In everyday life, combing your hair is a basic care task that everyone must perform. It is not only related to personal image and hygiene but also to health and beauty. Since ancient times, combing hair has been regarded as a form of beauty and wellness. Do you know the benefits of combing hair?
Basic methods of combing hair
- Choose the right comb: A hog bristle comb is suitable for dry hair, a plastic comb for oily hair, a fine-toothed comb for fine and soft hair, and a wide-toothed comb for hair with thickness. Considering the material of the comb, natural materials such as sandalwood, horn, or comb made of pig bristle, compared with plastic or metal comb, more difficult to produce static electricity and less damage to the hair.
- The correct order of combing: Start at the tips of the hair and gently comb through, gradually moving upwards to the roots to minimize pulling and breakage of the hair. Always comb in the direction of hair growth to avoid damage caused by combing in the opposite direction.
- Control the strength of your combing: Use gentle strokes and avoid overdoing it, especially on wet and damaged hair. If you encounter knots, don’t pull on them, but gently detangle them with your fingers, or use a wide-toothed comb to detangle them slowly.
- Frequency of combing: Depending on the individual’s hair type and hairstyle, combing 1-2 times a day is sufficient to avoid damage caused by over-combing. Brushing your hair after waking up in the morning and before going to bed will help keep your hair tidy and improve blood circulation.
Benefits of combing hair
1. Promotes blood circulation
The gentle friction and pressure on the scalp from brushing stimulate blood circulation under the scalp. Blood circulation is important for healthy hair growth.
- Combing action: Gently massaging the scalp through the tips of the teeth of the comb mimics the massaging action of the fingers and stimulates blood circulation in the scalp.
- Enhanced blood circulation: Regular combing can accelerate blood circulation in the scalp, providing more oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles, thus helping hair growth.
- Lymphatic fluid flow: Combing hair can also promote lymphatic fluid flow, helping to eliminate metabolic waste and reduce the accumulation of toxins in the scalp and hair.
- Secretion of hair growth hormones: Improved blood circulation may promote the secretion of hair growth hormones in the scalp, which is conducive to healthy hair growth.
2. Role of head massage
Head massage is a special form of hair combing process, which has multiple positive effects on the scalp and hair.
- Relaxing the scalp: Massage can relieve scalp tension and reduce the tightness of the scalp caused by long hours of work, study, or life stress.
- Reduce hair loss and breakage: Massage can reduce hair pulling caused by tight scalp, thus reducing hair loss and breakage phenomenon.
- Refreshing: Head massage can stimulate the cerebral cortex, promote active thinking, and refresh the brain.
- Improve the quality of sleep: Head massage before bedtime can help relax the body and mind, and improve the quality of sleep so that people fall asleep faster.
- Promote scalp health: Massage can remove dandruff, clean the scalp, reduce the accumulation of scalp oil, and keep the scalp healthy.
3. Balance of scalp oil
Brushing the hair helps to secrete the scalp’s natural oils, which can be distributed along the hair fiber to provide natural moisturization and protection to the hair. By combing, excess oil and dead skin cells are removed, keeping the scalp clean and reducing the likelihood of oil-clogging pores.
4. Reduce the harmful effects of static electricity on hair
- Hair damage: Static electricity causes an imbalance of charge on the surface of the hair fibers, leading to hair repelling each other, and making hair appear frizzy, tousled, and unmanageable. Static electricity may cause hair to become dry and brittle, increasing the risk of breakage and split ends. When combing, static electricity may cause hair to become knotted, and forcing the knots out may cause mechanical damage to the hair.
- Scalp irritation: Static electricity may cause scalp discomfort such as itching and tingling sensations. Static electricity may also lead to increased dandruff, which may further cause scalp inflammation or infection.
5. Maintenance of hairstyle by combing hair
- Maintaining a tidy hairstyle: Regular combing of hair can help remove surface dirt, dandruff, and excess product residue, keeping your hairstyle neat. For long or layered hairstyles, combing prevents tangles and keeps the hairstyle flowing and layered.
- Maintains the shape of the hairstyle: Brushing helps to distribute styling products better and more evenly through the hair, maintaining the shape and style of the hairstyle. After using products such as hair wax and gel, combing can help shape the hairstyle and make it last longer.
- Reduce hair damage: Proper combing can reduce hair damage caused by static electricity, tangles, etc., thus maintaining a damage-free hairstyle. Using the right comb for your hair type and hairstyle will help you avoid damage or distortion caused by improper combing.
- Enhance the beauty of your hairstyle: Brushing your hair makes it smoother and shinier, enhancing the overall beauty and attractiveness of your hairstyle.
