You Asked, We Answered: Your Biggest Hair Questions, Answered
In honor of our 2021 Allure Readers' Choice Awards, we're answering readers' biggest and most-burning beauty questions in our new series, You Asked, We Answered. In this edition: solutions to your biggest hair-care concerns.
One thing 2020 taught us it's that even in a disaster, we will always have time for beauty. Indeed, the global pandemic put a lot on us, and that includes the responsibility of our own beauty routines. With salons closed, then opened, and then, in some areas, closed again, over the past year people have had to resort to painting their own nails, giving themselves facials, and yes, even cutting and dyeing their own hair. Last year was a time of beauty exploration for many people, but that doesn't mean that in all those hours of lockdown, everyone's become an expert.
We surveyed Allure readers to find out their biggest beauty questions as part of our 2021 Readers' Choice Awards. Over 1,300 of you replied, asking us for tips relating to hair care, skin, and makeup. You still want to know how best to deal with some of your most pressing beauty issues, and luckily, we know quite a few folks who can help with that.
In the hair department, there are still questions about thinning, creating loose waves, and fixing your dandruff situation for good. We're happy to help you figure it all out. Ahead, six of your most burning questions.
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1. I've noticed my hair is thinning. Is there anything I can do to stop the hair loss?
Thinning hair can be caused by a lot of different things: genetics, underlying medical issues, recent trauma, stress, and even styling habits. In order to discover the proper treatment, it's best to first determine the root of the problem with the help of your dermatologist. A medical professional can do a hair count test, blood tests, and scalp examinations to better determine the source of hair loss.
As for treatments, minoxidil is the only Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved topical nonprescription medication that can claim to regrow hair. You can find products with the formula in the drugstore, like Women's Rogaine 5% Minoxidil Foam.
Many people often turn to supplements with biotin for hair growth, but professionals aren't sure of its efficacy. "We don't really have great data supporting its use," board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry previously told Allure. "The original studies on biotin and hair were actually quite small; because of this, I don't recommend very high doses of biotin."
There are ingredients, like rosemary oil and vitamin B5, that have had promising clinical results. You can also talk to your doctor about platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections. "PRP contains a number of compounds that are unique to platelets that stimulate growth and reduce inflammation," explains Richard Firshein, an expert in integrative medicine. "Platelets work similarly to how they do in other parts of the body by repairing damaged areas and helping them to regrow."
Read more about how to treat hair loss.
2. How should I keep my hair color from fading at home?
As access to hair salons became more limited over the past year, folks have been reaching for the boxed dye, root touch-up kits, and colored glosses to keep their hair vibrant. When you're dealing with color-treated hair, if you want to keep it from fading too quickly, it's important to avoid those things that cause damage. One of the first things colorist Nick Stenson advises us to do when we're dealing with color-treated hair is to ease up on the heat styling.
"When using hot styling tools on our hair, we can cause unnecessary damage and color fading," he says. If you're in a situation where you absolutely must use a hot tool, be sure to give your hair a spritz of heat protectant, like the Best of Beauty-winning Bumble and Bumble Thickening Great Body Blow Dry Creme.
Color protection starts in the shower. Besides getting yourself a sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner, hairstylist Richy Kandasamy says to start taking cooler showers. "Rinse your hair with cool water – that will reduce fading and promote shine," he says. Kandasamy also suggests extending the time in between washes and using dry shampoo if you feel your scalp is getting greasy.
Sun exposure can also contribute to color fading, so Kandasamy advises "[avoiding] excess sun exposure and [using] a UV protectant styling product." There are plenty of options, like Philip Kingsley's Daily Damage Defence Leave-In Conditioner or Davines SU Milk.
If you're a blonde, invest in a purple shampoo to help maintain your tone and prevent brassiness. Beachwaver Co.'s BRB Blonde Purple Shampoo and Conditioner got a Best of Beauty award last year, so you know it's good. But if you'd like to explore a few more options, we've rounded up some of our favorite purple shampoos on the market.
Another important thing to keep in mind: chlorine. As New York City-based colorist Aura Friedman notes, chlorine can contribute to color fading. "When at the pool, leave your hair damp with conditioner," she says. Try the Nexxus Color Assure Conditioner, which promises to protect from fading, or the L'Oréal Paris Ever Pure Moisture Conditioner, which was created to be particularly gentle on color-treated hair.
Read more about caring for color-treated hair.
3. What is the best way for me to care for my dry scalp and/or dandruff?
Dry scalp is a common phenomenon, which New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Hadley King says is usually caused by seborrheic dermatitis, the main culprit for dandruff. "We cannot cure seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff), but we can manage it and there are several over-the-counter shampoo ingredients that can be helpful," she says.
