We talk a lot about skin care and skin care routines, so it's high time to address hair care ✍🏼 However, this topic affects (almost) everyone and is often a big source of confusion and even frustration. Each of us has our own challenges when it comes to hair and we usually aim for a certain effect, for example we wish for volume or softness.
Nordic hair in particular is often thinner and smoother in quality, so taking care of it brings its own challenges. In this article, we discuss hair treatment and care in general, how to get strong and healthy hair, and how to choose the right products for each hair type.
- What is hair anyway?
- How is Korean and Nordic hair different?
- Everything from washing your hair
- All about hair care
- How to choose the right shampoo and conditioner for you?
- The best way to dry your hair
What is hair anyway?
One of the reasons why hair receives less attention in beauty care is the misconception that since hair is not alive, it cannot or should not be treated. This is not true - hair can be cared for in many different ways, and as with skin, prevention is the most important way to take care of hair. However, the scalp and hair follicle, from which the hair grows, are alive and it's good to take that into account as well.
Hair consists mainly of protein, specifically keratin and also a matrix protein similar to keratin. The structure of the hair is complex, its surface, or scale layer, consists of keratin fibers that protect the inner part of the hair. This transparent surface layer tends to repel water and on the surface of intact hair, these scales are more "stuck". If the scales rise, the scale layer is more sensitive to letting water in, which can damage the hair (see pictures). Most of the hair is its fibrous layer, which consists of keratin and melanin, which gives hair color. The innermost part is the core of the hair, or the medulla, which, for example, may be completely missing from the thinnest hair.
The durability, quality and shape of the hair is affected by the bandages in it. Hair is affected by different chemical bonds, and the strength and quantity of those bonds affects, among other things, how strong the hair is. Therefore, just shedding thick hair does not guarantee that the hair is strong.
How is Korean and Nordic hair different?
Is hair quality very different for different people? There are many types of hair in the Nordic countries, you can find very rough and thick hair and thin and slippery hair. Some have very curly hair and some have straight hair.
Similarly, there are different types of hair in Korea, there is thinner and thicker, curly or straight. In general, however, it can be said that Asian hair types are often thicker and straighter. Asian hair has been studied to have, for example, a thicker fiber layer compared to other groups, due to the fact that there are more individual keratin layers. Asian hair has also been found to withstand mechanical wear better than the hair qualities of other groups. Otherwise, Asian and Caucasian hair types have very similar characteristics and the mentioned differences also vary greatly between individuals.
There are many types of hair care products in Korean cosmetics, which speaks to the different needs of hair care. There are also several products aimed at specific challenges. One of the common challenges of the Asian hair type is hair loss, a problem that many people in the Nordics also suffer from. Various scalp problems have been taken into account, for example, in the Some By Min Cica Peptide Derma Scalp series, which activates, soothes and cools the scalp, helping it with itching and dryness.
How to care for hair?
Everyone probably knows the basic formula, shampoo and conditioner, but still there are a lot of misunderstandings and misconceptions about hair care. We cover the basics of washing and caring for your hair, from between washes to finding the right conditioner and drying your hair.
Everything from washing your hair
Greasy hair is very individual and, like the skin, it is affected by e.g. genes and environment. Greasy hair, sweating, environmental pollution and styling products are the reasons why it is good to wash your hair regularly. The washing interval varies greatly among different people - too long a washing interval exposes you to infections and residues accumulate in the hair, but too tight a washing interval exposes the scalp to dryness and irritation and may wear out the hair. Therefore, choose the right hair detergent and washing interval for you. Many people try to claim that there is a general correct washing interval for everyone, but this is not the case, there are many individual differences. For many, this washing interval is every 1-2 days or only once a week or even once every two weeks. For example, very coarse hair does not need to be washed as often as loose and thin hair. You rarely need to wash your hair every day, but if you feel this is necessary, pay attention to the fact that the shampoo you choose is gentler in its washing power and also contains enough conditioning ingredients.
