampoo for your type of hair (ask your stylist). Normal, dry or chemically treated hair will benefit from a weekly intensive conditioning treatment. Always comb intensive treatment through to the ends of your hair. Cover with plastic and a towel around the hair for up to 30 minutes (to help trap heat in). If you are short on time look for an instant conditioner to use after each shampoo.

Treatments are a MUST at least twice a month.

Let your hair air dry as often as you can.

A balanced diet including fresh fruit and vegetables help to ensure your hair receives all it's vitamins and minerals which it requires for healthy growth. If you know your diet is not quite as good, supplement with vitamins and minerals. They must both be used together to benefit your hair and body. Consult a nutritionist if you are feeling uncomfortable choosing your own.

Don't be surprised if your favourite shampoo

doesn't always ensure good hair days. Environmental changes throughout the year can leave your hair dry, greasy and with fly aways. It is a good idea to change shampoo's when you feel the need at least every couple of months)

More Hair Sins:

Curling tongs were first popularised by ancient Romans

The combined strength of a head of human hair is capable of supporting the weight equivalent of 99 people

Bad hair care practices can leave your hair dull, unmanageable and with horrible split ends.

Avoid rough towel drying, gently press hair down after washing. If you have long hair use a comb to remove snags, not a brush.

Limit the use of hot blow drying, crimpers, and curling irons. Before using them protect the hair by applying a heat buffering spray such as K.M.S thermal spray.

Rinse shampoo out of your hair thoroughly and wash and condition it well after swimming in a chlorine filled pool.

Hair biology

The root of a hair strand sticks in a bag in the skin. The strand is pushed out of this bag about 0.35mm per day, making an average growth rate of 1cm, or half of an inch, per month. The growth rate is however very much related to the individual person, his age, his diet etc.

Healthy hair has an average lifetime of 2-6 years. After a rest period of three months the single hair falls out, and a new strand starts to grow out of the bag. The lifetime depends on circumstances and person, too.

The lifetime of hair is responsible for the maximum of hair length you can have. Waist length hair takes about 6 years to grow out from a short hair cut, periodic trims included. If your hair has a life cycle of 2 years, you will never achieve a nice waist length mane.

TOOLS

Here is a list of tools you may want to purchase to achieve the look you want.

1) A good brush. not too hard!
2) A blow dryer with a "cool" setting.
3) A wide toothed comb ( for detangling in the shower or bath).
4) A boar brush if you have straight hair.
5) Curling iron
6) Hot Rollers (steam roller are nice)

Liquid Tools
1) A "working" hair spray.
2) A "finishing" hair spray.
3) A thermal protector (if you blow dry or do irons)
4) A gel, foam (mousse), spray gel, liquid gel.

Hair Splits At Crown Area Don't dry the hair flat to your head as it magnifies the split in the crown area. Use a vent brush to lift the hair at the scalp. If the hair is sticking up in the crown area and you have a short cut, try growing the hair longer. You should find that the weight of the hair will weigh down the crown