Hair is predominantly made up of Dead Cells. As new cells die inside our scalp, they are pushed to the end of the hair follicle and emerge as a compressed matter called Keratin. Tiny blood vessels at the base of every follicle feed the hair root to keep it growing.

But once the hair is at the skin’s surface, the cells within the strand of hair aren’t alive anymore. Hence, hair should be well cared for if optimal style and condition needs to be achieved.

What Type of Hair Do You Have?

Hair is usually categorised according to its thickness and texture.

Hair thickness can be categorised as fine, medium or thick.

Hair texture can be categorised as straight, wavy, curly or kinky.

Understanding your hair type will help you manage it well. Different types of hair need different forms of care. This is with respect to both hygienic care as well as aesthetic purposes.

With regards to hygiene, the general questions are how often should you wash your hair? The optimal answer depends on the type of scalp and lifestyle of the person.

Types of Hair Textures and Their Care

Straight Hair

This is the most common hair texture and hairstyle. There are different types of straight hair.

How to Identify:

• Type 1 is completely flat and has little or no body. It has difficulty holding a curl. Common with Asian people.
• Type 2 is straight but can hold a curl. It sporadically bends here and there and turns in at the ends.
• Type 3 is generally straight but has more bends and when dried gives a tousled look without the use of any tools. This type of hair tends to be thicker and coarser.

Common Problems:
In general, straight hair is flat and limp. It is a challenge to make it voluminous as it does not hold volume.

Advantages:
Sleek and glossy look. For those who like the straight and flat look, this is the perfect wash and go hairstyle.

Care Tips:
Straight hair can be cared for using a mild shampoo. Heavy moisture/oil-based shampoos are not suitable as they will further flatten the hair texture and look. For long straight hair, conditioner on the ends is sufficient. The hair should be kept as neutral as possible in order to enhance its lightness and shine. During styling, if curling tongs and heavy blowdrying is involved, a heat protection product must be used to protect the hair from heat damage.

Style Tips:
Straight flat hair is not suitable for those with a round or chubby face as the flatness will emphasise the roundness of the face. In this case, volume must be added to the hairstyle to compliment the round face. Volume can be added via skilful cutting; otherwise a perm will be the best solution. Colour highlights may be added to give the illusion of volume.

Wavy Hair

Wavy hair gives the most natural look. Wavy hair also comes in different categories.

How to Identify:

• Type 1 wavy hair is loose and non-frizzy with light S-shaped curls with a beach look. It is easily weighed down by styling products.
• Type 2 wavy hair has slightly tighter waves which are clearly defined and may look frizzy if there is a lack of moisture. This type can be controlled by texturisers and gels.
• Type 3 wavy hair has tight waves that form loose spirals. It is generally frizzy and bouncy. This type of hair needs more moisture. Control with gel products will give optimal results.

Common Problems:
Frizziness will set in if the hair lacks moisture or is not looked after correctly.

Care Tips:
An average moisture-based shampoo will be the best for wavy hair and conditioning is necessary too. Texturise the hair after washing with another light to medium-weight leave-in moisturiser to keep it conditioned and glossy. For longer hair, do a weekly hair mask to ensure good levels of moisture to keep the waves healthy and natural looking.

Style Tips:
This hair type is usually light and bouncy with natural volume. Short, medium or long styles can be easily created. Always use some leave-in products like moisturisers and hair oils. Using a diffuser to dry the hair will also give it a nice natural tousled look. Otherwise, blow dry using large round brushes to give it a smoother voluminous look.

Curly Hair

How do we differentiate curly hair from wavy hair? These two terms are often used interchangeably but in actual fact, they are different in terms of curl tightness, thickness and texture. Curly hair will have a tighter S-shape which holds a curl pattern even when unstyled.

How to Identify:
Curly hair consists of different degrees of curliness. It ranges from wavy to loose to tight curls and can even get kinky and frizzy.

Common Problems:
Curls usually impart a somewhat messy feel. However for those who like volume, you will have an abundance of it. Curly hair is greatly affected by the weather as well, predominantly by the moisture levels in the atmosphere. In high humidity areas, curly hair will be more frizzy.

Care Tips:
In general, curly hair needs a lot of moisturising especially at the ends. Opt for sulphate free shampoos to give the best curl results. A satin sleep cap or pillowcase will also protect your precious curls all night long from getting frizzy or flat.

Those with curly hair should not use hairbrushes. Instead, use a wide-toothed comb or just comb your fingers through your hair.

