Archive for August, 2009
With so many conflicting opinions, it can be hard to know which advice to take to keep your hair looking shiny and healthy every day. Here are to top dos and don’ts for daily hair care.
DO: Find a good shampoo that works and stick to it
As long as you are using a high quality shampoo which suits your hair type, there is no need to regularly change your hair care products. The idea that the hair gets used to one shampoo and it stops working, or that residue of a product will build up unless you switch, is a myth. As long as you use good quality shampoo you should continue to get excellent results, every time you wash.
DON’T: Try to save money by using cheap hair care products
Using the cheapest hair products is usually a false economy. Cheaper hair care products can contain man-made plastic polymers which coat the hair, leaving it looking dull. Salon hair products are more expensive because they contain plant proteins which will help to build up the hair naturally, allowing it to shine. Although salon hair products are more expensive per bottle, each bottle will last longer as you need to use less of them for best results.
DO: Use conditioner, whatever your hair type
Unless your hair is extremely short, using conditioner will improve any type of hair, including greasy hair. Conditioner improves the texture and appearance of hair and can also protect it against damage such as split ends, making it a must for good hair care. Ideally, test out a variety of good quality conditioners to find one which gives you the best possible results and stick with it.
DON’T: Leave your hair unwashed
The idea that unwashed hair starts to clean itself is a classic hair care myth. While it isn’t necessary to wash hair every day, if you don’t wash your hair at all, it will just get dirtier and greasier, and you could find yourself with an itchy, irritated scalp as well.
DO: Rinse your hair with cold water after washing
While it might not feel pleasant at first, applying cold water to the hair after washing will make your hair shinier. This is because it closes the cuticle and helps the conditioner to work. Once you get used to the shock of cold water you may even start to find this part of your hair care routine refreshing.
Laser hair removal is a newer technology that is very effective at removing hair from unwanted areas of your body. While laser hair treatment is commonly used on one’s face, the procedure can also be performed on the following areas of your body: legs, arms, back, chin, upper lip, bikini line, and armpits. In essence, this procedure can be effective for almost any part of your body, with the exception of the uni-brow.
The area that you are targeting with the laser removal will effect greatly the cost of procedure, so it’s very important to speak to you doctor up front and make sure he or she gives you a fair estimate of what they think it is going to take to get the hair removed to your satisfaction. Obviously, just getting a mustache removed is going to be much less costly (typically) than having your chin, upper lip, back, and legs done.
The other main factor that will determine the price of the procedure is the amount of visits that are required to complete the hair removal process. Typically, a person will require 3-8 total visits that are spaced out over a few months to get the desired results. The amount will vary greatly depending on the color of your hair, the thickness of your hair, and the area of skin that you are targeting.
So next time you meet with your doctor or dermatologist to discuss laser hair treatments, make sure you discuss the estimated costs, and do so in terms of how many visits to expect and overall costs, not just the price of a one-time procedure.
