Hair questions. We all have them, or we’ve all been asked about them at some point. But what are the most frequently asked questions about this beautiful part of the human anatomy that is both a symbol of our culture and an expression of political views? Despite these and other aspects of what hair means to us, it is very often hard to tell what works for it or not.
Perhaps, if we were to ask Google, Pinterest, Quora and other search platforms about the questions they often ask about hair, we would get the most exciting insight into what people want to know.
From questions like ‘How often should I wash my hair?’ and ‘How do I know my curl type?’ to ‘What is hair porosity?’ and ‘How long does hair colour last before fading?’, the list is endless.
So, to get to the root of hair issues, we’ll be answering some of the most commonly asked questions that people have about hair. Let’s consider some of them:
QUESTION 1: How often should I trim my hair?
ANSWER: Just as applying relaxers to your hair, trimming should have a specific cycle. Anytime between 4 to 6 weeks should suffice. Also, it could be a function of how fast your hair grows out and how obvious the weak ends are. This way, you keep your hair in shape and cut off the weak ends that cause damage and stunt growth.
QUESTION 2: How often should I wash my hair?
ANSWER: While it is not feasible to say every two-three days, even once or twice a week can be stretched. Although experts may recommend more frequent washing than twice a month, it is ultimately a function of your hair type and convenience (for naturalistas who love to keep to the whole routine). You don’t want to strip your hair of its natural oils, nor do you want your hair to accumulate dirt before you wash, so finding the right balance of what works for you is vital here. If you’re a gym body and you’re concerned about sweating from the pores on your head, then you want to consider using deep cleansing shampoo.
QUESTION 3: What is the one thing I can do to have healthy hair?
ANSWER: While we may have big dreams about long hair that almost reminds passers-by of Rapunzel (that cartoon character with hair for days), hair growth is more than just wishful thinking or one action you repeatedly take for magical results. Our hair can have different needs at different points in time. For instance, you may need to mix your products or reduce manipulation. At other times, you may need to let the hair rest and breathe.
QUESTION 4: What is the cause of dandruff, and how do I get rid of it?
ANSWER: Dandruff is caused by different reasons, including dehydrated scalp, eczema or even psoriasis. The dead skin cells resulting from these conditions lead to flaking, which falls off the scalp naturally as you itch or scratch the spot. With anti-dandruff shampoo or a DIY mild exfoliant (a mix of regular shampoo and baking soda), you can remove the dead skin cells, reduce fungi growth and balance your scalp’s pH levels. Wash your hair with the shampoo mix and rinse off with warm water. Do this for every wash session consistently to see results.
QUESTION 5: What can I do to make my hair grow faster?
ANSWER: Not everything about hair is beyond our control. While growth speed may be a function of genetics, hair care and nutritional support require deliberate action on your part. Wherever you fall on the scale of hair type, consistent practice of a thorough hair care regimen can help you see significant improvement in the health and length of your hair. Such hair care regimens include trimming, applying oils, hair masks or juices regularly and use of hair-boosting supplements (of course, by the advice and guidance of an expert)
QUESTION 6: I blow-dry my hair a lot. How do I prevent heat damage?
ANSWER: Heat-protectant products and sprays can help boost your hair’s defence against the damaging effect of direct heat. Likewise, reducing the heat on tools like hairdryers, flat irons, curling irons, etc., and minimizing these tools’ usage can make a significant difference.
QUESTION 7: I’m experiencing unusual hair loss. What could be the cause?
ANSWER: Medical experts believe that naturally, we lose anywhere from 50 to 200 strands of hair per day. Although this can seem like a lot, it is normal. All things being equal, your hair replenishes itself to make up for the loss. However, with certain medical conditions or some prescription drugs, hair loss can become more significant. Beyond this, if you feel like you’re losing more hair than expected, you might want to see your physician to rule out other causes.
QUESTION 8: What do I need to know before adding colour to my hair?
ANSWER: As a rule of thumb, when you’re looking to change your hair colour, more than just going for what your best friend has on, it is essential to consider what exactly you want to achieve. Do you want lighter or darker hair? Do you want to enhance your natural colour or cover up greying hair? Or do you want to add a highlight of colour to the tips or specific patches only? Whatever the goal, use your skin undertone, wrists, eye colour and brows as a guide to know whether you’re warm or cool-toned.
QUESTION 9: What is hair porosity, and how do I determine where my hair falls?
ANSWER: Hair porosity refers to your hair’s ability to retain moisture. Like our skin, our hair also has a unique formation of pores that help it regulate how open or closed it is. High porosity means that your hair can quickly soak in moisture (but it also loses the same quickly). On the other hand, low porosity means that your hair does not soak in moisture quickly (but when it eventually does, your hair can retain the moisture for long). A simple hair porosity test at home can help you understand what type of hair you have: Take a strand of hair and drop it into a cup or bowl of water. If the hair sinks immediately, you have high porosity hair; otherwise, you have low porosity hair if it stays afloat. High or low, whatever your porosity, expert advice on the best products and regimen will keep you on the right track.
QUESTION 10: How often should I change my shampoo and conditioner?
ANSWER: Honestly, if there are no drastic changes to how your hair looks and feels, it’s unnecessary to change your products often. Remember that your hair gets accustomed to products in general, so changing your hair care products may have adverse effects. Also, understand the types and functions of each product so you can know which one works best for your hair’s needs at any given time. For instance, hydrating shampoos and conditioners are best for dry hair, helping to moisturize and seal the hair cuticle while neutralizing shampoo helps to halt the process of chemical relaxers and balance the hair’s pH. Ultimately, there is no reason to make a change if there is no damage or distress done to your hair.
Are you having a bad hair day? Learn more about protective hairstyles, or better still, get one of our braided wigs as they always come in handy on bad hair days. Still considering whether to get one or not, here are some great reasons you need a braided wig. Keep up with valuable content from us at Finest Hairs, as we walk this journey with you to help you realize your hair’s fabulousness! Love it, nurture it and watch it bloom!
Finally, our hair is our crowning glory, and especially for women, a good hair day can be the start of a happy day, and an unruly hair day for some women pretty much means a dreadful day all-around.
Xoxo…
