Healthy Hair

1. Avocados are rich in vitamins, essential fatty acids and minerals that will help restore luster to your hair, says Stephen Sanna, expert colorist at the Pierre Michel Salon in New York City. Leave on for at least 20 minutes, then rinse several times. Repeat once a week for damaged hair and once a month for healthy hair. .....

Use one part apple cider vinegar

2. And two parts very warm water to help balance the pH level of your scalp and bring out natural red highlights. It may be smelly, but it works, says Federico. Simply pour the vinegar mixture onto your hair, massage it into your scalp, and let it dry for a few minutes. Then wash hair as usual. .....

Mix one egg with a shampoo

3. Apply to your hair for five minutes, and rinse well. This shampoo omelet helps to enhance the protein in your hair. .....

Make own conditioner

4. Here are some simple tips to condition your hair using some everyday household ingredients. Rub enough mayonnaise into your hair to coat it, wait up to an hour, and wash it out. Youll be amazed at how soft and shiny your hair is, thanks to this great protein source. Substitute condensed milk for your regular conditioner. The protein provides an extra-special shine.Mix 2 ounces olive oil and 2 ounces aloe vera gel with 6 drops each of rosemary and .....

Take oil one to three times a day

5. All are rich in omega-3 fatty acids like gamma-linolenic acid, great for keeping hair (and nails) moisturized, says Kathleen W. Wilson, M.D., an internist at the Ochsner Health Center in New Orleans and author of When You Think You Are Falling Apart. .....

lemon juice on your hair

6. before heading into the sun use shampoos and styling products that contain citrus fruits, suggests celebrity hairstylist Federico of Beverly Hills. Citrus adds subtle streaks to your hair without adding damage. .....

mix honey and alum

7. Combine the two ingredients into a thick paste and paint the mixture on with your fingertips. Sit in the sun for 45 minutes, then shampoo and rinse your hair. You should have highlights three shades lighter than your natural hair color. .....

Bathe your hair in botanical oils

8. Available at health food stores, olive, jojoba, and sweet almond oils are all wonderful elixirs for hair. If your hair is thick and heavy, coconut oil works wonders. Dampen your hair and apply small amounts of the botanical oil until your hair is thoroughly covered. Cover with a shower cap and warm towel for a half-hour, then rinse and shampoo as usual. .....

Mix a few drops of sandalwood oil

9. with a few drops of olive or jojoba oil, rub the mixture between your palms, then smooth it through the ends of your hair for instant sleekness and a way to instantly curb and condition brittle, flyaway hair. Or you can squirt a few drops of hand lotion in your palm and smooth it through your hair. .....

drops of favorite fragrance into hair

10. Youll wind up with hair that not only looks, but smells, great, says Susie Galvez, author of Hello Beautiful: 365 Ways to Be Even More Beautiful. .....

Transform ordinary shampoo into an herbal

11. Dilute an eight-ounce bottle of shampoo by half with water and add about 20 drops of essential oil of lavender .....

Only spritz three times with hair spray

12. In addition to making you look like you just stepped out of 1962, too much hair spray can weigh down your hair, leaving it flat. Instead, try a bionutrient styling spray containing the B vitamin panthenol. It will condition your hair and help protect it from environmental and styling damage. .....

Wrap wet hair gently in a towel

13. And let the cotton absorb the moisture for a few minutes instead of rubbing. This helps protect against split ends. .....

shower for the amount of hair

14. The typical person loses from 50 to 200 hairs a day (out of 80,000 to 120,000 hairs on the head). So its normal to have a very small clump of hair left on the drain after washing. But if that amount starts increasing, see your doctor. It could mean your scalp has an infection, or that baldness is beginning to set in, or in rarer circumstances, that you have a nutritional deficiency. .....

Get dressed put makeup on before styling hair

15. This way, your hair will be almost dry. Hair is most susceptible to damage when wet. .....

Shampoo gray hair blue colored shampoo

16. By nature of its light color, gray hair gets duller, dirtier, and drier than darker shades, which is why its so important to shampoo and condition it daily. The bluish shampoo helps hide any yellowish (read: aging) tinge. .....

Allow at least four weeks

17. Between single-process color treatments and at least eight weeks between high- or low-light treatments, Stephen Sanna recommends. .....

Create instant highlights

18. By applying champagne- or gold-hued eye shadow to your hair with an ordinary makeup sponge. .....

Use a humidifier at night in bedroom

19. Your home heating probably keeps the air very dry, which can dry out your hair. .....

To keep your hair bouncy and healthy

20. Occasionally shampoo your roots only and then apply conditioner to just your ends. Then rinse. .....

To reduce damage to your tresses

21. And add pouf to your do, dry your hair until 90 percent of the moisture is removed, then stop. Most people falsely believe they must use a hair dryer until their hair is bone-dry. Not true. The style should fall into place if your hair is healthy and well cut. .....

If you usually wear your hair in a ponytail

22. Take it out for a few hours a day to give your hair a break. Also, try not to pull hair back too tightly. And never sleep with any sort of accessories in your hair. .....

