Health & Beauty: Amino acids restore life to our hair

(NC)-Amino acids, the building blocks of hair, are all too easily depleted as our hair ages and even as it is subjected to styling, heat and chemical treatments.

"Our hair is made up of keratin, a protein formed of smaller units called amino acids," says Cheri McMaster, Senior Scientist for the Pantene line of shampoo and conditioners. "The loss or reduction of amino acids directly affects the strength and flexibility of our hair."

So if your normally strong locks have become dull and lack lustre and suffer from breakage and loss of manageability, consider a few tips to help restore your hair to its former beautiful healthy look:

. Help prevent styling damage by using a large-tooth comb, or a soft-bristle brush.

. Avoid using curling irons. If using hot rollers, wrap each strand with tissue.

. Wash and condition your hair with products that contain amino acids like Pantene Pro-V with an Amino Protein formula. It combines pro-vitamin technology with amino acids.

. After washing use a towel to gently blot water from your hair. Don't rub vigorously.

. Wet hair is not as strong as dry hair, so never brush it. Use a wide tooth comb only.

. Let hair dry naturally if possible, or use a hair dryer on a low heat.

"Rest assured," says McMaster, "daily cleansing and grooming is good for your hair if done properly using the right products. Regular use of a conditioner following the shampoo is a sound way to prevent breakage. Indeed, our Pantene research shows that using Pantene shampoo and conditioner with Amino Pro-V Complex can make your hair up to 99% stronger in just one week, compared to using shampoo alone"

The Pantene proprietary blend includes three key amino acids (histidine, tyrosine and lysine) and it is found in the shampoo, conditioner and deep treatment of the following Pantene collections: Pro-V Sheer Volume, Smooth & Sleek, Hydrating Curls, Colour Revival, Classic Care, Daily Moisture Renewal and Full & Thick.

- News Canada