Beauty Tips You Don’t Get from the Salon

Hi! Now, I know that as females we would like to go to the salon and get our hair done, but the truth is these women are businesswomen, so there’s a lot they won’t tell you just to keep their business flourishing. So today I’m going to tell you the “untold beauty tips” for your hair  

1. DIRECT HEAT

These days at the salon, once the hairdresser is done, the first thing she does is to mop up your hair with a towel and then she turns on the hair drier and starts to blow-dry your hair until it’s smoking hot! Sometimes you can even smell your hair burning. The Damage This Causes:

• It dries your scalp and dries the natural oils on it.
• It weakens your hair and makes it thin out.
• It dehydrates your hair.
• It makes your hair brittle to the touch and eventually, your hair begins to break.
• It affects the protein makeup of your hair which in turn affects the elasticity, strength, and growth of your hair.

So, the best way to avoid this is to towel-dry your hair or allow it to drip until it dries. If you must blow dry your hair, make sure you apply hair cream before the process and don’t wait for your hair to go crispy before you stop.  

2. SCRUBBING YOUR SCALP WHEN WASHING YOUR HAIR:

Let’s be honest, when we take our hair for washing at the saloon, they scrub it like they are washing a dirty rug. You might want to throw in some detergent if you’re going to treat your hair that way. You’re not supposed to use your claws/nails on your hair. It damages the scalp and ends up tangling your hair which in turn leads to cutting and breaking of your hair. you’re supposed to treat your hair like its silk. You can partition your hair into four big twists and wash them individually to avoid tangling. Make sure you use your fingertips or palms to wash your hair in a circular motion. Then you can use a big, toothed comb to comb out your hair gently (emphasis on gently, I mean very gently! Don’t go to war with your hair!) Rinse and repeat the process until the water is clear.   Things To Do Before Washing Your Hair

• Moisturize your hair to prevent it from drying out
• Avoid any shampoo that contains sodium sulfate as they are drying agents

 

3. PROTECT YOUR HAIR FROM DIRECT SUN EXPOSURE!

I’m pretty sure that some people still believe that we have vitamin D in the early morning sun. However, due to the change in climate, we now have little to no vitamins in the sun’s rays – just a whole lot of ultraviolet rays. Even your synthetic wigs eventually become spongy if you wear them out in the sun. This is a result of sun damage; the sunlight can kill the moisture in your hair and make it brittle. Just think of it as a long-term hair dryer. What You Should Do

1. Every morning before you step out, make sure you moisturize your hair and cover it with either a scarf or a face cap.
2. Don’t spend so much time in the sun. And if you must, go out with an umbrella.
3. Drink enough water and eat enough fruits.

 

4. MAKING TIGHT BRAIDS!!

I’ve been a victim of this. Sometimes when you see a hairstylist weaving some braids, you don’t know if it’s the hairstylist who’s pulling the hair or if it’s the customer who’s pulling them both. I once had a boil on my scalp due to tight braids. Sometimes you’d have sleepless nights and eventually stay on painkillers because of the pain, and sometimes your posture might end up looking like this when you’re done: This doesn’t only damage your posture, but it also causes a strain on your hair.  

5. USE A SILK PILLOWCASE OR USE A SILK HAIR BONNET BEFORE GOING TO BED

Friction leads to hair breakage and some of us are fighters in our sleep. A silk surface has less friction and doesn’t absorb any moisture making them hair friendly. So, before going to bed, you might want to use a leave-in conditioner or any hair moisturizer of your choice. Style your hair in a 4-part twist, wear your silk bonnet and have a good night’s rest.

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Valerie Ihenachor