Contents
What makes hair shiny ?
First of all, we can think of each hair as a columnar body. If you cut it at the middle and observe the cross section, you will find that it has a multi-layered structure. The outermost layer is the hair epidermis, because it is composed of scales or tiles. It is composed of keratinocytes, so it can also be called hair scales. It acts like a protective coat, locking the moisture and sebum in the hair without losing it, making the hair look shiny and healthy. So in fact, the structure of hair is very simple.
Keep your hair follicles healthy
It is mainly keratin and protein. Each hair has a hair follicle fixed on the skin. This hair follicle is located at the junction of the deep dermis and the subcutaneous layer. Hair follicles are also called hair bulbs. The hair obtains blood through small blood vessels inside the hair follicles. Small blood vessels are very important. Continuous blood flow keeps the hair getting all the nutrients they need to become healthy again. So if you want shiny healthy hair, the health of your hair follicles is very important.
Shiny hair requires some nutrients.
These nutrients include vitamins, trace elements, amino acids and fatty acids. It has various glands, and the sebaceous glands around the hair are the most important one. It produces sebum, a natural lubricant for hair. Observing the cross-section of hair under a microscope, you can see that each cross-section is composed of hair epidermis, hair cortex and hair medulla. The hair epidermis (also known as epidermis and cuticle) is the outermost structure of hair. Its main chemical component is keratin, which is composed of scales or tile-shaped keratinocytes. It resists external irritations, protects sebum and inhibits moisture evaporation.
How to achieve shiny hair ?
Many people think that if you want to have shiny healthy hair, you need to exfoliate your scalp during scalp care. In fact, it is not necessary. I really don’t understand why scalp exfoliation is necessary.
When the scalp is healthy, there is no need to exfoliate at all. If the scalp is too oily, you need to cleanse the scalp oil instead of exfoliating. If the scalp is dry, exfoliation will only make it drier. It is not suitable to exfoliate when there is dandruff on the scalp. Exfoliation is even worse when the scalp is inflamed. So after much deliberation, I can’t find any reason why my scalp needs to be exfoliated. Normal people’s scalp can be washed and cared for daily, and there is no need to deliberately exfoliate. Healthy hair growth requires a healthy scalp environment. If dandruff increases abnormally, it will affect hair growth to a certain extent, but generally it will not cause hair loss.
Try not to perm or dye your hair.
The substances in perms and hair dyes will destroy the structure of the hair epidermis. When it cannot perform its functions, the hair will lose its luster and become easily damaged and broken. Further inside is the fur cortex, which is composed of softer keratin.
The color of the hair is mainly affected by this part. The keratin is spirally entangled with each other, affecting the elasticity of the hair. Perming and dyeing, whether using chemicals or excessive heating, will affect the activity of this part of keratin, resulting in denaturation and inactivation of the protein, resulting in yellowing and poor toughness of the hair. The innermost core is the hair medulla, a collection of cells with a hollow structure arranged in a honeycomb shape, which can block sunlight. There is air in the hollow, which can make the hair more rigid. Hair dyeing, whether bleached or dyed directly, is extremely damaging to this part of the hair.
Fresh and tidy hair
To have elegant and beautiful hair, you first need to have fresh and tidy hair as the foundation, and then you can get a fashionable and avant-garde hairstyle.
Therefore, both from a medical and aesthetic perspective, clean hair is the most basic and critical in hair care.
In addition, it is very important to deeply clean the scalp. Our scalp, like our skin, needs to be cleaned regularly. Otherwise, if the scalp is not cleaned for a long time, it will cause many hair problems.
The shampoo we usually use can only clean the hair, but many styling products and even sweat may block the hair follicles, causing flat hair and making the hair easily damaged. It is necessary to clean the scalp and clean the face.
The principle is the same. Only by removing excess impurities from the scalp and restoring the health of the hair follicles can the hair be healthier. The scalp has pores and sebaceous glands like the skin. It is much thinner than the skin in other parts of the body, and the sebum secretion of the scalp is twice that of the face. Therefore, if we do not clean the scalp regularly, it will have problems such as blocked pores, blackheads, and sores, just like facial skin. In severe cases, it can also lead to massive hair loss.
Natural and DIY Methods
Everyone should know more or less that washing your hair with apple cider vinegar is good for your hair. Sometimes when you go to the barber shop, the hairstylist will suggest that you use apple cider vinegar to wash your hair when you go back. Then let’s learn about washing your hair with apple cider vinegar. First of all, we need to know that apple cider vinegar is an acetic acid-containing liquid sour condiment produced by fermentation of rice, wheat, sorghum, sweet sorghum or wine, distiller’s grains, etc. However, it must be diluted before washing, otherwise it will destroy the acid-base balance of the scalp and cause harm to the scalp.
Washing your hair with apple cider vinegar can remove oil and smell.
Many people’s hair is oily and has an unpleasant smell. Washing your hair with apple cider vinegar can remove excessive sebum secretion, leaving your hair dry and clean. It has good decontamination ability. People with a lot of dandruff and itchy scalp can use apple cider vinegar to wash their hair. It has anti-itching and sterilizing effects. It can repair damaged hair after perm and dyeing. Balance the pH value of the hair and restore the hair to a healthy weak acid environment. It can soften the hair and restore the smoothness and luster to the rough, frizzy, dry and dull hair.
Try not to scratch your scalp with your nails when washing your hair.
There are many bacteria in your nails. Once the delicate scalp is scratched, it can easily lead to infection. When applying shampoo, gently push the scalp with your fingertips to remove dirt and activate blood circulation. Conditioner cannot be applied to the hair roots. Since the hair follicles are opened during shampooing and conditioner is applied to the hair roots, the chemicals in it can easily penetrate into the hair follicles and block the hair follicles. It is recommended to straighten your hair first and apply the conditioner from the ears to the tips of the hair. Be sure not to let the conditioner touch the scalp.
Although it seems like having shiny and healthy hair is a troublesome thing. It is very difficult to keep your hair in good condition. But in fact, you only need to clean your hair carefully and use conditioner and apple cider vinegar 2 to 3 times a week. Or use a hair mask to protect your hair. Having shiny and healthy hair is actually not difficult at all.
