Colouring

Permanent dyes are harmful to the hair , as they peretrate the hair cortex layer with the acid of hydrogen peroxide, destroy the kertain structure and create porosity. These dyes gradually eat away and destroy the delicate structure of the hair. This is true of semipermanent dyes also.

Herbs, which are comparatively safe an healthy, have been used for many centuries as colouring agents. The best-known of these is henna (mehndi). Indian women apply it not only to their hands and feet on auspicious occasions, but also use it for colouring hair. Being natural colouring agent, its use is not restricted to the young but also to the old well past their middle age.

Henna is completely organic and comes in a powder form with a smell faintly resembling that of hay.

Henna, if used carefully and sensibly, can do more than just colour the hair. Like semi-permanent colour, it coats the hair shaft, but normally does not penetrate it. Because of this coating action, henna gives the hair a little bulk and body and thus it is also useful as a conditioner. It has a drying effect on the scalp and hence it controls an oily condition of the hair. It gives extra shine to the hair when used the first time, provided an egg and lemon juice is added to it. But repeated application will cause a buil up that cots the hair and gives an appearance of dullness. For this reason, the application of henna should be restricted to about four times a year.

Home Remedies

Certain herbs and natural substances have been found useful in giving shine and lustre to the hair. One such method is to add a few teal leaves to a glass of water and to then heat it. The juice of a lime should be squeezed in the sieved mixture and the mixture should applied to the hair before shampooing.

The juice of celery leaves (ajwain ka patta) helps to grow long and lustrous hair. Two or three handfuls of celery leaves should be boiled in water. It should then be cooled and strained. The juice of lime should be added to it. This mixture should be used to rinse the hair after washing.

Dry peels of lemons and oranges can also be used beneficially to give lustre and shine to the hair. These peels should be used with soap-nut (reetha) or shikakai, while shampooing the hair. This will maintain soft and silky hair also remove dandruff from the scalp.

Rinsing the hair with the juice of a lemon or vinegar also gives lustre to the hair. Add lemon-juice or vinegar to half a bucket of water. After washing the hair, rinse it with this water.

Castor oil, being unsaturated, can be used to rejuvenate the hair.It can be used externally by rubbing it into the scalp at bedtime, and the hair should be washed the next morning. Alternatively, the oil may be rubbed into the scalp and a large towel which has been dipped in hot water and wrung out, may be tied around the head for a white. This allows greater penetration of the oil deep into the surface of the scalp.

Drying and styling

It is important that the hair should be dried correctly in a natural way. It can be easily damaged when wet. First of all the head should be wrapped in a clean towel for a few minutes to remove excess moisture. Rubbing with the towel should be a avoided. When the hair is wet, a comb should be used as brushing will stretch and tear it.

The best to dry the hair naturally is finger drying. If you want to use a hair dryer, always have it on the coolest setting, since heat dries out the hair. Most damage is done by over drying, so avoid holding the dryer over one area fr too long, and stop drying your hair a few minutes before it feels completely dry. For the same reason, it is advisable not to use attachments like brushes or nozzles, as these concentrate the heat too much, or to hold the dryer any closer than six inches from the hair. Heated hair rollers or curing tongs also tend to damage the hair, so use these for special occasions only. Lemon juice combed through the hair after rising acts as a natural setting lotion.

In case of dry hair, a conditioner used after shampooing will put some life and lustre into the hair. An occational oil treatment also helps imprrove dry hair. A warmed vegetable oil should be applied. It should be massaged in well. and the head should b wrapped in a towel which has been wrung out in hot water. this should left on for at least a quarter of an hour before shampooing. Lemon juice in the left in the final rinse will help to remove any last traces of oil.

An egg yolk is a gentle cleanser which especially suits dry hair. One or two egg yolks should be mixed with little warm water. The water should not be be too hot. this mixture should be applied to the hair. Wrap a towel round the head and leave the mixture on for several minutes before rising thoroughly. There is no need to apply any other shampoo.

Conditioning

A hair conditioner should be applied after the hair has been thoroughly cleansed. These products are especially helpful for long hair, where the overlapping scales which cover the outer layer of hair often get roughed up as it grows. A conditioner helps to smooth these scales down, and to give gleaming hair which is easiest to comb and massage. Hair that is coloured, permed or exposed to the sun also benefits from a conditioner, Usually, dry hair should be conditioned once a week, normal hair once a fortnight,, and greasy hair not more than once a month.

All conditioners are basically a combination of oils or waxes, detergnts and emulsifiers, with optional extra ingredients, often incorporating herbal extracts with gentle plant and vegetables oils and essences. After conditioning, rinse you hair again, adding cider vinegar or lemon juice.

