Are you the reason your hair has become an alcoholic?
You’ve probably heard that alcohol is bad for your hair, because it dries it out and makes it break easily. That’s it. Nothing else? There’s so much more to the story. Alcohol can be both bad and good. Disagree? Let me explain. After doing some research I found out some interesting facts about this “alcohol” that we speak so badly about. Alcohol isn’t just one chemical, it’s a whole bunch of chemical; or as my Grandma would say “A whole heap of um!” It’s like a family. The alcohol that we speak about that dries out our hair goes by the name of Ethanol. Ethanol is a common alcohol used in most of our hair products and it can dry out our hair. Alcohols that are added to products to make it evaporate quicker are never good. Alcohols that are used in conditioners and oils like, cetearyl, cetyl, and stearyl are actually pretty good for your hair. It gives the hair moisture and softens the hair making it easier to manage. It’s not hard to look out for these types of alcohols just make sure you read the label. Check for the Ethanol because it will dry out your hair, and it’s mainly found in hair sprays and gels. So, how do you hold your hair without using the bad alcohol? Look for products without alcohol most products will have a label stating that they are alcohol free (they’ve got bragging rights). Some popular products that are alcohol free include (but not limited to) Nexxus Exxtra Gel Super Hold Sculptor and Hempz Firm Hold Shaping Spray. I’ve found ways to get my hair to hold without using products containing alcohol, from experimenting at home one day I found out that using leave in conditioner will work on my hair and cause it to hold. I guess you’ll just have to do as I did and experiment with different products. Simple trial and error…stay fab!
Your Shampoo Could Be Damaging Your Hair
Your Shampoo Could Be Damaging Your Hair
The shampoo you choose to use could actually be damaging your hair. Many shampoos on the market contain sulfates that damage your hair. It can cause your hair to become drier and not able to absorb moisture. To grow longer and healthier hair, you need to use products that are gentle yet effective at cleaning your hair.
If your hair care products contain the following ingredients it can actually damage your hair: Avoid products containing:
Ammonium Laureth Sulfate, Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate, TEA Laureth Sulfate, TEA Lauryl Sulfate, and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate.
You should limit the use of these products to once a month for clarifying only. This will cleanse the hair allowing it to better accept the protein and moisturizing products. Clarifying shampoos are created to remove all buildup that occurs over a period of time, thanks to the use of styling products. These shampoos strip all natural oils from the hair and leave hair brittle and broken when used over an extended phase. Clarifying your hair once a week is just fine, but make sure to follow up the process with a strong conditioner to replace the moisture you have removed.
While many chemicals wreak havoc on the hair, others are safe to use on a daily basis. Items that can be used daily in a safe manner are Polyoxethylene Fatty Alcohols, PEG 80, Sorbitan Laurate, Decyl Polyglucose, Cocamidoprpyl Betaine, Sodium Myreth Sulfate, and Sodium Laureth Sulfate.
To achieve the longest hair you can possibly have you will need to eliminate breakage. By allowing you hair to be more healthy and strong you will be able to prevent breakage and your hair will grow longer. This can be done by using protein and moisturizing treatments. These treatments will rest on the outside of the hair and therefore will require the hair to be wet or freshly washed in order to assure absorption into the hair.
You can achieve longer and more beautiful hair by increasing your growth phase. You can naturally increase this phase by adding MSM rich foods into your diet. Multi-vitamins and minerals can also have a good effect on the condition of the hair. A healthy body will grow healthier hair. On the same subject, keeping your body lubricated will keep hair moisturized. The water intake of the body will be reflected in the hair. The less water the body has to use, the less the hair will have and will thus appear dry, cracked, and develop split ends.
Having the healthiest hair simply means treating your hair with kind gloves. Brushing lightly will help to eliminate forced breakage, and allowing the hair’s natural oils to remain on the hair for days at a time. Your hair is a direct reflection of your health. The healthier, you are the healthier your hair will be!
Green Tea Hair Repair from Your Pantry
Green tea is one of the best beverages, besides water, to put into your body. The most natural and chemical free way of getting the benefits of green tea is to brew it. Green tea is the only tea that undergoes minimal processing and oxidation. This method makes green tea contain more of the disease fighting nutrients. Commercially bottled green tea does not offer the same benefits as brewed green tea because it requires many preservatives so it will have a long shelf life. Green tea is especially rich in an antioxidant named epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). Antioxidants are molecules that slow down the damage by the by-products from oxygen in our bodies. These by-products are called free radicals EGCG has been studied and shown to stop the growth of cancer without the side effects of surrounding tissue damage. This beverage has many more healing properties than just cancer prevention such as: tooth decay prevention , cardiovascular health, it assists the aging process of cells, weight loss, reduces the bags and darkness under eyes, and many more studies will show green tea’s powers.
