Do’s and Don’ts

Bottom line in this article you learn what to run way from screaming and what to embrace with open arms. Overlooking any one of these can bring on a bad hair day like a twister in a trailer park, and nobody likes that. I am going to start with the don'ts, because I always like to get my bad news first.


Don't:

1. Use any sulfates of any kind (it's a lathering agent that strips hair and scalp of vital natural oils resulting in dry hair).

2. Use any dimethicone, silicone, or anything that contains ONE in it (masks the problem, dry moistureless hair, and does not allow any moisture into the hair; builds up in the hair unless washed out with....a SULFATE! yuck).
3. Even think about using your normal terri cloth bath towel on your hair (texture of towel roughs up the cuticle leaving hair frizzy and at times knotted)
4. Use bad alcohols on your hair i.e. SD alcohol, SD alcohol 40, Alcohol denat, Propanol, Propyl alcohol and Isopropyl alcohol (good alcohols are moisturizing, but these do the exact opposite; use them, and you’ll end up with dry brittle hair.)
5. Brush your hair, with a boars head bristle brush or any brush that has bristles densely packed, while dry or wet (can cause excessive cuticle damage and breakage).
6. Touch your hair until it is completely dry, except when applying gel and scrunching (oils from your hands cause frizziness and too much movement while drying will cause hair to expand).
7. Straighten your hair with round brushes, flat irons, or hair dryers  (harsh, I know, but if you want your curls to emerge from hibernation you have to give them a loving home to come to).
Now that we have the don’ts out of the way, we can move on to what you CAN do! :)

Do:

1. Use shampoos that substitute sulfates with Decyl Polyglucose and Cocamidopropyl Betaine (if used correctly, cleanses the scalp without stripping hair of all its essential oils; derived from sugar and coconut; gentlest cleansing agents on the market).

2. Look for products containing protein (hair is made up of protein and in small doses it can help to strengthen hair from the inside out).
3. Look for products with good alcohols i.e. Lauryl alcohol, Cetyl alcohol, Myristyl alcohol, Stearyl alcohol, Cetearyl alcohol and Behenyl alcohol (these alcohols add moisture and shine to the hair; they also help make conditioners their creamy consistency).
4. Use products that are rich in humectants i.e. panthenol, vegetable glycerin, sorbitol (helps keep hair moisturized by absorbing water and keeping it in).
5. Use a vent brush with plastic capped bristles or a wide tooth comb (helps to evenly distribute product; gentler to the hair resulting in less damage).
6. Find a soft, old, smooth t-shirt to dry and scrunch your hair; if you need to touch your hair while it’s wet, after applying product, use this (soft, smooth texture helps keep cuticle flat which makes hair shiny).
7. Look for and use gels that contain both PVP and PVP/VA, are colorless and have fewer ingredients (I’ve got nothing to add; just do it).
8. Use a bowl diffuser when drying your hair with a blow dryer and only dry 80% (bowl allows for less movement of hair if used properly, causing less frizzy big hair)

That’s all folks! I am sure I could go on and on; but really, these are the basic got-to-know rules. Remember though, rules can be broken; but first you must learn them and practice them before you start breaking them. How else would you know that a rule doesn’t work for you, unless you have first tried it?