To achieve a lustrous look, use a deep moisturising conditioner

Fiona goes to the salon every week for a deep conditioning treatment. But three days later, her scalp and hair are dry. To make matters worse, the scalp is flaking terribly. So she uses a fine tooth comb to remove the stubborn flakes from the scalp. The result is a very painful scalp and an even drier scalp.

There are many causes for dry scalp and hair, according to Dorothy Lwanyaga of Lola Beauty Salon. “Sometimes it is the weather. Very hot and dry air can dry out the scalp and hair. During such times, it is advisable to oil your scalp at least every two days,” Lwanyaga says. Other cause are:

Poor quality products: Most salons cannot afford good quality shampoo so they buy a five-litre jerrycan at sh5,000. Cheap shampoo can have high levels of detergent which irritate the scalp, causing itching. The solution is to buy a good shampoo and conditioner and carry it to the salon.

The wrong products: It is the trend nowadays not to use too much of a product and rightly so. Applying too much hair food on the scalp clogs up the pores. Similarly, too little of a product does not yield any good results.

If your scalp is excessively dry, go for oil-based products like the new Motions Marula natural therapy hair treatment and balm or the hair and scalp oil from the same range.

You can also try either of the following; Gatsby anti-dandruff scalp conditioner, tea tree oil (Dark & Lovely has a good one), Dr Miracle, or sulphur-based scalp conditioner like Venus. Some products are very good, but wrong for your condition. If you have a dry and itchy scalp, avoid products that have very little oil as they might dry it out even more.

Lack of maintenance: If your hair is a crown on your head, then treat it as such. A crown usually has precious stones and is regularly cleaned and well taken care of. Make sure that your scalp is hydrated at all times. Take time to care for your hair even if it means getting up a little earlier in the morning or going to bed a little later. Have a good scalp conditioner and hair moisturiser. Extra Virgin Olive oil works very well in both cases.

Why maintenance?
When you do retouch, the chemical strips the hair of its natural oils, thus robbing it of its moisture. That is why you need a deep moisturising conditioner to return some moisture to the hair. After retouch, go back to the salon for a deep conditioning conditioner a week later to strengthen the hair and keep it from breaking.

If, after doing this, your hair is still dry and brittle, have a chat with your hairdresser and ask her to change the products she is using. You might need a few weeks of intensive scalp and hair treatments.

It is important to take care of your hair whatever the length and condition (natural or chemically altered). There is no good that comes without commitment, consistency, hard work and investment. You may have naturally beautiful hair but unless you maintain it, it will soon lose lustre and body. Besides, in this age of the noughties (2000+), anything is possible. Fine and limp hair suddenly gets body because of a treatment or product applied.

It is the age of no limits for women in terms of fashion, hair and beauty.