More and more often women are swearing off commercial styling products to help protect their hair. Natural remedies and organic products are becoming all the rage, especially for people that have fine hair that is easily damaged.

Some people are even taking this a step further and opting to stop using commercial shampoo and conditioner altogether.

To be clear, the “no-poo” trend does not mean women are not washing their hair.

They have just weaned themselves away from using shampoo to keep their tresses clean and healthy. The arguments for this method seem to vary, but the popularity of the idea is definitely on the rise.

But is it safe and healthy to completely avoid using shampoo and hair care products?

Why Are Women Dropping Shampoo?

There are a number of health-based and environmental reasons that are fueling the no shampoo movement.

1^st –Commercial shampoos can be too harsh and strip away the natural oils your hair needs to stay healthy. This can cause your hair to become brittle, frizzy and more prone to damage.

2^nd–-Overusing commercial products means that chemicals and wax will build up on your hair which can make it look dull and flat.

3^rd–These chemicals can also build up on your scalp which can make it hard for your hair to grow and can lead to dandruff.

Some environmentalists are against the use of commercial hair care products that are heavy on artificial ingredients because of the potential impact on the environment.

All of these chemicals are washed down the drain when you rinse your hair and go down the drain, this is dangerous if it builds up.

So What are These Women Using Instead?

People are giving up shampoo, but they aren’t giving up bathing so they’ve looked into different products they can use to keep their hair clean.

Fact— Most women who have given up on shampoo are not washing their hair every day. A quick rinse while you shower is enough to wash away dirt and dust that can collect on the hair

Fact— When your hair needs a boost, a mixture of baking soda and water can help to clear away the buildup that accumulates on hair.

Fact— Hair is naturally acidic, so every few weeks a mixture of apple cider vinegar and water can be used to clear away buildup on the scalp and keep the hair looking shiny.

The right diet also plays a role in keeping your hair healthy . Getting plenty of protein and B vitamins will help your body grow thick and healthy hair.

Increasing your intake of healthy fats like avocado or coconut oil is also helpful. Some women are applying these directly to the hair every month to encourage shiny hair growth.

But is it Healthy?

The jury is still out on the no shampoo movement, but there are some strong claims on either side.

Note 1–Those that swear by this method claim that their hair is fuller than ever before. They also note that their scalp is flake free.

Note 2– Women with very oily hair say that they cannot keep this under control without commercial shampoo. This results in a gross, greasy look that irritates their scalp and skin.

No matter what side of the argument you are on, it will take a few weeks for your scalp and hair to get used to your commercial shampoo-less routine. You should expect to have a few ‘bad hair days’ where your hair looks unkempt before you can determine whether or not this treatment is effective.

PUBLISHED 23RD JULY 2013

Bright streaks or blocks of color are very popular with singers and movie stars today, but this look definitely might not be appropriate for everyone to wear, all the time. If your school or office has a ‘strict’ dress code you may be limited in the types of hair coloring that you can apply. Some are just not ready to make a permanent commitment to brightly colored locks without trying out a few colors first.

 

Not to worry anymore! Hair extensions are the perfect choice for people that want to play with bright color in their hair without making a commitment. You can change out the color easily and simply avoid wearing it in situations where it might not be appropriate. These extensions simply clip in, and if you purchase a high quality extension kit you can easily make these color blocks look realistic.

 

 

Selecting Accents for Light Colored Hair

Women with very light colored hair will need to be careful when selecting color blocks to make sure they still look natural when they are clipped on, particularly if you are planning on wearing a lot of color.

1st tips–Bright colors are much more likely to stand out on blondes than other hair colors. You may want to shy away from neon extensions because they will look even brighter next to your hair.

2nd tips--Some blondes find that spray in hair color is more appropriate for their hair because they can control the intensity of the color while extensions cannot be changed.

3rd tips–For similar reasons, smaller streaks of color tend to be more appropriate for blondes. You can purchase small or individual extensions and strategically place them throughout the lower layers of your hair, to give a pop of color that will look bright and interesting without looking overwhelming and artificial.

If you do not have a color in mind yet, bear in mind that most pastel shades blend nicely with blonde hair. Lighter shades will play off the light and offer a similar hue to the natural hair color. Purple tones or purple based reds also play beautifully against natural blonde hair.

 

 

Choosing a Color Style for Darker Hair

Those with darker hair have the exact opposite problem when selecting color blocks for their hair, as they will need to work a bit harder to make these colors show up.

1st tips— It is very difficult to get colors to show up against darker hair tones. Those that regularly dye their hair are probably familiar with this difficulty. Hair extensions will let you experiment with which colors will work well so you can decide what color looks best.

2nd tips--Dark haired women can easily pull off bright, neon shades. Bright colors can be placed in blocks to draw attention. If your hair is fine be sure to brush these through so they don’t look too artificial. Also take care to match your color blocks to your skin tone. Darker skin tones look great when paired with jewel tones while olive colored skin can easily pull off greens and oranges. If you are very pale purples and blues may be just right.

3rd tips–If your hair is dark you will need to bleach it to add a bright color block, and this color usually only lasts for around eight washes. If you opt for a clip in style instead, you can enjoy your brightly colored hair for as long as you want without having to worry that it’s going to start looking like dishwater.

It is easy to find color block extensions that are inexpensive if you want to experiment with the look before you make a full commitment to wearing colored hair.

PUBLISHED 17TH JULY 2013