The Science of Hair: The Cuticle

The Cuticle is a part of the hair follicle and the most vital part of your hair since it affects the retention of your hair length. The purpose of the cuticle is to protect the cortex of your hair. The cortex is the inner part of the hair follicle and responsible for the hair's moisture content, elasticity,strength, and the color of hair. Yes, the cuticle has much to protect. Consequently, the cuticle itself is very fragile, yet we abuse it to the point of no return. We use small comb, metal hair clips, too much heat on a daily basis and wonder why our hair has remained the same length for years. We have to be kind to the cuticle. The cuticle is made up of several layers, like tiles on a roof. However, when we do the daily styling and manipulation of our hair, we chip and tear down the layers. When he layer is gone, we get frayed, weak split ends that can not be repaired. The only way to correct the damage is to trim the ends. This is why no amount of expensive products will help "fix" the hair.

So there you have it, be kind to the cuticle

Here are a few pointers:

• Always use a conditioner in your hair after shampooing and focus the conditioner on your ends.





• Stay away from too much heat, especially blow drying and hot curling





• handle your hair with love, no rough pulling or handling





• Stay away from Brushes. They chips the hair cuticle away and with added tension that comes from pony tails, many of use give ourselves traction alopecia.

The Science of Hair : Part I-PH Balance

While many may discount the science of hair, it is your business to know the basics of hair and the science of achieving healthy hair. For beginners, lets start with the PH balance of hair. PH stands for the Potential of Hydrogen. Hair, which carriers a PH of 4.5 to 5.5. Any number between 0-6.5 is acidic, while any number between 7.5 to 14 is considered alkaline. Water, which is 7 is neutral. The trick to healthy hair and retention is to keep your products closest to the hair's PH, which is 4.5 to 5.5. Going below or beyond this range will surely make your hair more susceptible to breakage, which impedes healthy hair retention. When testing your hair products for their PH balance you can do call the hair care company and request the PH of their products (some companies print the PH balance on the actual shampoo or conditioners) or you can buy PH balance test stripes and become your very own amateur scientist!!! Either way, make it your business to know the PH in all of your hair care product.