Everyday when we clean our hair with shampoo, it opens the hair cuticle. As the hair is covered in fish scales like tiny cells, improper treatment will cause damages to the hair strand and make it looks dull, rough and difficult to handle. The use of conditioner can help smoothing down the cuticle and detangle the hair so the hair looks smooth and shiny. Other than the appearance, it provides nutrients to the hair as well as a protection layer which strengthens the hair shaft and prevent it from breakage, static, split ends or even hair loss.
First of all, we will suggest to separate shampoo and conditioner even though there are products that claim 2 in 1 shampoo. It is because the purpose of a shampoo is only to “clean”, it should not have a good moisturizing property and will leave hair dry or a bit scraggly.
After shampooing, put a small amount of conditioner into your palm and apply directly to your hair. Wait for a while and wash it away. People ask “How long should it be left on hair?” The answer is “it depends”. If your hair is naturally greasy, two to three minutes may already be good for you. If your hair is extremely dry, you many consider a five to ten minutes’ treatment or even an overnight leave-in conditioner. We will discuss it in the later part. No matter how long you have applied your conditioner, the benefits should be instant, at least a lot easier in combing, styling and managing.
As mentioned above, conditioner can give you a protection layer on your hair shaft. It can be seen right after you have washed your hair, during towel drying and blow drying. When your hair is wet, it is extremely vulnerable and towel will cause breakage and damage if you dry it too roughly. The heat by blow dryer will also cause an extra damage of cuticle when it opens up. Using conditioner beforehand can help reducing the burden caused.
There are various types of conditioner and all of them are having the same purpose – to keep your hair healthy, good looking and feeling great. Here we are mentioning two common types of them, post-shampoo conditioner (the one we usually use) and leave-in conditioner.
For a normal conditioner, it works like a hair mask to penetrate the strands by providing enough nutrients and a deep moisturizing effect. While for leave-in conditioner, it is a no-rinse treatment that can nourish and protect the hair throughout the day and make your hair shinier, smoother and softer.
Some stylists do not recommend applying conditioner directly on the scalp. It is true when the conditioner consists of lots of chemical ingredients as the “nourishing” elements will block the follicle and cause hair loss more easily. Choose the conditioner with natural ingredients like aloe vera or natural oil that provides moisturizing effect. It can then be applied directly on scalp and the nutrients can be absorbed. It is important especially to those damaged, color treated, or curly hair.
Zenz No.02 Pure Conditioner is surely the best organic conditioner for everyone. It is made with organic cold pressed avocado oil and organic purified aloe vera. It gives strength and vitality to all kind of hair and coat each strand of hair with a protective, invisible film to maintain the intensity of colored hair. The emollient ingredients in the conditioner can also make the hair easy to comb, adds shine and makes a damaged and dull hair look healthy and shiny.
It is awarded Nordic eco label and Allergycertifed which can be safely and ideally used by the whole family, children, pregnant women and scent-sensitive people. This can also be used as leave-in conditioner which prevents the hair from drying out and is heat-resistant.
Simply speaking, conditioner treats your hair with nutrients and improve its condition. Over time, the cuticle is under burden by air pollutants, weather change, styling products, brushing, etc. Using shampoo can only help cleaning them, only with conditioner, it can fill in those injuries and coats the hair to assist the cuticle, restore your damages and give you a healthy hair.
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What you are eating every day will actually affect how your skin and hair looks. Different nutrients in foods provide you a healthy and beautiful appearance, here we are suggesting some foods that are good for your hair and can be easily found, have you ever missed them?
What you are having for breakfast every day is actually doing good for your hair. Protein is the nutrient that is essential for building and maintaining body tissues, including hair. Egg whites are nearly a hundred percent of protein which can give your body what is needed to produce healthier hair. It is because the protein can build a stronger cortex, the middle layer of the hair shaft that supports with hair strength, color, and texture, which makes the hair less likely to have split ends, meanwhile, having a strengthened, smoother cuticle, and a shiner hair.
Besides protein, vitamin E is also very important as an antioxidant that may help neutralizing free radicals and combat oxidative stress and damage, and more important, promote hair growth. The nuts or seeds we usually have with movies are good sources of Vitamin E. For example, an ounce of almonds provides 37% of daily vitamin E needs. Moreover, nuts and seeds provide a wide variety of vitamin B, minerals like zinc and fatty acids. These nutrients are also good for the health of the heart.
There are many more food that we always have is good for hair, for instance, avocado for its vitamins, fatty fishes for their omega-three, etc. However, the most important thing, just as what people always say, is to have a balanced diet.
We all know that exercise can help maintaining a healthy lifestyle, or simply a good body shape. Do you know that it is also promoting a stronger and healthier hair life cycle?
Exercise can increase the blood circulation, so as to the blood flow to the scalp. It helps enhancing metabolism and the increase in blood flow which can stimulate growth in hair follicles. Sweating during exercise may also help to flush out the toxins. We recommend a gentle cardio exercise such as jogging three to four times a week, with around an hour each time is good enough. Excessive exercise will cause chronic stress, which may cause faster shedding and do more harm than good to hair. Exercise can also cause a decrease in cortisone, a hormone that cause the thinning and loss of hair.
Besides the exercises that need your full-body movement, scalp massage only by your fingers is also a good exercise for hair growth. The theory behind is actually similar – increase blood flow to the scalp, circulates nutrients to hair follicles, and hence, encourage hair growth. What can be better with a five-minute hair massage that is relaxing and effective, at the same time, give you strong and healthy-looking hair?
There are stages for hair follicle in its life cycle, anagen (growth phase), catagen (transition phase), telogen (resting phase) and eventually falls out. And stress shortens the time in growth stage and shift to the resting stage earlier. It is because stress will produce cortisone which will cause hair loss.
