26 January,2010 07:23 AM IST | | Dhvani Solani
Chuck those hats, dupattas, self-pity and invest a little time in your hair every day. If you aren't the lucky one to be born with great hair, this one is for you. Here are 7 easy ways to improve the quality of your hair, without spending a fortune.
1 Don't fight mother natureu00a0Whether it's curly, wavy or straight, there's a reason why you have a particular type of hair. Trust nature and work with what you have been dished out. A perm, straightening procedure or colouring your hair red is cool, but it's not yours forever. Even if you have the moolah to keep running to a stylist for a touch-up, the chemicals used in the products will strip your hair of any lustre it had to begin with.u00a0
2 Listen tou00a0Popeye carry a handful of almonds and walnuts to work every day, and eat them every time you feel the need for a quick bite. These contain omega-3 fatty acids that work wonders for your skin, hair and nails. Your Bengali friend has lustrous hair and skin because the fish that members of this community practically survive on, contains these miracle fatty acids. Spinach, bananas and potatoes are good options because of the vitamins they contain. Citrus fruits, tomatoes and dals are packed with folic acid.
3 Do the Champi Listen to your nani. We all know how oiling your hair helps hydrate and moisturise the scalp. But it's not really the oil, but massage that counts? Heat the oil, make partitions in your hair and rub a little in with your fingertips. Don't empty the bottle onto your head. Too much oil means too much scrubbing when you shampoo next. That strips your scalp of natural oils. Also, you don't need to go to work with oiled hair, believing it will percolate into your scalp. Leaving it on for long can actually block the pores, not allowing oxygen to reach the roots.
4 Sun block your tresses You may liberally apply sunscreen on your face each time you step out, but in a tropical country like ours checking if your hair conditioner contains UV protecting properties helps. If that seems too much of a bother, just squirt a tiny bit of regular sunblock onto your palms and run it through the ends of your hair before you step out.
5 Kick the Butt Smoking causes your capillaries to contract, reducing the amount of blood that flows to your hair follicles. Less blood equals fewer nutrients that are essential for healthy hair growth.
6 Tie your hair when sleeping While you toss and turn in your sleep, your hair might latch on to the cotton pillow covers that tug at it. Remember the horror of waking up to find a dozen more hair strands on your pillowcase? Sleep on a satin pillowcase or better still, tie your hair with a loose cloth scrunchie before you go to bed.
7 Go fromu00a0Hot to Cold Most of us love warm water baths, but what's even better is to start off by rinsing your hair in warm water so that the scale-like cuticles open up, and oil and dust gets washed away. End the shower with a cold rinse to close the pores, so that your hair looks shinier when it dries.
