Emerging Hair Care Trends (And are they Good for You?)

We are obsessed with our looks and our hair in particular, all thanks to photo-shopped versions of celebrities doing the rounds on the hottest social media platforms. Whether these divas sport smooth silky hair manes or go through an extreme hair color transition, we just can’t get enough of them and want to adopt their styles.

 Do you know that coming across these flawless images daily for just three minutes a day lowers your self-esteem and diminishes your self-worth? And you may decide that the only way to tip the scale in your favor is to up your game by dishing out more dollars on latest hair treatments. Yes, none of us can disconnect from these social sites, no matter how destructive their effects might be. Well, you can argue that your social life depends on it and nothing is more important than that. So what do you do?

You have read about hair care guides in fashion magazines, surf blogs on the internet and watched various tutorials on YouTube for hair care advice. And through these means you have found out about popular trends that can make your hair ultra glamorous with hair care products, cosmetics, natural remedies and hair treatments.

You may apply this trick and experiment with new products and notice visible improvements in the beginning and you think you have nailed it right. After sometime, you notice that your hair health is deteriorating because the hair treatments you chose were not right for you in the first place.

Hair care industry alone is worth over two billion dollars and that does not even include hair accessories, such as styling tools, and hair pieces, etc. There is a lot of flak that sells not because it’s great for your hair type, but because it’s been marketed well and has become popular.

Let’s find out about the hair care trends that are worth your time and money and weed out the unnecessary ones.

Coconut Oil

You have heard and perhaps applied gobs of beneficial coconut hair oil and seen that your damaged hair looks better and shinier after deep conditioning it with this generation old natural remedy. Of course, after reading so many beauty magazines harping about the wonders of this marvelous oil, how can we think otherwise?

But you should ask yourself if your hair has really improved or is it still unruly as ever? You only see the treatment work when you are doing it religiously. But as you skip, your hair looks dry and frizzy once again.

Now, if you naturally have dry and coarse thick hair, then simply remember this coconut oil fad is one you are much better without. Coconut oil has small molecules that can easily penetrate your hair shaft. And rationally speaking, they ought to be great for conditioning damaged hair, but they are not.

This oil contains lauric acid which instantly attaches itself to hair proteins and locks it in which is good for normal to fine hair, but spells disaster for dry and damaged hair. You need amino acids to seep into the damaged hair shafts to repair damage and not to seal the shafts (moisture can’t enter in) with coconut oil.

If you want a quick-fix to your hair problems or want to moisturize your hair and protect them from damage, then opt for castor oil or Argan oil as they can provide the care dry, thick or damaged hair needs.

Sorry, coconut oil as great as it is, it’s not for everyone. But you can still reap coconut oil’s benefits by ingesting it; yes, you read that right. It’s rich in healthy fatty acids that metabolize in your body and nourish your hair from within; also, you burn fat in the process.

If you are most of us and have damaged or processed hair (we are all guilty there) and want to moisturize, then skip coconut oil conditioning and deep moisturize your hair with a Kerotin Hair Mask. This is because the formulation consists of Aloe Vera extracts that invigorate your hair shaft by replenishing them with much needed moisture.

 A hair mask will not just flatten the cuticle, but also treat your hair and repair the damage, giving you naturally healthy hair. Keratin products have low pH levels, which makes them safe for your scalp and hair.

Keratin/Protein Treatments

What’s the difference between the two? Keratin treatments, as the name suggests, incorporate keratin which is a natural hair protein and that’s why it has an edge over protein treatments. These treatments are popular because they give you super smooth and straight locks instantaneously and save your time. This is because you don’t have to spend hours trying to manage the frizz in your hair.

The downside is that saloon treatments use heat to seal in keratin and that is not good for your hair shafts in the long run. So, what should you do, and is it worth it? The answer depends on the overall health of your hair. Are they already damaged or are they healthy? In the first situation, moisturize your hair with Kerotin Argan oil and let them recuperate for a while before you go for such a treatment.

Yes, I understand, you envy Ariana’s super sleek tresses (we all do) and can’t wait to get that treatment for your hair. Moisturize and deep condition with hair masks before and after a saloon treatment as it will last longer and your hair will regain its strength.

Microbiome-Friendly Shampoo

This is one trend you can try on your own, but if things don’t work out, then don’t blame us. These shampoos have been formulated considering that we have healthy bacteria (microbes) on our body, which are destroyed when we wash ourselves with soap and shampoos.

They don’t contain any bacteria, but help protect bacteria on your skin, at least the health boosting ones, that’s the idea.

What does science say about it? Yes, we do have natural bacteria on our skin, but you don’t have to worry about washing it off. This is because your skin has quite a large population of them; almost 3% of your body weight.

So, you never have to really worry about destroying them and investing in shampoos and cosmetics that promote healthy microbes for now. You can try these so called microbe-friendly shampoos or stick to the trusted brands that deliver what they say.

