Have you ever wondered why other people’s hair is always so smooth with the same shampoo, but yours is frizzy and split?
In fact, it’s not just genetics. Even if two people with the same hair type have different hair-washing and blow-drying habits, they are likely to have different results.
And many people do it wrong!
So what is the correct way to shampoo and blow hair?
To understand how to wash and blow dry hair, let’s get to know our old friend, the strands of hair.
Hair is a thin line when viewed with the naked eye. In fact, its structure is still very complex when you zoom in. From the inside to the outside are the medulla, cortex and epidermis, the latter two are the hair core and scales that we often say [1].
In this structure, the hair scales are very important.
To look good in your hair, protect your cuticles first.
If the cuticles are relatively intact, without defects, and closed tightly, the hair will look shiny; on the contrary, if the cuticles are defected and not closed tightly, the hair will look dry and dry. Light.
A characteristic of the cuticle is that it opens up when exposed to water and closes again when it dries.
Understanding this characteristic of hair, it is easy to understand the correct posture of washing and blowing hair.
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When shampooing, the cuticles on the hair will open when exposed to water. If you rub and rub hard at this time, the open cuticles will inevitably be worn away, and even the hair will be removed from the open cuticles. It splits into two, forming a bifurcation.
Thus, if you want to have fine hair, the key to washing your hair is to be gentle and follow the cuticles.
Some friends may ask, can this be cleaned?
Many people have a misconception about washing their hair: washing your hair is just washing the hair on your hair.
But the hair is not as dirty as you think, the essence of washing hair is: wash the scalp!
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Shampoo to remove oil and secretions from the scalp and hair near the scalp.
Hair dust can be completely removed when flushing, no need to rub hard.
Souse your fingertips to massage your scalp when shampooing your hair, and then gently rinse it down your hair, it will be completely clean without damaging your hair.
Similarly, don’t rub your hair vigorously when drying, press and rub along the cuticles. Dry your hair until it is no longer dripping.
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There are indeed studies that show that air drying hair is better than drying it with a hair dryer, because when the hair is naturally dried, its fur and cortex shrink simultaneously.
While drying with a hair dryer, the outer skin of the fur dries faster, and the inner medulla and cortex dries slower, which is easy to form a pressure difference between the inside and outside. The elasticity of the small skin decreases, so the hair at this time is easy to break [2].
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But this is too unfriendly for girls with long hair. If the waist-length hair wants to dry naturally, I am afraid that it will have to wait until the flowers are gone.
Especially if you take a bath before going to bed at night, it is very difficult to fall asleep with wet hair. Not only is it easy to catch cold, but the wet hair rubs with the movement of the head when sleeping, which is even worse for the hair. .
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So to save drying time, use a blow dryer. But pay attention to a few points:
1. Sequence: blow dry the roots first, then the ends.
Many people like to blow the wettest ends first, but this is not only time-consuming, but also a health hazard. Dry the hair roots first, mainly to dry the scalp first to prevent catching cold and prevent migraine caused by the wind on the head. At the same time, the water of the hair drips from top to bottom, and it is better to dry near the hair roots and save money. time.
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2. Distance: The hair dryer should be as far away from the hair as possible.
The likelihood of thermal breakage of human hair increases linearly above 50°C[2].
Since different brands and models of hair dryers can reach different temperatures and winds, the principle of [the wind blowing out does not scald the skin] should be followed when blowing hair. Keeping a certain distance can effectively prevent the scalp from being scalded and prevent the hair from being damaged by high temperature.
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3. Direction: Blow in the direction of hair growth.
Blowing in the direction of the cuticle will help the cuticles close, so the hair will be smooth and not tangled.
4. Time: depending on the amount of hair, blow the hair until the hair is all separated and it feels a little moist.
According to personal needs, after the hot air is finished, you can switch to the cold air and continue to dry until the hair is completely dry, or you can wait for the hair to dry naturally.
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The details of washing your hair, wiping your hair, and blowing your hair are all right. After a period of persistence, I believe your hair quality can crush most people.
If you want to build on this foundation, you can also work hard in these places:
1. Reduce the frequency of perming: Frequent perming will not only damage the cuticles, but also the core of the hair, causing great damage to the hair.
2. Use conditioner or hair mask when shampooing: Both conditioner and hair mask can help close the cuticles, increase lubrication and prevent hair from frizz knot for easy detangling of hair. The components and functions of the two are relatively close, and you can choose according to your own needs. (Ps: It can only be used on the middle and lower sections of the hair, not on the scalp)
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3. Daily use of hair care essential oils: Different from skin conditioners and hair masks, hair care essential oils do not need to be washed off, and can be applied to the ends of the hair before going out during the day , It can make the hair tail stronger and less prone to aging.
Reviewer: Xu Hongjun| Attending Physician, Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Beijing Friendship Hospital Affiliated to Capital Medical University
References
[1]Sun Xiaorong.Research methods and status quo of the effect of physical and chemical factors on hair[J].Daily Chemical Industry,1998(04):41-44.
[2] Gao Fei, Jin Xipeng. Effects of physical factors on hair[J]. Science of Daily Chemicals, 2000(04):6-7+10.
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