Washing the hair

The correct way to wash the hair to use warm and not hot water, preferably from the shower. Once the hair is wet, a small quantity of shampoo should be applied, tipping it on the palm of the hand rubbing the hands together. Shampoo should never be applied directly to the hair as this makes it difficult to get an even distribution. Work the shampoo gently but firmly all over the scalp using a circulal motion. This method of ensure cleanliness of the hair. Continue to massage the shampoo in for several minutes, using the tips of the fingers rather than the nails.

A second application of shampoo is needed only if your hair is really dirty. After shampooing, give the hair a really good rinse, and go on rinsing it till the last trace of soap is removed.

Brushing

Brushing the hair regularly is essential both to free it of dust, dead and tangles and to stimulate the scalp. A brush which has bristles with rounded tips is best, since it is less likely to scratch the scalp or tear and split the hair. A rubber cushioned brush is the easiest to clean, and is more fleible for gentle styling.
In case of short hair, it is advisable to use a brush with short, densely spaced bristles. For long hair, vent angle brush, which has lots of space between the bristles, is better for getting the tangles cut. Radial brushes, which have a completely circular base, are the best choice for styling curls while blow drying.

The choice of combs also depends on the type of hair. Wide-tooth combs are designed for very coarse or tightly curled hair. A fine toothed tail comb is used for lifting sections of hair, while blow drying, roller setting or for curling hair back into shape without upsetting the overall style. In case of an ordinary comb, a plastic one with rounded teeth is ideal. The larger end should be initially used to ease it through the hair, and the fine end to get a smooth, even fnish.

The most effective ay to brush the hair is to bend forward from the waist the head down towards the ground, and brush from the nape of the neck forwards towards the forehead. Short hair can be brushed right from the roots strockes should be used for the length of each hair, to avoid stretching it.

A scalp massage should be resorted just before or after brushing the hair, Like brushing this will stimulate the circulation, dislodge dirt and dandruff, and encourage hair growth. For a massage, fingers should be spread fan wise and slipped thhrough the hair. With the thumbs pressed behind the ears, press down on the scalp with the fingertips. Now rotate the fingers so that they move the scalp over the bony structure of the head. You will feel your skin move and the scalp tingle. Move up an inch at a time until you have covered the whole head. It is a very simple procedure and takes only a few minutes toperform. The scalp should be massaged daily if time permits, or at once a week.

Hair Care

The care for the hair depends on its type. There are, however, certain basic guidelines which apply to all types.

It is a mistake to wash the hair too frequantly. This is likely to do more harm than good. Shampoos may make hair clean, but at the same time they remove the natural oils and protective acid coating. A study at Cornell University found that shampooring created a loss of calcium, phosphorus, iron, and nitrogen from the hair. This came as a result of continued washing either with soap or commercial shampoos. It is therefore essential to use the type of shampoo that will do the least damage to use the type of shampoo that will do the least damage to the hair: The following tips regarding shampoo will be useful:

1. Use shampoo only when absolutely necessary.
2. Avoid using hard water, or water containing chemicals including chlorine. Rain water is ideal.
3. Use a rince after shampooing to undo the damage of the shampoo-vinegar or lemon juice may be used.

The natural way to glossy hair.

Lovely, shining hair is one of the greatest assets of a woman's beauty. It is considered a vital lement of sex appeal. The most important factor for healthy condition of the hair is to ensure that the bosy is supplied with all the essential nutrients. The advice contained in chapter 2on "Diet for natural beauty" applies equally to hair.

There are, however, certain nutrients which are of particular importance to health of the hair. the vitamins of B group, especially pantothenic acid, influence hair growth, oil production and colour. An adequate supply of these vitamins is thus essential. Vitamins A and C also play an important role in the production of healthy hair, and vitamin E encourages hair growth by carrying oxygen to the hair roots. To ensure an adequate intake of the essential fatty acids, it is advisable to include two teaspoons of sunflower or safflower oil in the daily diet. Since the hair is made from keratin, the diet should include adequate quantities of protein in the form of daily products, pulses and nuts. Of the minerals, zinc, copper, iron and iodine are essential to healthy hair. Copper is adequately available in food. Good sources of iron are liver, kidneys, whole grains, and molasses. The only foods that contain appreciable quantities of iodine are sea foods.

The hair, like the skin, is affected not only by diet and health, but also by tension. In a person whi is tense, the muscles at the base of the neck are constricted, and this impedes the flow of blood to the scalp, resulting in weak hair growth.

