Hair today, gone tomorrow

Haircare today is no longer a woman's domain, as men have become just as hair-conscious as women. Problems such as hair loss which were accepted as inevitable or simply a part of life are now being tackled head-on, and the solutions are often simpler than we realised. We will take a closer look at some of the ways in which we can easily and naturally care for our hair without expensive products and visits to the salon.

The first thing to do is determine your hair type. It is easy to fall into the trap of purchasing products because we've seen dramatic change in the hair quality of one of our friends or colleagues, which they attribute to a particular wonder product they've started using, or seen advertised on television by some supermodel who has likely never even used the product. Then, when there's no improvement in your hair condition you begin to wonder whether they made it up, or something is seriously wrong with you. Knowing your hair type will, therefore, help to determine what products you purchase, ensuring your money is better spent. However, the truth is that there are simple solutions everyone can implement, most of which can be found in the kitchen or backyard and can be far more effective.

Tip #1: Keep it clean but don't overdo it. Generally, shampooing your hair once per week is enough unless you have oily hair, in which case you might try every other day. Washing the hair too often strips it of natural oils, causing it to become brittle and dry, leading to breakage and hair loss. For men, the recommendation is to wash the hair no more than twice or three times per week. Remember that some shampoos contain harsh chemicals which can do serious damage, so while keeping the hair clean is important, we should also use caution in order to protect what nature has bestowed upon us.

Tip #2: Feed your hair. That's right. Feed it properly. One of the most important lessons in haircare is that the hair needs nutrients, especially protein and vitamins, to regenerate and grow healthy and strong, just like our bodies. Exposure to sunlight, pollution, chemicals from hair products, heating implements and general wear and tear damage the hair, and we may find ourselves battling premature greying, dull and lifeless hair, hair loss and a myriad other issues. I had almost given up on my hair because the edges had grown thin, it was stringy and a pain to care for. Then I decided to start treating it using natural rather than man-made products, so every week when I shampooed, I would then cover my hair with a treatment made from either a beaten egg, avocado, onion, papaya or lemon, Sometimes I would combine two ingredients such as egg and onion or lemon and avocado. I would cover my hair with a steam cap and leave for about an hour before washing again and adding a leave-in conditioner. The result was that after about a month there was a remarkable improvement in the look and feel of my hair, and this has continued to get better as time goes by.

Tip #3: Avoid heating implements. Blow driers, curling irons and other tools may work wonders in giving us that fantastic hairdo, but over time the heat damages the hair follicles and we find ourselves battling breakage, brittle hair and hair loss. As much as possible try to allow your hair to air-dry naturally. I sometimes wrap my hair after shampooing if I don't have to go out again that day, or shampoo at night and towel dry so that it's nice and dry when I wake up in the morning. If you do have to use a heating tool, be sure to purchase the appropriate products that protect against heat damage. You can find these in most stores which stock hair supplies.

Tip#4: Give your hair a break! Relaxers, curling irons, blow driers and a mountain of chemicals can be dangerous to the hair after awhile. It is a good idea to allow the hair to breathe and just hang loose at times. If you're at home on the weekend, let it flow free, no hair bands or pins or any other encumbrance. You should also do this as much as possible during the week, especially after work. Your hair will feel better and so will you, and your hairline will be strengthened if it has grown thin. If you relax your hair, give it a break from the chemicals from time to time; a wig or braids are a great substitute. For those who use hair dyes, this is also a workable solution because hair dyes can seriously damage hair, so it is important to take a break. The treatments mentioned in the second tip are great for hair that it coloured, as steaming the hair with those natural products causes the dye to last longer in the hair and improves the overall look and feel of coloured-treated hair.

Your hair is your crown, so to be the king and queen you were created to be, take the best care of it. Using what nature has blessed us with is the best way to ensure strong, healthy hair. Even if your mane is gloriously thick and shiny, you can still benefit from these tips, as an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, and you never know when the picture above might become your reality. Take care of your hair today to preserve it for tomorrow.