Hair for now

The summer heat is very rough on your hair, but the best treatment for them, if experts are to be believed, are not any fancy treatments in ...

The summer heat is very rough on your hair, but the best treatment for them, if experts are to be believed, are not any fancy treatments in beauty parlours, but good old henna and hot oil. That8217;s what Geraldine, the hair stylist at Shenaz8217;s, advocates. 8220;The age old treatments are always the best. They8217;ve been well tried out and are effective.8221;

So henna, soaked in tea water overnight and left on the hair for an hour, is still voted the best conditioner. Henna, of course, must be washed of well with a good shampoo, as any residue leftover might cause irritation on the scalp, particularly because of perspiration. In fact, the old formula of mixing amla in the henna, though effective, could prove a nuisance in the summer, because amla is not easily washed off, and particles left on the scalp can be troublesome.

A good addition to henna are egg, which provides protein to your hair, along with with giving it body and bounce. The same goes for curd, another good conditioner. So an ideal henna mixture would include, besides henna, an egg, a couple of tablespoons of curd, well-ground amla which is easier to wash off, and a spoonful of oil, because henna has a drying effect on your hair.

Hot oil treatment, an age old remedy, could also be helpful. Heat a little oil, coconut or castor, and massage it on to your scalp for 15 minutes. Now wrap a towel soaked in hot water around your head till it cools. Repeat this three to four times. Hot oil treatment is necessary at least twice a month. 8220;Otherwise, make sure you give your scalp a simple oil massage once a week. It is absolutely essential,8221; says Geraldine.

As for shampooing your hair, twice a week goes without saying. And don8217;t forget, you must apply a good conditioner after a shampoo. Conditioners do not need to be massaged onto the scalp, but should be applied to the hair shafts, particularly the ends, which could help prevent splitting.

8220;As far as split ends go, cutting is not the remedy,8221; Geraldine tells us. 8220;Splits must be removed by a stylist every three to four months. If this is done regularly, the difference in your hair will be noticeable.8221; Apart from that, don8217;t forget to apply oil to the ends of your hair, while massaging it in.

Regarding any doubts about using hair-dryers, according to Geraldine: 8220;Hair dryers are not harmful if used properly. make sure you keep it at an arms length from your hair, and used once or twice a week.8221; But, she warns, daily use is not advisable.

Story continues below this ad

And, if you use hair dye, then her advice is to go to an expert to get it done. 8220;At home, you are likely to exceed the time prescribed which could prove harmful, as all dyes are chemical compositions,8221; says Geraldine. But if you do want to try them at home, follow instructions scrupulously. 8220;The skin test, to test if your skin is irritable, is a must. Usually the dye is applied to the area behind your ears and left on for 24 hours. If itching or irritation occurs, avoid using it.8221;

So much for hair treatments. As far as styles go, for short hair, a slight variation of the blunt, a layered blunt, is the in thing. The hair still turns inward but it is a little uneven, and has two or three layers. For long hair, once again, long layers are the most popular along with the razor cut. And for all lengths, the middle parting with hair left hanging straight on both sides, close to the Seventies look, is back. In fact, for shoulder length hair, the Seventies Racial Cut, is the latest. The hair is parted in the middle, left straight on both sides, but the ends, instead of being curled inward, are curled outwards. Of course, today8217;s variations, like a layer, are also applied to it. So, if you want to be with it, it8217;s back to the Seventies for you.

Henna Hungama

Soak henna in tea-stained water and leave it aside overnight.

Add an egg, which provides protein to the hair and gives it body and bounce.

Curd added to it will make it softer.

If you want to add amla, make sure you grind it well, as its particles can stick to the hair and irritate the scalp when you perspire.

If you want to add these ingredients, then add an egg, a couple of tablespoons of curd and well-ground amla along with a spoonful of oil. Oil is added because henna has a drying effect on your hair.

Make sure you wash off the henna well after applying it, as the particles left behind have a drying effect on your hair.