Hair
Care
"
Brain work will cause her (the new woman) to become
bald, while incre
asing
masculinity and contempt for beauty will induce the
growth of hair on the face. In the future, therefore
women will be bald and will wear long moustaches and
patriarchal beards." - Hans Friedenthal, a professor
at the University of Berlin, as quoted in the Berliner
Tageblatt newspaper in July 1914.
Phew!
Here we are in 2001... Overworked in the department
of "brainwork"... and yet with our hair,
the potent symbol of femininity intact and sans patriarchal
beards and long moustaches!
While
Prof. Friedenthal's prophecy was far too far fetched,
we are guilty of one crime...ignoring our hair and
not taking as much care of our hair as our skin. Isn't
it a fact that most of us would go for a day at the
beach armed with sun blocks, anti tans, anti UV ray
creams and lotions, and spare no thought for what
lies on the scalp.
Caring
for your hair is just as important as taking care
of your skin. Did you know that in addition to environment
and lifestyle, hair reacts even to your age?
20
's
A golden time for your hair, skin and general health
.
It is at this time when physically you are at your
peak, with all the hormonal changes at the onset of
puberty having
settled down. But your monthly periods can affect
your hair making it unruly and greasy. It is also
the time when due to peer pressure or other influences,
one tends to go on crash diets, or with all the partying
forego sleep. In some cases one also experiments with
trendy read chemically harmful hair colours and dyes
or go in for a new look with perms/straighteners.
It is also the age of jaunts in the sea and sun, college
picnics, beach parties and what not. All this causes
hair to come under heavy stress. The result? Depending
on your hair type, you could end up with dry ends
or more seriously a head of straw! Now you wouldn't
want that...would you? Therefore the key word at this
age is moderation.
Wear a big hat or scarf when you are spending a sunny
day at the beach. And go for one of the innumerable
hair products made with sunscreens. Or try this. Blend
together some water-resistant suntan lotion, SPF15,
and an equal quantity of your favourite conditioner.
Apply it along the hair's length in two-inch partings,
paying special attention to the ends and comb through.
This will help condition hair and protect it against
sun, salt water and chlorine. Reapply, as you would
use sun lotion on skin. As it's quite greasy, you
will need to shampoo thoroughly at the end of the
day, a small price to pay for saving your hair.
Also
remember to always oil your hair before each shampoo
and stick to a mild shampoo. If you have permed or
colour-treated hair, use a shampoo formulated for
these conditions.
30
's
If you had greasy hair in your twenties, you might
find it getting dry now. This is indicative of the
fact that your hair is not getting as much natural
oil and moisture. The result is dry, dull and coarse
hair. In fact it is said that in the thirties both
hair and skin goes on a decline. Your skin starts
losing its elasticity and your hair loses its bounce
and shine.
30s
is also the period when women are more stressed in
their personal and professional lives, hence one has
to learn to relax and be more at ease with one's self.
If you smoke and drink cut down. Smoking leads to
dull and sallow skin and makes your hair smell terrible.
Adjust your shampoo and conditioning routine accordingly.
Where once a light shampoo was enough, you now require
a more intensive, protein-enriched treatment. More
so if you have permed or coloured hair. Grey hair
too comes in unannounced at this age. Camouflage it
with an attractive highlight. If there is more of
grey choose a good quality permanent hair colour.
Exercising regularly and eating sensibly also will
help.
40
's & Beyond
Aaah! The 40s, an age when women are well settled
in every way, and are ready to enjoy the fruits of
their success. But if you have abused your hair over
the years, this is when you pay for it. Problems like
dry hair and scalp get intensified at this age.
Your hair also starts looking lifel
ess.
If you use hair sprays, stick to ones that add shine
and bounce, without reducing it to a flat, oily mass.
Use a shampoo specially formulated for dry hair and
go for a weekly protein treatment. If you notice a
dry and flaky scalp, don't rush for a medicated/strong
anti-dandruff shampoo. It could be more of a case
of lack of natural oils.
Remember to seek professional help before opting for
strong shampoos. As you age, softer, face-framing
styles are more flattering than hard, scraped back
styles that only emphasise lines and wrinkles.
Observe these basic guidelines and defy the onslaught
of the advancing years
