Real Life Real Faith Women Walking By Faith May/June 2016 | Page 18

THE BEAUTY BOX

HEALTHY HAIR HABITS
BY YOLANDA MATTHEWS-PORTER

As women, we can experience challenges with our
hair due to improper maintenance habits and
routines. Did you know that every day mishaps could
leave your hair dry, dull and lifeless? Some common
hair care habits we practice daily are actually bad
and can lead to damage such as shedding, breakage,
dryness and hair loss. I will provide you with some
great tips that will help you to improve your hair
maintenance routines.
First, let us define shampoo:
A liquid or dry preparation used to cleanse the hair
and scalp.
One key essential of good hair care is being aware of
your hair texture and condition. There are many
types of shampoos on the market. You should make
it your goal to become familiar with selecting the
right shampoo and conditioner for your hair type
and its state. Reading labels and literature is
beneficial towards enabling you to make informed
decisions about the use of various shampoos. Hair is
usually categorized as dry, oily, normal or chemically
treated. Hair textures are coarse, medium and fine.

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Your scalp can become oily or flaky due to over
processing. Did you know that over-shampooing your
hair could cause dryness of the scalp? On the other
hand not shampooing your hair enough can cause
oiliness, dandruff, and dirt build-up. The shampoo you
choose to use must be effective enough to thoroughly
cleanse your hair and scalp. The frequency of
shampooing your hair depends on your level of activity.
For instance, do you exercise regularly? Your hair must
be shampooed as often as necessary in order to prevent
it from becoming a breeding ground for diseaseproducing bacteria that cause scalp disorders.
As a general rule of thumb, oily hair should be
shampooed more than normal or dry hair. However, it
should not be done too often because excessive
shampooing can strip the hair of its protective oils and
sebum. Sebum, in small amounts, protects the hair and
seals the h