When it seems like your favourite shampoo and conditioner just stop working, there may be several reasons for this.  The main reasons for this include residue from excess styling products, a change in the weather or a change in hair style. These things can change the way your hair feels and behaves which may make it seem like your shampoo and conditioner aren’t doing their jobs. To alleviate styling product build-up, try washing with a clarifying shampoo, which can give your hair a clean slate. Another option is to use either a lighter or richer version of your shampoo and conditioner, so that you’re adjusting the products you use to the changes in your hair. If you use a volumizing shampoo and conditioner in the summer, for example, you may find that a moisturizing shampoo or conditioner works better in the dry cold of winter, when sweat and humidity aren’t interfering with your full, voluminous style.

It is also very important to make sure you’re using quality products—shampoos, conditioners, stylers, and treatments—for your hair structure! When all is said and done, though, hair is technically dead and therefore can’t develop a tolerance for a product.

There is in fact no correct schedule for when to wash your hair, as it depends on your hair structure, hairstyle, and lifestyle (e.g., how often you go to the gym, the climate in which you live). Keeping your hair clean and protected from damage is important, so using the proper shampoo and conditioner for your hair structure is key to making sure it receives the hair care it needs, regardless of how frequently you wash your hair. If you have colour treated hair, for example, it is important to use a mild shampoo formulated with that structure in mind, followed by conditioner, which provides crucial protection for this fragile hair structure.  Today’s shampoos and conditioners are formulated to improve the condition of hair, even with daily use.  So, if you wash your hair frequently, it’s not bad for your hair.  However, for dry to damaged hair we recommend cleansing the hair with a well-balanced conditioner daily instead of shampoo. Many shampoos contain phosphates and sulfates that can strip your hair of its natural oils so only use shampoo when it is necessary.

Using a conditioner provides a variety of benefits, such as preventing hair breakage and tangling as well as helping create soft and smooth hair. Each time you condition your hair, conditioning agents smooth the cuticle, providing soft hair that looks healthy. To reap the benefits, use the conditioner that’s right for your unique hair structure and avoid brushing your hair when wet.

There are numerous myths around hair thinning. The causes of hair thinning and hair loss are related to family background and age, and occur deep down in the scalp—well away from any influencing factors on the surface like hair care products. Using the wrong shampoo and conditioner for your hair structure can cause hair to look limp or be weighed down, giving the appearance of hair loss or hair thinning, but no hair care product can cause hair loss or hair thinning, making this another myth around hair thinning.

There are a number of hair growth myths. One is that cutting hair will help it grow faster or thicker. This hair growth myth may have something to do with the fact that hair, when it is cut and has a good shape, tends to look healthier than hair that has no shape and/or a lot of split ends. You can plump up your hair by using volume-enhancing styling products, and a good cut can also help you “fake” volume—layered hair works well to achieve this. But cutting hair will not make it grow faster or thicker, as hair has a normal, biologically determined growth rate and overall texture, making this a hair growth myth.

There are questions about what products can grow hair. On average, hair growth is about a quarter of an inch to half an inch every month. While science has made huge technological advances that do help promote hair growth, old wives’ methods such as scalp massage, hanging upside down, rubbing magic elixirs into your scalp have not been scientifically proven to grow hair faster. However, a healthy diet consisting of 6 to 8 glasses of water (hydration), solid proteins, and vegetables go a long way. The use of Omega-3 has been shown to be effective in improving the strength of hair.

No matter what hair texture you were born with, whether smooth, straight, or wavy, there are things that can alter it. Pregnancy, medication, chemotherapy and age can influence your hair texture, changing over time.

A common myth of hair loss is that it can be caused by stress. We naturally shed between 50 and 80 strands of hair a day, but stressful circumstances such as bereavement, divorce, job loss, surgery, or worry have been known to cause stress-induced hair loss. If you are experiencing what seems like excessive stress and hair loss, be sure to consult your doctor.

Many factors can contribute to the look of aging hair, such as changes in texture, thinning, lack of shine, damage, and diminished volume. So, while grey hair may certainly be the most tell-tale sign of aging hair, it’s certainly not the only sign. The great thing is that you have much more control over the signs of aging hair than you do aging skin. By using quality hair products for your hair needs, you can do a great deal to help your hair help you look younger.

Wet hair is highly susceptible to damage. Wet hair swells, and in this state, it is very fragile and therefore easier for hair breakage to occur. Brushes have many teeth, which are likely to hit a snag and pull hair to a breaking point. The best way to detangle hair after you shampoo and condition is by using a wide-toothed comb or pick. Try to avoid using a hairbrush until your hair is almost dry. If you use a hairbrush to blow-dry your wet hair, use a vented brush that has the fewest teeth possible.

True.  Anyone who has ever spent time at the beach for a number of days can attest to the fact that hair, especially lighter hair colours, tends to get lighter and develop a “sunlit” look. This is because UV light has been shown to degrade hair pigment by bleaching, which leads to lighter hair. The real news is that UV rays can cause hair to lose protein, which is a form of damage, and that bleaching hair in the sun can dry it out. Try to wear a hat if you’re going to be in the sun for a prolonged period.

Although colour-treating hair is rarely linked to hair falling from the scalp, the process does indeed change its structure. The chemicals in hair colour can strip the cuticle of the F-layer – our hair’s naturally protective lipid layer that gives hair its natural sheen and damage protection – so colour treated hair can be more prone to hair breakage. Using hair products which are formulated for colour treated hair structures, will help a great deal in restoring the hair’s strength against damage as well as its luminosity and manageability.

True.  Chlorine does have a “roughening” effect on hair, causing people to sometimes associate chlorine as a factor in rough hair. The magnitude of the rough hair effect is dependent on the type of chlorine, how long hair is exposed to it and the level of chlorine in the water. When your hair is exposed to chlorine (e.g., swimming pool), be sure to rinse it with clean water or a clarifying shampoo immediately. Before entering chlorinated waters place a liberal amount of conditioner in your hair.

Silicones, more specifically dimethicone, which is the most common silicone used in hair care products, have been shown to be safe by the Cosmetics Review Board and have no negative effect on hair growth. Silicones do not continue to build up on hair with extended use and are in no way bad for your hair. Please remember however, to use a clarifying shampoo at least once a month to alleviate any build up.

Ready to unleash healthy, vibrant hair? [bolded larger font]

Shop KHI Hair Care.  Hit the ‘Shop KHI’ button and treat your hair to the ultimate rejuvenation it deserves.

Shop Now