1. Use a shampoo & conditioner that suits your hair type. Choose products that are gentle, preferably without any harsh detergent like the sulfates. For daily washes, use a shampoo that is mild, gentle & moisturising.

2. Using too much conditioner makes hair greasy. For oily hair, apply a light conditioner at the ends of the hair.

3. Ingredients such as coconut oil moisturizes dry hair , makes hair softer & soothes the scalp; tea conditions & softens hair; jojoba moisturizes permed or chemically treated hair & makes hair manageable; silicone makes hair silky ; lemon gives hair a natural shine & conditions; honey conditions deeply; henna leaves are natural hair dyes; apple cider vinegar & rosemary oil encourage hair growth & control dandruff.

4. Eggs contain lecithin which helps to moisturize dry hair . Before shampooing, beat an egg & apply it onto dry hair & cover with a plastic bag for about 15 minutes (body heat intensifies conditioning) then rinse off totally with cold water.

5. Olive oil is a good conditioner too. Massage onto hair & leave it for 10 minutes before shampoo.

6. Massaging your scalp with your fingertips helps the blood to circulate to the scalp.

7. The whole idea here about sun protection is avoidance & adequate protection over all exposed areas.

8. On average hair grows about 1.2 to 1.25 cm a month.

9. Hair is most fragile when wet.

10. To make hair soft & shiny after washing, blot hair gently with towel & then separate with a wide-toothed comb.

11. Blow-drying damages hair, causing dryness & split-ends due to the close contact between the heat on the scalp & hair. The next time you blow dry your hair, face the dryer downwards, use a leave-on conditioner for protection & avoid long exposure of both scalp & hair to the strong heat.

12. To avoid hair damage (e.g. green hair) while swimming in chlorinated water, wear a swimming cap or deep condition your hair before entering the pool. Also, wash & condition hair as soon as you have finished swimming.

13. Wear a hat when staying outdoors for a long period & condition more often.

14. T he best hair brush to use is one with bristles made of animal hairs.

15. Refrain from giving stress to hair with constant perms, dye, highlighting, blow-drying, curlers or the use of strong hair styling products.

16. Hair turns grey when melanocytes (cells found in the hair bulb) cease to produce color pigments.

17. Split ends are preventable but not repairable. Cutting them off is the only solution.

18. Flaking does not always mean dandruff. It can be caused by overusing conditioners, the build up of compounds from styling products, not washing hair often enough or not rinsing thoroughly.

Nourishment

1. Poor nutrition, hormonal changes, stress & shock play a major part in affecting the condition, appearance or disapperance of hair.

2. Vitamin A - promotes healthy scalp. Food sources: dark green, orange & yellow fruits & vegetables.

3. Vitamin B complex - Regulates the secretion of oil, keeps hair healthy & moisturized. Food sources: cerals, tomatoes, lean meat, liver, kidney, Brewer's yeast, eggs & green vegetables.

4. A severe lack of biotin (one of the Vitamin Bs) can lead to hair loss. It works best with Vitamin B5, B12 & folic acid. Food sources: cauliflower, yogurt, wholemeal bread, bran & bananas.

5. Minerals such as zinc, iron & copper promote healthy hair. Food sources: zinc - lean red meat, chicken, pumpkin seeds & green vegetables; iron - beef, dried apricots, lean red meat, parsely, eggs, wheatgerm & sunflower seeds; copper - animal organs, seafood, egg yolk & whole grains.

6. A lack of iron is cited to be the cause of hair loss among women who have not reached menopause.

7. Proteins - because hair is made up of 97% protein (keratin) , consuming enough of it gives hair a natural shine. Food sources: lean meat, grains & soy.