Your hair’s cuticle is more important than you think.
Hair care is more than just washing and moisturizing your hair. In fact, caring for your hair goes beyond the physical strands; it starts in the hair’s cuticle.
What Are Hair Cuticles?
In order to care for the hair cuticle, it’s important to understand what it is first.According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI), the hair cuticle is the outermost part of the hair shaft.
“Each individual hair’s cuticle is formed from dead cells that overlap in layers, forming scales that strengthen and protect the hair shaft,” Colombini explains. “It’s important to keep hair cuticles healthy since each one protects the innermost layers of hair, which affects the health of each of your strands.”
How Can You Care For Hair Cuticles?
Hair cuticles are normally closed, but things like chemicals in hair dye, hot water, too much moisture, wind and cold weather can sometimes cause the hair cuticles to open up, making hair more vulnerable to damage like breakage and frizz.
The health of the hair cuticle also dictates the texture of hair and how well it retains moisture, so if your cuticle is unhealthy or left open, hair might become dry and hard to manage. To avoid this from happening, Colombini recommends sealing the hair cuticle.
“Sealing, otherwise known as shutting or closing the cuticle, is the best way to protect the cuticle and ensure the hair shaft looks healthy,” he explains. “One of the best ways to seal the hair cuticle is to use pH balancing hair care products."
How to Seal Your Hair’s Cuticle
Step 1. Use a pH Balancing Shampoo and Conditioner Consistently
Step 2. Use An In-Shower Glossing Treatment
Two to three times a week after shampooing and before conditioning, spray the glaze evenly throughout clean hair and wait one to three minutes (don’t rinse it out) before layering on the conditioner.
Step 3. Protect Your Strands
Source: L'Oréal
