How to choose an organic shampoo

Organic shampoos and conditioners have their share of benefits as compared to the chemical-based shampoos. However, there are organic shampoos that might not suit your hair texture. Here are a few things that one should keep in mind before opting for natural shampoos...

Check if the shampoo is organic

Some shampoos might just claim that they are made out of natural ingredients. But five out of 10 ingredients will actually be chemical-based, that might harm your hair. It is advisable to research in advance than pick a shampoo without knowing its pros and cons.

Look out for these ingredients

When choosing an organic shampoo look out for ingredients like olive oil, cocount oil, organic tea tree, organic shea butter and aloe vera, among others. 

Consult the doctor before use

Don't buy organic shampoos just because the label says so. There are different varieties in organic shampoos for different hair textures like oily or dry hair. It is best to consult the doctor before use.

Make your own anti-dandruff shampoo

Have you tried every anti-dandruff shampoo in the market, but still haven't found one that works for you? Try making your own at home.

You'll need:

Baking powder: 2 tbsp

Warm water: 1 cup

Vinegar: 1 tbsp

Mint juice: 2 tbsp

Directions:

Put the baking powder and warm water in a clean bowl and mix well. Then add the vinegar and mix well. Make a juice of fresh mint leaves and add only the thick filtered part of the juice to the mixture. Finally, stir everything together well and keep aside for a while. Apply this solution to your hair twice a week.

Can you do without shampoo?

A new beauty revolution called the No Shampoo Movement is being touted as the way to beat baldness and hair thinning. Want to give it a shot?

 

Do you know the secret to Adele's glamorous updo? She doesn't use shampoo. The singer washes her hair with plain water. Adele is part of the 'no shampoo' movement, which has followers ranging from Hollywood A-listers like Jessica Simpson and Robert Pattinson to Prince Harry. The followers of this movement (also called the 'no-poo movement'), consider it a safe way to prevent baldness and hair thinning. "The real reason for the early onset of baldness and thin hair is overshampooing. Over a long period, shampoos damage your hair drastically," says naturopath Dr Nirmala Shetty. "I hated my hair at first but started feeling the difference after the first two weeks," says wellness coach Leanna Cappucci. She uses apple cider and plain baking soda instead of a shampoo.

 

Washing your hair with a natural, homemade shampoo and conditioner may be a good idea at times. According to Dr Shetty, people of our grandparents' generation have a healthy mane in their old age because they mostly used natural ingredients to clean their hair. "Like green gram flour and boiled rice water, fresh hibiscus or shikakai paste — to keep their scalp and hair clean. Natural ingredients are easily absorbed by the body," says Dr Shetty. A lot of shampoos contain harmful chemicals, like methylisothiazolinone and diethanolamine, that can lead to health problems. Foaming agents like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) are believed to cause irritation of the scalp for some. Says hair expert Shahnaz Husain, "Regular shampooing is counter-productive. It makes your hair dry and brittle and disrupts the acid-alkaline balance of the scalp, which often leads to dandruff." If you want to give your hair a natural wash at times, do read the box below.

 

HOMEMADE HAIR CLEANSER 

Add water to baking soda and bottle it. Use this just like shampoo. To make a natural conditioner, add 1-2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar to a cup of water. If your hair feels dry, use less baking soda, or try using honey instead of vinegar.

How to Wash Your Hair — The Right Way

You may do it practically every day, but do you really know how to wash your hair the right way? Using the correct techniques can make a world of difference in your hair’s health, bounce and shine — but if you’re making some common mistakes, you could be damaging your strands without even knowing it. We asked two of New York’s foremost hair pros, hair stylist Nunzio Saviano ofNunzio Saviano Salon in New York and Kyle White, lead colorist at Oscar Blandi Salon, to share their best tips for lathering up, the right way.

1. Start with a rinse

Just like your laundry needs a rinse cycle before you add detergent, hair should be thoroughly wet before you add your shampoo. “Hot water will open the cuticle, which is good for removing any dirt or product trapped in the hair,” says White. Another bonus: “When your hair is rinsed in warm water, it loosens the oils through the scalp and opens the cuticle so it is able to absorb the oil” in your conditioner, says Saviano.

2. If you have long hair, condition first

Yes, really! “If you have hair beneath the shoulders, protect fragile ends from drying out and further damage by running a small amount of conditioner through them and lightly rinsing, before any shampooing. This will not only keep ends healthy, it will fill any holes in the cuticle with moisture, making it smoother and boosting shine,” says White.

3. Lather up — but only at the scalp

“You only need to shampoo the hair at the scalp, particularly at the nape,” Saviano says.

White agrees. “The best way to lather up is from roots to ends. The hair closest to the scalp is the youngest and will inevitably be the oiliest, while the end of the hair is the oldest and usually driest, most fragile part of the hair.”

Don’t use more shampoo than you need; both Saviano and White say that a quarter-sized amount of shampoo is enough. If your hair is particularly long or thick, go ahead and double that.

4. Be gentle!

Friction can permanently damage your hair’s cuticle, leading to breakage and frizz. Think about washing your hair like you hand wash your delicates — very carefully. 

“Start your lather at the roots,” says White. “Increase blood flow to the scalp and stimulate hair growth by using vertical strokes with medium pressure.” Don’t use circular motions, which can tangle your hair.

Next, “Smooth the lather over the ends in a straight stroking motion,” White advises. “Do not scrub the fragile ends or use a back and forth motion like you’re washing a rag on a washboard.”

5. Don’t rinse and repeat

Despite what the instructions on the back of your shampoo bottle may say, there’s no need to wash your hair twice. “Avoid stripping the hair by doing one shampoo only, which is usually sufficient,” says White. “Unless the hair is extremely dirty and the first shampoo didn’t produce a lather,” in which case, go ahead and lather up one more time.

6. Add conditioner from the mid-lengths to the tips

After you’ve rinsed out your shampoo, “squeeze some of the water out of the hair before you put in the conditioner,” says Saviano. “Then clip your hair up and finish showering, leaving the conditioner rinse out for the final step of your shower.” The longer the conditioner stays on your hair, the better it absorbs. Don’t put conditioner at the roots of your hair; the natural oil from your scalp is more concentrated there.

7. Finish with a cold water rinse

“Cold water will shut the cuticle tight, sealing the shingle-like outer layer, which will cause it to reflect the most light and give off the most shine,” says White.

conditioner from the mid-lengths to the tips.