Hair Product under Microscope

We use Hair Products and depend on them everyday. But most of the time, we do not know what are the 'magical formula' added that may benefit or harm your hair over long period of time and they assumed that it is thoroughly washed out from your hair and scalp after use. (we all know that it is not possible sometimes and shampoos are commonly known to build up in our hair). In addition, some of the chemicals can also harm the environment as well. Let us open our eyes to see the labels next time we buy our hair products.

Imidazolidinyl urea and Diazolidinyl Urea

These are common preservatives that is antiseptic and deodorizing. On the flip side however, these can also cause skin sensitivity such as rashes and it can get quite severe (American Academy of Dermatology).

Propylene Glycol

It is a petoleum-derived humectant, surfactant, solvent and carrier that can also cause allergenic reactions. This chemical is often added into 'natural' products. The natural alternative to the humectant is vegetable glycerin, an alcohol used as a lubricating base for cosmetics.

Parabens

Methyl, Ethyl, Propyl and Butyl Parabens act as another preservatives that inhibites the growth of microbes. However, this chemicals are also allergenic to skin. There are natural alternatives to reduce the use of parabens, such as vitamins A (retinyl), C and E (tocopherol); essential oils such as sweet orange, peppermint, rosemary or grapefruit seed oil.

Cocamide Diethanolamine (DEA), Methylethanolamine (MEA) or MonoIso-propanolamine (MIPA)

These are often referred to as natural and 'derived from coconuts', but they are actually synthetic surfactants used in soaps and shampoos. In low concentration, it is generally safe but in higher concentration, it can be allergenic and possibly contaminated with nitroasmine (highly carcinogenic). To overcome this, vitamin A and C should be included in the products to act as blocking agents.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate

This is a synthetic detergent that is widely used and can cause eye irritations, skin rashes, hair loss and allergenic reactions. This chemical is linked to the formation of nitrosamine. Again, the use of this chemical is approved due to the nature of shampoo use; to apply and wash off completely. It may also be described as coconut derivatives. A gentler alternative is to use alkyl polyglucoside and it is gentler to the hair and the skin; it is made up of sucrose, fatty acids and glucose and it is biodegradable.

Hair Scalp Oil Rub

Oil Treatment can be quite beneficial for dandruff and dermatitis condition (as described in my previous post). It can help to stimulate, srengthen and moisturize. It can balance both oil and dry itchy scalp conditions and gives a healthy shine on your hair. Its function is similiar to hair conditioner except that it is applied dry before shampooing. For oily hair, scalp or fine hair, you should not use oil massage regularly.

Herbal Oil recipe

To make your very Herbal oil, you can simply use about 2 to 4 tablespoons of dried herbs with your favourite carrier oil (250ml). For dry hair and scalp, you can use chamomile, aloe vera and lavender. As for oily hair and scalp, you can use chamomile, lemon grass and mint. Put them into an air-tight container and let it stand for several days in the dark and cool place (or weeks). Then, strain the mixture and store the mixture in dark or amber glass bottles at cool place or refrigerate. This oil can also be used on your hair and body if you have left over from the hair and scalp treatment.

Shortly before use, transfer the oil into another small container (if you have prepared in bulk) and warm the oil with a hot water bath (in a cup). Warming the oil will help your hair to absorb the oil though it is also dependent on the porosity of your hair. Then, rub the oil on your hair and scalp gently. Then, cover the hair with a plastic cap or bag. You can wrap a hot damp towel around the plastic cover to quicken the process. Wait for about 30 minutes (maybe do your facial mask at the same time) before washing it off with shampoo. You can leave it overnight for deeper absorption but I do not think it is comfortable to sleep with it.

Dandruff

Having dandruff on your hair can sometimes be uncomfortable and especially awkward when friends point out to you about the presence. It is good to find out more about the causes of your dandruff before you consult a trichologist or dermatologist for further treatment.

Psoriasis

The skin condition is a inflammed characterized by excessive layers of new skin are formed over the normal skin (scaling). Typically, they are well-defined patches of flaking and the scales appear silvery. The patch can get really itchy and they are sometimes triggered by stress and hormonal changes or infection. Research shows that this could be caused by abnormal immune system that produces too many T cells that triggers excessive inflammation and flaking of skin. Some even suggest that it could be an indication of heart attack risk factor.

Neurodermatitis

The dandruff is stress-related condition that resembles psoriasis. It is a skin inflammation condition where the skin tends to flake at localised area. The initial could start with as small as an insect bite. It gets worse with a constant habit of scratching due to the itch (scratch-itch cycle) and stress. As the symptoms are similiar to psoriasis, consult your hair specialist for a more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.

Seborrheic Dermatitis and Cradle Cap

It has dry or greasy scaling and can be red and itchy. It is a condition that causese the flaking of the skin. For serious conditions, this rash can also spread from the scalp to the face. For a condition that occurs in infants, it is called Cradle cap. You can try to soothe the rash with olive oil and brush the hair regularly to loosen the flakes. For infants, you can rub the scalp gently with olive oil and leave it overnight before brushing and cleaning.

Contact dermatitis

It is also flaky and itchy on the scalp. Sometimes, it can also be blistered due to reaction with the chemicals that contact with the scalp. Typically, the chemicals are from colouring dyes, wave and relaxer treatment as well as shampoos, conditioners and styling products. The blisters may rupture and form a crust. If worsened, the skin may become dry and the scales thicken as the cells accelerate the rate of replacement. When this occur, you need to find out the source, preferably with a tichologist or dermatologist to determine the right treatment for you.

Other useful articles

1) Psoriasis

2) Neurodermatitis

3) Seborrheic Dermatitis

Hair Dryer

Hair Dryer. You see them at Hair salon and most of the time, you even own one. For many years, it has always been a great way to dry and even style our hair. Though it is better to dry hair naturally, most of us found it useful especially when you need to dry the hair quickly for an important appointment or to catch up with sleep.

Settings about Hair blow dryer
Hair drying may seem like a simple task, but there are some things we should at least know in order to maximise the benefits of hair blow dryer and reducing the damage to our hair. To start with the purchase, the reccommended dryers should be between 1,200 to 1,500 watt range. More sophisticated dryers have separate temperature and air-speed controls while the more common ones combines both. Low speed and cool air setting will add fulness to thin, fine or sparse hair. It is also useful for chemically treated or weak hair. To form some curls, you can set the heat to medium with low air speed. Having a higher heat can also efficiently dry and set the hair to reduce the frizzines but should be done at medium or high speed.

To reduce hair damage, you can:-

1) Reduce Heat
High heat setting should not be used too frequently on your hair as it can stress and damage the health of the hair. Cool air setting on hair blower is more preferable option if you need to blow dry your hair on a daily basis. Keep the blow dryer in constant motion to avoid over-heating certain portions of the hair.

2) Use Hair-Protectant
Use hair-protectant such as leave-on conditioner or hair serum to protect your hair strands. Also use them regularly so that it can protect against strong sunlight in a long run.

3) Cut down on Hair-Blowing Time
To save energy and hair stress, towel dry your hair before you start the hair blowing business. To further reduce the hair damage, cut down on the blow drying time. It will give unneccesary stress to your hair if you try to dry your hair completely with the blower. It is reccommended to blow your hair till it is partially dry.