Mayday--Hair Edition by David Pollock, Global Safe Beauty Expert

Mayday, Mayday, Mayday - Is your hair sending out an S.O.S.?
Here are some natural, money-saving tips to fight dry, brittle, dull hair.

Problem: Dry and Damaged Hair.
Solution: At some point in life, everyone has suffered dry and damaged hair. Wage war with these simple tips – mix a small amount of sweet almond oil with a little honey and an egg yolk in a small bowl. Massage in to your scalp and the ends of your hair. Let stand for fifteen minutes, then shampoo and rinse as usual. Another tip is to soak your hair in dark beer once a week for about ten to fifteen minutes. Shampoo and rinse as usual.

Problem: Brittle and Breaking Hair.
Solution: First, avoid using hot water when you wash your hair, it opens the hair shaft too much and strips your hair of its natural oils – and its ability to moisturize and protect itself. I tell people to use lukewarm water, that is about the same temperature as your body. Another tip is to use egg whites once weekly massaging them through your hair, letting them sit for about fifteen minutes, then shampooing and rinsing.

Problem: Dull, Lifeless Hair.
Solution: Styling aids can cause a buildup of “film” over your hair. Using ‘shine’ products can actually make it worse. Remove product buildup by mixing equal amounts of baking soda and shampoo in the palm of your hand, then wash as normal. Sometimes the dullness in your hair is caused by missing protein, in that case eggs, mayonnaise, and olive oil will all help. For a non-specific case of the hair “blahs”, give honey a try. Mix it into your favorite conditioner or do a once weekly treatment with honey, egg yolk and oil just like you would for dry damaged hair. This is one of my favorite treatments as it also addresses hair that has a tendency to frizz out at inopportune moments.

The problem: Oily Hair.
Solutions: Forget clarifying shampoos which contain enough toxic chemicals to potentially turn you into one of the X-Men. Try using a little lemon or lime juice mixed with warm water, then rinse well. Try using baking soda as a dry shampoo, to help absorb some of that oil. Remember, your hair needs SOME natural oil, so you don’t want to remove it all. Concentrate on the scalp and roots once or twice weekly and you will see things begin to come under control.

Put some of these tips to use and see the results not only on your hair, but in your wallet as well! Also, eat a balanced and nutritious diet – beauty is from the inside out.