So it is important to keep yourself relax. Fifteen minutes of meditation per day might be considered. Exercise is also a good way to reduce stress, which can generate hormones like endorphins and serotonin and it can induce relaxation. The less stressed out we are, the healthier our hair becomes.
We might all know that heat cause a direct harm to hair, so people usually put extra care after hot tools styling, like hair straightener or curler. Sleeping with wet hair also impacts the hair can do damage when tossing at sleep. It is inevitable to use a hairdryer if you have a habit of washing hair before sleep especially for those who work hard and do not have time for air drying time. So it is important to balance the damage of heat from hairdryer and the necessity of hair blow-drying.
Before using the equipment, use the towel to remove moistures by pressing gently. Rubbing hair will break and tangle the hair easily. Hold the dryer few inches away from scalp and start in a higher speed and temperature, generally reduce the heat when the hair begins to dry. Keep on applying in high temperature when it has already dried will cause damage, brittleness, dryness and dullness due to over-drying.
Your hair is always under attack even you have done nothing! UV rays from the sunlight, air pollution, poor living behavior will make your hair become less healthy. In order to cover the damages created, we need to have treatment sometimes. We are not going the mention about hundreds or thousands of dollars spent on treatment in the hair salon, it is about using only an egg for a DIY hair treatment
It is mentioned that eggs contain different nutrients and amino acids which is essential for tissue growth. Besides eating them directly, egg is also a good source for making hair healthier. For the egg white, some people may use it as a mask which cleanses the scalp of excess oil emission or even fight for dandruff. For the egg yolk, some people might mix it with olive oil for a deep moisturizing treatment. Just simply stir the mixture well, then apply on the scalp till the ends of hair. Let it sit for thirty minutes and rinse out with cold water. Be aware if you are allergic to eggs, never touch it even to your hair. Choose other alternatives like banana or avocado, which are also rich in vitamins and other necessary nutrients for hair.
Some of the daily behaviors are damaging your hair, even you have never noticed about them. Here are some of the examples, and please try to avoid them, just for a healthier hair.
People usually touch their hair unconsciously or even tie the hair into a tight ponytail. It is actually creating traction and constantly traumatizing the hair. In longer time, it will cause a receding hairline and a brittle hair.
It feels really great to take a hot shower after a day of work or an intensive workout, but is it not a good idea for using hot water for your hair. In fact, hot water dries out hair more easily and washes out the hair colour faster than cold water. So try to use cooler water for shower, just to make sure it is in an acceptable temperature for washing away the dirt and sweat, and more importantly, not to catch a cold.
Lastly, do not skip your hat if there is a strong sun. The sunlight oxidizes the hair and dry the scalp quickly. A hat can protect your hair and face from the sun and prevent them from burning and dehydrating. A heatproof product might be an alternative as a protection layer.
There is still a huge room for discussion of the many ways in protecting your hair, no matter it costs a lot or not even a cent. The most important thing is we need to maintain the good behaviors and keep away from the bad ones. Some points mentioned above, like regular exercise and balanced diet, are not only good for your hair but also to your health.
]]>When we talk about damaged hair, we should first know why this happened. Simply speaking, hair damage when parts of the hair structure are altered and weakens hair that makes hair feels and looks unhealthy. In normal hair, the hair cuticle is the outermost part which is formed from dead cells. It is the hard layer that protects your hair shaft and when your hair becomes damaged, the cuticle will slowly wear away. The core will then expose and vulnerable to snapping and when the hair snaps off or split off, it looks dull and frizzy.
There are different reasons that can make you hair damaged. Some of them are inevitable like wind, sunlight, UV rays, pollutions etc., while more of that are from daily habits, for example, frictions or using high pH value products. All of these will make the hair become duller and unmanageable; hair dying, perms or any heat tools will cause the hair breaks easily and have split ends. Improper washing and drying, grooming, styling, and chemical/coloring services will also damage the hair structure.
If you want to know whether yourself is having a damaged hair, here is a simple way of judgment. If your hair is slightly damaged, it is usually dry with less shine, the colour is duller and have a thinner hair ends. If the situation becomes more serious, it will have a rougher texture and a dull appearance, the colour balance is more uneven and a more serious split ends. It is because the external layer is scraped off and the internal cortex is then unprotected and vulnerable to damage in the hair fiber. If the hair’s surface texture becomes very coarse and completely out of shininess, together with serious split ends, it means your hair is very damaged, whereas part of the cuticle might have already withered away completely. Then, please take a treatment as soon as possible.
In general, if you have the following symptoms on your hair, it is time to alert whether your hair is damaged or not. Unhealthy hair usually has a rough texture, lack of shininess and luster, have split ends, lack of moisture and elasticity even after treatment and easily broken. Damaged hair will also get tangled up and result in knots due to hair dryness. If damaged hair is not treated well, it will result in hair breakage, in other words, hair loss.
First, it can simply be done by improving daily habits. Having a balanced diet that loaded with fruits, vegetables, and whole grains has a host of benefits, including healthy hair. Biotin, vitamins A and C, and iron are all important for building strong and luscious hair. Protect hair from the sun by wearing a hat or using a UV protection product can make your hair less brittle so as to less prone to breakage.
Second, be aware of the methods and products you use for daily care and hair styling especially when your hair is already damaged. Try to avoid using hot styling tools like straightener, curly tools or even hair dryer as heat will make a larger burden to your damaged hair. Stop putting chemicals and hair dye or bleach on your hair with a similar reason.
Third, choose the products that is good for your hair and scalp. Select those with a high percentage of natural and organic ingredients. Even the chemically made products can help you cleanse the hair well, it will also strip away the nutrition and moisture for hair. A regular oil treatment can provide a deep nourishing and moisturizing effect which will help your hair looks shiny and healthy. As oil can give a protective barrier around the cuticle and nourishes the hair shaft.
