Manageable Hair with Olive Oil

 Olive oil has been hailed as the ultimate when it comes to health. It is as beneficial and effective as a beauty aid as it is when consumed.

Here's how you can use olive oil to get silky shiny hair.

- Pour around half a cup of olive oil into a vessel and heat it. The oil shouldn't be too hot or you will end up with burnt fingers. Warm the oil only so much that you can comfortably touch the oil.

- Cover your shoulders with a towel to avoid staining your clothes.

- Take a little oil in your palms and massage it into your hair. Concentrate on massaging the scalp if you have a dry, itchy scalp. However, if you have an oily scalp then avoid applying oil your scalp. Oil only your hair and leave an inch and a half from the roots unoiled. Massage with your fingertips and not your nails. You might end up with a bruised scalp. Massaging with the fingertips also stimulates the hair follicles. This also propagates hair growth. Which is why you must massage your hair at least once a week.

- Pile your hair on the top and cover it completely with a shower cap or plastic wrap. Covering hair helps the oil to penetrate deeply. You can also wrap your hair with a warm towel.

- Keep the oil on your hair for at least half an hour and not more than one hour. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. 

Healthy & Stylish Hair This Monsoon

While we all love splashing about and getting soaked in the cool, welcoming shower, there is also a huge battle to safeguard one's hair. High pollutant levels of the rainwater, coupled with humidity, can prove disastrous. iDiva gets experts to chalk up a plan to keep the mane shiny and well-groomed this wet season. 

Dandruff and dull hair
What makes our tresses most unattractive is the dull look. "This happens  because of a mix of temperatures - humidity and heat take a toll on the texture of the hair," explains hairstylist Placid Braganza. "A good idea is to use a water-based serum, which is light, to protect the hair," he adds.    

Dirty rainwater can also cause dandruff due to flaky dryness of the scalp. Climatic changes always bring about change in hair care. A wet and sticky scalp also gives rise to secondary infections like dandruff and boils. All this leads to hair woes that must be sorted out. There are ways to do this at home.

Style it up
There are a lot of fun ways to wear one's hair in the monsoons. Putting your hair up is totally in for an unstructured yet fashionable look. You can also accessorise with flowers, feathers or a brooch. You can also scrunch hair up and tie it on one side for a formal or informal look. If it's a ponytail you like, twist it to make it look exciting and wear it on one or either side of your crown. In addition, you can opt for a French braid and add pearls to the knots. I'd recommend people with wavy hair to use some leave-in conditioner and then tie a ribbon or a scarf around their hair.

Avoid these at a salon 
While it might be tough to stay away from hairstyling if the occasion demands it, here are reasons why you ought to push away that hair appointment for a while. Says Robequin, "The humid atmosphere spells disaster for those with chemically-treated hair. During monsoons, your hair absorbs the moisture and this nullifies the effect of any chemical treatment or product used on the hair. The best thing to do is to give your strands a break during this season. Let them shape naturally and avoid blow-drying, ironing or using harsh chemicals." Agrees Braganza, "Hair bonding, perming and straightening are avoidable, as they require hair to be off moisture in the monsoon, which isn't easy."

Love your locks
Dr Nirmala Shetty recommends home-made hair spa treatments

For dry scalp

• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/4 cup coconut milk
• 1 egg yolk
• 1/4 cup curd

Blend all in the mixer till you get a creamy mixture. Add two drops of ylang ylang essential oil in case the eggy odour disturbs you. Massage on scalp for five minutes. Wash after 20 mins.

For oily scalp

• 1/4 cup of methi (fenugreek) soaked overnight and ground to remove extract
• Paste of 5 hibiscus flowers
• 1/4 cup of brahmi leaf paste
• 1/4 cup of neem leaf paste
• 2 tsp coconut oil

Mix all and gently apply on scalp and hair. Remember, this time the massage has to be gentle and light.  
 
For Dandruff

• 1/4 Beet juice
• 1/4 coconut milk
• 1/4 cup curd
• 1 tsp lime
• 3 tsp olive oil

Blend and massage. In case of stubborn dandruff, repeat twice a week.