Caring for curly hair can be quite interesting as it may not follow the norm. Certain types of curly hair cannot be washed too often with shampoo. There’s a concept known as “Co Washing” which means using conditioner to wash the hair instead of shampoo, which can produce beautifully nourished curls. Conditioner does contain a very small amount of detergent.

However, if the scalp is suffering from oiliness, dandruff or sensitivity, co washing is not recommended. In this case, one can alternate co washing with normal washing as the scalp needs to be clean to avoid further problems. Co washing conditioners are available in the market.

Style Tips:
Curly hair is better suited to longer styles if one is not keen to spend time on styling the hair. Alternatively it is nice in a tight crop style. Otherwise, it has to be styled to look fashionable and orderly. There is a wide choice of equipment and gadgets in the market to help style curly hair; examples are straightening irons, curling irons, electrical curling brushes, hot rollers, etc.

Use a diffuser when blowdrying curly hair. For best results, leave the hair to dry naturally. In addition, twisting the hair in small clumps will keep it less frizzy. Use water soluble gels or a light mousse to give it control and hold.

Types of Scalp Conditions

Oily Scalp

If you have an oily scalp, wash daily with a shampoo that will clean your scalp well but not strip off all the nutrients from your hair. Oily scalps are caused by excessive sebum from overactive sebaceous glands. If the oil is not properly cleaned off, it will clog up the hair follicles, weaken them and result in hair loss.

Oily scalps are common amongst men. Ladies with long hair also tend to have a combination of oily scalps and dry ends. Oily scalps are more common in those living in hot climates.

If you have a combination of an oily scalp and dry hair, take special note to use a shampoo for oily scalps and combine it with a conditioner that is suitable for dry ends. Extra leave-in conditioner can also be used on the ends to give it more moisture and prevent split ends.

Those with oily scalps will struggle to maintain the form or shape of their hairstyle, as the top of the head will generally look flat and “wet”. Hence, choose a hairstyle that has a shorter top, opt for a fringe or bangs to provide volume. The hair of those with oily scalps is good for colouring, perming and other chemical processes, as the sebum provides a good layer of protection and the hair is less likely to be damaged by the chemicals. Hence, if your top is flat and oily, do a perm to give it a natural root lift, to enhance your hairstyle and overall look.

Oily scalp

Flaky Scalp

Flaky/scaly scalp can be categorised as Seborrheic dermatitis, Scalp psoriasis or Eczema. The general term is dandruff. The underlying cause could be the immune system triggering excessive growth of cells, a fungal or bacteria infection, or just simply an allergic reaction, all of which can result in redness, itching and flakiness.

Flaky scalps can occur on both dry and oily scalps. If the scalp is very dry, use an anti-dandruff shampoo that can exfoliate the flakes and wash your hair at least three times a week. In some cases, one may feel sore or sensitive after the exfoliation. Apply a soothing scalp conditioner to calm the soreness and provide a balance to the scalp.

If the scalp is oily, exfoliation and deep cleansing are necessary and daily washing is recommended. Excessive sebum and flakes on the scalp can hamper its growth and health, resulting in hair loss and unhealthy hair.

Flaky scalp can be embarrassing as the flakes may fall onto your clothes and give you an unpleasant look. Hence many are shy to admit that they are having dandruff. Dandruff isn’t caused by poor hygiene, although it may be more obvious if you don’t wash your hair regularly. Stress and cold weather may also make it worse.

Dandruff may disappear after treatment and correct usage of shampoos and anti-dandruff products. However, it may often reemerge again every now and then depending on various conditions. This type of scalp situation is difficult to cure and a ritual for prevention must be done regularly i.e. use anti-dandruff products the moment you see the flakes.

Dandruff scalp

Hair Loss

Hair loss is another serious concern. There are many reasons that can result in hair loss. It is primarily related to ageing and genetics. Hair loss can also occur due to hormonal imbalances, stress, childbirth, burns, injuries and X-rays. Medical conditions such as cancer, lupus, thyroid, diabetes, iron deficiency and auto-immune diseases as well as eating disorders and low protein diets can also lead to hair loss. Hair loss can also arise from an unhealthy scalp due to oiliness and dandruff.