If your hair is already damaged, it is important to take care of it by providing enough nutrition and nourishing substances. Zenz’s conditioner is probably the best conditioner for damaged hair. Zenz 08 Deep Wood conditioner is surely the product you are finding. The content is made by very rich cold-pressed avocado oil and aloe vera, which are both contain plenty nutrition like Vitamin A, B1, B2, D. It can give an excellent moisturizing and nourishing properties and make hair having a good elasticity. The minerals aloe vera Helps rebuild skin and hair, increases blood flow, retains skin moisture and regulates the acid balance. Hence, it is ideal for damaged hair. Together with the essential oil derived from organic sandal wood, organic cedar wood, myrrh and organic patchouli. These essential oils help cure skin infections and prevent itching. It also has the properties of anti-inflammatory, antifungal. Hence, it can help balancing the fungus produced that triggers dandruff or itchy scalp.
It is also recommended to use Zenz No.03 Pure Treatment or Zenz No.97 Pure Oil Treatment which are both great for hair and scalp repairing, as they have great nourishing and soothing properties derived from natural ingredients which can strengthen hair, scalp, hair follicles and protect them from damage and abrasion. Simply speaking, the most important thing is to use the conditioner every day and possibly the treatment every three weeks.
Once it happens, it happens. You can never undo hair damage once it’s done. But remember treating damaged hair is not something that can be done overnight, or even in a week, you can always change your habits and give your hair some extra care and ultimately revive your hair. If you aren’t seeing results after a few weeks, schedule an appointment with a dermatologist.
]]>Before knowing how to take care of bleached hair, we need to first know what is hair bleaching, how does it work and why do people choose to bleach hair instead of dying hair. Hair bleaching is actually a way to remove hair’s natural pigment or any other artificial colour from previous dying.
The agent that usually uses for hair bleaching call hydrogen peroxide. During and after bleaching, the hair cuticles open up and make the hair looks fuller and bigger. With the open cuticles, the chemicals can then get to the core of hair and dissolve the melanin of the any color pigments on your hair. The longer you leave this agent in your hair, the lighter in color your hair becomes. People who choose bleaching is usually because it is the only way to achieve a lighter hair colour if the hair is naturally dark.
Basically, opening up cuticles makes hair strands thinner, more sensitive and more prone to breakage. That’s why bleached hair is crunchier and more brittle. It has changed the porosity and elasticity of the hair. Be aware that bleaching is permanent. It’s not like hair dye that fades back to the natural hair colour. If you want to get rid of your bleached hair, you’ll have to wait for it to grow out and then you can snip away. And yes, bleaching, in other words, is damaging, but there are many ways to ensure that you don’t further damage it afterwards.
As hair bleaching has made damages to hair, what the most important thing to do is repair the hair and make it back to a less unhealthy status. It can be done simply by have an oil treatment with olive, coconut, or avocado oil. Wrap your head with towel after applying oil and let the oil stay over night, then rinse it out in the morning. It can add deep-penetrating moisture to the hair shaft. A leave-in conditioner can also provide a similar effect. Both of them help hydrate and protect roughed-up cuticles from the elements. It can also make strand shiny again and keep frizz at bay.
It needs extra care for the first few days after bleaching. Be gentle with your hair when towel-drying as it is especially vulnerable to breakage in a wet condition. Better stay away from heat tools like straightener, blow dryers or curling irons as it will increase the burden of hair repairing. Protect your hair from UV sunlight in preventing the change of colour. Taking supplements like hair-strengthening vitamins and omega 3. It can help transform your hair from the inside out and may an improvement in your new hair growth.
All of these may sound discouraging, but if you’re still wondering, remember that hair will eventually grow back and your damaging hair will be cut off eventually. Even though the time may take a while, but it’s often worth the wait. Especially when the trade-off is an awesome platinum blonde look.
In order to maintain a beautiful hair colour, the subsequent haircare is important. We recommend the Deep wood line for optimal strength and rebuilding of the damaged hair. To maintain the bleaching effect and to strengthen the hair, 2-3 times a month use treatment no. 03, which contain plenty of proteins and vitamins.
It is no doubt that Zenz can provide you the best organic hair treatment. Zenz No.03 Pure Treatment is very rich in organic cold-pressed avocado oil and aloe vera, it can provide an excellent nourishing effect and help rebuild hair. The cooling effect from aloe plants can also sooths the redness and itching as well as damage to hair by bleaching. Zenz No.97 Pure Oil Treatment is another good choice for repairing. Besides avocado oil, it also contains apricot kernel oil and almond oil which has great nourishing and soothing properties and are rich in vitamins and minerals. It can strengthen hair, scalp, hair follicles and protect them from damage and abrasion.
It is always good to have a different brand new look, what we need to consider before changing the look is make sure that you have chosen the way suitable for you and even if it might cause some down side effect, find the best way in treating the hair healthily and beautifully.
]]>You can always see different product names and types and it is actually quite difficult in finding the right styling products for your specific hair styling needs. Today, we have chosen 3 styling products which are not as common as pomade or clay, but yet a typical product in its category for different purpose. And they are: Salt Water, Paste and Wax.
When you need a styling product that is easy to use and quick to style, salt water is definitely your best option. The spray formula is usually very simple by mixing salt and additional conditioning compounds together. It can add grip and texture to the hair without weighing the hair down.
Salt water can help absorbing the natural oils in hair and that’s why we can still get texture, waves and volume after a day, this is the reason why it becomes more and more popular these days. Due to its versatility, sea salt spray works perfectly with various hair types to hair styling with or without a hair dryer and style.
