A variety of hair care products are available to consumers today, from simple styling products from the supermarket to medicated products from the pharmacy. To keep hair healthy and shiny, it requires regular care. In addition, special intensively effective products can help with already stressed hair.
What are hair care products?
A variety of hair care products are available to consumers today, from simple styling products from the supermarket to medicated products from the pharmacy. Hair care products are generally understood to be all products that contribute to an intact and well-groomed head of hair. This includes shampoos, hair treatments and conditioners as well as special lotions, masks and oils. This means all products that are applied to the hair and whose effect goes beyond styling.
Application, effect and use
From conventional hair care products are distinguished medically effective means. These contain special active ingredients, which should have an impact on the health of skin and hair. The application of care products is done externally on the scalp or hair. Shampoos and conditioners usually have a short application time and are washed out again. Cures and hair masks, on the other hand, should be left on for several minutes. Residues of the products remain in the hair even after they have been washed out. This allows the active ingredients to penetrate and be absorbed into the upper layers of the skin. The hair itself, however, does not have such a metabolism. Here, therefore, the idea is usually to bring about a smoothing effect by cementing brittle areas in the hair structure, i.e. fractures not visible to the naked eye. Most silicones work in this way and are simply fillers. Oil-based products also rely on the substances remaining in the hair and achieve its suppleness and pliability through their physical properties. In addition to hair care products, whose aim is primarily to care for the hair on the head, there are also those that serve primarily to prevent problems. For example, a sun protection factor helps to protect the scalp from too much sun, and a blow-dry spray can prevent possible heat damage when drying the hair. Many hair care products are also oriented to the different hair types, one distinguishes v.a. between rather oily or rather dry. For very dry hair, the care products should mostly moisturize. This is often done with finely dispersed oils in a certain amount of water. For greasy hair, the aim is to prevent the skin from becoming greasy again. This often involves a specific attempt to bring the pH of the skin back to its natural value of 5.5 by avoiding products that contain too much soap, which would increase it.
Herbal, natural and pharmaceutical hair care products.
To achieve the desired effects and thus the optimal care of the hair, people resort to different types of medicinal hair care products. Natural ingredients such as plant extracts, oils or minerals are usually well tolerated. Chemically produced substances, on the other hand, are expected to be more effective. On the other hand, they are often associated with side effects. For example, the regular use of silicones, as contained in many cures, can contribute to the drying out of the scalp. In addition to herbal and chemical substances, homeopathic approaches are also being used time and again in the cosmetics and skin care industry. Based on plant-based active ingredients, they aim to exert their effects at very specific concentrations. However, the effects are controversial because the dosage is usually very small.
Risks and side effects
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So there are numerous approaches to care for the hair sensibly and sustainably. However, not every product is helpful. Means that advertise to be applicable daily without harming the hair, can not necessarily keep this promise. From a medical point of view, daily washing of the hair is generally not advisable. This is considered highly stressful for the scalp, because the skin needs a relatively long regeneration phase to restore the natural pH value. Furthermore, when trying out care products, it is important to pay attention to how often they are changed. Changing hair care products too often can lead to redness, rash and tension of the scalp, a condition known as “over-grooming”.In summary, many hair care products have very useful properties. They smooth and nourish the hair, which protects against damage in everyday life. Likewise, damaged hair can be specifically treated and built up by medical hair care products. When choosing products, it is important to consider how it is applied, how it works and whether it is suitable for the type of hair.
