Hair/Nails Beauty Upkeep—What to Know Blog
-Demetra Kayne
There are always questions about what are the best practices for your hair and nails—what products should you use—what should you stay away from—how often?
After doing some research I have found answers to some of these daunting questions.
How often should you wash your hair?
Washing your hair regularly is necessary to remove the buildup of dirt, oils, and hair products, but many stylists actually recommend not washing your hair every day, because shampoo can strip the hair of its natural oils. Answer these questions to figure out how often you should wash your hair:
Is your hair oily or dry? Oil glands in the scalp produce sebum, which travels down the hair shaft to lubricate your hair and keep it healthy. Hair can get especially oily during puberty, when you’re PMSing, or if you’re taking certain hormones. People with oily hair should consider washing their hair daily or at least every other day. If your hair is dry, it may be a sign that it’s damaged. Look for shampoos specifically formulated for dry hair, which will coat the hair shafts, fill in damaged areas, and help your hair look and feel smoother and more manageable. Try Garnier Fructis Moisture Works Fortifying Shampoo and Conditioner.
Do you process your hair? Chemical processing, such as perming, relaxing, bleaching, and coloring, as well as heat processing, like blow-drying, hot-curling, and flat-ironing, can make hair more fragile. Repeated wetting and drying can also weaken hair, so if your hair is damaged, you should consider washing it no more than every other day.
Is your hair short or long, curly or straight? Short hair and long, fine hair both get greasy fast because there’s less surface area for the scalp’s natural oils to spread to, so it should be washed daily, or at least every other day. If you have curly, coiled, or coarse hair, it’s more difficult for the oil to migrate down the shaft, so shampooing just once or twice a week can be enough.
Do you use a lot of hair products? If you do, they can build up and make it easier for dirt, dust, and pollution to stick to your hair, so try to wash your hair every day. Regular washing will help prevent buildup and make your hair easier to style.
Do you have a scalp rash? Seborrheic dermatitis, aka dandruff, is caused by an overgrowth of yeast that feeds on scalp oils. In fact, the flakes that appear to be “dry” scalp are often yeast overgrowth. If you have a scalp rash, wash your hair daily to reduce both oils and yeast, and try an over-the-counter medicated shampoo like Nizoral or Selsun Blue.
How often should you cut your hair?
Long Length Hair
8-12 Weeks
Medium Length Hair
6-12 Weeks
Short Length Hair
4-8 Weeks
Men’s Hair
6-8 Weeks
The Do’s and Don’ts of Dry Shampoo
DO spray at least six inches away from the roots. “This will lightly and evenly distribute the product without creating buildup,” says Sims.
DON’T spray on damp or wet hair. It’s called dry shampoo for a reason.
DO wait about two minutes before styling. Bush adds, “I think women panic when they see that it comes out white. And they don’t really let the product sit long enough, nor understand that they need to comb or blow-dry through.”
DO use on roots and ends to add a modern matte texture.
DON’T worry if you get dry shampoo on the mid-shaft. Bush explains, “This gives extra grip to the hair and provides more volume, decreasing the too-soft feel fine hair can sometimes have.”
How often should I color my hair?
Generally 4-6 weeks depending on the color and how fast your hair grows. If you are trying to cover up grey hair, I’d color more often.
How often should I highlight my hair?
Highlights that are three or more shades lighter than your natural color should be touched up every month or two, while highlights only a shade or two lighter do not have to be touched up often at all because they look so natural. Three to four months is fine with these, and you can easily let them grow out altogether without it being noticeable. Many people get subtle highlights in late spring for a sun-kissed look.
Hair color lingo:
Semi-Permanent Semi-Permanent color, which contains no ammonia and only a small percentage of peroxide, can only darken hair. Over time, the color fades to a translucent stain, but the roots need to be maintained to avoid a mismatched look. Semi-permanent is the least-damaging hair color process.
Demi-Permanent This type of color is very good for covering gray; it can only darken hair, not lighten it. Roots need to be touched up every 4 to 6 weeks. The formulation contains peroxide, but no ammonia.
Permanent Color Permanent hair color, which consists of both peroxide and ammonia, can make hair darker or a few shades lighter, and provides excellent coverage for gray. The color lasts until hair grows out, and roots need to be touched up every 4 to 6 weeks.
Glossing/Glazing This process involves placing semi-permanent color on the hair for a short period of time to darken hair slightly or to change its tonality (for example, changing an ash blonde to golden brown). Clear glossing/glazing is also available to add shine to hair without altering the color. Gloss or glaze needs to be reapplied every few weeks.
How often should you cut your nails?
Cut your nails regularly, and make sure you don’t leave jagged edges behind to catch on clothing, causing the nail to tear. It might be helpful to set aside a time once a week to trim your nails, so that regular maintenance becomes a habit. Trim your nails with a proper nail clipper, clean underneath the tips and then file down any rough spots with an emery board.
How often should you get a manicure and pedicure?
Some sources say that you should invest in getting a full manicure once a week, and a full pedicure every 2 weeks. Another suggestion was to get both done every 2 weeks, but change the polish every week. Choosing either option depends on your wallet and schedule.
Is it bad to paint your nails?
Generally, no it is not bad to paint your nails. Some steps you can take to make sure to keep your nails nice are definitely make sure to use the undercoat polish, or to soak them in lemon juice to keep the nice white/pink color. Over painting sometimes causes the nails not to breathe resulting in turning the nail a yellowish color. Also, overuse of nail polish remover will weaken your nails.
Call Salon Aspen to book your hair or nail service with our amazing technicians. Book any hair service with Jessica, Audra or Mhendi this month and get FREE mini highlights! (970) 925-8900