If we use the spray without a hair dryer, it can give a relaxed and loose style, while by using a hair dryer, it can speed up the process and allow to work more volume into hair. Somebody says sea salt will dehydrate the scalp and damage hair. But usually, it will include some ingredients in helping hydrate, condition and protect the hair.
Unlike the light texture of sea salt spray, paste will give a much thicker texture, holding power and nutrition to the hair. The texture of paste can range from something like a toothpaste to tacky glue, relevantly, it can provide a hold between medium to a very firm finishing, while it will show the hair with a natural matte finish or add a touch of shine.
With its diversity in nature, it is ideal for all hair lengths, types and styles. From short and fine hair to long and thick hair, from messy look to combed style, you can always find the suitable paste to use. Furthermore, it is always water-based and hence easy to wash out.
Unlike salt water that can be used directly on hair, we usually need to warm up before application. The key step is just as simple as rubbing the paste between fingers or palms. It can soften the product and make it more evenly distributed throughout the hair. Once it is applied and cooled down, your hair is styled in the way you want.
If you think salt water and paste is not strong enough in holding your hair style, you may then consider to use hair wax for finishing. Hair wax, just like “wax” in its properties, it usually doesn’t give a shiny look and does not last for a very long time.
There can be different kinds of waxes to be used as basic ingredients, like beeswax, microcrystalline wax or Candelilla wax. The holding power and texture are usually based on a blend of waxes according to each hardness, stickiness and melting point.
After you have used salt water or paste as a foundation on hair styling, natural wax products can give you an extra hold with a strong and natural look. Just like hair paste, rub it (more vigorously) between palms before applying to hair. Apply more or less to get the texture you need and be aware that it should only be used on totally dried hair.
No matter what kind of hair styling products do you usually use, it is important to choose those with less chemical as it will make a larger burden to your scalp and check whether the ingredients will easily cause allergy before buying. Must wash the hair thoroughly after using styling products, otherwise the residues might block the hair follicle and cause different scalp problems like dandruff and itchy scalp.
Zenz No.14 Pure Salt Water Spray is designed to give your hair an amazing ‘beach look’ with great texture and volume. It makes your hair easy to style so it stays in place. The hair will not feel dry with organic avocado oil and a natural content of French Mediterranean Sea salt. Hence, it will be the easiest way in getting a matt and wavy look.
Zenz No.06 Pure Styling Paste is awarded as the best skin friendly product for man in 2016 and Danish beauty award in 2011. It helps easy styling without fragrance and give a very natural hold and structure. It contains beeswax and soothing natural ingredients which provides structure moisture and volume at the same time.
Zenz No.09 Pure Styling Wax contains a list of nourishing natural ingredients like beeswax, almond oil and shea butter that have softening, moisturizing and rebuilding properties. It can give the hair structure and extra hold.
Zenz can surely provides you the best organic styling products in the city. All of the products mentioned above are awarded “AllergyCertified” which guarantees not having any allergenic preservatives and is ideal for everyone to use even to pregnant women, children and scent-sensitive people.
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Dry scalp is a skin condition and it happens when the skin of your scalp is damaged. Everyone’s skin is made up of many layers and the outer layer called stratum corneum. It is a structure of tightly packed cells like a brick wall that acts as a barrier to stop essential moisture from escaping and stop irritants and dirt and pollutants from penetrating the skin. But when it is damaged, the structure becomes broken like gaps appearing in the wall which allows water and nutrition to leak out, making skin feel tight and dry. That is then called a dry scalp and it will usually happen with dandruff at the same time.
There are some common factors that trigger dry scalp, like weather change, especially under a cool and dry air, environmental pollution, daily diet habits, older age, medications, contact dermatitis caused by the use of hair products with the contact of scalp.
When you have a dry scalp, first it is important to choose gentle shampoo and a moisturizing conditioner for daily use. We recommend you to wash hair every day in reducing the amount of irritant and ensure there is enough nutrient for the scalp. Shampoos containing sandalwood, tea tree, myrrh are also good for dry scalp caused dandruff by its antifungal properties.
If your scalp type tends to be sensitive or become dry easily, it is better to avoid using hair products that contain harsh chemicals, like bleach and alcohol, as these ingredients can dry out your scalp. Brush your hair regularly or a gentle and soft scalp massage everyday can help increasing the blood circulation on scalp, which is helpful to reduce the risk of dandruff and help scalp relaxing. You should also remember not to scratch your scalp with nails even it is itching, because it will easily cause severe pain or bleeding, or even turn into an infection.
One very important thing to do is a suitable conditioning treatment. A dry scalp that is not producing enough natural oil. Which is known as sebum can become a cause of hair loss, dull hairs, flaky and itchy scalp. Try giving the scalp back some of the great nourishment that it needs to stay healthy. Select the products with natural ingredients like coconut, aloe vera and avocado oil that can provide a great nourishing effect, as well as enough nutrition for scalp.
Lastly, it is also very important to having a good living habit. Eating too many sugary products and alcohol will cause a flaking and dry scalp, having lots of spices will trigger dandruff. You should include fatty acid and omega three in your diets which will keep skin and scalp moisturized and hydrated from both inside and outside the skin. Please also keep yourself relax. It is common that sometimes people notice when they start to take any tension or get worried, their scalp starts to get dry or even face an issue of hair fall. We suggest you can try manage stress with meditation, yoga, deep breathing, and other relaxation techniques.
When the problem of dry skin is getting worse, or the skin on your scalp looks red or swollen, it is necessary to make an appointment with a dermatologist. As the condition might be ruled out like eczema and psoriasis, which will cause similar symptoms of flaky skin.
