There are so many myths circulating among the wider (and especially the fashion-crazed) population regarding healthy hair tricks and techniques that by now these misguided “rules” and “strategies” are a dime a dozen.  With product brands adding to the confusion, it can be relatively difficult to get the real facts about how to maintain a healthy head of hair.  Here we will do our best to dispel some of the falsities that float around out there on the airwaves and especially on the Web, where any person with a connection can put up an opinion…no matter how ludicrous!

RULE NUMBER ONE: Get your diet in check!  That’s right, your hair is—just as every other part of your body—dependent on what you are ingesting into your belly, and if you have a poor diet then you are likely (or at least susceptible) to have a less-than-ideal frock.  Strong hair requires sufficient protein and iron in one’s diet, in particular, and in general it is a good idea to increase quantities of fresh fruits and vegetables.  Coconut has been identified as a particularly hair-friendly menu option, and there has been interesting research conducted on the topic of the effects on hair growth and health of various medicinal herbs.

RULE NUMBER TWO: Control the kind of water you are using to bathe!  Now, this is a rule that many people will find hard to comply with; nonetheless, the simple reality is that soft water is better for a person’s hair than hard water.  That’s because of the lesser amounts of minerals in soft water, minerals which damage hair and build up with time, deepening their negative impact.  If you can’t avoid using hard water to bathe, as many people can’t, then be sure to use a clarifying shampoo roughly once per week to help get rid of the mineral build up resulting from hard water usage.

RULE NUMBER THREE: Use the right brush!  Indeed, the variety of brush or comb you use for your hair will have a tremendous effect on the health of your hair.  Experts recommend that when brushing dry hair, there is nothing better suited than real boar hair bristles.  Under no circumstances whatsoever should you be using cheap plastic-tip bristles, as they accelerate hair damage.  For brushing wet or damp hair experts point towards the rubber-tip, soft brushes.