Does your hair need a double braid?
There are some grounds for the usefulness of double washing, especially if the hair is very dirty or has styling products applied to it. When you wash it, you often already know whether the hair feels clean or not. Clean hair has no residue from dirt or styling products, so it is smooth and feels lighter. If the hair still doesn't feel like this after the first wash, it may be worth repeating the wash a second time.
The foaminess of the shampoo can also be a sign of how well it has washed your hair. Typically foaming shampoos will not foam if all the micelles formed by the shampoo are attached to the dirt. On the other hand, foam can be formed if there are "left over" cleansing ingredients, micelles are not formed and this is how foam is created. But since different shampoos foam very differently and not all shampoos foam at all, it can be an unreliable measure of cleanliness. The foam itself does not indicate the washing power, but often gives the feeling of washing and is therefore a popular feature in shampoos.
Do you really need a deep cleansing shampoo?
Deep cleansing shampoos are rarely necessary, their washing power is really strong and may leave the hair squeaky clean, which is not necessary. This also again puts pressure on the effectiveness of the conditioner, so you may be doing more harm than good. A regular shampoo should already remove all necessary excess from the hair. If you have found the perfect deep cleansing shampoo for you, of course, keep using it! But buying one separately is hardly necessary.
All about hair care
Does your hair need conditioner?
The longer your hair grows, the more likely you need some kind of conditioner. The hair is subject to mechanical, chemical, heat and sun stress on a daily basis. Since hair cannot repair itself, it is important to take care of it regularly, for example when washing. The most classic way to care for your hair is a conditioner – it's useful regardless of how washing or not washing shampoo you use, because the shampoo probably won't be able to give enough care to the ends of the hair, especially long hair.
What does the conditioner do?
The effectiveness of the conditioners is based on the ability of the ingredients in them to form a protective film on the surface of the hair and on the charges of the ingredients and the hair. When hair is wet, it is negatively charged and conditioners contain positively charged, i.e. cationic, ingredients. These attach to wet hair and repair damaged areas. The more cationic ingredients, the more caring the product. Fatty alcohols together with these cationic ingredients do a large part of the conditioner's work. Other good ingredients in conditioners are silicones and proteins. Silicones, on the other hand, effectively smooth the surface of the hair without flattening it. There are many types of silicones, so there are differences in how each of them works as a whole. And let's clarify one thing: silicones are not the same thing as plastic ☝🏼 If you don't want to use silicones on principle, good alternatives are e.g. vegetable oils or proteins, which are especially good for damaged hair.
How long does the conditioner have to work?
A regular conditioner does its job quickly. The conditioner does not have to be in the hair for long periods of time in order for it to take effect sufficiently. The chemical effect of the conditioner takes place during the hair washing phase, this is where its cationic ingredients attach to the damaged areas of the hair. So if you apply the conditioner carefully and then rinse your hair, the conditioner has done its job and you don't have to wait for long periods of time.
The exception to this is certain conditioners containing proteins, which need a longer time to act in the hair, to achieve the full effect. This usually takes about 5-10 minutes. An example of this is the Kundalin Protein Treatment, which contains hydrogenated soy protein and also numerous plant extracts. This conditioner is perfect for slightly drier or processed hair types. But with a regular conditioner, all you need to do is carefully apply to towel-dried hair and rinse.
How to choose the right shampoo and conditioner for you
In Korean cosmetics, there are many product options for different hair types, from smooth to very curly hair types.
The shampoo has to find the right balance in terms of suitable washability. If the shampoo leaves the hair squeaky clean, the conditioner has a bigger job of smoothing and repairing the hair's surface. It is often a challenge that there are completely different challenges closer to the scalp than at the ends of the hair. It can be a good idea to combine products from different categories together. For example, if your hair gets greasy quickly, but it's still dry at the ends, you can choose a volumizing shampoo together with a moisturizing conditioner.