Zenz No.07 deep wood shampoo is probably the best organic dandruff shampoo. It contains essential oil derived from organic sandal wood, organic cedar wood, myrrh and organic patchouli. These essential oils help cure skin infections and prevent itching. It also has the properties of anti-inflammatory, antifungal. Hence, it can help balancing the fungus produced that triggers dandruff or itchy scalp. The shampoo also contains cold pressed aloe vera extract and avocado oil. Aloe Vera contains more than 7 well-known and important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which can help rebuild hair, increase blood flow and retain scalp moisture and regulates the acid balance. The cooling effect can sooths redness and itching which can have a good effect on scalp.
Together with the use of No.08 deep wood conditioner which contains very rich avocado oil, it can perform the best in tackling with dry and itchy scalp and by providing an excellent moisturizing and nourishing properties and effective on problem scalp and skin. It can also make hair soft and more elastic, so as to a healthy hair and scalp.
A dry scalp leaves your hair looking lifeless and becoming brittle as the hair shafts lack the oil they require to maintain a healthy shine and provide protection from external influences. In combination with the feeling of tightness and itchiness, this aesthetic aspect can prove distressing for those who suffer from a dry scalp. In order to get back a healthy scalp and good looking hair, undergoing a suitable method, it can be easy in getting back on the road to healthy hair, with the good kind of shine.
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Before tacking with oily hair, we need to know the reason of why it causes. Oily hair usually occurs for three reasons: Hormone changes, scalp problem or daily habits. First of all, please be notified that it is normal for hair to secrete a little amount of oil. Every pore including scalp has a sebaceous gland which secrete an oily substance in giving the hair a natural shiny look. The substances are necessary for keeping the hair healthy and smooth, meanwhile preventing it from becoming dry and breaking. If it kicks into overdrive and produce an excess of oily substances, it will result in an overproduction of oil and cause greasy hair.
Hormonal imbalance or changes during puberty, pregnancy, and the menopause are usually some major reasons that change hair texture and secretion of oil. Hence, a stressful lifestyle that affect hormones will increase the rate of oil levels.
Another factor is because of daily diet. What we put into bodies doesn't only affect the weight, but also has an effect on hair and skin. A diet with too many processed fats and sugars can often lead to the skin creating excess oils, making the scalp and hair appear greasy.
And of course, the frequency of washing hair, types of products use, how to style the hair will also contribute the the oiliness of hair. Hence, customers need to choose wisely according to their needs. Besides that, remember not to touch your hair so often with your fingertips, as it will distribute grease throughout the strands easily.
First of all, be aware of your daily cleaning habits. Greasy hair is usually a cyclical problem. Over washing or excess scrubbing when washing hair will irritate the scalp and cause more oil secretion. Once you strip your hair of its natural oils, your scalp goes into oil production overload. Therefore, do not wash your hair too frequently like more than twice a day. During the wash, it is also more preferred to wash under cooler water for a minimum of 30 seconds first cleaning all dust and excess greasy. After using shampoo and conditioner, ensure they are out of the hair if the products are not guaranteed for leave-in use. The reason of using cool water is because heat will stimulate the sebaceous glands while cold water help closing cuticle and reduce damage to hair. Similar reasons also imply to use the heat tools for styling like hair straightener and the curling wand.
Secondly, using too much chemically manufactured products will make a great burden to the scalp, as well as producing excess grease. It is not necessarily to stop using styling products, but to choose the right ones with less irritating ingredients.
For those hormone problems, the best ways of improvements are by correcting daily habits. Do more exercise, eat less fat or meat but more vegetables, with enough rest, etc. An intake of a sufficient amount of Vitamins B can also help combat greasy hair as it is directly correlates with the level of sebum production.
Lastly, choose the suitable hair care products. There are some natural ingredients that are great in dealing with hair problems, especially greasy hair. For example, some essential oils like peppermint, eucalyptus or tea tree oil can minimize oil buildup on the scalp, break down oily substances and clarify the pores on scalp. These are some natural way with a deep cleaning effect. Moisturizing, hydration and nourishment are also important in keep the scalp healthy with enough nutrition for hair build, natural ingredients such as avocado oil, aloe vera, coconut oil are some good options which may also promote circulation and great rebuild properties.
It is strongly advised not to use a chemical way in removing the grease as it will either cause more oil secretion due to a wrong signal from your body or totally block your glands. Choose products that can solve the problem in a mild way and if possible, a natural and organic way. If greasy hair problem still exists for a long period of time, it is better to contact with dermatologist.
Zenz No.10 Eucalyptus Shampoo is probably the best shampoo for oily hair. It contains eucalyptus essential oil, which is a natural substance that has great antibacterial and degreasing effect. Hence, it can help removing grease in a very gentle way. The shampoo also contains cold pressed aloe vera extract and avocado oil. Aloe Vera contains more than 7 well-known and important vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which can help rebuild hair, increase blood flow and retain scalp moisture and regulates the acid balance. The cooling effect can soothes redness and itching which can have a good effect on scalp.
Together with the use of No.11 Eucalyptus Conditioner which contains very rich avocado oil, it can perform the best in tackling with greasy hair by providing an excellent moisturising and nourishing properties and effective on problem skin. It can also make hair soft and more elastic, so as to a healthy hair and scalp.
Oily hair can be lifeless and very difficult to style. An even worse scenario is for the sebum glands to clog the hair roots, resulting in excessive hair loss and dandruff. So handle the problem carefully and start changing from daily habits if nightmare exists. Undergoing a suitable method, it can be easy in getting back on the road to healthy hair, with the good kind of shine.
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Dandruff is an overgrowth of yeast fungus. A high sebum production provides good breeding for increased fungal growth and a scalp with dandruff typically has an increased production of sebum, whose purpose is to naturally grease and protect our skin so it does not dry out. You can both have greasy or dry dandruff. It may be due to a reduced immune system after illness, medicine intake or hormones.
