Healthy hair is primarily the result of proper nutrition and sufficient water intake, because hair can only be as healthy as the body that produces it. Conditioning treatments play a great role in maintaining healthy hair and scalp, but proper nutrition is the first line of defense. Hair conditioners fall into several different categories, the type of treatment needed depends on the following factors:
Hair texture
Is the hair soft, fine or coarse?
Overall state of the hair
Is the hair dry and brittle, or soft and pliable?
Natural or chemically treated
Is the hair treated with permanent color, permanent wave, chemical relaxer, or other chemical processes?
All of these factors must be taken into account when selecting a hair conditioner. For instance, although liquid proteins play a important role in strenghthening the hair, if applied to dry brittle hair, the protein will harden the hair and cause additional breakage.
There are basically 6 different types of conditioning treatments:
Moisturizers
Moisturizers, also termed humectants, restore depleted moisture levels to prevent and stop breakage. If your hair is chemically processed or naturally coarse, you will need a moisturizing conditioner weekly. Making sure to thoroughly saturate the hair from scalp to ends.
Reconstructors
Reconstructors are designed to repair the internal structure of the hair, that styling abuse, and chemical processing damages. They should be used approximately once per month. In cases of extreme damage, use weekly.
Acidifiers
Acidifiers are designed to close the cuticle layer, the cuticle is the last layer of the hair strand, and overlaps like fish scales. When the hair is damaged, the cuticle swells and exposes the internal structure of the hair, resulting in dull and lifeless hair, that is very rough to the touch. When acidifying treatments are properly applied, the cuticle closes and the hair becomes smoother, shinier and vibrant. Vinegar and lemon water rinses are natural acidifiers and should be used after the final shampoo, to seal the cuticle layer and remove trapped soap curds.
Detanglers
Erroneously, detanglers are generally considered to be deep conditioning treatments, however They do not contain deep penetrating properties, they are formulated to soften the hair for a smoother comb out. Detanglers should be used on hair that is over-processed, or hair that has not been trimmed regularly, and tends to tangle or mat. They should be used in conjunction with deep conditioners, but not as a sole conditioning treatment.
Liquid Proteins
Liquid proteins are designed to strengthen structually weak hair, by hardening the bonds of the hair. Proteins should never be used on hair that lacks the proper moisture level, because dry hair does not need to be hardened, it requires a softening process. African-American hair generally requires an intensive moisturizing regimen, because of it’s susceptibility to dryness and breakage.
Generally liquid proteins should be used on overly soft, fine or limp hair that is not moisture deprived. For better absorption add protein to a small amount of cream moisturizing conditioner. However, if the hair is chemically processed, it will mainly require moisturizing, acidifying and reconstructive treatments, as a regular conditioning regimen, as opposed to protein treatments.
Oils (Essential Fatty Acids)
Essential Fatty Acids are oils rich in nutrients and natural emollients that keep hair soft and pliable, all hair types require EFA’s. Hair that lacks a sufficient amount of EFA’s, becomes frizzy, dry and brittle, and easily breaks. The natural emollients contained in essential fatty acids must be replaced regularly, to ensure healthy hair. hns oyl™ is one such product.
Remember: Every strand of hair that does not have conditioner on it, does not get conditioned.
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