Dos

• Wash hair every alternate day with a mild shampoo.
• Use a leave-in conditioner after washing.
• Go in for moisturising hair treatments.
• Protect the hair with a cap or a stole in the rain.
• Oil hair once a week.

Don'ts

• Using hairsprays or gels.
• Excessive blow-dry treatments.
• Swimming without a cap.
• Sharing a hairbrush or comb.

Bling it on
Swarovski crystal clips and those with diamantes can add sparkle to your locks. Use them to jazz up your monsoon look!

DANDRUFF

What is dandruff?

Dandruff is an overproduction and build-up of dead skin cells. It occurs as snowy dust-like flakes. Dandruff can also be defined as the shedding of dead skin cells from the scalp at an excessive rate. This is the result of normal growing process of the skin cells of the scalp. Our scalp and the rest of the body are covered with skin cells. As the skin renews itself, the top layer of old cells die and scales off. Normally the entire renewal process takes 2–3 weeks. In some cases, there is an increased production of cells, causing the dead ones to pack together and build up as dandruff on the scalp. Dandruff may occur in any age group and at any time. In cases of chronic dandruff, the condition may affect the skin around the nose, eyes, ears and chest area.

What are the causes?

Dandruff is a minor problem but it can be very embarrassing. Dandruff is seasonal. It is more severe during the winter and mildest during summer. The causes of dandruff include: Oily scalp Infection caused by an organism Pityrosporum ovale. Excessive use of shampoos, hairsprays, hair curlers and gels. Improper use of hair colouring products. Infrequent shampooing or cleaning of the hair. Stress, anxiety and tension.

What is the treatment?

Since dandruff is a natural process it cannot be eliminated, it can only be controlled. The simplest treatment is frequent and effective shampooing of the hair and the scalp. Mild dandruff can be treated by regularly shampooing the scalp with a mild, non-medicated shampoo. If this does not help, a medicated dandruff shampoo can be used. Shampoos containing cytostatic agent, such as selenium sulphide or zinc pyrithione can be used. These agents reduce the growth and multiplication of horny cells (top layer of skin on the scalp). Shampoos containing selenium sulphide should not be used if there is a cut or abrasion on the scalp. Other ingredients in the shampoos that treat dandruff are coal tar preparations, salicylic acid, sulfur and a combination of salicylic acid and sulphur. Nizoral AD, is a shampoo that specifically targets P.ovale and treats flaking and itching.

Tips to cure split ends

• Apply papaya pulp evenly all over the head and strands. Let it stay for forty five minutes. Wash your head with luke warm water. Use a mild shampoo afterwards.
• A mixture of coconut milk and egg white is also effective in treating split ends problem. Apply it onto your hair for around an hour and wash it with a mild shampoo.

• Apply natural honey on your hair and scalp. Leave it on your hair for about half an hour and then wash it with a very mild shampoo.
• Avocado oil is extremely beneficial for keeping hair shiny and getting rid of split ends. Massage it on your scalp and hair. Leave it on for one hour before washing it with a mild shampoo. Use this oil at least two times a week.
• Add 1 tsp honey to 2 tbsp of olive oil and beat it 1 egg yolk. Massage this on hair. Cover the head with shower cap for about 30 minutes. Use a mild shampoo to wash your hair.
• Massage hair and scalp with warm olive oil. Leave it for about 8 hours or overnight. Wash hair and rinse with vinegar/water solution. You can also mix honey with it. But if you plan to do so then do not leave it overnight.
• Take half cup olive oil and half cup boiling water. Pour them into a large glass bottle or jar with a lid. Shake well till the oil is emulsified. Massage it into hair. Put a shower cap on your head and wrap a hot towel over it. Leave the mixture on your hair for about half hour and then shampoo it as usual.
• Add 1 tsp. each of mustard oil, castor oil and olive oil into a small container and mix well. Put the mixture on your scalp, massage it in well and let sit for 30 minutes.

Split ends can be prevented by:

• Trimming off the ends with breakage.
• Avoid brushing wet hair. However a wide-toothed comb can be used for detangling wet hair.
• Avoiding sun exposure.
• Avoiding over-brushing, chemical processing and heat styling.
• Also avoid too much colouring or perming.