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The Basics of Hair Care
By Wendy Simons

Most women long for a head full of beautiful, manageable hair, and are willing to do plenty to learn how to get it. The good news is that with a few basics in the hair care department, you can sport a beautiful mane every single day. The key is in knowing the right products to use and the best methods for keeping your do healthy and shiny. You can find the best ways to care for your hair by talking to your stylist about your individual needs and preferences, and to research online and in magazines the most effective ways to shampoo and style. There is plenty of information available on hair care; you just need to take the time to educate yourself on the best products and routines for you.

Keeping it Clean

Shampooing is the first step to a healthy style, but did you know that there is actually a right and wrong way to perform this step? According to some professional stylists, there are a number of common mistakes that are made during this preliminary step. Before heading to the shower with a bottle of shampoo, you must decide what your hair type is to ensure that you are using the best products for you. One way to determine this is with the spray bottle test. Fill a spray bottle with water and lightly spritz your dry hair. If the water absorbs immediately, you probably have dry hair that would respond well to a moisturizing shampoo. If the water droplets bead up at first, you probably have an oily hair type that requires a deep cleansing shampoo designed for an oilier scalp.

Once you have selected the correct products, you need to know the right way to shampoo. Many stylists will agree that most of us will use too much shampoo, and will not thoroughly rinse after the cleansing process. For longer lengths, a quarter-sized amount of shampoo in your palm should do the trick. Shorter styles only require the equivalent of a nickel-sized amount. Once you have lathered your hair, rinse well, which means until the water from your head is running clear. Follow the same rule of thumb with your conditioner, using more for longer lengths and less for shorter styles. Again rinse your head well to ensure that you will not be dealing with any residue on your scalp once your hair is dry.

Getting it Dry

Another common mistake that people make is to towel dry their heads too vigorously after shampooing. Keep in mind that wet hair is fragile, and needs to be treated with plenty of TLC. Before removing your towel, wrap it around your head and leave it for at least fifteen minutes if possible. This will allow much of the moisture to be absorbed without a need for any manhandling. Towel dry your wet hair gently, and then comb it out with a wide toothed comb. Never run a brush through wet hair since this will cause the ends to break and snap. By using these guidelines when caring for your hair, you will greatly increase your odds of enjoying a healthy and easy to manage style.

Author Details:
Wendy Simons writes about hair and related subjects such as hair loss and laser hair removal.

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