Healthy and beautiful hair

Hair is a key element in a person's physical image; For this reason we must take care of it and maintain healthy, clean and beautiful hair. In dermatology and cosmetics books, hair is studied as one of the annexes of the skin, along with nails, sebaceous and sweat glands, structures found in the dermis and epidermis, and they achieve, with their correct functioning, maintain health and healthy skin characteristics.

The abc to take care of the hair

Hair care products

Hygiene products

These are shampoos, which must gently remove dirt or product residues deposited on the hair and without damaging the cuticle. The foaming shampoo bases are detergent substances that have evolved in recent years towards a high tolerance, in such a way that they can be used to daily on normal hair. When foaming bases are add specific substances such as zinc pyrithione, pyrioctone olamine, selenium disulfide or some medicinal plants (nettle for fat, quinine to strengthen hair ...), we are faced with a treatment shampoo aimed at solving some frequent alterations such as oil and fat .

Hair treatment products

Shampoos are often complemented with the use of one of these products or treatments:

Hair Nutricosmetics

They are products that, in the form of tablets or capsules, internally provide the necessary to maintain healthy hair. These products are food supplements and, therefore, are sold without a prescription in pharmacies. They should be taken when greater capillary weakness is perceived or expected, which for many people is usually at late summer or early fall. They supplement or complement the nutritional deficiencies derived from the current lifestyle, which does not always allow one to lead.

Hair capillary structure

In the structure of a hair or hair we distinguish:

Matter of balance

As in many things in life, the important thing to keep your hair in good condition is balance. The sebaceous glands must secrete just enough: not too little and not too much. A lack of fat will result in a skin and a dry hair They will require continuous hydration and / or re-greasing, while if the oil is excessive, the hair and skin will show an oily appearance that will have to be removed with shampoos, which clean gently, without causing a rebound response. Both dryness and fat excessive can lead to flaking of the scalp or dandruff that will need to be treated.

Mercè Camps Miro

Pharmacist, specialist in Dermopharmacy

• Condition with more or less complex products depending on the propensity to frizz, the length of the hair and the type of activity to be carried out.
• Rigorously apply anti-dandruff, anti-seborrhea and anti-hair loss treatments, according to the doctor's prescription, or the advice of the pharmacist and the manufacturer's rules of use. And leave them or space them once the problem is overcome.
• Use styling finishing products very sparingly, as they all form films on the hair and excessively worsen the appearance. The use of foams and the like implies washing every 48 hours at most to maintain healthy hair.
• Increase the proportion of fresh fruits and vegetables in the diet and, if it is not possible, or we anticipate a difficult season, supplement with an adequate nutricosmetic.
  • Lotions, ampoules, or sprays that are applied before or after this one. In the, the ampoules take all the prominence and the shampoo is relegated to the background.
  • The conditioners that, applied and rinsed, or not, after washing, complement the action of the shampoo, providing flexibility and shine to the hair. They are products that treat the appearance and touch of the hair since they repair the hair strand and cover it with very fine layers of substances that regenerate the cuticle and facilitate detangling, drying and styling.
  • There are many serums to apply wet or dry, softening creams, masks for intensive repairs, oils for the ends ... and they do not stop appearing on the market so that each one finds the most suitable one.
  • Professional execution treatments such as perms, straightening and keratin baths. In the first two there is a temporary denaturation of the hair, so you have to put yourself in the hands of a good professional who uses quality products. It is convenient to assess prices and guarantees before choosing.
  • Decorative hair cosmetics, classically dyes or color baths, which add color and mask gray hair, although we could also include in this section all styling finishing products such as foams, lacquers and gummies more or less fixers, which are also essential for many today
• The external part or stem that is the part that we comb and that is made up of cells very rich in keratin and arranged in the shape of a slate roof. They form the so-called cuticle capillary that when in good condition is stuck on itself and shows a smooth surface. Aggressive hairstyles and products deconstruct the cuticle and this manifests itself with the known and feared: frizz and split ends.
• The root It is found under the skin or the scalp and consists of the pilosebaceous follicle, which is the group formed by an sebaceous gland and the hair follicle or special dermal cells (papilla), which give rise to hair. Each pilosebaceous follicle is located inside a "sack" that opens to the surface through a pore.
  • Avoid aggressive hairstyles and products, as they cause frizz and split ends.
  • Choose mild shampoos and conditioner based on your hair type.
  • Moderate the use of styling finishing products (gummies, foams, lacquers ...) that excessively worsen their quality and appearance.
  • From a functional point of view, hair and hair act as physical protection for the skin against blows, while helping to maintain body temperature. This thermoregulatory function is very evident in animals covered with hair, while in man it has been lost and therefore must be dressed.