Are You Making Any of These 6 Shampoo Mistakes?

If you've experienced dull hair, limp strands, or a flaky scalp, it might not be just because of the weather. It turns out all these issues can be caused (and solved) by the way you're shampooing your hair. Celebrity colorist Beth Minardi breaks down the dos and dont's of washing your hair step-by-step when you keep reading.

Related: 10 Reasons You Don't Have the Hair You Want

Misstep 3: You're causing friction. Minardi warns against rubbing strands between your hands as you wash, which can damage your strands. Focus instead on using your fingertips to massage the scalp, where shampoo is most needed.

Misstep 4: You're repeating unnecessarily. When it comes to shampooing, once is really enough. "That myth of lather, rinse, repeat is wrong," she says. "Those were directions that were made in the 1950s, when women washed their hair once a week or less."

Related: 1 Tool, 4 Looks: How to Get the Most From Your Curling Iron

Misstep 5: You're not rinsing enough. Take the time to rinse hairout thoroughly and then wring it out postshampoo. "When [some women] come in to get their hair colored, there is still soap curd dried behind their ears because they didn't rinse their hair and it looks like flakes," she said. "It's not that they have a flaky scalp - there is still shampoo in their head."

Misstep 6: You're conditioning in the wrong place. No wash cycle is complete without conditioner. But remember to only apply product on the hair shaft (not the scalp). In addition, work your conditioner through with your fingers instead of a comb. "The comb rips your hair out." Finally, for optimal shine, finish up with a hit of cool water.

Beautiful Hair Braids

Beautiful seas of blues and greens, soft and sparkling white sand and sun that beats down, tempting a tan on one�s exposed parts... these things are just a few signature traits of an unforgettable island vacation.

Relaxing by the poolside, enjoying the surf and sipping cocktails make a great start to a relaxing getaway from reality. Many will strive for the perfect golden glow while others may lather white limbs in coconut-scented sunblock. Perhaps the most common souvenir taken home from a week or two�s stay in the Caribbean is a new hairstyle!

Many women and some men choose to don the tiny braids that often reveal their most recent escape from corporate life. Braided hairstyles are common in a number of other tropical locations, including Jamaica and countless other island destinations.

Offers to braid one�s hair may be plentiful, depending on the time of day and location of the vacation. Women skilled in many styles of creative braiding may wander the beaches in search of their next clients, asking all those whom they pass if they would care for some braids.

In Nassau, the going rate per braid capped at about $3. Vacationers could request as few or as many braids as they wished, in a number of fashions. Those offering the braids often were willing to negotiate on the price in order to secure more business for themselves, so the cost of having one�s entire head braided may not be relative to having a few single braids done.

Once the number of desired braids has been determined, one should then select the braiding style. Common styles seen in The Bahamas include dozens of straight micro-braids - woven from roots to ends, cornrows fastened with beads at the crown, and cornrows ending in long braids.

Beads or tiny seashells may adorn braids and cornrows in the desired colors of the wearer. Popular styles seen this February consisted of cornrows ending at the crown in two alternating colors and long, micro-braids fastened off with a few beads on each one.

Some important hair and scalp care is necessary for those donning the stylish braids.
Dabbing a bit of sunblock on the scalp is critical to preventing sunburn.
When shampooing, wearers of the braids should not shampoo the braids directly, but rather the scalp, allowing the suds to soak down the braids.
To keep braids in great condition longer, a light coat of conditioner on each one should do just the trick.

When removing braids, the best method involves coating braids with conditioner and gently unraveling them one by one. A warm shower with normal shampoo and conditioner products should restore hair to its usual texture and appearance.

The best hairdo for your face

A woman�s hair is her crowning glory. It frames her face and completes her appearance. She can talk with her hair, and there are so many ways that a person can tell about her by simply looking at her hair. It is therefore very important for a woman to take care of her hair, to keep it clean, moisturized and trimmed, so that it would remain soft, shiny and neat.

Most women cut their hair to different styles in an attempt to enhance their looks. Some like their hair long and straight, while others like to wear their hair long and with abundant curls and ringlets. There are others who go for the minimum, no-fuss look and always have their hair cut short and simple, while others wish to strike a balance between femininity and practicality and keep their hair at mid-length. And there are still others who like experimenting on color and highlights, not just with the length and cut of their hair.

Unfortunately, not everyone can wear the same hairstyle and look good in it. Some hairstyles look great on some women, but sadly look like bombs on others. Many things can be taken into account as to why this is so, but mostly it is because the hairstyle does not flatter the face.

The way you do your hairdos must flatter your face and enhance your best features. After all, that is what the hair is supposed to do, aesthetically speaking � to frame your face and to help bring out your best features. Whether a hairstyle will look good on you or not depends on the shape of your face.

There are many, many types of hairstyles out there, but not all will look good on you unless the hairstyle fits the shape of your face. Below are the different hairstyles that are considered most flattering for each shape of face.

An oval face. The oval face is the perfect face. Almost any hairstyle will go with it, whether it is long or short, straight or curly. If you have an oval face, you will do well with having layers near your chin or cheekbones to draw attention to them. However, try to avoid hairstyles that add volumes to the top of your head � it will make your face look longer.

