Tips for healthy hair, no matter what:
- brush it or comb it everyday. (Don't believe in 100 strokes a day)
- it's normal for SOME hair to fall out. Don't panic!
- wash your hair regularly, but not necessarily every day. Twice a week is enough for most people.
- get a cut and style that's easy to take care of and find your best look.
- don't obsess and touch your hair or fiddle with it all the time. Easy on the products!
- eat well and drink enough water. A healthy body will produce healthy hair.

Click on a topic:

• accessorize
  
• color/graying
  
• conditioning treatments
  
• curly hair and curling
  
• dandruff
  
• dry hair
  
• hairstyle & cut
  
• oily hair
  
• perfect hair
  
• removing hair
  
• shampoos
  
• split ends & damage
  
• thinning hair & baldness
  

Accessorize

• Give your hair a little spice when you want something pretty in it - try real flowers!
  
• For day to day wear, hair accessories should closely match your hair color, NOT your clothes. Invisible is great.
  
• Skip the matching sets. Instead, invest in something simple in silver or gold if you want a fancy touch. Or try a braided clip.
  
• To make a quick dress-up hair band, attach a big silk flower to a rubberband or clip.
  
• Buy only clips in a size that suits your hair. If you find one you like, buy a couple extra.
  

Color and graying

• Use hot oil in your hair before washing to prevent premature graying.
  
• Koolaid can be used to color hair. (But it might not wash out easily!)
  
• Henna can be used to color hair safely. It also works as a conditioner. (test for allergies first and don't use on chemically treated hair!) Mix 2-4 cups henna powder with lemon juice to make a paste and let set overnight. Then rub vaseline on skin where hair might touch, massage into hair section by section. Wrap hair in plastic wrap and leave 2 hours to overnight (cover pillow to prevent staining). Rinse out. Blonde hair will turn red-orange, brown - reddish, and black hair will have red tints. Gray hair is more difficult to color and may take longer or multiple treatments.
  
• Don't spend a lot of money on special hair mascara. A regular mascara can do the job as well! Get a color you like, and reserve it ONLY for hair (otherwise you'll endanger your eyes).
  

Conditioning treatments

• Use henna treatment above to condition hair really well. To prevent coloring, buy "neutral" henna.
  
• Warm up some sesame, coconut, or olive oil in the microwave or on stove slowly. Test that it's not too hot to touch. Massage through hair and leave 15 minutes covered in plastic wrap. Wash out.
  
• Always apply conditioner before you go swimming in chlorinated water. It will make hair easier to clean after and prevent greening.
  

Curly hair and curling

• Curly hair can be tamed by making sure it's well-conditioned. A little bit of oil or even lotion can help tame frizzies.
  
• When heat curling your hair, make sure you first apply a protective lotion. Otherwise you might singe your hair!
  
• Soft rollers and velcro rollers can be used while you're in the shower. The heat and steam in the shower help the curl to set.
  

Dandruff

• Mix a little lemon juice with coconut oil, then massage into hair. Regular use before washing hair can prevent and even treat dandruff.
  
• For normal, dry dandruff, use a shampoo like Head and Shoulders. But itchy dandruff requires something with coal tar (Neutrogena T gel or the generic version).
  
• Massage hair regularly with fingertips to loosen dead cells. Then wash hair and the "dandruff" will rinse out.
  

Dry hair

• Apply a regular hot oil treatment to prevent drying out hair. Heat sesame, coconut, or olive oil and massage. Leave 15 minutes before washing hair.
  
• Don't lather, rinse, repeat. One lather is enough for most hair. Another round may dry out hair.
  
• Just like skin, too much heat can be bad for hair. This means in the shower and on your hair dryer or other hair appliances. Set it on the lowest setting you can to get the results. Your hair is worth the wait.
  
• Buttermilk or yogurt can be used as hair masks for dry hair. Massage in and leave for a few minutes before rinsing out.
  

Hairstyle and cut

• Everyone has a perfect hairstyle. Test and find out yours. Or ask a stylist. It should be flattering, easy to take care of (wash and go), and comfortable. If you don't like hair in your face, why bother? Experiment to find your best look, and stick with variations on it.
  