Hair Combing for Blood Circulation on the Scalp

This is not an emerging trend, but still plenty of people with healthy hair are doing it because their beautician has said so. You will find a number of ladies combing or brushing their hair vigorously to promote blood circulation, which should ideally lead to growth of hair follicles. Sounds right? Not entirely, you can promote blood circulation easily with a gentle scalp massage, without resorting to combing your hair unnecessarily.

Oh and forget about that ‘100 strokes a day for a gorgeous hair’ myth. Yes, that’s what it is, a myth. It doesn’t grow thick hair; all that combing just transports the natural oils on your scalp to your hair which lends shine to your mane.

You will do fine with fewer strokes (say 10 and if you are very enthusiastic, then 20) gently that is with a wide-toothed comb in case you are looking for naturally shiny hair, but don’t expect it to cure any hair problems, such as dandruff, itchy scalp or damaged hair.

Make sure you have removed all the tangles and knots from your hair before you begin brushing/combing your locks. You can also use a detangling brush in case your hair is prone to tangles.

Saying no to Shampoo

A few celebrities claim that they wash their hair with water often, saying no to shampoo as often as possible and we are ready to jump on that bandwagon. That’s right, you should shampoo as infrequently as possible, but that’s less due to the trend and more because of your hair type.

Of course, there are some no-shampoo fanatics who use natural products to wash the dirt and grime from their hair, but seriously, this fad is not for everyone. First, using a good shampoo cleanses the scalp and removes any product buildup, without stripping the natural oils completely. Invest in a good shampoo and use it accordingly and you won’t have to say no to these amazing products.

You can get yourself a Kerotin keratin shampoo if you have processed hair and need that extra care for luscious locks. Do follow it with a Kerotin conditioner for a long-lasting effect.

I don’t recommend saying no to shampoo, but you can wash your hair with apple cider vinegar if you like on your “shampoo-off” days as there is no harm in it. It adds shine and luster to your tresses while cleaning the scalp mildly. Did I mention it’s a favorite with no-shampoo fanatics?

Dry Shampoos

This trend is something you need to be wary of. I understand it saves time and is really convenient for those who sweat a lot, exercise or have oily hair. If you don’t want to over shampoo and are scared of stripping your natural sebum, then you may think that your only choice is a dry shampoo. Go ahead and use it, but keep it only for emergencies only, such as when you are short on time and can’t wash your hair with water.

Why? Dry shampoos, when used for prolonged periods, can cause damage to your scalp as they dry the natural oil and cause product buildup in your hair. You get a nice fresh feeling applying them, but only because the oil has been stripped, but all that stuff is sitting on your scalp along with dirt and grime.

Make sure you shampoo soon enough and remove all that buildup thoroughly from your scalp, and please don’t skip the conditioner (like ever).

Condition and Condition even more

You might say this is not a trend; this is common sense and a plain old routine. Well, I did say condition even more. This means using big globs of conditioner more often than not. This drastic trend started off to negate the ill-effects that heat styling has on hair. Women can’t give up their fashion hairdos so just notch up the conditioner, right, and there is no harm in that.

There is no harm but you don’t need to waste the conditioner uselessly. You just need a dime-sized amount of conditioner. Apply it to your hair strands away from the roots. Your hair won’t absorb large quantities just because you soak your head into it. You want luscious hair and you can have that with Kerotin Keratin conditioner without going overboard.

 In fact, you can save time with this product because you can apply it just once or twice a week unlike ordinary conditioners that you must use every day to obtain moisturized locks.

Au natural Hair

This is one hair care trend we must adopt immediately. We don’t want to damage our hair with unlimited chemicals and products, but still there are products we must not skip. When people go au natural they think that they don’t have to use so many masks and products since there is no damage.

Hair masks don’t just repair damage, but also moisturize your hair, making it strong and elastic to resist the damages caused by air, dust, pollution and harmful sun rays.

Again, using oils, such as argan oil, is good for your hair and going au natural should not be a reason to become lazy with your hair care regimen. You don’t need to oil your hair that frequently when sporting au natural looks on a daily basis; so, that’s a plus point for women who are busy and can’t devote so much time to hair care routines.

Hair Supplements

This hair supplement trend gained popularity because it delivers results without much effort; popping a vitamin pill formulated for hair is after all much easier than applying oils and hair masks twice a week. That being said, these supplements should only be taken when you have excessively damaged hair and most importantly because you lack vital nutrients in your diet.

Summary

You don’t have to steer clear of hair care trends completely; all you have to do is implement them carefully and observe the results on your particular hair type. Some trends might turn out quite useful for your hair.

Sources:

https://www.theverge.com/2016/9/11/12864726/hair-products-shampoo-conditioner-science

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/6-natural-hair-treatments_n_8985102