You're Lucky If.....

You're lucky if...... you NEVER had your hair colored, permed, exposed to chlorine in pool water, or exposed to the sun and wind, or used hot styling tools. Basically, if you have virgin, untouched, unprocessed hair, then this article is NOT for you. 

If you're not so lucky, read on....

When you look at children's hair, you wished you were a child. I would love to go back in time and appreciate the beautiful hair I had before I got into perming, coloring, rebonding, or using curling irons or hair dryers. Healthy hair accepts the right moisture, and oil for shine. It is soft, smooth, and bouncy (like my niece Rhaiza's beautiful hair). 

Normally, our hair has an outer layer called lipid epicuticle and has a smooth appearance. But when you see frizz and split ends, this means that there is damage to the cuticles, likely through friction such as from hair brushing. when your hair is wet, the combing friction of brushing is quite damaging!  

Normal hair is also porous (absorbs water) but is more so when it is damaged. The hair shaft swells up when soaked in water. It does not allow nutrients to get absorbed to nourish the hair. Porous hair does not allow to keep moisture in, which ultimately leaves hair looking and feeling dry. Dry hair causes static and frizz. 

Changes to normal hair structure can result from bleaching, coloring, perming, and straightening. These repeated chemical treatments can result in hair breakage, tangles, and rough appearance.

Weathering is a term related to hair weakening that starts from the root down to the tip of the cuticle. Split ends mean that the entire hair shaft could be damaged if left untreated. Longer hair are more subject to weathering than short hair, which often manifest as split ends.

The effect of bleaching is destruction of the disulfide bonds within the hair keratin, which can damage the cuticle making hair more porous. Perming or relaxing also subjects the hair to experience weathering and significant damage. 

DO  NOT FEAR! Intense conditioning can improve moisture retention and the condition of your hair. Here are some advice for dry tresses (some information are from the American Academy of Dermatology) :

1. Protect hair from damaging chlorine when swimming. Condition your hair before swimming. Shampoo then condition again after swimming.

2. Wash hair more frequently if your scalp is oily (possibly daily or every other day). Since chemically-treated hair is dry and older individuals have less oil production in their scalp, you will need to wash your hair less frequently, like 2-3 times a week.

3. Shampoo the scalp, condition the hair tips. Cleaning should be focused on the scalp while the bulk of the conditioning should be focused on the tip of the hair. Always follow a shampoo with a conditioner. 

For dry hair, use Dr. Em Ritzy Leave-in Hair Conditioner after you towel dry. Do not rinse. 

For between shampoo days, apply Dr. Em Healthy Hair Freshener to ends of hair to improve shine . 

Ritzy Leave-in Hair Conditioner contains nutrient-rich ingredients that are absorbed into the hair cuticles feeding your hair inside and out. There are no chemicals or perfume. A little goes a long way.  Ingredients include avocado oil, olive oil, mango butter, beeswax, vegetable glycerin, sweet almond oil, shea butter, lavender essential oil, geranium essential oil, rosemary essential oil, & vit. E. 

It is NEVER too late to improve the condition of your hair.  

Go ahead. Be beautiful inside and out.

Much love, 

Dr. Em

To purchase our chemical-free products, go to dremnatural.com or email us at dremnaturalbeauty@gmail.com