Thin hair can especially benefit from thickening products. They are specifically formulated in such a way that they reduce hair flatness and can also make the hair a little easier to handle. The crushing effect can be achieved e.g. with different polymers. Polymers help the hair to hold a certain position and bring structure. Polymers are also used in products designed for curly hair because they make the hair easier to handle and clarify the curl. (What are polymers? Polymers are simply long chains of molecules, they can be either naturally derived or synthetically produced. Plastics are also polymers, but not all polymers are plastics) - this separately in a box as a side note For example , Daeng Gi Meo Ri Vitalizing shampoo is for hair that gets greasy quickly a designed product that also strengthens the hair and brings structure to thin and/or curly hair with the help of polymers.
Damaged or processed hair needs conditioners with plenty of cationic ingredients that can repair the damage in the hair. These include ingredients ending in -onium found in the INCI, e.g. behentrimonium chloride and cetrimonium chloride. These are very commonly used cationic ingredients. Proteins also nourish and make hair stronger. The savior of damaged and dry hair is Daeng Gi Meo Ri Ki Gold Premium Treatment , which contains plenty of plant extracts and silicones that smooth the hair's surface.
For fluffy hair, it is important to have a sufficient amount of conditioning ingredients that smooth the surface of the hair, as well as cationic ingredients. Silicones are here again an easy and effective group of ingredients. The humidity coming from outside can easily make your hair frizzy, even if it is completely smooth when you leave home. Any change in humidity, whether it's from humid to dry or vice versa, can turn hair frizzy. For fluffy hair, a leave-in conditioner can be an excellent solution, for example, the wonderfully scented Odid Milk Protein Treatment is sprayed on towel-dried hair after washing, but its light composition still does not flatten or make hair greasy.
What about a very very irritated and sensitive scalp ? Choose a gentle shampoo with ingredients that care for and cool the scalp. For example, S ome By Min Cica Peptide Derma Scalp shampoo balances the scalp, cools and also gently exfoliates the skin cells. The peptides and Panthenol in it, on the other hand, nourish and strengthen the skin during washing. The tonic from the same series, which is sprayed on the scalp after washing, also soothes irritated scalp.
Bleached hair also has its own products, the most common being the so-called lilac shampoos that even out the yellow or orange tones of bleached hair. For example, Lador Anti-Yellow Treatment is a conditioner that changes the tone of the hair, which contains vegetable oils that nourish the treated hair, as well as fatty acids and cationic ingredients that are important for the hair.
What is the best way to dry your hair?
Hair has many chemical bonds, some are permanent and some are temporary. When the hair is wet, the hydrogen bonds in it are broken and re-formed. So this happens every time you wash your hair and it's inevitable. Thanks to the breaking of these temporary bonds, you can, for example, style your hair in a certain position when the hair is wet, but not so easily if the hair is dry. What is the significance of this? When hair is wet, it is also in its most sensitive state, so it matters how you treat your hair. However, this is also affected by hair quality - curly and straight hair behave a little differently when wet and benefit from different treatment.
A practical example: many of us may have gone to bed when our hair is still wet 👀 In this case, strong mechanical stress is applied to the hair while it is at its most fragile and it can form new temporary chemical bonds, leaving the hair in interesting positions... In addition, it damages the hair structure , especially if the hair is already fragile, e.g. after lightening treatment. So a warm recommendation for everyone: it is better to dry your hair with a hair dryer than to go to bed with wet hair.
The gentlest ways to dry hair depends on many factors, but in general, drying with a towel, drying with a hair dryer with heat protection and "air drying" are the gentlest ways to dry hair. Hair turbans intended for drying hair are also really convenient, because they do not pull the hair so much with their weight, dry effectively and are comfortable to wear. Any kind of excessive pulling, fluffing the hair with a towel or rough brushing can damage the outer and inner layers of the hair.
Did you learn something new from this article? If you have more questions, send us a message or leave a comment on our social media, and we will answer you <3