It is important to create a good balance between moisture and cleansing and therefore, it may be a good idea to switch between two shampoos to create a healthy scalp environment.
If it does not disappear, you should take a short treatment with a prescription drug from the pharmacy. But try only to use it in difficult cases and for a short time as it does not balance but only degrades the fungus.
Psoriasis is a skin disease that appears on the scalp or skin as red and very dry eczema. It can cause hair loss if it becomes too thick and hard as the scalp cannot transport oxygen to the hair follicles. This type of scalp requires a very mild shampoo that does not irritate. Most people with psoriasis have scalp lesions which may be the first place where psoriasis occurs. Usually, you notice loose scaling. Patches of eczema or psoriasis can be found everywhere on the scalp, but especially on the border of the surrounding skin, for example, in the forehead and at the ears. Like common psoriasis and eczema, scalp psoriasis is aggravated by alcohol.
We recommend Pure shampoo no.01 and Pure conditioner no.02. During psoriasis outbreaks, use Pure oil treatment no.97. Apply the oil on the scalp or skin and allow it to work for up to 2 hours - preferably with a damp towel around. Wash it out again and distribute Pure shampoo no.01 in the hair before water, and then wash. Use Pure conditioner no.02 on the scalp and allow it to work for at least 2 minutes. For extra in-depth effect, allow the oil to work overnight.
Many people loose hair due to stress, perfumed styling, hair colour, scalp fungus, pregnancy / birth, hormone disturbances or medicine. If you suffer from hair loss and if the hair feels thin and sensitive, it is important that the hair has the right conditions for growth.
We always recommend Deep wood shampoo no.07 and conditioner no.08 against hair loss. Wash the hair at least every other day, preferably every day. In the evening, apply Pure oil treatment no.97 on the scalp where the hair loss is. Wash it out in the morning and distribute Deep wood shampoo no.07 in the hair before water and then wash the hair.
If you have very sensitive scalp and perhaps even sensitive skin, it is important to be particularly careful with scents and especially the natural ones. Use Zenz Pure line that is without essential oils and perfume. If possible, wash the hair and scalp clean of styling products before bedtime as styling products may irritate a sensitive scalp when you sweat and get warm.
Dry scalp may be due to many things. A good conditioner moisturises both hair and scalp. If this is not enough, we recommend a Zenz oil of your choice. Add a few drops on your fingertips and massage the scalp. Allow the oil to work overnight and wash out.
Generally speaking, the hair is categorised as oily when it is washed in the morning yet coated by the evening. Such characteristic is common in Asia as the humidity and temperature are often high. Necessary precautions to avoid such outcome is important because not only will the appearance of an individual be affected, the formation of an oily scalp, or more seriously, Seborrheic Dermatitis may occur.
Predominantly, other than humidity, temperature and other environmental impacts that affect the scalp, another common component is the imbalance of hormones. This result is quite typical in the younger generation and the application of unsuitable products, e.g incorrect formulae for oil removal or hair care products with heavy toxic chemicals, only further contributes to the reverse effect of more oil excretion. Once the scalp has reached such state and in order to restore its original harmony, its demand for natural moisturisers and nutritions is indisputable.
Do remember not to over dry the scalp deliberately because excess dehydrated often results in even oilier skin as the brain will misinterpreted. Therefore, we highly recommend the application of products with mild and natural ingredients. Zenz Eucalyptus shampoo no.10 is a good choice as it contains eucalyptus, a natural ingredient that is anti-bacterial and oil absorbable by nature. Furthermore, it is rich in avocado essence and aloe vera, which collective provide the hair and the scalp the necessary nutritions in maintaining their shine and strength. Should the degree of oiliness be serious, it is recommended to apply the Eucalyptus conditioner no.11 after washing the hair twice. The nourishment of the conditioner will protect the hair and scalp from UV, pollution and air conditioning.
We recommend Deep wood shampoo no.07 and Deep wood conditioner no.08 against scalp problems. Wash your hair at least every other day, preferably every day. Distribute Deep wood shampoo no.07 in dry hair and wash. Then use Deep wood conditioner no. 08 on the scalp and let it sit for at least 2 minutes.
If you are scent-sensitive, we recommend Pure shampoo no.01 and /Pure conditioner no.02.
]]>Wash your hair approx. 3 times a week with a nourishing shampoo that gives the scalp a healthy and gentle cleansing. Use conditioner for extra care and protection of the hair strand. Always dry the hair carefully after wash so the scalp is not moist. Use a styling product that is suitable for the hairstyle and hair length, and apply hair treatment once a month.
Strong hair / Thick hair / Coarse hair
A thick hair can usually withstand more but it can also quickly look heavy. Therefore, it is important to keep it well-groomed and to use a shampoo that makes the hair extra shiny and smooth. Thick hair can, like the fine hair, quickly become flat and greasy. Shampoo no.10 contains antiseptic and nourishing oils that maintain a good moisture balance, stimulate scalp and hair follicles and also lift hair from the roots.
If your hair mostly needs moisture, Deep wood shampoo no.07 is a good choice for optimal care for both the thick hair and the scalp. Shampoo no.07 can, with its patchouli and wooden notes, close the strong hair strand and balance the scalp as well as the hair, and therefore, it is also an ideal shampoo for chemically treated hair. Always finish with conditioner that helps ensure optimal care for the hair. For extra care, use a little bit of conditioner as leave-in.
As mentioned before, strong, thick and coarse hair can withstand more and it is important to nourish the hair with a hair treatment, preferably once a month. It helps to maintain the moisture balance and strengthen the hair strand so the hair can preserve shine and suppleness. Pure treatment no.03 can be used alone or mixed with an oil treatment of your choice. In this way, you get the right combination of active ingredients customised to the needs of your hair.
