Learning More About Hair

I am just going to list out some of my discoveries made while researching more about natural hair care.  Some of it may be common sense but clearly it was not too common for me or otherwise it wouldn't be listed here.

Hair Structure:

• Hair is made of mostly protein: Keratin
• Hair is very porous.

Moisturizing/Sealing

• Hair loves moisture.
• Water = moisture. Therefore the first ingredient in a moisturizer should be WATER!
• Water can move easily in AND OUT of the hair
• Oils/Butters are NOT moisturizers because their molecules are too large to diffuse into the hair's pores.
• Oils/Butters are SEALANTS that lay on the hair's surface to keep moisture INSIDE the hair.
• SEALING the hair is therefore MANDATORY after moisturizing

Protein/Moisture:

• For hair to thrive, there must be a good protein/moisture balance
• Protein gives hair structure and strength
• Moisture gives hair softness and elasticity
• Too much protein can cause hair to be too hard and brittle
• Too much moisture can cause hair to be too soft and mushy
• Both extremes will lead to hair BREAKAGE
• Protein treatments should be followed by deep conditioning treatments

Hair Growth/Breakage/Shedding

• Hair goes through growth cycles (more info needed)
• 50-100 strands of hair shed from the head naturally everyday
• There is a difference between shedding and breakage
• Shedding is NATURAL. Breakage is NOT NATURAL
• Shed hairs have little white bulbs at the ends. These means that the hairs have reached the end of their growth cycles.

Things I would like to learn more about

• Pre-pooing
• Co-washing
• Deep Conditioning Treatments
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