Stabilization of the hair barrier with dry hair
hair barrier sebum and horny layer clearly visible.Dermatologically, three hair types are distinguished: normal, dry and oily hair. The individual body zones can, however, consist of different hair types, which gives rise to the term combination hair.
Many people suffer from dry hair. This hair condition is either condition-related and / or caused by incorrect cleaning processes. Here we have to think of sebum and corneal lipids combined with a lot of moisture when compiling the care. SleekLife Detangling Brush On the hair must be prevented, hair care should make the hair soft and velvety again and the itching should disappear. The focus is on stabilizing the hair barrier between the cells. Good care can also prevent latent inflammation here. Due to their reduced fat and moisture content in the double lipid layer of the hair barrier between the cells, desquamation can occur, some of which are very severe. The hair barrier, which is supposed to ward off harmful influences and store moisture, is disturbed and can no longer perform its protective function. The result is reddening, sometimes very itchy and flaky hair. Due to the continued damage to the hair barrier, harmful substances can penetrate unhindered, which can cause very unpleasant inflammatory reactions.
How does a disturbed hair barrier develop?
The dry hair has a changed structure of the so-called horny lipids of the hair barrier between the cells. Healthy hair has a relatively impervious hair barrier, which is formed by well-filled fat and moisture building blocks in the lipid bilayers between the cells. This double layer between the cells stores the moisture factors (NMF) and protects the hair from external pollutants. If the hair barrier is out of balance or destroyed, it can no longer hold the moisture and the protective function of the hair barrier is no longer guaranteed. The hair barrier becomes permeable to germs and pollutants, can no longer hold the moisture and can even become scaly.
Causes of a disturbed hair barrier
Over time, ceramides and subcutaneous fat decrease, which makes the hair more sensitive. The result: the hair dries out, the hair’s disturbing factors increase, the defective hair barrier no longer offers protection against harmful external influences. The moisture can no longer be adequately held in the hair.
The causes of dry hair are, on the one hand, an inherited predisposition, but on the other hand, a whole series of external influences also damage the hair barrier.
To a large extent, this is too intensive personal hygiene and the use of cleaning products with surfactants. Cleaning gels increase the washout of the horny lipids from the hair barrier, which leads to a further weakening of the hair barrier. Care and cleaning products based on mineral oils, such as paraffin or silicone, are a further burden on the structure of the protective layer. The mineral oil-containing substances cover the hair with an impermeable film, disrupt the structure of the hair barrier and cause the hair to swell. The function of the protective layer is changed over time, the hair can no longer hold the moisture itself and leads to a dependence on paraffin-containing products.
How can the hair barrier be built up?
The hair barrier is composed of a double lipid layer and moisture. If it is intact, it ensures optimal storage of moisture, while excess moisture can be evaporated through the hair. Petroleum-based body lotions close the permeability of the hair barrier and thus unbalance the double lipid layer. The hair gets used to lotions and creams containing petroleum, which leads to an abrupt loss of water in the hair after weaning. Experts refer to this hair reaction as “paraffin addiction”.
To build and maintain a healthy hair barrier, it is necessary to support the hair barrier with dry hair with building blocks that are responsible for the formation of the double lipid layer. These primarily include ceramides, gamma-linolenic acid and liposomes. These feed the lipid bilayer of the hair barrier with the necessary substances. The addition of hyaluronic acid and NMF (Natural Moisturizing Factor), excellent moisture storage, which has to be part of a hair barrier cure, has an additional effect. A complementary and important building block are fats like jojoba oil. It corresponds to the sebum lipids, the absence of which – together with the horny lipids – is a hallmark of very dry hair.
Effective restorative therapy for damaged dry hair is therefore made up of an optimal combination of moisture building blocks, horny layer lipids and sebum lipids. Only in this way is a comprehensive and in-depth regeneration of a disturbed hair barrier and thus extremely dry hair possible.