6. Prevents tangles and frizz
Knots and frizz are common problems with hair, and they not only affect the beauty of your hairstyle but may also lead to hair damage.
- Causes of knots: Hair that is not properly groomed is prone to tangling and forming knots due to activities such as sleeping and exercising. Static electricity, lack of moisture, and nourishment are also common causes of tangles.
- Causes of frizz: Frizz is usually caused by a lack of moisture in the hair, which leads to an imbalance of charge on the surface of the hair fibers, causing the hair to repel each other and look frizzy. Regular use of hot tools such as hair dryers and curling irons as well as chemical treatments such as colouring and perming can also make hair frizzy.
- Ways to prevent tangles and frizz: Regular combing of hair, especially after shampooing and when it is half dry, can effectively prevent tangles and frizz. Using a comb that suits your hair type, such as a wide-toothed comb or a natural pig bristle comb, can reduce damage to your hair and help it stay smooth. Using a moisturizing product such as a conditioner or oil before brushing can provide extra moisture to the hair and reduce static and frizz.
7. The role of combing your hair in reducing hair loss
Hair loss is a nuisance faced by many people and proper combing of hair can help reduce it.
Removes dandruff and dirt: combing your hair can help remove dead skin cells, dandruff, and dirt from the scalp, reducing their clogging and irritation of the hair follicles, thus reducing the risk of hair loss.
Strengthens hair elasticity: Regular combing increases hair elasticity and reduces hair breakage and hair loss due to brittle hair.
Misconceptions about combing hair
1. Brushing your hair too often
Brushing your hair removes dead skin, dirt, and excess product residue, but if you brush your hair too often, it can cause the following problems:
- Hair damage: Frequent combing increases friction between hairs, leading to damage to the surface of the hair fibers, which in the long run may lead to dryness, split ends, and even breakage.
- Damage to hair follicles: Excessive combing may also irritate the scalp, damaging hair follicles and affecting normal hair growth.
- Hair loss: Frequent combing, especially with hard combs, may pull on the fragile hair roots, leading to hair loss.
Correct practice:
Depending on your hair type and hairstyle, combing 1-2 times a day is sufficient, avoiding excessive combing. Use gentle pressure when combing and be more careful, especially for long or damaged hair.
2. Using the wrong comb
Choosing the right comb is essential for hair care. Using the wrong comb may lead to the following problems:
- Static electricity generation: Plastic or metal combs are prone to static electricity generation, resulting in frizzy, tangled, and unmanageable hair.
- Hair damage: Hard or rough comb teeth can scratch the scalp or tear the hair, especially if the hair is wet and more fragile.
- Scalp discomfort: Unsuitable combs may irritate the scalp, causing discomfort or pain.
Correct practice:
Choose the right comb for your hair type and hairstyle. For example, wide-toothed combs or bristle combs are suitable for dry or damaged hair, as they can minimize damage to the hair. Avoid plastic or metal combs, especially those with sharp teeth. Clean the comb regularly to remove accumulated dust, grease, and dandruff to keep it clean and hygienic.
3. Wet hair combing
It is a common misconception to comb your hair when it is wet, which may cause the following damage to your hair:
- Fragile hair: When hair is wet, its fibers expand and become more fragile and brittle. Brushing your hair at this time, especially with a hard comb, can easily lead to breakage.
- Increased pulling force: The elasticity of wet hair is reduced, which can cause hair to be pulled when combing, thus damaging the scalp and hair follicles.
- Formation of knots: Wet hair tends to get tangled with each other, and if not combed correctly, the knots may become more severe and difficult to untangle.
Correct practice:
Wait until the hair is half or fully dry before combing, when the hair is tougher and less likely to be damaged. Use a wide-toothed comb to gently start at the ends and work your way up until the entire hair is smooth. Avoid using fine-toothed combs or hard combs when the hair is wet to avoid damage to the hair.
4. Excessive force
Brushing hair too hard is another common mistake that can lead to the following problems:
- Hair damage: Brushing too hard puts too much pressure on the hair and can lead to damage to the hair fibers, especially on already damaged or brittle hair.
- Scalp damage: Brushing too hard may irritate or damage the scalp, causing pain or redness.
- Hair loss: Excessive force may cause excessive pulling on the hair roots, leading to hair loss.
Correct Practice:
Use gentle pressure to comb your hair and avoid using too much force. For knotted hair, gently untangle it with your hands before combing it slowly with a comb. Choose a suitable comb, such as a wide-toothed comb or a pig bristle comb, which will cause less damage to your hair. Be patient when combing and avoid using too much force due to impatience.
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