What is hair texture?

It is the hair’s feel, appearance and manageability, and the way it reacts to trimming, brushing, combing, waving, and styling. I often hear patients complain that they’ve “lost” their hair texture, or that it has somehow changed.

What causes it to change?

Some of the common, controllable causes of loss/change in texture are: poor hair and scalp care, exposure to UV rays, the use (and over use) of chemical treatments, and poor nutrition. While a change in hair texture is (unfortunately) normal as we age, there are some important things you can do to improve it.

What can you do to improve it?

Use professional quality shampoos with a pH level of 3.5 to 5.5 to cleanse the hair and scalp. Shampoos with a pH of 3.5 to 5.5 cleanse the scalp with less damage to the hair shaft and cuticle. pH levels greater than 7.0 cause the cuticle cells to separate, resulting in a rougher texture. Many shampoos and conditioners available in supermarkets, for example, contain alcohol and are not pH balanced.

Condition, condition, condition. It is a myth that it is bad to shampoo your hair every day – provided you condition it each time. Conditioners with a pH less than 5.5 increase the moisture content of the hair and flatten the cuticle cells resulting in softer, smoother, shinier hair. Leave the conditioner on for 1-3 minutes.

Use a deep conditioner each month and consider having a deep conditioning salon treatment. There are hair products with hydrolyzed keratin protein that can repair damaged hair and improve hair texture. There are some salon services where protein treatments are applied with heat to improve penetration and repair of damaged keratin.

Use an amino acid supplement (not to be confused with a vitamin supplement). The hair shaft is composed of keratin protein. Keratin proteins are composed of amino acids linked end to end. Most multivitamins do not contain amino acids. Many of today’s fad diets that exclude red meat or other sources of protein can deplete amino acids needed for normal hair structure and texture. There are more than 10 essential amino acids that your hair needs to maintain its texture and normal growth pattern.