Save my curls

Does your hair remain frustratingly dry as straw, no matter what products you use? Have your curls lost their bounce and shine
and are you on the verge of shortening your long locks? - Before you go for the scissors, here's our rescue attempt.

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Why does hair fall out?

Hair loss can be complex as it can be caused by many factors such as stress, medication, hormones, genetics, environment, styling etc.
. However, the focus of this blog post is on hair loss in the context of styling & caring for curly hair. Hair loss can
be a debilitating experience and continues to be one of the main problems people face. In this post, we will highlight the basic characteristics
of curly hair to understand why people are prone to hair loss or breakage. We will then give recommendations or tips on how to
care for your curls properly and effectively.

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Special features of curly hair

The most important physical difference to other hair types is the shape of the hair shaft. The hair has a tightly coiled,
spring-like appearance with sharp coils along the hair. This makes curly hair more susceptible to breakage.

The twisted hair shaft can cause kinks and sharp turns to form along the hair - this means that the sebum is not so
easily distributed along the hair fibers. People with curly hair are most likely to have an oily scalp with dry and brittle
hair strands that need to be moisturized frequently.

The hair shaft diameter is asymmetrical at the hair root and even flat at twisting points along the hair. It is
assumed that this smaller diameter is related to less blood flow to the hair follicles, which is the main reason why curly
hair generally grows slower than other hair types. Damaged curly hair has a lower cysteine content compared to healthy hair.
Cysteine is an amino acid that binds to keratin. These bonds give hair fibers integrity and strength. Damaged curly hair
also contains more negative charges and tends to be more frizzy.

Regardless of whether you have curly or straight hair, a number of problems can cause you to lose more hair than usual.
The good news is that hair breakage in curly hair can be successfully treated in most cases.

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A guide for damaged curly hair

Cleanse

A clean scalp is crucial for healthy hair. The build-up of dirt can clog pores, which inhibits the growth of
hair follicles and can lead to ingrown hairs and painful bumps. A dirty scalp is not aesthetically pleasing and is
a major attraction for germs, flaky scalp and dandruff. Therefore: wash your hair daily.

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Use products without alcohol

Alcohol. Yes, you got that right... alcohol will dry out your curly hair even more. Since curly hair is already prone to
dryness, adding even more drying ingredients is counterproductive. Alcohol finds its way into many products, including those marketed
for curly hair, because it's a cheap emulsifier that holds water and oil together. So if you see
alcohol, e.g.: ethanol, SD alcohol, SD alcohol 40, alcohol denat, propanol, propyl alcohol and isopropyl alcohol, in the first 5 ingredients,
reconsider your purchase.

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Deep conditioning

Hair is not alive. It cannot repair itself. You have to give the hair back what has been lost in order to
keep it healthy and soft. This means deep conditioning on a regular basis: Depending on the condition of your curls, you should deep condition your hair every week
. Deep conditioners replenish essential lipids that have been
lost through shampooing or other external attacks on your hair.

Tip from the HAARKLINIK: Elasticizer Extreme Rich Deep-Conditioning Treatment from Philip Kinglsey. This deep-acting treatment for before shampooing is the
more intensive sister product to the original Elasticizer - and is perfect for curls.

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Tie hair up less tightly

Avoid putting your hair in a tight weave too often. This hairstyle often involves applying frictional force along
the hair strands, which can lead to hair loss and damage.

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