Hair Conditions

What is Permed or Coloured Hair? - This hair type is often more porous than hair that is unadulterated.

Permed or Coloured Hair Causes - The chemicals that are used to alter colour and structure of the hair cause physical changes to each follicle and make the hair drier than before.

Permed or Coloured Hair Advice - Permed or coloured hair basically needs gentle cleansing with a good conditioner applied separately after shampooing.

There are special products available for these hair types, with colour care products that focus on prevention of fading from the sunlight and permed hair products that improve elasticity of the curl, so that it retains its bounce and flexibility when styling.

Each person produces different amounts of sebum (an oil from the sebaceous glands), which directly determines the type of hair that person has. Other external factors such as perming, colouring and heat styling also have an effect on hair type.

What is Normal Hair? - This hair type is neither dry or greasy and is easy to manage and holds its style well.

People with normal hair type are usually eating a sensible well-balanced diet and are looking after their hair really well and are not abusing it with chemical treatments, harsh hair products and over styling.

Normal Hair Advice - Normal hair can be washed daily with a simple, but good quality two-in-one conditioning shampoo.

Protecting the hair is never more important than when on holiday in the sun. The reason for this is that we subject it to hours of strong sunlight and exposure to chlorinated and/or salt water when we go swimming. In addition, hair can also be affected by winds and can dry out or get tangled very easily. In fact, more damage can occur to the hair on holiday compared to any other time. It is therefore crucial that every effort is employed to protect the hair from these harsh conditions.

What is Combination Hair Type? - This hair type is greasy at the roots and dry and often split at the ends.

Combination Hair Type Causes - This is mostly due to poor treatment of the hair and is when the hair scales become altered so that the sebum cannot get the hair ends, which results in dryness. At the same time there is a build-up of sebum at the roots resulting in greasiness near the scalp. Excessive chemical treatments, harsh shampoos, over-washing, too much heat from equipment or the sun can affect the hair in this way.

Combination Hair Type Advice - Combination hair should be washed with a very gentle shampoo, ideally one that is specially formulated for combination hair.

What is Hair Split Ends? - This occurs when the hair cuticle becomes physically damaged, resulting in unravelling of the cortex fibres of each strand. It normally occurs at the tips of the hair strand, but sometimes can occur further up the shaft, which is much more unsightly. Split hair appears dry, brittle and easily tangles.

Hair Split Ends Causes - Most commonly a result of improper hair-care and often occurs because of several factors. Failure to have a regular cut, grooming too much (especially with poor quality or tangled combs and brushes), over-use of shampoos, perms, colour treatments, insufficent conditioning, excessive heat styling and harsh use of rollers, hair pins and hair accessories.

What is Hair Product Build-Up? - The hair cannot be cleansed or conditioned properly due to a build-up of residue. It makes the hair appear dull and it lacks lustre. In addition the hair is difficult to colour or perm as the congested hair blocks the absorption of the chemicals and can make a colour patchy and perm uneven.

Hair Product Build-Up Causes - Occurs when mineral deposits in the water combine with the residue from hair styling products and two-in-one shampoos. This accumulates on the hair shaft and and clogs it up.

Hair Product Build-Up Advice - Luckily, there are special shampoos available that can remove this residue from the hair. They are usually called stripping, chelating or clarifying shampoos. A properly trained hairdresser will assess whether these shampoos need to be used before a perm or colour treatment.

What is Limp Hair? - This is when hair that is very fine appears flatter than normal and has no body to it. This makes it difficult to style. Obviously, fine hair itself is hereditary, however it should not be limp and life-less.

Limp Hair Causes - The main cause of limp hair is using a conditioner that is too heavy. A heavy conditioner will supersaturate the hair and weigh it down. In addition, excessive use of styling products such a gels and mousses can have similar effects.

Limp Hair Advice - If hair is limp it should be washed frequently with a mild shampoo, followed by treatment with a light conditioner. There are also special volumizing shampoos and conditioners available that are formulated for this type of problem. In fact, leave-in conditioners are especially suitable as they are less likely to cause over-conditioning.

Lice are parasites that live on blood, which they suck through piercing mouthparts. There are different lice which infest humans: the head louse which affect the scalp, causing itching. The female lays eggs attached to hairs, and the empty egg has a white shell, commonly known as a nit, which can be seen attached to the base of the hair.

Head Lice

Contrary to popular belief, you can’t get head lice from wearing someone else’s hat, using their comb or towel, from sitting on train or bus seats or using the same mat in a school or health centre gym. You only get them by bodily contact (head to head contact), which is why this is common in children. Which is why they can become so rampant among young children working enthusiastically on a joint school project together, their teachers and the rest of the family when they come home.

What is Grey Hair? - This is when hair changes from its normal colour as we age and occurs very gradually.

Grey Hair Causes - Due to changes in the pigments of the hair and is normally associated with the ageing process. Can be accelerated by stress, injury or extreme trauma. Nutritional deficiencies may be involved.

Grey Hair Advice - Obviously, eating a well balanced diet full of antioxidants will help slow down the ageing process. This can be achieved by eating 3-4 servings of fruit and 3-5 servings of vegetables each day.

What is Greasy Hair? - This hair type is oily and looks dark and lank. It needs frequent washing to look its best as the oil quickly coats the hair, sometimes in a matter of only a few hours.

Greasy Hair Causes - This is when the sebaceous glands produce far too much sebum and is and made worse by several factors including: an imbalance of hormones, nutritional deficiencies, high saturated fat diet, stress, excessive brushing, perspiration, hot, humid climate and constantly touching the hair.

Greasy Hair Advice - Greasy hair should be washed using a gentle, non-aggressive shampoo that is also designed to add volume to the hair.

What is Frizzy Hair? - This happens when even the slightest amount of moisture comes into contact with the hair, causing it to go out of control. It appears messy and dry and completely lacks any lustre. It usually happens when it is raining, even if it is only a fine drizzle.

Frizzy Hair Causes - Frizzy hair can be inherited, but it is usually caused by physically being rough with the hair such as harsh brushing or pulling the hair into elastic bands and other hair accessories. Too much heat and chemical treatments can also contribute to frizziness.

Frizzy Hair Advice - For frizzy hair a mild shampoo should be used and massaged well into the roots and right through to the ends.

What is Flaky Itchy Scalp? - This is not the same as dandruff. It is basically dead skin that flakes off of the scalp and appears on the shoulders. In addition, the scalp is red and itchy and tender to touch, whilst the hair appears dull.

Flaky Itchy Scalp Causes - There are many reasons why this can occur, the main ones are nutritional deficiencies, hereditary illnesses, stress, failure to properly rinse shampoo, sebum deficiency, harsh hair products, pollution, central heating and air conditioning.

Flaky Itchy Scalp Advice - Clearly the real cause of the problem must be investigated, but following the advice on this site will be advantageous as it will help rule out any nutritional deficiencies that may exist.