When you're shopping for a cleansing product to help fight dandruff, check for these ingredients: selenium sulfide, pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid, ketoconazole, coal tar, and tea tree oil.
Malassezia, a yeast that lives on your scalp, can contribute to the inflammation that seborrhea causes, so it's important to look for said ingredients as they have the anti-fungal properties that can help remedy your dandruff issue. Pyrithione zinc, ketoconazole, coal tar, and tea tree oil all have such properties. Coal tar also works to suppress fungus and, as King says, "may reduce sebum production."
Try the Dove Dryness and Itch Relief Anti-Dandruff Shampoo and if you have curly, kinky, or Afro-textured hair, Head & Shoulders's Royal Oils Shampoo and Conditioner will help control dandruff without depriving your curl pattern of the care it needs to thrive.
Keep in mind that dandruff might not always be the cause of your dry scalp, but if you're seeing flakes, products containing the aforementioned ingredients are often still helpful.
Read more about scalp and dandruff care.
4. How do I transition to my natural hair texture? How do I care for that new growth?
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a lot of Black women to embrace their natural hair texture, with some choosing to grow out their chemically straightened hair and go on the journey of getting to know their natural texture and how to care for it.
"Your curl type is determined by the shape of the follicle that your hair grows out of from your scalp," hairstylist Vernon François previously told Allure. "The flatter or more oval-shaped the follicle, the curlier your hair; the more circular the cross-section, the straighter your hair. Your curl pattern is also identified by the shape that the strands of hair make, whether they kink, curve, or wind around themselves into spirals."
But before you enjoy all those curls and coils, if part of your hair is chemically straightened, you're going to need to contend with the dueling textures for a bit — that is, unless you decide to chop off all the straightened parts first. But whether or not you're not about that TWA life, curly and kinky hair tends to be drier in general, due to the way it grows out of the scalp.
"A strand of hair receives sebum on its exterior from the secretion of the sebaceous gland," New York City-based board-certified dermatologist Francesca Fusco previously told Allure. "Sebum is not evenly distributed along curly hair, resulting in drier hair." To be sure your hair isn't drying out and breaking, it's a must to keep that moisture in.
Hairstylist Nikki Nelms agrees — moisture is key. She says to "use a product that promotes curl hydration." Look for rich oils like Jamaican black castor oil or jojoba oil, as well as deeply-moisturizing butters like shea or mango butters. The Best of Beauty-winning Dove Amplified Textures Moisture Lock Leave-In Conditioner contains jojoba oil and makes your hair feel so soft, someone will have to come and pry your hands from it.
If you don't want to be battling with your loose hair when it's all new growth and old relaxer, no one will judge you for doing protective styles as it grows out to a length you're comfortable with before chopping off the relaxed ends. "the process tends to be a bit easier to manage with protective styling as your safety net," hairstylist Nai'Vasha shares.
Read more about transitioning to natural hair.
5. How do I create a hairstyle with loose waves?
Those loose, just-came-from-the-beach waves are going to be in style for the foreseeable future, but just because they're everywhere, doesn't mean that you couldn't use a little guidance on how to copy the style yourself. We've got some step-by-step instructions, but a few more tips on how to nail those coveted loose waves at home are always welcome, right?
Whether you're using a flat or curling iron to create this texture, be sure that you're not applying too much heat to your hair. "Try using a lower temperature iron setting or use larger sections of hair when curling," says Stenson. "This allows for a much softer effect when curling."
Nelms suggests using a comb when you're done creating the curls to loosen them up and give them that effortless, mussed look. Use a wide-tooth comb of your choice for this.
Read more about how to create loose waves.
6. I miss getting my hair cut in a salon. What can I do at home to maintain my cut?
The question of caring for your haircut when your stylist is out of reach is one that we've covered at length (no pun intended) over the past year. "If you can't make it to the salon for your regularly scheduled haircuts, the best alternative is to treat your hair at home," says Stenson. "Keep it hydrated to avoid fraying of your ends as you wait on that next cut."
A good way to maintain hydration in your hair is to do a weekly conditioning treatment. Briogeo's Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask has won three Readers' Choice Awards and works beautifully on all hair textures.
Of course, restrictions regarding salons are far looser than they were at the beginning of a pandemic, so you might not have to resort to grabbing scissors and snipping off your dead ends. But if you absolutely must, be sure that you are just trimming your hair, keeping the same basic shape.
"Don't cut to the length you want the end result to be at first — start smaller and work your way up," hairstylist Andrew Fitzsimons previously told Allure. "Remember, you can always trim more, [but] it is unfortunately not possible to put [hair] back once you've chopped."
Read more about maintaining your haircut.
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Originally Appeared on Allure
