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Conditioning basics
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Conditioning your hair is as important as shampooing to possess bounce and sheen.
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THE NEW commercial on the telly talks about the after-shampoo gloss solution. For a few, the regular shampoo does offer the sheen, bounce and body. Normally the flat, neatly overlapping cuticle scales of the hair shaft enable the glossy look by reflecting light. Colouring, perming, heat styling and rough handling result in lifting the scales, resulting in loss of moisture from the hair, making them dry, lack lustre and prone to tangle. Enter conditioners, the solution to restore the sheen back to the crowning glory.
Types of conditioners...
Today's market provides a wide range of conditioners, one designed to your type of hair -- normal or dry to `restructurants' working on damaged hair. Basic conditioners coat the hair with a fine film, temporarily smoothing down the cuticle. These are the rinse out conditioners.
On the other hand, there are the leave-in conditioners designed to help retain moisture, reduce static effect and add shine. The intensive deep conditioners with moisturising agents are for the weekly treatments unlike their everyday conditioner cousins and especially good for fine hair with proteins and polymers content to add body to the hair.
The colour/perm conditioners for chemically treated hair work on preventing colour loss and keeping the bounce in the curls.
The conditioning regime...
"Conditioners are meant for the hair shafts and not for the scalp and are to be used only after a shampoo," says Laila Kakade, Begum's (3203314/6559296).
To condition your hair, shampoo, rinse and towel dry. Take a small amount of conditioner on your palm and evenly distribute it on the hair shafts. You can use a wide toothed comb to distribute the conditioner evenly.
Leave the conditioner on the hair for the time specified, based on the leave in or rinse out variety. On the method of usage of rinse out conditioners for different hair types, Laila says, "for normal hair apply conditioner for 3-5 minutes and rinse. For dry hair, apply for 5-7 minutes and rinse, while it is 2-3 minutes for oily hair. For very dry or damaged hair, apply conditioner on the hair shaft. Wrap a hot damp towel. Leave for 5-7 minutes and rinse," says Laila.
When you are using a rinse out conditioner, it is important to rinse thoroughly so that no residues are left. Conditioner overload can result in dull limp hair. Healthy hair need a clean hair and scalp. Also, treat wet hair with care; they are more sensitive and vulnerable than when dry.
Homespun conditioners...
Tea and beer are considered to be the best `sheen providers'. A rinse with beer is well known for the body it gives to the hair apart from making them manageable. Used tea leaves boiled again in adequate water, sieved and cooled, form a popular after-shampoo rinse. Lemon juice added to a mug of water as the last rinse for oily hair will do wonders. For dry hair, it is the honey rinse--40-50 drops of honey added to a pint of water.
One of the best-known age-old conditioners is henna, mixed with yoghurt, lemon juice, egg and coffee, a teaspoon of olive or coconut oil for dry hair and washed off after keeping for 30-45 minutes. Mixed with amla, brahmi and arnica, henna is known to offer sheen, strength and nourishment. While over-indulgence in hair conditioning is a no-no, a regular conditioning regime is useful in getting the hair into an admirable condition and maintaining them that way.
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