I love to drink green tea in the mornings with my breakfast, but I love to use it in my hair even more. My favorite brand of green tea is Salada because it has a nice rich taste and smell. It only costs $3.99 for 40 bags. I thought if green tea can do wonders inside your body then it won’t hurt to find out what it will do on the outside. Now there are many kitchen remedies that will take your hair out, and that is why I take precautions when using new products.
Directions & Preparation: This green tea rinse can be used after y0ur shampoo as a conditioner or after your conditioner as a rinse.
- Be sure to wash out the conditioner or shampoo thoroughly before applying for the best results.
- Use 1 tea bag for every cup of water you use.
- Brew the tea bags for 3 to 5 minutes in hot water or if you cannot wait for the water to cool, then warm the water in the microwave till it is warm and brew for 3 to 5 minutes.
- Pour on the hair and make sure you massage your scalp, and that it saturates every part of your hair.
- Leave in for 3 to 5 minutes and rinse.
- Style and dry hair as usual.
Immediately after applying the rinse, your hair should feel smoother than normal. I have noticed that green tea puts a natural coating on each strand of hair. Do not worry, it does not stink or leave a filmy substance on your hair. Green tea will not weaken the bonds or alter the hair; it just smoothes the hair and makes it stronger. Green tea can be used on relaxed, natural, and transitioning hair. Just remember to use this product with caution like any other product. Looking for all natural products can be very difficult and costly sometimes, but sometimes you can find the best remedies for your hair in your own kitchen.
Ingredients: Green Tea
Healthier Hair from the Inside Out
Healthier Hair from the Inside Out
Hair does more for you than just make you beautiful. This is not denying that your hair contributes to your over all look. It can shape your personality. The way that you style your hair and the way that you pamper it creates your over all look. You will either look pulled together or thrown together, that’ s all up to you. Therefore the way that you care for your hair becomes very important. There is not a single way to care for ones hair. Everyone’s hair is extremely different. From the style of your hair to the type of hair you have creates differences for how you care for your hair. Caring for your hair is just the very beginning of a polished look, yet the most critical.
Your hair quality can lead physicians to your overall health. It can lead doctors in the right direction to what may be wrong with your health. Since hair is made up of dead keratin and protein tissues, your health can affect the type of hair that you have. The healthier you are the healthier your hair will be. The healthier your diet and body, the healthier your hair will appear, giving it a shiny look. Shiny hair gives a vibrant and healthier appearance.
If you are unsure of the hair type and how to care for it then you should consult the advice of a hair specialist. Make sure that you consult an expert that has a reputation of healthy hair care, not just a stylist. They can guide you on how to care for your hair on a daily basis and improvements that can be made to not only improve your hair quality, but also your health. A nutrition specialist can also provide guidance for healthier hair from the inside out. Many of these specialists will lead you to an organic diet or one that consist mostly of natural foods.
Hair can be improved through diet as well as through daily maintenance. A healthier diet can result in healthier more desirable hair. The vitamins and nutrients we consume are excreted in our hair and that makes for better looking hair that is healthier from the inside out. Taking a daily multi-vitamin, as well as eating foods that are rich in the recommended daily vitamins keep both the body and the hair strong and beautiful. Many hair vitamins contain every essential vitamin necessary for the healthy hair that you desire. Be sure to research your multivitamin or hair vitamin first to be sure it contains all of the essential vitamins to maintain healthy hair.
Hydration also plays a large part in healthy hair. The more hydrated you keep the body, the more moist the hair will be and this will prevent breakage and split ends. Hydration consists of drinking more water throughout the day with the minimum daily recommended intake being 8 glasses of 8 ounces of water per day. Water will actually grow the hair if consumed regularly. It is just as a plant needs water to sprout, so does your hair.
You can revitalize your hair from within by adding proteins and vitamins into your diet. This in combination with regular shampooing and conditioning can improve your hair quality and health. A clean scalp equals a healthy scalp. The use of hair conditioners available on the market can result in healthier shinier hair, promoting hair growth and a more desirable head of hair. You will be amazed at how maintaining a healthy hair regimen can bring about dramatic change.
Healthy hair from the inside out is about making the body just as healthy as the hair. With a healthy body on lock, the hair will be able to grow stronger and appear more beautiful with each passing day. Your hair will reflect your body’s good health. The key is consistency. You must consistently eat healthy. You also must consistently wash and condition your hair. Your regimen must be consistent in order to see results. The great thing about achieving healthy hair from the inside out is that it is never too late to start adding vitamins and nutrients to the body and the hair. Your hair will thank you for it!
