News Flash, You Cannot Nourish Your Hair

We all seen the advertisements encouraging us to, “Nourish Your Hair!” But the cold, hard truth is, you can’t nourish you’re your hair. To nourish something involves providing it with “the food or other substances necessary for growth, health, and good condition.” And your hair, at least the part you can see, is dead. No amount of food or any other substance you provide to your hair is going to change that.

But just because your hair is dead, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t care for it. It actually means you need to take greater care of it, particularly if you wear your hair long.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, your hair has some natural enemies, including the sun, and some man-made enemies, such as the chlorine in the pool, beauty products used to straighten, curl, or color your hair, and the tools you use to style your hair, like curling irons and hair dryers. But you can fight back by wearing a hat when your out in the sun, washing your hair after swimming, and taking it easy on the styling. Follow these seven steps to keep your hair looking good, without spending a fortune trying to “Nourish Your Hair!.”

1. Before you shampoo, get your hair really wet.
2. Don’t overdo the shampoo. Pour out a small amount into your palm—about the size of a quarter is all you need.
3. Gently rub the shampoo onto your head, and use your fingertips (not your fingernails) to massage the shampoo into your scalp.
4. Rinse thoroughly, until there are no more bubbles running down your body and down the drain.
5. Dry your hair with a soft, fluffy towel. Be gentle. Don’t scrub.
6. Use a wide-tooth comb to carefully remove tangles. Avoid tugging or yanking. You don’t want to pull your hair out or cause individual hairs to break.
7. If you have time, it’s preferable to allow your damp hair to air dry.