Everyone wants to have shiny, healthy and glossy hair and this article should help to understand how to achieve that.
Each strand of hair is produced in a hair follicle, which is located below the skin's surface. In the hair follicle, a cluster of specialized cells reproduce to make more hair cells which add on to the root of the hair causing your hair to grow longer. So in actual fact the live tissue that makes the hair is under the skin and the part you see are the dead cells in a shaft. Each shaft of hair is made up of two, sometimes three layers. The cuticle, which is the outer layer of the hair and the layer you can see, protects the hair and is made up of cells all overlapping one another. The cortex is made up of proteins that allow your hair to be elastic and also contains pigments that give your hair its color. The medulla is the third layer and is sometimes found in coarse hair.
Sebaceous glands are found near hair follicles and these secrete oil called sebum, this fills any gaps between cuticle cells and keeps your hair shiny and soft. However the release of the sebum also allows dirt to collect on your hair. So using shampoo cleans the dirt form your hair, but it also strips the hair of its natural oils.
Hair responds differently to different pH’s, so in an acidic solution it will tighten and therefore look smoother and shinier, and an alkali solution will cause cuticle cells to soften and swell up making hair look dull. This is why most shampoos are made a little acidic.
To clean the hair a soap or detergent product is needed, which is why most shampoos contain detergents. Too much detergent or soap can strip the hair and damage it, and using soap solutions can be worse then using detergent based products because soap is alkaline which softens the cuticle cells and dulls the hair. The job of conditioners is just that, to condition. They do this by coating the strands with a waxy layer keeping the hair from tangling and protecting the cuticle cells. One thing to remember is that it is possible to over condition the hair, putting on too much, which can leave your hair feeling limp and heavy.
The most important things to remember are, to trim hair regularly every 3-6 months, as when the cuticle layer damages it can’t repair, not to use too many products on hair, find out what your hair type is and use a shampoo and conditioner specific for that, and last but not least use naturally acidic products to make hair glossy and to tighten cuticle cells, for example consider a vinegar rinse after shampooing.