A long face. If you have a long or oblong face, you should create the illusion of width to balance it out. You can add width to your face by doing your hair with long, side-swept bangs or chin-length bobs. You will also do well with curls and waves that frame the face.

If you have a long or oblong face, you should avoid letting your hair grow extremely long or having your hair cut extremely short. Such extreme hairstyles will take the width from your face and emphasize its length.

A round face. If people with long faces need to add width to their faces, people with round faces need to take some of the width and bulk off by adding length. If your face is round you need to create the illusion of length, and to do this, you can have your hair cut just below your chin, or in graduated layers. Do not do your hair in short, one-length, blunt cuts, as it will only draw attention to the roundness of your face.

A square face. Having a square face means having an angular jaw. The hairstyle trick with having a square face is drawing attention away from that jaw. This is done by putting texture to your hair. Short curls do exactly this, as well as long layers that start just below the jawline. If your face has a square shape, you should try not to have your hair cut in one-length bobs or wear bangs that are cut bluntly. It will only emphasize the squareness of your face.

A heart-shaped face. Heart-shaped faces are pretty Valentines, but the pointed chin draws attention away from the eyes. If you have a heart-shaped face, you could bring focus to your eyes by wearing side-swept bangs, a fringe on your brow or long layers at the top. Or you could let your hair grow and have it done with layers that touch your cheekbones.

9 foods that help prevent hair loss

1. Chickpeas

Eating chickpeas basically kills two birds with one stone. You can get both zinc and the vitamin B-6 you need for healthy hair from chickpeas. Zinc has an important part in building hair protein.

Zinc also works together with Vitamin A. Missing one of those two causes you to have dandruff that could contribute to hair loss. Non Vegans can eat roast beef instead and get all of the same benefits and protein as well.

2. Roast beef

Roast beef is another source of Vitamin B-6 and Zinc. It's also a good source of protein. Vegans might consider taking Soy beans instead for protein and chickpeas for vitamin B6 and Zinc.

3. Soy beans

Soy is a great source of protein for vegans. It also contains a substantial amount of Iron and Vitamin E. Iron is an important part of hemoglobin production. Hemoglobin is responsible for getting oxygen to the tissues of the body. Without it your hair won't grow

Vitamin E also helps with the absorption of oxygen and increasing blood circulation to the scalp.

4. Almonds

Almonds are good sources of vegetarian protein, Iron and Vitamin E. They also help to lower cholesterol helping you avoid having to take cholesterol lowering drugs in the future. Some cholesterol lowering drugs actually cause hair loss.

5. Whole wheat

Whole wheat is a good source of Silica and Iron. Silica is very important because it helps with the absorption of many other vitamins and minerals. It's usually not found in abundance in western diets and in many cases it could be one of the main causes of hair loss.

6. cow's milk

Cow's milk has absorbable Iodine. It's impossible to overdose on Iodine from food sources unlike Iodized salt.

7. oats

Oats are a good source of easily absorbable Iron as well. It's also a good source of Potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.

8. Oranges

Oranges (or orange juice) are a good source of Vitamin C. Vitamin C helps make meat and soy sources of Iron more absorbable. Vitamin C is a big part of the development of collagen which is necessary for hair growth.

9. Fish

Fish is a good source of Vitamin A, Vitamin B-6, Protein and essential fatty acids (efa's). EFA's play a major role in maintaining healthy nails, hair and skin.

4 Vitamins you need for healthy hair

1. Vitamin A

Vitamin A has a big part in producing sebum. Without it you'll have dry hair, dandruff and a thick scalp. All of those symptoms could potentially cause you hair loss. First and second hand smoke along with aspirin and some prescription drugs could prevent Vitamin A absorption.

On the other end of the spectrum having too much sebum blocks hair follicles. So overdosing on Vitamin A could actually cause you even more hair loss.

Fortunately it's impossible to over dose on Vitamin A when you get it from food sources. Mango, Oranges, Carrots, Sweet potato and Squash are all good sources of Vitamin A.

2. Vitamin B

The B Vitamins are also a very important part of having healthy hair. All of the B Vitamins help with with hemoglobin which helps the scalp get the oxygen it needs for healthy hair growth. The main B vitamins that you need to focus on for hair growth are Vitamin B-6 and Folic Acid.

Vitamin B-6 is often found in protein rich foods. This kills 2 birds with one stone because both Vitamin B-6 and protein is needed to prevent hair loss. Potatoes, ready to eat cereals, Bananas, Garbanzo beans, Chicken breast, Oatmeal, Pork Loin, and roast beef contain Vitamin B-6.

Folic Acid is found in cooked lentils, collard greens, chickpeas, medium papaya, frozen peas, and boiled asparagus.

3. Vitamin E

Vitamin E helps provide good blood circulation to the scalp by increasing the absorption of oxygen. Ready made cereals, Almonds, Safflower Oil, Corn Oil, Soybean Oil, Turnip greens.

You probably don't have a Vitamin E deficiency but if you do it's most likely caused by an inability to absorb oils and fats. In this case taking a Vitamin E supplement is recommended.

4. Vitamin C

Vitamin C is responsible for the healthy development of collagen which is necessary for strong hair. Vitamin C can be found in Kiwi fruit, Guava, Red sweet peppers and Oranges.