The term ‘pH level’ is thrown around a lot in today’s society. We hear about the pH levels of household cleaners, the pH level of a fish tank, the pH level of baking soda…. But what about your hair? Did you know that your hair has a natural pH level, as well? Did you also know that this pH level is affected by the hair care products you use everyday? I sure didn’t!

The Importance of the pH Level
As many people will know, the pH level tells you how acidic or basic something is. For example, battery acid has a pH level of 1 and is VERY acidic. Bleach, on the other hand, has a pH level of 13 and is VERY Basic. A pH level of 7 is Neutral and includes things like blood and water. Your hair and skin are covered with a very thin fluid mixture of oil, salt and water called the mantle, which is naturally slightly acidic. The typical pH balance of hair is around 4.5-5.0.

So, what does this mean in regards to hair care products? The closer the pH level of your shampoo/conditioner/styling product is to the natural pH level of your hair, the more healthy and beneficial it is to your hair. Using a product that causes the pH level of your hair to drop can make it very basic can cause your hair to look dry, frizzy and become very brittle and easy to break. This is why using cleansers, such as baking soda (pH of 9) or even just water alone (pH of 7), can be very damaging to your hair with repeated washes.

What is the solution?
A common solution for balancing out the pH of baking soda is coupling it with apple cider vinegar, a natural base. However, often times these ingredients don’t perfectly balance each other or are unevenly mixed, resulting in some hair being treated with overly basic materials, while other hair being treated with acidic materials. You can read more about our verdict on the ‘No Poo’ method in this recent article.

Instead, we recommend choosing hair care products that match the natural pH level of your hair.  Balanced shampoos also protect your hair’s natural oils, known as sebum, rather than stripping it away, as is often the case with synthetic products.

Choosing the right hair care products that match your hair’s natural pH ensures the continued health of your hair’s mantle and gives your strands a healthy environment to grow healthy, strong and beautiful!
 
This article first appeared on Morrocco Method
 
Click here to learn more on How to Balance pH in Hair Naturally

And if you really want to get scientific click here for a very informative article:
The Shampoo pH can Affect the Hair: Myth or Reality?

How To Grow Out Your Hair Without Looking Like You’ve Given Up On Life
First things first, there’s something we need to make very clear. As you’ve probably seen with many a male celebrity, there is a world of difference between simply deciding not to cut your hair one day, and growing your hair out with actual effort.

And yes, you can tell the difference between the two. There are a few things you can do to make sure you don’t fall into the former category though, starting with…

Get As Many Opinions As Possible
Before you decide to go full-Fabio, do a serious evaluation as to whether the product of your spent time and effort is actually gonna look good or not. Take a look in the mirror, use a snapchat filter, ask your family, ask your Mrs, ask your mates, ask anyone how they reckon you’d look with long hair.

Also, don’t be afraid to cut it back if you don’t think it’s going to go as well as you thought. There’s no shame in trying, but we can’t all be Chris Hemsworth.

Match Your Style To Your Features
There’s a few things that can determine just how good your mane is likely to look, and they all rest on your face. Having thicker hair in certain places (for instance a heavier top and thinner sides, or vice versa), can help accentuate or balance the features of your mug, meaning it’s important to get everything proportioned correctly.

If you have large features (big nose, big lips etc.) or a rounder face, go for bigger, larger, more textured styles to soften them. Early Mick Jagger is a good example. If you have smaller features and a thinner face, a thinner, longer style is probably more suitable. Think Zlatan or Jared Leto.

Adjust Your Style As It Grows
Of course, before you reach a glorious mane you’re going to go through months of awkward lengths, styles and unruliness that’ll make you question whether or not you want to continue.

The answer to this issue is twofold. One, make sure you’re giving your hair the best chance to grow healthily by eating a decent diet and using conditioning products as it grows. Two. Don’t be afraid to get a little product involved to keep things looking presentable.

It’ll take time for your hair to reach a long enough length to weigh itself down and look properly natural, so you may have to compromise for a while.

Once It’s Grown, Let Your Barber Take the Reigns
If you’ve grown your hair out right, it should need as little maintenance as possible to make it look good. If you want to blow dry it, go for it, but lay off on the styling products, unless of course you’re trying out for a Motley Crue tribute act.

The hallmark of a grown-out hairstyle that works is that it should look good sitting naturally. If it doesn’t, then let your barber fix it or consider a change of style altogether.

That being said, take care of your hair. Short hair might let you get away with being a little more relaxed on the shampoo and conditioner, but as any girl will tell you, long hair won’t afford you that luxury.

Always Keep It In Check
Keeping your hair healthy often boils down to making sure you’re touching it as little as possible, but depending on how long you decide to go, you’re gonna have to figure out ways to make sure it’s not going everywhere when you’re playing sport, doing manual labour or even just walking in a windy day.

The key here is to experiment with what suits you. Take as much inspiration as you’d like when it comes to buns, ponytails, headbands, bandannas or whatever, as long as you’re avoiding the top knot.
 
This article first appeared on D’MARGE

Growing your hair out is a commitment that takes patience and a lot more. Bored? Got a bad haircut? Just want some growth? By following a consistent regimen, you can lengthen your locks and adopt some good habits along the way.

Women and men who want to add new growth without using medical treatments, harsh chemicals, or extensions can do it on their own. Don’t be bored or disappointed with what you already have, just build on it. Check out these tips to help feed your strands!

Brush When Dry
Though wet hair is easier to brush through and detangle, water actually weakens the hair shaft, making it easier to break. Your hair isn’t as strong and elastic when it’s wet compared to when it’s dry, so pulling and brushing can cause breakage from the root or middle. That’s not what you want when trying to grow it out.

