Copyright 2006 David Maillie
Dry textured hair can be very frizzy and a hair dressers nightmare. It can be so curly and thick that it is hard to manage and shape. There are numerous products we see on TV that promise to treat dry, textured hair from steamers to automatic curlers. What the TV ads don't tell you is that most of these items don't work or take many hours or days of treatment to be effective. In this article we will discuss tips of what trained hair care specialists do for treating dry textured hair.
First you must properly clean your hair. When we say properly clean that doesn't mean to wash your hair regularly. You must remove all the products you use to style your hair. People with dry, textured hair tend to be heavy users of hair sprays, gels, etc... These products can create build up and will block moisturizers from having maximum effect. This is why a hairdresser will sometimes repeat washing and rinsing a persons hair 2 or 3 times before applying conditioner. Also, if you have dandruff, use shampoos that will actually treat the source of the dandruff. Many cheaper shampoos will just remove the dandruff in your hair, but will not treat your dry scalp. This will just exacerbate the problem when you try to treat and style your hair.
Once the hair is thoroughly cleaned, apply a quality moisturizer. Cheap moisturizers are just that (you get what you pay for). Some may even have alcohol and other ingredients which can be detrimental to your hair and cause it to dry out even more.Natural moisturizers (organic is best) based on plants and oils tend to have the best effect. If you want to save some money BJ's stores has their own version of Paul Mitchell's haircare and it works great. To properly apply moisturizer, lift your hair and apply it to the base or roots of your hair first and then apply it to the full length of your hair. This will ensure proper application to both your hair and scalp. How long you leave it in and how often you should apply it is dependent upon how dry or tightly textured your hair is. A good rule of thumb for dry textured hair is 2-3 times per week for maintenance and 4-5 times for the first week..
Hair treatments like oil therapy and such can also be helpful with dry textured hair. In some cases, where the hair is also very thick then a thinning may be necessary. I would discuss this with your hair care professional first. Some other ideas are stay away from franchised hair cutting places (notice I didn’t say salon). Last thing you need is a bad style or cut from someone schooled in how to give you a 5 minute haircut.
A specialist will take into account your hair color, texture, facial features, desires, and fashion trends and your body to see what best suits you. They look at the whole picture and see your hair as frosting on a cake. As Jonathon says on the hugely popular show Blowout, “Your hair can make or break you. I want all my clients to feel and look like a superstar when I am done with their hair.” This is so true – a great haircut and style will make you shine. And you can also ask your specialist for advice on your hair, products they recommend for treating dry textured hair, even fashion tips.