Hair Care Education from the Hair Expert

Busting myths for healthier and stylish tresses, renowned style expert Jawed Habib talks about the necessity of hair education and the advantages of hair yoga.

What are the primary rules for hair care?

The only secret to wonderful hair is to keep it clean. It’s a must to wash hair every day with a shampoo that suits the hair type. Most people believe that shampoo causes hair loss which is not correct. Shampoos contain chemicals, but so does soap. Your scalp needs to be cleaned just the way your face does. A clean scalp prevents dandruff and greying. In case you need to use an anti-dandruff shampoo, use it just once a week.

What is hair yoga?

Hair yoga is the simplest form of exercise for healthy, lustrous hair. All one needs to do is follow a healthy balanced diet, have meals on time, drink milk, consume lots of water, spend some time with oneself (maybe a morning walk alone) and most importantly—smile! Happy hair comes from a happy person.

How often does one need to visit a hair salon?

I believe hair grooming is a science. A hairdresser is both your doctor and your designer. He will know exactly what to do with your hair, according to your personality, skin tone and hair texture. You need a haircut every 6–8 weeks to remove dead and damaged hair and enable the growth of new healthy strands.

What do you have to say about styling products and chemical hair treatments?

One can use various styling gels, hair sprays and waxes to groom their hair. They are not harmful as long as they don’t touch the scalp. A lot of people are hesitant to colour their hair, go for re-bonding or straightening, assuming that it damages hair. One need not worry. We only need to take proper care after treating hair. Also, many people use kitchen items such as curd or egg to treat their hair at home. I would strongly suggest that they separate their kitchen and bathroom products. Hair conditioners can do their work quite well by themselves!

What about products like hair oil?

Contrary to popular belief, oil has nothing to do with hair growth. Especially in South India, where hair is naturally frizzy and dense, people who have been using hair oil for ages believe that it helps hair growth and keeps it healthy. Oil does nothing but bring down the density of hair to manageable proportions—which can also be done by hair re-bonding and use of serums.

What is the right haircut?

Short, shoulder-length hair can make any woman look beautiful. The shorter her hair is, the younger she looks. A hairdresser can read and feel hair, and a haircut that originates from his or her mind—and not eyes—makes the perfect cut.

How does one choose the right hair colour for themselves and take good after-care?

Copper-based hair colours suit fair people and for those with darker skin, khaki-based colours do the trick. Hair colouring does not damage hair, it just becomes dry. One should use moisturising conditioners and serums to prevent any possible damage due to drying.