Brush it dry only, and brush it before you go to bed to encourage growth.

Forget the Daily Wash
That means that washing your hair daily is a no-no when trying to grow it out. Depending on the texture of your hair, it could take some getting used to, but it’s for the better. Natural oils found in the scalp and hair need to live there in peace and do their work. Too much shampooing and scrubbing removes those oils. There’s less work, less heat, and less stripping, which equals healthy hair growth!

Eat Better
You’ve heard it before: eat healthy in order for your hair to be healthy. Your hair is its own form of protein, and needs to be fed with it too. Eggs, fish, omega fats, leafy greens, and – according to one beauty blogger – pumpkins are among the cornucopia of hair growth fuel. Protein, fats, and iron nourish the hair from the root to the tip.

Avoid Sugar
It’s hard because sugar is found in just about everything, but eating too much destroys collagen and keratin, which are both needed for new growth. Collagen is an amino acid that makes hair strong, but sugar tears away at it like a raging monster. Cut down on the sugar and you’ll notice a difference in your hair, skin, and nails.

Heat isn’t Hot
Don’t you know too much heat isn’t good for anyone? Using blow dryers, curling irons, or flat irons – you name it – excessively can siphon moisture from your locks, resulting in weakness. We’re not saying to toss all your hot tools; just exercise good judgement and give your strands a break.

Oil and Condition
Keeping the hair moist is essential for faster hair growth. Giving yourself a deep conditioning or oil treatment regularly helps to lock in moisture. Oil treatments can be done before or after a washing, feeding hair strands with fatty acids. Try any of these good-for-hair oils:  argan, coconut, jojoba, olive, or castor.

Inverted Massages
A whaaa? It might sound like some newfangled yoga pose, but it’s just a way to massage your scalp. Beauty vloggers and hair stylists are raving about this method of increasing circulation to the scalp; it’s almost like exercise. To try it, sit in a chair and bend over until your head is lower than your heart.

Massage with your fingers or a wire scalp massager to increase blood flow. Add a few drops of oil for a great session but if you feel light-headed or dizzy, stop.

Trim
While hair and beauty experts have their own take on how often to trim hair, doing so keeps it healthy and prevents breakage. Leaving split ends unattended causes breakage, prevents hair growth, and can even travel up the strand. It’s sage, old advice but it works!

No Hot Water Washes
When we jump in the shower we want the temperature to be just right, and often it tips more towards hot than not. Hot water is good for removing buildup from the pores but it also causes the hair to become brittle, dry, and porous itself. It can lead to shedding and weakened hair follicles.

Cold water helps to seal in moisture and make the hair shiny. That’s the ticket for hair growth. Warm water – the moderate middle – provides a mixture of both worlds.

With these tips, guys and girls wanting to add length to their manes can do it. You can also keep track of growth from week to week. Just find the right combination for your hair type and lifestyle, and let it grow.
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This article first appeared on TipHero

by Kyle McManus
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With summer looming, millions of we gents are making travel plans.

Wherever you’re going, sitting on a plane, train, or boat for hours and hours tends to leave you looking and feeling past your best. Even if you start your trip without a single strand out of place, you’ll still probably look like a scruffy shadow of your former self by the time you reach your destination.

Basically, you need to travel-proof your hair, but that’s not as easy as it should be. Fear not though, chaps – we’re here to help
 
Tip #1: Wash and Go
Be sure to wash your hair during your morning shower before you head to the airport.

Why? By being thorough with shampoo and conditioner, you’ll give your hair much-needed texture and remove excess oils.

As a result, your hair scalp will be in better condition while you travel. If you style hair that hasn’t been washed in a few days, it’s bound to look worse after hours on a plane with all that oil and product mixed together.

Tip #2: Dry and Dry Again
Grab a travel-sized can of dry shampoo, and then just spray it lightly on oily spots throughout your journey (be sure to do this in the bathroom, so you’re not irritating your fellow passengers).

This is ideal if you want to top-up your style too, letting you refresh your locks ready for a dash more product.

Still, with that in mind, be sure to …

Tip #3: Go Easy on the Product
You want to look good when you touch down or step off that train. You want to drop your luggage off and get straight out there, seeing the sights and sampling the local delights.

Obviously, you want to style your hair just as you like it, so you still feel like YOU even though you’re halfway across the planet (or further!). Still, it’s essential that you don’t overdo it on the product – even though you might think you need more to keep it looking sharp during long periods of travel, you might end up overloading your hair, leading to an oilier, messy look later on.
 
Use as little as you can to maintain your style, and go with water-soluble wax or a light gel. Start with a small amount, and then add more as needed; don’t just slap a golf ball-sized clump on.
 
Tip #4: Resist Temptation or Sit on Your Hands
When you’re a few hours into a long flight, it’s easy to start feeling uncomfortable, frustrated, maybe even a bit stir-crazy. You’ll probably be tempted to run your fingers through your hair, check your style in the mirror, play around with the odd strand here and there …

Don’t do it!

While you might think you can make your style look better by constantly smoothing or twisting it into shape, you’ll keep adding more oil (from your hands). These will mix with those oils already on your scalp, too, making for a pretty unpleasant look and feel.
 
Tip #5: Mix it Up
Of course, you don’t HAVE to keep your hairstyle exactly the same while jetting off on holiday. What better time to try something new, fresh, and cool than when you’re breaking from your usual routine?

Maybe go for a shorter, lower-maintenance cut, or for longer styles, go for a top-knot. The less you feel the need to keep it perfect, the more travel-proof your hair will be!

We hope these tips keep you rocking your favourite look when travelling – have fun, and remember to keep it Rugged, Yet Smooth!
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This article first appeared on Rugged Yet Smooth