Fine Hair / Thin hair
Most women in Scandinavia have fine hair. Fine hair can be easy to style but usually gets a little flat. Therefore, Scandinavian hair needs a shampoo that adds texture and volume. We recommend the Sweet sense line, which is a great volume and moisturising line with scent of mandarin. If the hair easily gets greasy, we recommend instead the Eucalyptus line, which contains lovely eucalyptus that stimulates the hair follicles, gently cleanses and gives volume. If needed, mix the two lines with each other.
Use conditioner for shine and suppleness and to prevent static electricity in your hair. Use hair powder no.89 and salt water spray for styling, both provide volume and resistance to a smooth hair.
Smooth hair
Wash your hair approx. 3 times a week with a nourishing shampoo that gives the scalp a healthy and gentle cleansing. Use conditioner to avoid static electricity in your hair. Depending on your hair type, we recommend the lines: Sweet sense and Eucalyptus.
Both lines lift smooth hair that often needs volume. Always dry hair and scalp carefully after wash so the scalp is not moist. Comb your hair with Zenz boar bristle brush for good shine. Use a styling product that is suitable for the hairstyle and hair length, and apply hair treatment once a month. Use hair powder no. 89 for styling as it gives volume and resistance to a smooth hair. Use a styling tool to provide texture and movement in a very smooth hair. Turn the styling tool vertically to get curl and texture instead of smoothing.
Curly hair / Wavy hair
Naturally curly hair requires some expertise. As beautiful as curls can be, as frizzy they can become unfortunately, when they do not get the proper care. It is easy to get beautiful hair with a shampoo specially designed to moisten and keep the curls well-groomed. We recommend the lines: Sweet sense and Deep wood. Both give great moisture to curly hair.
If you want optimal care for your curls, first use shampoo no.04 for washing and then conditioner no.08. After shampoo and conditioner, towel-dry your hair and then use no.08 again but as a leave-in conditioner. Work it into your hair, and then apply your styling product. For a strong hair, we recommend the Deep wood line and eventually treatment no.03 as curling cream.
Short hair
Choose a shampoo that is suitable for your hair type and use conditioner or cider to nourish the hair and prevent hair from becoming flat and from static electricity. Use a styling product that is suitable for your hairstyle.
Long hair
For ultimate care and moisture in a long hair, mix styling gel no.12 with a Zenz oil of your choice. The same result is obtained in medium long as well as long hair. For extra moisture, use conditioner and oil of your choice in the lengths and ends. In a fine hair, use salt water spray in towel-dry or dry hair, and then hair powder no. 89 in both scalp and lengths for extra volume.
Coloured hair
In order to maintain a beautiful hair colour, the subsequent haircare is important. We recommend the Deep wood line for optimal strength and rebuilding of the colour treated hair. The products contain oils that protect and keep the hair strand closed so the colour does not fade. Always end the treatment with conditioner or treatment no.03.
A treated hair needs extra attention. To maintain the colour intensity and to strengthen the hair, 2-3 times a month use treatment no.03, which contain plenty of proteins and vitamins.
Permed hair
Use the lines: Sweet sense or Deep wood. Both are rich in moisture and give strength to a chemically treated hair. Always use conditioner, also as leave-in in towel-dry hair. Styling wax no.09 or styling paste no.06 are perfect as curling cream.
Greasy hair
Greasy hair is often caused by hormonal imbalance. It is typically seen in teenagers or when using a wrong shampoo, which makes the scalp try to balance by separating more sebum and grease. In case of scalp imbalances, it is important to create tranquillity in the scalp, for example by choosing the right products. The more you try to dry the scalp to clean the hair, the more grease / sebum, you will separate yourself. We recommend that you use Eucalyptus shampoo no.10, which is moisturising and cleansing. It contains eucalyptus, which is antibacterial and degreasing, but because the shampoo also contains plenty of avocado oil and aloe vera, it cleans and nourishes at the same time. Use Eucalyptus conditioner no.11 after 2 times washing.
Dry hair
Naturally dry hair needs moisture to get in balance. We recommend Pure shampoo no.01 or Sweet sense no.04. They are both rich in moisturising ingredients and strengthen the hair at the same time. Finish with conditioner, if needed as leave-in, and give the hair a boost with treatment no.03, 1-2 times a month. If extra moisture is needed, mix Pure treatment no.03 with one of the 4 Zenz oils.
Split hairs
When a hair splits, it gets worn faster, breaks and becomes shorter. If necessary, use an intensive oil treatment that surrounds the hair and seals it so it does not split so easily. Distribute oil of your choice in dry / towel-dry hair and massage it into the hair. Wrap a towel around the hair and allow it to work up to 30 minutes. The treatment needs to be washed out. Use the treatment every 3 weeks and add a few drops of oil every day.
Damaged Hair
Always use conditioner after hair wash and use treatment every 3 weeks. Too much sun dries out the hair and makes the tips extremely dry. Therefore, we recommend to use protective sun oil, also when the damage has occurred. Use Zenz sun oil to prevent and to repair.
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It is well known that ginger has numerous of benefits when it comes to healing diseases and health problems. However, not everybody knows it is also a great ingredient in helping hair growth.
1. Prevents Hair Loss
A fresh ginger root contains magnesium, potassium, phosphorous, and vitamins that provide your hair follicles with nourishment, making them strong and preventing hair loss.
2. Controls Dandruff
Ginger has potent antimicrobial properties that help control dandruff and, in turn, curbs hair loss.
3. Improves Blood Flow
Ginger’s active ingredients, gingerol, helps relax blood vessels and thereby improves the circulation of blood. This allows for the improved nourishment of hair follicles, ensuring faster hair growth.