Know your hair

The hair is one of the most important factors which contribute to beauty and personal appearance. For its proper care, it is essential to have a basic knowledge of its structure. The hair is made up pf keratin, a protein based substance. This substance also forms finger and toe nails. Each hair consists of three layers. the central core, known as medulla, is made up of spongy tissues which may contain some colour pigment. The middle layer, known as the cortex, consists of long thin cells which give the hair its elasticity and colour. The outer layer, known as cuticle, consists of hundreds of tiny, overlapping scales.

Hair is formed in minute pockets in the skin, called follicles. An upgrowth at the base of the follicles, called the papilla, actually produces hair, while a special group of cells turns amino acids into keratin. The rate of production of these protein "building blocks" determines hair growth. The average growth rate is about 1.2cm ]per month, growing fastest on women between the ages 15 and 30 years. The sebaceous gland which secrets the oil that gives healthy hair its natural shine is located half way along hair follicle.

The follicles, which contain the hair roots, are fed by blood carrying nutrients. Good circulation is thus of utmost importance to healthy hair. It is th supply of nutrients which determine[s the health of hair as it emerges from thescalp and continues to grow. Once hair leaves the follicle, it is in fact technicially "dead", but it grows because of continued tissue formation within the follicle.
The disturbance in the production of sebum by these glands can result in over dry or greasy hair. Thus, if the glands become blocked or are underactive, the hair will be greasy.

The natural colur of hair and its hape straight or curly are determined by hereditary factors. In case of curly hair, the actual shape of the hair follicle forces the emerging hair to develop waves. The number of individual hairs ranges between 90,000 to 140,000, depending on the natural hair colour. Blondes the most hair since their hair is thinner than of brunettes. Redheads have the least number of hairs, although theirs will often look more abundant since it is generally the sickest. The number of hair roots or the texture of the hair, canot be changed except the natural changes which occur with age.

The life-span of a hair varies from several months to several years, depending on the scalp and hair conditions. The average life of a hair is five years. After that, the follicle from which the hair is growing begins to shrink and the hair remains static untill is drops out or is brushed out and is replaced a few months later by a new hair. Although a large numbr of hairs may come out in a single day, it will not does not from in the follicle due to inadequate blood supply, or glandular or hormonal imbalance.

There are four types of hair-normal, greasy, dry and greasy-dry. Normal hair is shiny yet not greasy, and fairly easy manage. Greasy hair looks good for a day or two after shampooing but then quickly bcomes lank. Dry hair is difficult to control after shampooing, looks dull and nds that are dry and split. Greasy-dry hair is usually fairly along and the hair nearest the scalp is greasy while the ends are dry.

Preventing Decay Through Fruits

Tooth-decay can be prevented by regular consumption of apples, as they process a mouth cleaning property. Dr. T.T. Hanks in his book Dental survey says, "Apples have a mouth cleaning property that no other fruit possesses. and taken after meals, they have the same effect as tooth brush in cleaning the teeth, with the added advantage that the acid content aside from its nutritive value, is of assistance in promoting the flow of saliva in the mouth, which is also beneficial to the teeth". The acid of the apple also exerts an antiseptic influence upon the germs present in the mouth and teeth when it is thoroughly chewed. Applies are thus regarded as natural preservers of teeth and should be taken regularly.

Grapes are very useful in prevnting [tooth-decay, too. The organic acids of grapes are strongly antiseptic. According to Johanna Brandt, "Every tooth may be loose in its cocket and pus may be pouring from the gums, but after a few weeks on the exclusive grape diet, it will in time be found that the teeth are firmly set in the jaws and that every trace of pyorrhea poisoning has disappeared."
Lemon and lime also promote healthy teeth and gums, due to their high vitamin C content. They strengthen the gums and teeth and are very effective in preventing and curing acute inflammation of the gum margins.

Raw spinach juice is another valuable food remedy for the prevention and treatment of pyorrhea, because of its beneficial effects on the teeth and gums. This effect is greatly enhanced if the juice is taken in combination with carrot juice. A permanent aid for pyorrhea has been found in the use of natural raw foods and in drinking an ample quantity of carrot and spinach juice.

Exercising Teeth and gums

The teeth and gums, like other parts of the body, require exercise for maintaing them in halthy condition. This can be achieved by eating hard and fibrous foods. Wheat is especially valuable in the prevention and treatment of pyorrhea. It takes time to chew wheat chappatis, which are generally taken with other foods. This compels one to chew hard, ot only providing the much-needed exercise for the teeth and gums but also helps the igestion process.

Chewing unripe guava is an excellent tonic for teeth and gums. It stops the bleeding from gums due to its styptic effect and richness in vitamin C. Chewing the leaves of the guava tree also helps prevent bleeding from the gums. A decoration of root bark can also be used as a mouthwash for swollen gums.