Because hair is made up of keratin, a fibrous protein, it is prone to a process called denaturation. In this process, the bonds that hold proteins together are disrupted by chemicals, heat, or the application of an external stress. This ends up altering the overall structure of the proteins and adversely affecting their ability to function properly. While it is denaturation that allows us to curl and straighten our hair through heat styling and chemical processes, it can also be quite damaging.
Here are 5 easy steps to keep those proteins happy and your hair looking healthy and beautifully shiny!
Nourish from Within
Gorgeous hair begins with nourishment from within. Your body needs to be fueled with the proper nutrients in order to carry out the physiological processes necessary for hair growth and maintenance. Therefore, a healthy, well-balanced diet filled with fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and lots of water is key to commercial-worthy hair.
Chill Out
It is well known that heat styling can be damaging to hair. However, we often forget to consider the impact that other heat sources, such as the sun and hot showers, have on our hair.
To protect your hair from sun damage, try wearing a hat or camping out under an umbrella when you know that you will be in direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time.
While I love the luxury of a hot shower, one of the easiest and most natural ways to maintain healthy skin and hair is to take cold showers. Hot water opens up pores and reduces the viscosity of sebum, making it easier to inadvertently strip the skin and hair of this moisturizing oil (to learn more about sebum, click here). Over time, a reduction in sebum will lead to dry hair that is prone to breakage. Additionally, similar to pores, hot water “opens up” the hair cuticle (those shingle-like cells raise up and no longer lay smoothly). While this is beneficial for cleaning the hair, finishing your shower with cold water will smooth out the cuticles and help seal in moisture. Smooth cuticles also reflect more light, which will make your hair appear extra shiny.
Be Gentle
When brushing or styling your hair, try to be as gentle as possible to avoid breakage. Wide-tooth combs and brushes with rounded, slippery bristles tend to move through hair with the most ease. Also, beware of hair clips and ties that tug or crush your tresses.
Be especially gentle when your hair is wet. Water temporarily breaks down the hydrogen bonds that help hold keratin together, leaving hair quite weak and malleable. These bonds are restored as hair dries, reestablishing its strength.
Give Your Hair a Deep Clean
Build up from hair products and the minerals found in water can weigh down our tresses, causing them to be lifeless and brittle. A good clarifying shampoo, apple cider vinegar rinse, or other clarifying treatment will help remove this residue and restore your hair’s volume and shine. How frequently you should use a clarifying treatment depends on that rate at which gunk accumulates in your hair. In general, clarifying once a month will keep your hair clean and luxuriously soft.
Amp Up the Moisture
To nourish your hair and restore moisture, try a hair mask. Unlike conditioners that tend to simply coat the surface of the hair, the right mask can actually penetrate the cuticle. Coconut oil-based masks are particularly good at this, but there are several options to choose from. Leaving a hair mask on for 20-30 minutes once a week will keep your locks nicely hydrated. Be sure to evenly coat your hair with the mask and fully cover your ends to help smooth out any damage to the cuticle.
These tricks have really helped improve the overall health of my hair and I hope that they do the same for you!
For more information about hair, check out my All About Hair post and my
References: Gray's Anatomy, About Health
These tricks have really helped improve the overall health of my hair and I hope that they do the same for you!
For more information about hair, check out my All About Hair post and my
References: Gray's Anatomy, About Health
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