Hair Growth With Hair Vitamins
Can Biotin, MSM and Other Vitamins Help Your Hair Grow
The more healthy your body is the more healthy your hair will be. This means well balanced diet and well maintained metabolism can improve your hair as well. Your hair requires certain nutrients to enable your hair to grow faster and healthier. You can achieve longer hair by expanding the hair growing phase. This can be achieved by adding MSM to your diet. You can maximize hair growth with the combination of other important nutrients like Biotin, Folic acid, Niacin and Silica. This will enable the hair that grows to be more healthy and better able to maintain a longer length.
You hair’s growing phase, called anagen phase, is genetically predisposed. The longer the hair growing cycle the longer length your hair will be able to grow. The hair, once it has achieved the growing phase, will move on to the resting phase and then the shedding phase. Many vitamin and mineral supplements claim to make the growing phase longer. This is not the case. No vitamin can increase the time that the hair grows, but a great diet rich in many vitamins may affect how fast the hair grows during this stage and the following growing phases.
A pregnant woman is also able to lengthen their hair growing phase due to the increase in hormones. Most pregnant women will report longer and thicker hair during their pregnancy. Estrogen, that is present during a pregnancy will allow the hair growing phase to be extended. After giving birth when the hormones have receded the hair will be automatically returned to a resting phase and then a shedding phase. This is why women tend to loose their hair after the birth of their child.
By adding green vegetables and raw fruits to your diet, you will be able to extend the growth phase of your hair naturally. These fruits and vegetables contain an organic sulfonyl sulfur known as MSM or Methylsolfonylmethane. This organic sulfonyl sulfur will provide your hair with a healthier collagen and keratin. This will not only allow your hair to grow longer but also healthier. MSM encourages cell growth and can even repair cells.
Proteins in your diet also add important amino acids. The average American gets more than enough protein in their diet to not have to worry about lack of amino acids. Only strict vegetarians should be worried about their intake of proteins to get enough amino acids. The excess amino acids will simply be excreted in the urine and are not used to promote longer hair growth.
You can increase your hair growth by 200 percent with hair vitamins. To achieve longer hair you must first eliminate any sources of breakage. Your hair needs to healthy and free of breakage for your hair to become longer. You may notice that your hair never seems to grow; this is due to the fact that your hair is breaking as fast as it is growing. By being gentle with your hair and using treatments to prevent breakage you will notice your hair becoming longer and healthier.
You can enjoy healthier and longer hair by following these guidelines and being a lot more nurturing to your hair. Don’t give up on healthy and long hair!
Stress and your hair
Stress and Your Hair: The Root of the Problem
With all of life’s stressful demands that you encounter on a daily basis, you may find it is dispiriting to realize that your hair’s health depends greatly on how you handle your own anxieties. Have you ever noticed that when you are particularly stressed or under more pressure than usual, that you begin to have more shedding than usual? Has it become evident to you that your appearance lacks vitality and you just don’t seem to glow like you had once before? Is your hair dull and lifeless? If your answers are yes to these questions, then it is likely that you, as most Americans will and have at some point in their lives are a victim of the toll that stress can have on your hair and body. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to point out that stress is evident in everyone’s life; however it does take thorough examination to realize where your stress evolves and how to combat it so that you can regain your vigor.
On an average, you should lose about one hundred strands of hair a day. After this loss has taken place, the body begins to restart the cycle and begin to replenish new strands. When stress takes a toll on your body, you may begin to experience a condition called Alopecia Areata which cause significant hair loss or bald spots that can spread throughout the head. Evidence has shown that emotional stresses combined with possible genetic factors have led to Alopecia. Patients have reported major life changes during Alopecia onsets, such as divorce, death of loved ones, termination of employment, or financial hardships. Alopecia Areata begins with tingly, small bald spots usually round, but can take any form that can appear anywhere on the scalp. Treatment may include steroid injections, minoxidil treatments, or topical immunotherapy cyclosporine. Many times however the hair tends to grow back on its own within a couple of years.
Another common condition caused by stress is called Telogen Effluvium. In this condition emotional stress causes the hair to come to a resting phase of growth. Eventually this leads to hair shedding by the masses when styled or washed. Many patients have described this condition being triggered by physical or emotional stresses such as death of loved ones, sudden illnesses, family tragedies, as well as many other traumatic experiences. It is usually reported that the hair tends to grow back after the emotional or physical stress has discontinued.
So the underlying question here becomes how do you combat the nearly inevitable beast of anxiety and begin to enjoy a more peaceful and serene lifestyle? Seeing that the factors that cause anxiety are here to stay, the answers lie in your ability to cope. Examine the following ways to manage a stressful lifestyle.
