| Hair Shampoos: | | | | brushing. Their main advantage is that no wetting of |
| Over and above the daily brushing, it is necessary to | | | | the hair is required. They consist of a mixture of |
| remove from the hair dirt and all the secretions of | | | | synthetic detergent in powder form and mineral salts. |
| sebaceous glands which accumulate on the scalp. The | | | | Mostly sodium salts are used which absorb fatty |
| process of shampoo is divided in two portions so that | | | | matter. Thus the hair can be cleaned without too |
| you lather twice and rinse after each lather. Rinse | | | | frequent washing, and because of this they are |
| thoroughly in plenty of water (preferably rain water) | | | | particularly recommended for oily hair. |
| until the hair squeaks when you rub it with your fingers. | | | | Coloring shampoos have become very popular in |
| Now the question arises how often you must | | | | recent years for brightening the color of the hair. They |
| shampoo. Women are advised to shampoo once | | | | are in fact good shampoos with a detergent base to |
| every 8 to 10 days for normal hair, once every | | | | which has been added either a bleach or a dye which |
| fortnight for dry hair and once everY,5 to 8 days for | | | | is much less harmful than the real dyes because it |
| oily hair. I would like to mention that too frequent | | | | does not penetrate the hair but only covers it with a |
| washing of hair, however good the quality of the | | | | thin coloring film. Coloring shampoos are generally |
| shampoo used, can in the long run cause damage to | | | | harmless, but they can affect those who are |
| the hair. There is at present in the market quite a large | | | | susceptible to allergies, by causing an eczema on the |
| selection of products ranging from ordinary soaps to | | | | face and swelling or irritation on the scalp. To avoid |
| medicated shampoos. Buy these products preferably | | | | these severe allergies, do not use coloring shampoos |
| from a chemists shop or a reputed general store. | | | | during periods, pregnancy, menopause, ovarian upsets, |
| There is a large variety of liquid shampoos presently | | | | and skin troubles. . |
| available in the market. These synthetic detergents | | | | To carry out a shampoo properly, begin by soaking |
| were developed during 1939-40. These soapless | | | | your hair in hot (not too hot) water. Too hot water is |
| shampoos, whether used in hard water or soft water, | | | | not good for the hair or the scalp. Pour on to the hair a |
| leave no white deposit on the hair when dry. They also | | | | small quantity of shampoo and rub the scalp with the |
| clean the hair more thoroughly due to their greater | | | | tips of your fingers vigorously. If your hair is long or |
| lathering and emulsifying power. Do not use ordinary | | | | very thick, slip your fingers right through the hair to the |
| household detergents to wash the hair. These are | | | | scalp itself, and rub it vigorously but not roughly. Next |
| crude, very alkaline and can act as an irritant. | | | | rinse completely with hot water, and again apply a Jot |
| Manufacturers usually add to the refined detergents | | | | of shampoo. Rub in, but this time more with the hands |
| soapless shampoo, perfume and other products such | | | | flat. Do not penetrate through to the scalp, but gently |
| as lanolin and lecithin to render the hair supple and | | | | rub the half. The shampoo should foam cleanly. If not, |
| glossy after washing. | | | | apply more shampoo for the third time. The rinsing |
| Medicated Shampoos | | | | which follows must be very thorough. Rinsing should |
| These shampoos are used to correct any disorder of | | | | not stop until the water from this last rinse is |
| secretion in the scalp. If you have dry hair, choose a | | | | completely clear. At the slightest trace of soap or |
| shampoo based on cod oil, tar or lecithin. If you have | | | | foam, at the slightest tingling from the scalp, do not |
| oily hair, a shampoo containing sulphur or essence of | | | | hesitate to carry out an extra rinse. |
| cedar is best. There are dry and coloring shampoos | | | | Next you should wring the hair, but never twist it, in a |
| widely used in western countries. Dry shampoos come | | | | thick towel. Wrap the dry towel like a turban around |
| in an extremely fine powder form which is sprinkled | | | | your hair. A hair dryer can also be used for this |
| over the hair and then removed by very thorough | | | | purpose, but avoid too hot air. |