Hair-Care | Women Blog

Thinking of visiting a hair salon spa? For those uninitiated into the relaxing world of hair salons and hair spas, take a peek into what you must look for in a hair salon and spa. All of us suffer bad hair days; days when the hair refuses to stay in place or rather refuses to stay we want it to. Be it a special occasion or just an excuse to pamper yourself, a trip to the right hair salon and spa and use of suitable services and products is sure to leave your hair bouncy and healthy.

Look for referrals from friends or colleagues. After all your hair deserves the right treatment! But at the end of the day, cultivate your own hair salon and stylist. After all, what works well with Amanda’s crop of curls may not work that well on your long tresses. Choosing a hair stylist is a very personal thing – someone who works in harmony with what you are looking for!

The essence of a good hair salon and stylist is to be able to communicate well. Check with the hair professionals to find out what kind of treatment your hair needs, be it deep conditioning or coloring services, hair texture management or hair styling.

• Cleanliness – the basic requisite of any hair salon and spa. Don’t compromise on the hygiene levels, clean work stations and equipment used.
• Look for salon services that cater to your ethnicity. Women with different racial backgrounds will have differing needs and products more suited for their hair type.
• It is not wrong to call up a hair salon and spa and check out rates for various services.

You can go in for a hair specialty salon and get your tresses attended to. Alternatively you can visit a body spa and partake of other beauty services such as a relaxing pedicure or a reviving facial.

A hair routine that has me totally hooked is a warm oil hair massage. The massage does wonders not just for my hair but for the rest of me too. I love surrendering my mane to the hands of the hair salon expert who weaves her magic into about 20 minutes of hair massage with warm oil.

With the slow sure touch on the scalp, you can feel your stresses slowly ebb away. The hair massage usually extends to the neck and upper back. To feel the warm oil seeping into the scalp, the pressure on the hairline and at the nape of the neck and the gentle pull on the hair roots lulls me into a peaceful state.

Benefits of hair oil massage are manifold:

• Instant revving up of the blood and lymphatic circulation
• Relief from stress and often headaches and migraine too
• Boost in circulation helps hair follicles thereby promoting hair growth
• Hair is conditioned and therefore more manageable
• Dry and damaged hair respond well to regular hair oil massage treatments

Choosing the oil for hair massage is based on individual choice, from the heavier almond or olive oil to herb-infused coconut oil. For ages, warm oil has been used in India for massaging the hair and body. Hair oil is infused with herbs and hibiscus flowers to promote healthy hair.

If you do not have the time for a leisurely hair massage at the salon, why not try one yourself at home. Doesn’t promise to be the real thing but nevertheless it sure does good! Take some oil in a bowl and place it in a pan of hot water. When it is comfortably warm to the touch, you can apply the oil to different areas of your scalp with a small wad of cotton. Part your hair so as to work it into all parts of the scalp. Then work it in with the fingers using slow circular movements. Continue this for a few minutes or as long as you can manage it without your arms screaming for help. Dip a towel in hot water, wring it out and wrap it round your head.

Whilst on hair oil massages and caring for hair and you, read up what we researched on these topic:

Faster hair growth - Tips on enhancing hair growth.

Damaged hair care - Managing damaged Hair.

It was just the other day that my friend Rhea called me over to look over and help her try out her new buy – a thermal hair straightener. With hair straightening taking women all over by storm, it wasn’t surprising that I took on her invitation right away. The hair straightener looked like a pair of flat tongs, each having a heating element within. The manual said that all you had to do was place your hair between the heated tongs and pull along till the end of the hair shaft…and voila! You should have ramrod straight locks!

Both of us had done our homework and read tons of material on temporary hair straighteners. My friend was forever lamenting that she didn’t like the look of her curly hair. Not wanting to subject her hair to chemical straightening treatments, it was decided that the hair straightener was the next best bet. So she was itching to get her hands on the hair straightener in the fond hope that it would lend the straight silky locks that she so desired.

The ceramic hair straightener offered the user the ability to control heat settings. Combining electrical, mechanical and thermal forces, this contraption offered to smoothen frizzy locks. The heat from the hair straightening iron causes temporary restructure of hair, thereby flattening it. The force applied by the tongs squeezes and realigns cuticles of the hair shaft so as to make it appear smooth and straight.

