Many Money Saver Tips for Hair Also Keep Hair Healthier
Speaking at the American Academy of Dermatology on November 10th, Dr. Paradi Mirmirani, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco, offered advice on small ways to keep hair beautiful and healthy while saving money — an important thing in today's poor economy.
What does Healthy Hair Mean?
Hair is a natural fiber, whose structure must remain intact to have healthy hair. The hair follicle, or root, is where the fiber is made. The outer cuticle acts like roof shingles to protect the more delicate inner fibers. When those "shingles" are damages, the inner fibers are exposed, and results in dull, fragile, and frizzy or flyaway hair. Thus, any routine for healthy hair must be gentle enough as to not damage this outer cuticle.
Hair Brush Tips
Despite conventional belief, that soft bristle brushes like boar bristle brushes are best for hair, Dr. Mirmirani recommended inexpensive plastic brushes with widely spaced needles. They are not only easier on the wallet, but easier on the hair, as well. An even more inexpensive wide-toothed comb is perfectly sufficient for most people, in fact.
Don't Overdo Shampoo
Keep shampoo use to as little as possible so save money as well as wear and tear on your hair. Use it only on the roots and scalp; the rest of the hair doesn't really need it, and rinsing off the shampoo is plenty. Also, most people, she noted, probably over-wash their hair. Except for those with very oily scalps, most people only really need to shampoo every other day, some even less. On average, African Americans, whose scalps tend to be much drier, only need to shampoo their hair about once a week.
And of course, which shampoo you use is important, to both hair and pocketbook. Dr. Mirmirani said that she finds most regular brand names sold in stores to be just as good as expensive brands from salons. She also strongly recommends buying the right shampoo, formulated for your hair type — such as those for color-treated hair, dry hair, oily hair, dandruff, and so on.
Don't Cut the Conditioner
Dr. Mirmirani pointed out that the one place not to try and cut costs is the conditioner. Conditioner, especially for those with dry or long hair, is critical to maintain the health of hair.
Style Hair with Style
Avoid overstyling hair; things like permanents, hair dyes, hair straightening, and so on are where most people overspend, and also damage their hair the worst.
Home hair dyes are basically identical in most cases to those used in salons; applying it yourself can save quite a few pretty pennies.
Heated styling products, like flat irons or curling irons, should never be used on wet hair; additionally, a product to protect hair from heat, such as a leave-in conditioning spray, can greatly reduce the damage from any heating styling product — including blow-dryers.
For more on natural dry hair care, be sure to read Best Tips to Prevent and Treat Dry Hair.
photo by Evil Erin
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