JOIN USWant to keep your hair healthy, lustrous and thick, but find it to be an impossible task? Let down by your hair that’s always limp by the end of the day? Well, the good news is that you can get everything you want, provided you are aware of your hair type and know what treatment it needs. Yes, you can make your hair look healthy and voluminous quite easily.
In order to maintain healthy hair, the body must be in good health. A diet that is low in nutritional value, lack of sleep, sedentary lifestyle and stress are all reflected on one’s skin and hair. In fact, the hair is fed by nutrients in the blood stream. Which is why proper nutrition and good blood circulation are extremely vital to healthy hair.
In addition to this, the hair also needs external nourishment. There are many natural ingredients that can aid in nourishing the hair, while adding to its body and strength. Some of these are easily available at home — like yoghurt, lemon juice, vegetable oils and eggs.
The nature and texture of the hair determine the ingredients that should be used. For instance, greasy hair would benefit from regular use of lemon juice and egg white. Both help cleanse and cut down on oiliness. If you are looking to add volume, apply egg or curd half an hour before you shampoo your hair. This will help as the proteins present in these ingredients add more volume to your hair.
The natural way
Here are some natural ingredients that can help add volume to your hair:
Egg: One of the most versatile ingredients to use for your hair, it contains
silicon, sulphur and fatty acids that help nourish the hair. The egg white also acts as a powerful cleanser. When it is applied on the hair, the egg coats the hair shaft and adds thickness, shine and body. To get started, beat an egg with a little milk to form a thick consistency and then apply it on the hair. After half an hour, rinse the hair well with water. To get rid of the odour, add a few drops of eau-de-cologne to a mug of water and use it as the last rinse.
Henna: Given its ability to coat each hair shaft, henna adds strength, thickness and body to the hair. It leaves the hair healthy, clean and shiny. Adding ingredients like yogurt and egg to the henna paste not only prevents dryness, but also helps to add volume to the hair.
Gram flour: Gram flour or besan can be used as a cleansing hair pack to add more volume. Take gram flour, curd, aloe vera gel and an egg. Mix into a paste and apply on the hair.
Styling right
Don’t use styling products on fine, limp hair as it can weigh down the hair. To use these products effectively, use less shampoo when you wash your hair and then use a hair rinse. Or, apply a few drops of hair serum.
If you are applying conditioner, use less quantity and apply in the middle and the ends. Avoid applying conditioner on the roots and on the scalp, if you have oily hair. After shampooing, wrap the hair in a towel and let it soak up the moisture. For normal to dry hair, experts suggest applying either volumnising mousse or gel before blow drying. This is believed to add body and shine to the locks.
Experiment more
Sometimes cutting the hair shorter or having a blunt cut makes the hair look more voluminous. Changing your hair parting to one side also helps add body instantly. Holding the hair up, while blow drying, is also said to make hair look thicker. Else, comb all the hair to one side, blow dry and then comb the hair to the other side. Repeat the blow drying.
You can also bend down and blow dry the hair upside down, brushing the hair from back to front. It is particularly convenient if the hair is short. Curling the hair also helps add more body. You can use curling tongs or curlers and allow the hair to turn out. Another way of making the hair look thicker is to crimp it near the roots.
As is well known, a little back-combing or back-brushing helps to make the hair appear thicker. To make the volume last, you can spray the back brushed areas.
A word of caution though: too much and repeated back-combing can be harsh on the hair. So, be judicious in your approach.
Now that you know how to add some much-needed volume to your mane, there’s every reason to flaunt those lovely locks!
(The author is a beauty expert)