Comb conditioner from the harsh chemicals

23. When you finish with your swim, rinse with 1/4 cup apple cider mixed with 3/4 cup water to help cleanse hair, recommends Susie Galvez, author of Hello Beautiful: 365 Ways to Be Even More Beautiful, then follow with more conditioner. Do the same before hitting the beach. .....

Use moisturizing conditioner for thin hair

24. Many people think conditioners will flatten thin hair, but actually, using a moisturizing conditioner a few times a week will help your hair block out humidity, which can make hair flat. .....

Use a gentle shampoo for oily hair

25. Ironically, harsh shampoos can actually lead to more oil because your scalp tries to compensate. Use a shampoo thats gentle enough for everyday use. .....

Flip your head over

26. Spray the underneath layers with hair spray, and shake out to instantly style your hair without rewashing and blow-drying. .....

Use styling gel correctly

27. Heres how to get the hold you want without looking like you stepped out of a grease pit. Place a dime-size dollop of product in the palm of one hand, then dab a tiny amount onto the fingertips of your other hand, leaving most of the gel in your palm. Starting at the back of your head near your scalp line, work the gel from your fingertips into the root area of your hair and continue until the dollop disappears. .....

For an amazing haircut

28. Ask your stylist to cut the ends of your hair so theyre slightly jagged instead of blunt. This provides extra body and texture. .....

If youre trying to grow out your bangs

29. Ask your hairdresser to add a few long layers around your face to help the bangs fade in as they grow. .....

Men If youre going bald go short

30. One of the worst mistakes balding men make is the comb-over. A sexier, more modern style is the closely trimmed, Bruce Willis look. An added bonus: Your hair will be easy to maintain. .....

Eat enough protein

31. The basic early advice is make sure youre looking at your diet, make sure youre getting enough iron, make sure youre not anemic, make sure you have enough protein in your diet. Iron and protein are really important for hair health. We always try to make sure people get adequate protein for whatever theyre lifestyle is: If theyre sedentary, they dont need as much. If theyre active, they need more. .....

vitamin levels checked and take supplements

32. Iron levels are important for hair health. Women often develop iron-deficiency anemia because they arent getting enough iron. Iron-deficiency anemia can also develop due to normal monthly menstrual blood loss. There are some generic vitamins that we recommend: Vitamin D, omega, fish oils, a generic multivitamin with iron. Biotin is great in terms of hair strength and preventing breakage. .....

Invest in silicone

33. Theres no magic product or ingredient, but if you want to add a little more protection you can use silicone -based products. Silicone basically coats the hair, which adds a little more protection once you do any kind of stress to the hair. Check a products list of ingredients and make sure silicone is high up on the list. Look for silicone or dimethicone, a silicone derivatives. Anti-frizz products usually have a silicone type of derivative. You .....

Be careful when styling at home

34. The problem with people treating hair at home is no one else is looking. Often people will come in who have damage to their scalp that they didnt notice was there. Specific practices that can be problematic include straightening, processing, hair coloring, and heat. If you do those things at home, try to modify your hair care habits. So, try not to put heat on more than once a week, reduce the frequency of flat iron use, blow dry at a lower setti .....

Never flat iron wet hair

35. Wet hair is more vulnerable to breakage. Either air dry or blow dry out soft, with a low setting, and then put the flat iron on. You shouldnt put a flat iron on wet hair. .....

Do not leave products in for longer

36. Some people think products will be more effective if they leave them in longer than they should. Theyll be like, Oh its tingling. Thats great. It must be working really well. Thats when damage can happen. .....

feel pain while youre at the salon

37. Hair styling shouldnt hurt. Any kind of scalp discomfort is abnormal. Thats a very basic thing. A lot of people will come in and say, It burned after a couple minutes of leaving it on, and then they came and washed it off. Any form of sensation can be a sign that the scalp is being damaged. If you suffer any kind of discomfort while youre at the salon, stop seeing that stylist. If you experience any burning, stinging, tingling, any kind of pain o .....

Opt for looser hairstyles

38. Hair styling can cause problems in terms of alopecia. When braids or weaves are too tight, they hurt. Pain means its too tight, its pulling too hard. Theres too much tension. Try to keep ponytails and braids loose, not as tight, to reduce the amount of tension on the scalp. .....

You Use Too Many Products

39. This may be your problem if your hair is greasy, dull, limp, or lifeless, or if you get product dandruff (little dry flakes of excess styler that fall on your shoulders). If youre layering product upon product and still not getting the results you want .....

You Wash Your Hair Too Often

40. Chances are this has become automatic: You get in the shower, you wash your hair .....

You Color Too Frequently

41. Do you have your colorist on speed dial, ready to pounce at the first hint of root growth? Youll be doing your hair a favor, not to mention saving a few hours, if you extend the time between color jobs. Barricelli says its ideal to hit the salon every six weeks. If you can make it eight, even better .....