HairBoutique Blog

Tips For Cleansing Hair Upside Down

An ongoing debate in the world of  hair care involves the pros and cons of washing hair when bent over at the waist so the hair falls basically upside down.   In other words the very bottom layers of the hair is exposed to the water and cleansing formula while the top layer of the hair is only exposed through a trickled down effect.

Why would someone want to wash their hair upside down?  Some fans of this method believe when the cleansing products are applied to the bottom layers of the hair versus the top, there is less overall damage.

Afterall, the top layer of anyone’s hair receives the most consistent assault from sun, wind, environmental toxins, hot styling tools, brushing, combing and general styling methods.

Other critics of the Upside Down method believe the hassle of detangling hair which is washed upside down is not worth the benefits of protecting the top layers of the strands.   Others argue that since the top layers of the hair receive the most damage and potential dirt and toxins, those layers need the direct application of water and cleansing products.

Fans of the Upside Down Cleansing Method believe it would help preserve chemically colored, highlighted, low lighted or similarly treated strands.

Some types, textures and lengths of hair are more compatible with being cleansed upside down than others.  Hair which is stick straight, fine or thin or with only a little bit of wave and texture is less prone to major tangling than strands which are naturally curly, tightly waved, coiled or tightly textured.

If you wish to try cleansing your hair upside down follow the tips and techniques below: Continue reading “Cleansing Hair Upside Down: Tips & Techniques” »

If you do a search on the web about the importance of calcium for healthy hair, you will find enough contradictions to make you want to pull your hair out.  Of course I’m joking, but the reality is that there is a lot of misinformation about the importance of calcium for healthy hair and the avoidance of hair loss.

(Hair by Barbara Lhotan – All Rights Reserved)

What’s the real answer?  Calcium plays a part in the growth of healthy hair because its part of the big picture of incorporating a well-balanced nutritional plan into any hair growth or hair loss prevention program.

Calcium alone is not the major bullet that will instantly stop hair loss or grow six inches of hair overnight.  However, if there is a calcium imbalance it can definitely have an impact on the growth of healthy hair.

Should you talk calcium pills?  If your physician or nutritional consultant recommends it then by all means you should.  However, taking calcium pills for the primary purpose of growing hair or preventing hair loss would be much less beneficial.  Incorporating calcium rich foods into your daily diet is much more beneficial for your hair, skin, nails and teeth. Continue reading “How Calcium Helps Hair Growth, Prevents Hair Loss And Enriches Your Houseplants” »

I’ve tried just about every natural hair treatment imaginable since the late 1980s when I started growing my hair.  I was especially determined to find a natural hair lightener so I could keep my beautiful golden highlights without the damage hair lightening products bring.  I even went so far as to try rhubarb as a natural lightener.

Did it work?  That would be a big no although I managed to completely trash my kitchen with pots and pans as well as chopped up rhubarb.

(Image of walnuts – Haap Media Ltd – All Rights Reserved)

One of my brunette tressed friends, Eva,  has had much better luck than me.  Her hair is naturally dark brown but it tends to pull a reddish tint throughout the edges.

In the past she has experimented with a range of natural treatments with mixed results.  Yes, she’s worked with a professional hair colorist who combed a slightly darker temporary color through her strands.  I remember that because I rode home in the car with her hair wrapped up in a special color cap and a thin line of dark brunette color streaking down her cheeks.

While the temporary color did a great job, she still continues to experiment with natural darkening treatments which enhance her natural brunette, but covers the slight tinge of red which pops out throughout the ends.   Continue reading “Black Walnuts And Other Natural Dyes To Naturally Darken Your Tresses” »

While there’s lots of great hair care information on the Web, there’s also a lot of misinformation which if not tempered correctly, can actually harm your hair in the long term.

One such piece of misinformation is a range of Do It Yourself (DIY) Scalp Scrubs created from a variety of natural ingredients ranging from white and brown sugar to Epsom Salts, bentonite clay, salt, sand or similar grainy substances.

(Image of brown sugar from Haap Media Ltd – All Rights Reserved)

While it might sound fabulous to whip up a great scalp scrub from yummy ingredients like brown sugar, yogurt, shea butter or coco butter, when you use ingredients which are coarse, they can actually damage the scalp, the roots and even the hair’s cuticle.

Not everyone will agree with my hypothesis but personally I have seen and heard of several cases where DIY scrubs would actually leave the scalp red, tender or even raw if scrubbed too aggressively.  Continue reading “DIY Scalp Scrubs May Be Harmful To Your Hair” »

Pile of Flaxseeds

Flaxseed Hair Defrisant And Styler You Can Make At Home

I’ve been playing with homemade flaxseed gel since I was in college.

At times I need to add a defrisant to my own naturally wavy/curly hair.  My go-to product since 1997 has been Phytodefrisant.  It never lets me down and I think it’s the best defrisant on the market.  Yes, there are other great ones, but that’s my favorite.

When I have the time to play I also like to make a homemade flaxseed hair recipe that works for me.  Flaxseed is a popular ingredient used by many hair care manufacturers including Aveda.

Great As Gel For Finger Waves

Flaxseed gel was one of the recipes I found in an old fashioned hair and beauty book from the 1920s.  It seems that the homemade gel was used to hold old fashioned finger waves may years ago.

Having struggled learning to make finger waves in cosmetology school I can see where this DIY gel could be a godsend. Continue reading “Flaxseed Hair Defrisant And Styler You Can Make At Home” »