Haircare - Meaning

The activity of washing or cutting or curling or arranging the hair. Hair care is a catchall term for parts of hygiene and cosmetology involving the hair. It is a major world industry.

Hair care may include haircuts, where part of the hair is trimmed and hair dressing, where the hair is combed and arranged. Hair care also includes hair washing, which is often done as part of a shower or bathing. In many industrialized countries, the hair is washed daily. Hair is often washed with specialized soaps called shampoos, and lost oils are replenished with hair conditioners. Shampoos are cleaning agents for scalp and hair shafts, if one has oily scalp a more detergent shampoo is needed. Conditioners and leave on products are for hair shaft protection and treatment, they are not supposed to get over the scalp as they leave more residue and increase dandruff.

Hair can be styled with the use of specialized combs or brushes and can be straightened with hair straighteners or curled with hair curlers or hair tongs/irons. Hair is damaged much more easily when wet, so extra care must be taken.

Scalp hair grows 33 mm per week on average and shampoos or vitamins have not been shown to noticeably change this rate. The speed of hair growth varies based upon genetics, gender, age, and may be reduced by nutrient deficiency.