As with most things, sometimes you get what you pay for but an expensive price tag doesn’t necessarily guarantee that something will be good quality, or worth paying a high price for. This can definitely be true for skincare and haircare products. Nowadays we are inundated with products swamping the skin care and hair care markets and the prices for these products can range from reasonably priced to eye wateringly expensive. If you look around at what is available you can find great quality products from skincare and haircare companies that will give you great results without wrecking your bank balance.
Understanding what type of hair you have is very important as this will determine how to care for it, and what products you need to use, so that it is healthy and strong. It is also important to know what makes a good hair shampoo and conditioner and how they work as this will enable you to choose the right type of haircare products for your specific hair type so that you can achieve the best results.
For example, one of the conditioners in the Davines haircare range uses high grade, natural ingredients, produces a rich, revitalizing crème that adds moisture and body to hair that is dehydrated and dry. The advanced formulation means that it adapts to the specific moisturising needs of the hair, giving it body, softness and shine. Milk Thistle Oil which has an emollient, moisturising action thanks to its richness of Omega 6 essential fatty acids, Pro-Vitamin B5 (Panthenol) and Jojoba Oil work together to add moisture to hair, making it soft, smooth and shiny. It also contains Rhizobian Gum, a natural polymer that is used for its very specific and selective moisturising effect as it retains water and releases it when needed. In this way, it releases only the amount of water needed by the hair and adds moisture, volume and body. By combining these natural, highly effective ingredients this conditioner brings dry, moisture sapped hair back to life and keeps it healthy and strong.
There are lots of other natural ingredients you can look out for in your haircare products which work on hair to tackle any particular problems, such as oiliness, lack of body or excessive product build up. Cinnamon Extract, for example, normalizes sebum production, Sweet Almond Proteins strengthen and restore body to hair, while Olive Ampho Acetate (which is derived from Olive Oil) has a natural ability to gently cleanse hair thoroughly.
The main function of hair conditioner is to replace hair’s natural oils which are stripped during the shampooing process. Detergents in shampoos deplete the hair’s natural protective coating but a good conditioner will help to replenish hair after shampooing so that it is strengthened, nourished, healthy and shiny. No matter what the hair type, hair should be conditioned after shampooing.
The best ingredients to look for in a conditioner are essential oils and botanicals (such as Jojoba Oil, Shea Butter, Pistachio, Avocado and Sweet Almond Butter) Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5), methicones and silicone / dimethicone.
Once you’ve selected the right type of hair conditioner for your particular hair type and needs, you need to know how to use it properly.
Knowing how to apply conditioner properly is vital because if you use too much, and on the wrong parts of the hair, you could end up having a very bad hair day and wish you’d never got out of bed! Conditioner only needs to be applied to the hair shaft and / or the ends of hair. It shouldn’t be applied to the scalp because this can cause buildup and make hair look limp and bedraggled, which is not a great look! The hair shaft and ends of hair are made up of dead protein and are chemically inert. Because of this they can be coated with proteins or polymer which can simulate thickness and smoothness.
So, making the best of your hair is pretty simple. You just need to be aware of what your hair type is, what ingredients to look for in haircare products so that they will work best with your particular type of hair and how to use those haircare products correctly. With this simple information you’ll be able to keep your hair strong, healthy and vibrant now and in the future!