Applying hair moisturizer before using the hair straightener was good piece of advice. This prevented Rhea’s hair from turning excessively dry. It is not wise to use a hair straightener everyday, as the hair needs some time to recover from being subject to heat settings. It is essential to follow up regular hair straightening with deep conditioning so that the shine and bounce is maintained and flyaway hair is kept at bay. Do not use a hair straightener on wet hair for fear of singeing it.

What I have noticed is that hair straighteners tend to work best on those who have wavy hair. Extremely curly locks tend to get straightened but end up looking like coiled springs, ready to spring back to original condition. This often lends an unnatural appearance and the hair lacks natural bounce. So do we stick to the adage that its best to make the most of what nature has given us?

For those of you who want a refreshing hair treatment that is sure to perk you up and soothe away the stress, I will come back next week with interesting details on hair oil massage. In the meanwhile, I am sure our articles on various hair treatments will find favor with you:

Hair Straightening - Detailed article on hair straightening.

Blow Drying Hair - Traps and Tips on blow drying your Hair…

In our articles we have talked at length about various hairstyles, be it celebrity hairstyles and braid hairstyles, hair updos or bridal hairstyles. When you have a head of healthy hair, it shows! The luster, bounce and shine of healthy hair never fail to catch anyone’s attention. With the plethora of hair care products available these days, we are never in dearth of hair shampoos, conditioners, mousses, gels and what have you!

Today I wish to draw attention to simple yet effective natural hair care products, items that are easily available in most homes. From fruits and eggs to limes and oil massages, you can use many an item from the kitchen shelf to work on your hair. What is essential is to understand your hair type and what kind of natural products would suit it.

Fruits come choc-a-bloc with nutrition and health. While you always knew that they did wonders for your health and skin, did you know that you could use them on your hair too?

Mash an avocado and use it as a hair conditioner. You can blend it to a paste with lemon juice and pure aloe extract. If left on the hair for about 15 - 20 minutes and then washed off with a mild shampoo, your hair would emerge conditioned and soft to the touch. Whilst on the topic of natural hair conditioners, I will talk of another home treatment.

I for one haven’t tried it but have read about it in most hair care books. Mayonnaise, yes you read right, mayonnaise can be applied to freshly washed hair and left for about 15 - 20 minutes.

Honey is considered an effective natural hair care product. Mixed with warm water and applied to freshly washed hair, it is said to leave a shine and sheen on your hair. Grandma’s tip to apply a couple of eggs on the hair still works well. Mixed with a few teaspoons of olive oil, this natural hair care treatment adds shine and strength to your hair.

Hair masks made with blended fruit and yogurt serve as excellent natural hair conditioners. Beer, vinegar or limejuice when added to the final rinsing of your hair can leave your hair well conditioned and shining.

When talking of natural hair care treatments, we cannot but ignore the beneficial effects of warm oil massage. When warm oils are well massaged into the scalp, it stimulates hair follicles, boosts circulation and provides the hair with much-needed nourishment…. and the relaxed feeling it leaves you with is by itself worth the effort. Wrap a towel dipped in hot water around the head a few times and leave on for about 30 minutes.

After all, a bit of care and we can keep our healthy mane well nourished and going strong for years! Take some time off to pamper your hair and yourself!

I have some interesting collection of articles just for your hair -

Hair continues to be an obsession with us. Whether it is to choose the right hairstyle or treating hair loss or opting for various hair treatments, women are always in a tizzy about the condition of their hair and choice of haistyles.

What goes into making a natural hairstyle? The hair cut must ideally be suited to the length, texture and color of the hair. A good hairstyle must complement face shape and features. Choose a hairstyle that goes well with your age and lifestyle. Messy large hairdos don’t find place in a corporate environment. An updo is ideal for prom night or a wedding party.

If you are a working woman, look for a natural hairstyle that has a clean cut and easy to maintain. Learn to wear your hair in many simple ways. Try them out first with your hairstylist. Don’t forget to go in for regular trims to keep your hairstyle looking great.

If your hair is very thick, you may need to go in for layering to achieve a pleasing overall effect. High maintenance hairstyles are fine if you have lots of time, patience and inclination towards all the curling, blow drying and all that goes into heavy duty hairstyle care. Hair sprays are no longer in. Instead go in for gel or mousse to achieve fullness and for styling. Look for volume building products if you have fine hair.