• 1 tbsp Carrier Oil (Olive, Jojoba, Coconut, etc.)
Method
1. Combine the ginger paste and the carrier oil in a bowl.
2. Cover entire scalp with the mixture and massage it for 5 minutes to improve blood circulation.
3. Apply for at least 30 minutes and then rinse it out with your shampoo.
Why this Works?
The ginger combined with the conditioning properties of oil will nourish and strengthen your hair, ensuring that it grows out thick and healthy.
We all know that avocados are healthy for our bodies and how important to include them in our diets. But what about hair care? Is it healthy as well or is it only good for added shine?
1. Penetrate the cuticle and moisturize hair
Avocado is very rich in vitamins A, D, E and B6 and also high in proteins, amino acids, magnesium, folic acid, copper and iron, providing rich nutrients to the hair.
2. Recover hair damages
Avocado revitalizes your scalp, it is a wonderful frizzy hair and dandruff treatment. Avocado oil works as a natural sunscreen and treats dehydrated skin.
Method
1. Blend all the ingredients very smoothly
2. Apply to your hair and scalp, focus on the hair tips and the most damaged part.
3. Apply for 30 – 60 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.
In simple terms, ‘organic’ refers to a specific cultivating and manufacturing process. By definition, under such horticulture conditions, farmers are not allowed to apply any synthetic chemicals, such as pesticides, chemical fertilizers, antibiotics, etc. Organic products indicate that during every step of their production process, including the plantation and application of raw materials, manufacturing, packaging, etc, the outcomes should not be harmful to the human body nor cause permanent damages to the environment and ecology. For any brand to obtain such official certifications, strict examinations and high transparency with various institutions are necessary and expensive, therefore, many manufacturers and producers are reluctant with such claims.
The criteria required by different countries or institutions vary, for example Europe’s ECOCERT demands the ingredients to be at least 95% natural and 10% organic while France’s AGRICULTURE BIOLOGIQUE insists the ingredients to be at least 95% organic. Other institutions are Australia’s ACO and USA’s USDA.
Many products claim their products are “purely natural”, but is “natural” guaranteed good and healthy?
“Natural” has a very broad meaning; products may lack preservatives and contain unprocessed natural extracts or have some natural ingredients. Therefore, products, which are labeled as natural, can be slightly processed and involve some chemicals. Such unrealistic claims may mislead consumers in selecting products, which don't match their actual needs. This explains why some ‘natural’ products may still cause skin irritation.
Apart from ‘natural’, other declarations such as ‘no chemicals’, “harmless’ etc have similar connotations. In general, such claims cannot 100% guarantee that the products are beneficial to the consumers so it is best and safest for consumers to select brands with certifications of international recognition.
As Hong Kong doesn't have a strict regulated legal requirement of such connotations, products claiming to be natural or organic may include very little of such ingredients. Some merchandizers may even use such wordings as selling points to attract buyers amid the small quantity of natural ingredients, thus, it is best to observe the list of chemical names of the constituents and review the possible negative effects they may have on your body.
In the past, a consumer’s choice of products is often related to the product’s effect and price. However, such practice has changed over time. Nowadays, consumers focus more on the long-term impact of the products and for this reason the trend of organic consumption has become very popular.
But why isn’t organic consumption a key trend yet? We believe in the following…
Majority of consumers expect quick results once they have used the products and most existing products also emphasize such concepts e.g. one spray for immediate result or recover youth in just a week etc to attract the attention of the consumers. The constitutes of the natural and/or organic products are often milder in effect and would normally require a much longer time for the results to appear.
Take shampoo as an example. A bottle of shampoo may cost around 50-60 dollars for a household, however, for the same size yet made in Europe with organic ingredients, the price may be around 300-400 dollars. For such reason, many consumers may not be willing to explore further.
However, consumers should employ a long-term vision when applying organic products. When we implement any type of products, especially for our skin, we absorb all ingredients into our body, which will have a direct long-term impact to our health e.g. damage our skin or cause irritation. For safety and best effect reasons plus the avoidance of any side effects in the future, it is always crucial that we select organic products.
Although “all organic” may be beyond reach at the moment, shouldn’t consumers have other considerations when they purchase any goods on a daily basis for the sake of our world, e.g. the sustainability of product and consumption development? In simple terms, we mean “energy saving, retaining, frugal”. From the principle of our own needs, we should always select what are most cost saving and environmental friendly such as bringing our own shopping bags and choosing the best energy and environmental labeling appliances etc.
For the sake of the next generations, thorough considerations should originate from the level of the production cycle and the impacts, which are generated from each stakeholder. For example during manufacturing, from ingredients to packaging, what would be the stresses? Is pollution at the minimal during the production process? Are material usage minimized for packaging purposes? Have the manufacturers thought of social liabilities? The potential long-term causes of all such should be in the consideration of all consumers.
Some of the existing available environmental labels have already taken such concerns into their consideration and hold such values as their core criteria. An example includes the Nordic Swan Label. The Nordic countries are some of the most environmental friendly regimes in the world. Consumers of these countries focus highly on the product impacts, ensuring their lack of harmful substances to both the human body as well as the environment. Subsequently, everyone, including pregnant women, children and people with skin allergy, can safely use the products. Hence, it is necessary for us to understand more about such labels in order to select the most suitable and healthiest products.
In conclusion, the good news is that in many countries, people have accepted the use of real natural and organic products. As smart consumers, we need to spend wisely. Upon the purchase of the products, an analysis of the list of ingredients is compulsory. Pay attention to the actual percentage of the organic ingredients and the criteria of the environmental labels. Don’t get deceived. Josephine Fairley, the beauty expert, once said : “Why feed your skin with ingredients, which you cannot eat?” Let’s act smartly and select wisely. Use quality products and lead a healthy path.
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