For men, the most common form of hair loss is male pattern baldness. Male pattern baldness is related to the genes and male sex hormones. It usually begins with a receding hairline at the temples to form an “M” shape with thinning hair on the crown. During the initial stages, a skilful haircut can help to camouflage the baldness. Male pattern baldness can set in as early as the teenage years though it is more common in adults, with the likelihood increasing with age. Genetics also plays a big role. Men who have close relatives with male pattern baldness are at higher risk. This is particularly true when their relatives are on the maternal side of the family.

On average, we have 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on our heads. Each day, an average of 100 hairs will fall out. We may not notice this as they do not all fall out at once but throughout the day. So how do you know if your hair is falling or not? The most simple test is to run your hands through your hair. If your hair comes out easily without any tugging and happens each time you run your fingers through your hair, then most likely you are having some form of hair loss. You can also go to the professionals to have your hair and scalp scanned. If the results show weak follicles and thinning strands, then likely there is hair loss too.

However, some types of hair loss are temporary especially those related to childbirth and hormonal changes. Caring for hair loss with appropriate products can stop the hair fall and in some cases, rejuvenate new growth too. For very serious balding, hair transplants via grafting can also be done.

Hair loss

Sensitive Scalp

Many people experience sensitivity, tenderness or soreness on their scalps. This may or may not result in flakes. This sensitive scalp condition can result from stress, changes in climate, changes in water content in different countries, hormonal imbalances and allergies. The scalp becomes reddish and feels sore or sensitive to the touch or products. This is usually short term and the scalp will normalise with time. However, during the period when it is sore, we can use a scalp calming shampoo, conditioner and scalp tonic to ease the sensitivity. Chemical processes like colours or perms should be avoided if the scalp is in a sensitive state, otherwise the condition will worsen.

Sensitive Scalp

Other Scalp Conditions

Some of the rarer scalp conditions that you may experience are ringworm (more common in children), cysts and folliculitis (inflammation of the hair follicles due to products or shaving which will result in little pus bumps like pimples). All these conditions can be treated by the doctor.

Lice contamination in hair can also occur in children or adults. The symptoms include itchiness, soreness in serious cases, a ticklish sensation on the scalp and the appearance of lice eggs (white substances on the scalp and hair). Some may not realise they have lice contamination until six weeks into the infection. Lice infestations are highly contagious via sharing of personal belongings like hair brushes or combs, hair clips, hats, pillows and sheets. Hair lice can be treated with anti-lice solutions that come with a special lice comb. This is easily purchased from a chemist/pharmacy. Family members of the infected person should also treat their hair as a preventive measure.

Hair Lice

More Factors

Other factors which affect the scalp and hair are:

• Lifestyle: If you live a very active outdoor lifestyle, then a daily wash will be necessary to keep your hair clean. Otherwise it is good enough to wash your hair three to four times a week.
• Health: Medicines and drugs may effect the condition of your scalp and hair.
• Age: Common hair challenges resulting from ageing are greying and hair loss.
• Chemical Treatments: If you often subject your hair to colors, perms and straightening processes, then extra care rituals have to be observed. For instance, use appropriate shampoos, conditioners, texturisers, masks, heat protection products and scalp tonics that are suitable to optimise your style. Regular in-salon tailor-made rituals give great results too.

More Care Tips

It’s common to spend more time and money on our face and less on our hair. This concept should change. An effective routine should be set for caring for the scalp and hair. A detailed scalp and hair diagnosis can be done in a professional salon and a customised ritual can be recommended to clients to guide them on how to care for their scalp and hair. Hair plays a big part in achieving the perfect look! It is after all our crowning glory.

• Choose a shampoo that suits your scalp condition. If you have a normal scalp, then choose a shampoo that is suitable for your hair type.
• Avoid using very hot water to wash your hair.
• If your scalp is dry, condition it with a scalp conditioner or scalp masque. If your scalp is oily or if your hair is falling, do not condition your scalp.
• Lessen the usage of high heat tools when styling your hair. In particular, do not use them on a regular basis without using heat protection products.
• Hair generally needs conditioning especially on longer lengths. If your hair is chemically treated with a colour, perm or straightener, extra care needs to be put in to ensure it is healthy and glossy.
• If you intend to do more than one chemical process, schedule them in the correct sequence. The general rule is to always do your hair colour last. Also, space out the timing of these processes.
• When problems arise, do not procrastinate getting a solution from the professionals. If the problems are ignored, they can become chronic and it will be much harder to treat.
• It is also important to maintain a nutritious diet and a healthy lifestyle in order to have great hair.

Hair Trends 2017

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