Women have taken to hair straightening with a vengeance. With thermal reconditioning products, curly unruly locks are a thing of the past! You can sport straight silken tresses by subjecting your hair to hair straightening treatment. But this means that your hair will require TLC to prevent it suffering from the harsh chemicals and heavy ironing.

Length of hair is a very personal issue. While long hair is a part of many cultures, these days women sport trendy hairstyles that can range from layered bobs to long fringes or even short pageboy look.

But all this works on hair that is intrinsically healthy and glowing. Now that makes a subject for another day. After all healthy hair never goes out of style! Take a tip or two from our articles on haistyles:

Virtual Hairstyle

Hair Makeover

Hair Perm

Hairstyle Updo

Easy Hairstyle

Hair may not be essential for life, yet hair means many things to women. Personality, style, health, success, social recognition and attractiveness for women hinge often on their luxuriant tresses. We probably attach extra ordinary importance to our hair and the hairstyle not without a reason. A change to the hairstyle can often create dramatic change to our appearance.
The American Academy of Dermatologists estimates that about 30 million women in the US are affected by hair loss. Hair loss can be due to many reasons - vitamin deficiency, hormonal imbalance, emotional stress and a host of diseases.

Research shows that increasing number of women lose around 20% of hair between 20 and 50 years of age. As some hair falls out, new hair grows in its place as part of an ever changing cycle.
Healthy hair can be easily groomed and styled. The bottom line is that your hair is the reflection of the overall condition of your body.
In the US alone, the hair care industry is worth about 7 billion dollars and the options available are bewildering.  

 The possible choices in Hair style can easily outnumber the total number of women on this planet. From a casual  punk hairstyle to Celebrity Hairstyle have found favor with most of us depending on our mood and situation.

In keeping with the trend, we have dedicated more than 23 articles on Hairstyle and Hair care here - to care for the luxuriant mane you so proudly flaunt with a sweep of your head.

Some Samplings from our collection:

Hair Care:

Female Hair Loss
This detailed guide to female hair loss deals with factors that lead to temporary and permanent hair loss. Once the cause for the female hair loss is determined, possible treatment options can be considered.
Hair Straightening
Thermal hair straightening is taking the beauty world by storm. This chemical treatment involves permanently straightening the texture of the hair.

Washing Hair
Washing your hair right and with the right products can go a long way in maintaining your lustrous mane. Take vital tips on how to wash your hair and how often to wash it.

Laser Hair Brush
Collect tips on selecting the right hair brush for your hair style and hair type. Read up on laser hair brushes.

Hair Accessory
Use hair accessories to add glamour and style or plain functionality. Pick up wedding hair accessories to set off your gown and hairstyle to best advantage.
Hair Weaving
Take a look at various techniques of hair weaving. Find out the suitability of each hair weaving process.

Hair Extension
Use hair extensions for instant length, volume and new hairstyle. Visit a reputed hair extension salon for fusion hair extensions.
 

Hair style:

Virtual Hairstyle
The virtual gallery provides you with various hairstyle pictures to choose from. Find out whether the trendy hairstyle this season suits your face shape and hair texture. Choose a hairstyle that flatters you.

Celebrity Hairstyle
Celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston, Britney Spears and Jessica Simpson have created waves with their alluring hairstyles. Current hairstyles usually draw inspiration from the way celebrities wear their hair. If you are looking for the hot hairstyles for 2006, this article is a must-read for you!

Easy hairstyle
This summer toss you hair into a ponytail or try braids or twists. Try out easy summer hairstyles that are non-fuss and relatively maintenance free.

Hair Makeover
Break free from the boring haistyle and go in for a hair makeover. Choose a haircut and style that brings out the best in you.
Updo Hair Style
A peek into various updo hairstyles, French knots and classic buns. Look into prom updo hairstyles and wedding updo hairstyles.
Braid Hair Style
An informative guide on braid hair styles. Maintenance tips for micro braids hair style and black hair styles with braids.

Curly Hair Style
A peek into curly hairstyles - for naturally curly hair or permed hair. Curly hairstyles need good hairstylist and hairstyling products to keep the frizz in place.
More blogs about haircare.