The reason as to why we lose hair during summer is because we sweat a lot during summer, the pores on the surface of the skin spread to release sweat. Our hair becomes weak at that time and is more prone to falling off. Along with hair loss you might also experience itching and irritation on your scalp. This could make you scratch your head which could cause hair fall to get much worse.

So, there are a few procedures that you could follow to prevent hair loss during summer. One of the simple things that you could do is take a shower every day. Whenever you get back home after a long day’s work make sure you take a shower and rinse your hair and scalp, so that the dirt gets removed from your scalp completely. But make sure you use a mild shampoo and hair conditioner because if you wash your hair a lot, it might cause breakage and your hair might lose the natural oil produced by the oil gland.

And another way of preventing hair loss is by protecting your head or hair from getting into contact with sunlight. You could simply do this by wearing a cap; women could get stylish umbrellas too or they could even wear a scarf.

Summer season could trouble you by causing a lot of hair fall, but it is proven that during summer your hair grows at a faster pace. During summer the blood circulation in our body is much more efficient than in winter or any other season. The reason is because of the warm weather our body heat increases and our body needs to work at a faster rate to reduce the body temperature. And when our body works at a faster pace, the cells in our body also develop quickly. Similarly, the cells in our hair also develop at a faster rate and thus, hair growth is improved.

Make sure you take the required precautions to avoid hair loss. Hair growth during summer could be impacted in both, good and bad ways. It is a natural process that takes place and we could reduce the damage done by taking proper care.

What is the significance of using hair conditioner on a daily basis? As you may already know, conditioners help untangle gnarls in your hair, and make it more manageable and softer to the touch. But behind this attractive effect on the hair is a scientific explanation. However, before discussing the nitty gritty of hair conditioners, first familiarize yourself with the physical structure of each hair strand on your head.

Imagine each hair strand as a tube with an outermost layer, and this is made of keratin, a strong type of protein, similar to what your fingernails and toenails are made of. Keratin on hair strands, when examined through a microscope, looks bristly like shingles on a roof, overlapping each other. When you have dry, damaged hair, these shingles stand up on end more than usual, which causes strands to get tangled up whenever they come in contact with each other. Your hair tends to get rough and difficult to brush.

To remedy this problem, you are very likely to use a hair conditioner. How do you apply it on your hair? First, shampoo your hair as usual, rinsing it thoroughly. Wring or squeeze our excess water on your tresses before applying your conditioner.

Do this while massaging your scalp, making sure that roots to ends are covered with hair conditioner. Rinse well and towel dry. For best results, hair conditioner should be used everyday, as beauty sources would recommend.

Now, what does the hair conditioner do to each hair strand? Hair conditioners are manufactured to have a pH of below 7, which means they are slightly acidic. Acidic substances contain hydrogen atoms, which can form bonds on keratin on the surface of hair strands. When hydrogen bonds are formed, the roof shingles flatten out, creating one smooth surface. In turn, the tangles are removed from hair, and it is now smoother, softer, and easier to brush and style.

What does conditioner do for hair? As mentioned before, it makes unmanageable hair softer, smoother, and easier to control. But what is the mechanism behind this effect of conditioner on your lovely tresses? Before you get into the mechanism of hair conditioner, first have a look at each hair strand up close.

The coating of your hair strands is made up of a protein called keratin. Layers of keratin overlap each other, such that they look like fish scales or roof shingles. When hair is damaged or dry, the keratin appears very bristly, causing strands to easily get tangled up. Imagine how the rough ends of Velcro attach to each other. That is how you get mussed up hair.

Now, this is where hair conditioner comes into play. The pH of hair conditioner is slightly acidic, which means that it contains many hydrogen atoms. When they come in contact with the keratin on the hair surface, hydrogen bonds are formed, causing the shingles to flatten out and smoothen.

No longer is there a scaly or bristly appearance on the surface of hair strands. In this same manner, hair is untangled, leaving is smooth and soft at the same time. This is why hair becomes easier to brush after applying conditioner.

However, hair conditioner does more than just improve the texture of each hair strand. This hair product also is significant in maintaining the health of your tresses and your scalp. Because conditioners also contain moisturizers, the skin on your scalp becomes healthier and more nourished. When the scalp is healthy, good hair growth is achieved as well.

How do you use hair conditioner? After shampooing, wring out the excess water from your hair, and apply your conditioner while massaging your scalp. This also improves blood circulation in this part of your body. When done, rinse off the conditioner and towel try your hair. There are certain treatments that require conditioner to incubate on the hair to help penetrate it better, an example of which is deep hair conditioning.

