The Hair Book. Mary Richards Beaumont

Braid

       French Braid

       Fishtail Braid

       Braid Parade

       Love Your Hair

      Hair & You

      There are all kinds of hair out there. And there are

       all kinds of girls out there wishing for something

       DIFFERENT.

      Girls with smooth, straight hair who want curls.

      Girls with lush natural ringlets wishing for sleeker hair.

      Girls with fine hair imagining how great it would be to

       have thick hair.

      Girls with bright brown locks wishing their hair were red instead . . . or black . . . or blond . . .

      But here’s what’s true: Unless something happens

       that causes you to lose your hair, you will always

       have the kind of hair you have.

      True, you can dye it a different color.

      You can use chemicals to change its texture.

      You can use hot tools to try to make it act a different way.

      Lots and lots of girls and women do this. In moderation,

       it’s just fine.

      But it takes time and money (and sometimes discomfort) to

      try to make your hair do something it doesn’t naturally want

      to. And even after all that effort, people still have “I hate my hair!” days. That’s because no matter what the exciting advertisements promise, no product or process is magic. Hair treatments and tools might make some changes until your hair grows out, but no product or service can actually, really give you hair you don’t have.

      Learning to like the hair you

       do have—and to understand it— is what you need for hair happiness.

      Hair Quiz

      1. When I wear my hair in a ponytail, the elastic usually wraps around it . . . a. four or five times. b. three times. c. twice—maybe.

      Answers

       If you chose a, you have thin hair. If you chose b, you have medium hair. If you chose c, you have thick hair.

      2. When my hair air-dries, it usually looks . . . a. stick-straight. b. a little bit bendy. c. coiled and poofy.

      Answers

       If you chose a, you have smooth hair. If you chose b, you have wavy hair. If you chose c, you have curly or textured hair.

      Turn the page to find

       your personalized

       symbols.

      thin

      medium

      thick

      Hair Thickness

      smooth

      wavy

      curly/textured

      Hair Texture

      Watch for your symbols throughout the book for personalized

      advice. Sections without icons should work for most girls.

      Note:

       If your hair seems to fit into more

      than one category, that’s normal! Even

      similar types of hair can benefit from

      different types of care. Try different

      tips throughout the book to see what

      works best for you.

      What Is Hair?

      Hair grows all over your body, except for

       in a few spots, including your lips, the palms

       of your hands, and the soles of your feet.

       Your genes decide what kind of hair will

       grow on your body and your head.

      Each hair is made in a hair follicle (say it like this: FALL-ih-cul), which produces cells. As new cells form, the old cells are pushed out of the follicle to form a strand. That’s your hair. It means that even though your hair is “growing,” the part of it you see is actually dead! Unlike your skin, your hair cannot repair itself, so it’s important to take good care of it.

      Is my hair falling out?

      The average human head has

      between 100,000 and 150,000

      strands of hair, and it is normal

      for some to fall out.

      People can normally lose 100

      hairs a day or more, so don’t

      worry if you find strands in your

      brush or if some come out as

      you wash your hair.

      Take Care of

       Your Hair

      Just as you take care of your

      body, caring for your hair is

      important.

      Washing

      Keep your hair clean by washing it regularly.

      What type of shampoo should I use?

      Choose a mild shampoo that’s made for

      your hair’s thickness and texture. Make sure to read the labels!

      Moisturizing shampoo can build up in some hair and make it

      limp. Shampoo that is too clarifying can dry out your hair. If a

      product doesn’t give you good results, ask to try a different one.

      How often should I wash?

      That depends on the kind of hair you have. Shampooing every

      day is best for some girls. (That’s especially true for girls who

      swim or play sports that make them sweat, and also for girls

      whose