HOW TO TAKE CARE OF STRAIGHT HAIR

Since I straightened out my hair care, it's been growing, and the ends look great. Here's what I do for my hair:

Never wash the hair with shampoo anymore, only conditioner, such as VO5 Hydrators or Free Me Freesia, Suave Daily Clarifying conditioner, or White Rain Extra Body. If you buy these, make sure you get the exact product, as all these brands make lots of different products, some of which aren't good for much of anything. Dilute the conditioner with 1/2 as much water, to help it penetrate better. Then use it by the handful. All these brands are really cheap, so cost is not an issue. Do a scalp massage while washing, to remove any skin buildup (an issue only if you tend to get dandruff), then repeat again, to do the length once and the scalp twice in all.

Then apply a moisturizing conditioner, like Elasta QP Intense or Hollywood Beauty Carrot Cholesterol. This would be a conditioner without any silicones (ingredients ending in -cone, read the ingredients list). Finally, finish off with some Pantene Pro-V, and comb out while I'm rinsing.

Some people complain of damaging buildup from the silicones in Pantene Pro-V. To prevent this, start your wash by wetting your hair with a mix of 1/2 cup vinegar in warm water at least once a week. Never had any buildup problem.

Squeeze out your hair, then put it up in a towel. Take it down, comb again, then put it in a dry towel one more time. By the time, take it down, it's more damp than wet. Now put 2 drops of jojoba on your fingertips, and work this into the ends, and also the section on the back of your neck that breaks off short. This seems to prevent that "dry ends" feeling, and makes the hair even sleeker.

Sometimes also add a couple of drops of jojoba or coconut oil the next day after wash, but if your are wearing your hair up, usually forget to do it until it's too late.

• The only other hair that can be thicker than Asian hair is the true red head! Red hair originated in northwest Europe, particularly Scotland. The study of ancient history denotes the early Celtics, known as Caledonians, were very large limbed and had striking red hair. The early Romans described them as a wild people. Today, the red headed people of Scotland still have somewhat of a wild, hot tempered reputation.

• People of European descent can have blonde or dark hair. The fairest blondes tend to come from central Norway, Sweden, Finland and Denmark. The rest of Europe has predominantly darker hair. Close inspection under a microscope shows that these strands of hair are thinner and round to oval shaped. These types of strands can give you straight or wavy hair. There is not as much weight to this type of hair as the Asians. People with thinner hair strands tend to have approximately 90,000 hair strands. A lot less than their Asian cousins. Volumizing shampoos and conditioners are excellent for this hair type.

• People of African decent have dark, tight, very curly hair. Again, under close inspection under a microscope shows that the hair stands are thin and flat. It is the flatness of the strands that cause the hair to curl right up. There is not much weight to it. The most important thing to watch for, is keeping this type of hair moisturized. The flat thin strands are prone to drying out so a gentle cleanser and moisturizing conditioner are very helpful in keeping the hair natural and soft looking. Care also needs to be taken when combing or brushing because breakage occurs easily with this hair type. Minimize the use of blow driers and curling irons.