• Styling your hair shouldn't require hours. Practice a simple look that will carry you for any occasion that you can perfect in 5 minutes or less. This could be a simple ponytail, a quick brushing out, or a pretty clip to pull hair back.
  
• To give hair instant volume, flip it upside down, shake or brush, and stand up. Then restyle gently.
  
• To prevent hat hair, clip hair from sides on top of your head before wearing the hat. When you take off the hat, unclip!
  
• Tame sudden frizz with a dot of one of the following: frizz serum (expensive), mineral oil, or hand lotion. Rub between palms, then smooth onto hair.
  

Oily hair

• Oily hair can be a pain. If you hair is regularly oily, blot it off in the middle of the day with blotting paper or just brown paper.
  
• Don't overshampoo. Your body compensates by making more oil when you strip all the oil from your hair. Just lather and rinse, enough.
  
• Avoid using too many styling products which weigh down hair and make it more limp. Instead, use just one or none at all!
  
• Consider air-drying your hair. It won't add all that heat which makes your sweat and sebaceous (oil) glands more active.
  
• Rinse hair with vinegar (brunettes) or lemon juice (blondes and redheads) to add shine while removing oil. Both are good astringents.
  

(How to get) Perfect hair

• Repeat after me: There is no such thing as perfect hair.
  
• Repeat after me: My hair is great the way it is.
  
• You can't change the hair you were born in. Sure, you can change the color, the perm, the style, the cut, but after all that, you might still be unhappy. It's ok. Chances are, the people whose hair you envy, also envy yours!
  
• You CAN make yourself more presentable, however. Get a flattering cut (see above), and always keep frizz and flyaways tamed. Keep your hair off your face, and don't touch it unnecessarily. Your hair should be a seamless part of your look.
  

Removing and preventing hair on your body

• Removing hair can be done in multiple ways: shaving or tweezing, creams, waxing, electrolysis-laser (from least to most permanent).
  
• Shaving is convenient and quick. The danger is that hair may grow back somewhat thicker. Always use shaving cream when shaving.
  
• If you don't have shaving cream, use hair conditioner. It works just as well to soften the hair for shaving.
  
• Tweezing is used for eyebrows and to catch stray hairs. Like shaving, hairs can grow back soon.
  
• Creams for hair bleaching can be used on the face. Make sure to test for allergies and reactions first because these products are harsh!
  
• Creams for hair removal should also be tested. They give a smooth finish and often last a week or more. Thicker hair is more resistant.
  
• Waxing can be painful but lasts up to a month. It can be done on legs, underarms, bikini area, and face. A homemade wax: make a thick sugar syrup with sugar and lemon juice. While still warm, apply to skin (test that it's not too hot), and press with a cloth. Wait and then rip off AGAINST the direction of hair growth. Working fast prevents as much pain.
  
• After waxing, always cool the skin with a wet towel or ice pack. Apply lotion or powder. If you notice bleeding or irritation, discontinue.
  
• Electrolysis and laser treatments are time consuming and very expensive. However, they may be permanent.
  

Split ends and damage

• Get regular trims to get rid of split ends. Or trim off split ends yourself with a sharp pair of scissors.
  
• Don't chew, twirl, overbrush, tease, or pull hair. This can lead to split ends.
  
• Avoid overdrying and let your hair get a rest from the blowdryer occasionally.
  
• When applying conditioner, apply it to the ends especially. Don't overrinse hair ends.
  
• Oil and conditioning treatments will help heal and prevent split ends (see above).
  

Thinning and hair loss

• Prevent thinning and hair loss by regularly massaging hair. Use your fingertips to massage sections of hair little by little, covering the whole head.
  
• Avoid tying hair too tight, which can accelerate hair loss. But keep hair tied up, and don't overbrush, or more hair will fall.
  
• Regular hot oil treatments may prevent hair thinning over time.
  
• Consult your doctor for hair loss prevention treatments like Rogaine, Prograine, etc.
  

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