Hair grooming

The use of hair cosmetics is ubiquitous among men and women of all ages. Virgin hair is the healthiest and strongest but basic grooming and cosmetic manipulation cause hair to lose its cuticular scale, elasticity, and strength. The science behind modern shampoos and conditioners has led to the development of rationally designed products for normal, dry, or damage hair.

Hair grooming products

Shampoos:  formulations and diversity

Cleaning hair is viewed as a complex task because of the area that needs to be treated. The shampoo product has to also do to things – maintain scalp hygiene and beautify hair. A well-designed conditioning shampoo can provide shine to fibers and improve manageability, whereas a shampoo with high detergent properties can remove the outer cuticle and leave hair frizzy and dull.

Formulations of shampoos

The number of shampoo formulations on the market can be overwhelming but when the chemistry behind those marketed for “normal hair” or “dry hair” is understood, shampoos for “normal” hair typically have lauryl sulfate as the main detergent and provide good cleaning of the scalp. These are best utilized by those who do not have chemically treated hair. Categories of shampoos available for the following hair types.

• ·         Normal hair
• ·         Dry hair
• ·         Oily hair

Tightly kinked hairHydrolyzed animal protein or dimethicone are added to conditioning shampoos, also commonly called 2-in-1 shampoos. These chemicals create a thin film on the hair shaft to increase manageability and even shine. For individuals with tightly kinked hair, conditioning shampoos with both cleaning and conditioning characteristics that are a variant of the 2-in-1 shampoo can be beneficial.Some baby shampoos can cause increased hair dryness because of their alkaline pH.

Conditioners

Conditioners can be liquids, creams, pastes, or gels that function like sebum, making hair manageable and glossy appearing. Conditioners reduce static electricity between fibers following combing or brushing by depositing charged ions on the hair shaft and neutralizing the electrical charge. Another benefit from conditioners is improved hair shine which is related to hair shaft light reflection. Conditioners may also improve the quality of hair fibers by reapproximating the medulla and cortex in frayed fibers.There are several hair conditioner product types including instant, deep, leave-in, and rinse. The instant conditioner aids with wet combing; the deep conditioner is applied for 20-30 minutes and works well for chemically damaged hair. A leave-in conditioner is typically applied to towel dried hair and facilitates combing. A rinse conditioner is one used following shampooing and also aids in disentangling hair fibers.      

Hair oils

Oiling is not recommended for good hair and scalp health. It causes increased scalp itching, dandruff and hair loss. It can also aggravate skin problems like acne (pimples) and pityriasis versicolor.