What is the pH scale? This is the basis that helps determine how acidic or basic a chemical solution is. If the pH is measured at 7, such as in distilled water, you can expect it to be neutral. If it goes above 7, like for bleaches and detergents, it is considered basic or alkaline. If the pH is measured below 7, like for vinegar and lemon juice, it is now acidic.

Normally, most areas of the body like the scalp, skin surface, and the stomach contains acidic substances. The pH on the hair and scalp, to be more specific, is about 5. as said before, pH affects the health of the hair, which is why the pH of products used on hair can also have significant effects on your tresses.

Speaking of hair care, the most common product people can’t do without is shampoo. This has a slightly acidic pH, but more close to neutral for gentle shampoos. Shampoo has to have a lower pH to be able to clear off the scum and excess oils on the scalp and hair. A neutral shampoo is often used for babies or people with sensitive scalp and hair, to prevent irritation. Conditioners are also acidic, so that they can cause the surface of hair strands to flatten out and be smooth instead of bristly like roof shingles, as how hair strand surfaces would normally look when you have a bad hair day.

When you go for a perm, on the other hand, the chemicals used on hair are more basic, or have a pH above 7. This creates specific types of chemical bonds on the surfaces of hair strands, causing them to curl up. pH is also an important factor in other hair treatment products such as hair dyes or hair colors.

Here are simple recipes you can try for a home made hair mask, to moisturize your hair and keep your tresses nice, soft, and of course naturally healthy. For dull, damaged, and dry hair, olive oil or eggs can be used. You can create a basic mask by beating together one egg with a few tablespoons of olive oil.

These two items are high in fats that help replenish the lost moisture in dry hair. Massage this onto your scalp, paying close attention from roots to tips of hair. You may cover your head with a hot towel and a shower cap to allow the oils to penetrate your strands. After about half an hour, rinse off the mask thoroughly using gentle shampoo.

Another way to get rid of dry hair is to use honey and milk as a hair mask. In some recipes, yogurt is also used because of the high moisture content found in dairy products. At the same time, honey also helps make hair strands shiny. After using these types of hair masks, be sure to rinse your hair thoroughly and use a mild shampoo.

If you have that ever-present scalp irritation known as dandruff, there are also hair remedies you can try at home. You can create a hair rinse from an infusion of thyme, a very fragrant yet powerful herb. Boil a handful of fresh thyme leaves or a few tablespoons of dried ones in some water. Allow the solution to cool and drain off the leaves. Use this to rinse hair and soak it. It is best if you do not shampoo afterwards.

You can search more sources to find out useful recipes you can try on your hair. However, be careful about what you put on your tresses, as too much may be a bad thing. Another good word of advice would be to eat a healthy diet and maintain proper hygiene to be able to perfectly take care of your hair.

Here is a bit of info about pH, as defined in terms of chemical properties of solutions. As said before, pH is the measure of how acidic or basic a substance is. The pH of 7, means that a solution is neutral, neither acidic nor basic. Distilled water is an example of this. When pH falls below 7, it is considered acidic. When it goes above 7, it is basic or alkaline.

The normal pH of the human body, the scalp, and hair, is at around 5. The various products used to treat and care for hair may also differ in their pH, depending on their intended purpose.

For example, the use of hair coloring products have different pH levels, which can affect how temporary or permanent the dye will be. Temporary hair dyes usually contain an acidic pH, so that they do not easily penetrate the hair strands.

However, more permanent hair dyes contain alkaline chemicals like ammonia and hydrogen peroxide, which can penetrate hair strands to their cores, or the cortexes. This affects the production of melanin, which is responsible for your natural hair color. Because permanent hair coloring can be highly basic and may have corrosive properties on hair, it is not always a recommended option for people who want to maintain healthy and strong tresses.

Here is a bit of note about shampoos. Most shampoos are also made to be neutral or at times, slightly acidic. The high pH will allow the shampoo to easily clear off any oils or dirt that have formed on the hair and scalp. Neutral shampoos may be recommended for people who have sensitive scalps. In the same manner, hair conditioner is acidic or carries a high pH, because it causes the keratin on the hair strand surface to be flattened out instead of bristly, thus causing hair to be smooth and soft.

What about hair perms? The chemicals involved in this process are mostly basic, which creates chemical bonds on the surface of hair strands. This makes the hair curly instead of smooth and straight. As you can see, pH is significant in terms of its effect on hair. So the next time you use certain chemical on your hair, you now know what its pH can do for your precious mane.