Beauty Ideas» Hair and General Health

Easy Steps to Promoting Healthy Hair

Rino Jasper — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:18:22 +0000

How your hair looks and feels is a pretty good indicator of your general state of health.
If you have periodic hair loss, don’t run for cover—the average person loses between 50 and 100 hairs a day. If you experience a sudden bout of hair loss, or are losing significantly more than usual over an extended period of time, consult your doctor or hair specialist, a trichologist.
A number of factors come into play when it comes to hair loss or thinning hair—diet, certain kinds of medication, mineral and hormonal imbalances or deficiencies, auto-immune diseases, genetics and, last but certainly not least, stress.
Your hair also changes along with your body’s hormonal fluctuations—ever notice how your locks are fuller at certain times of the month and thinner at others?
If you want to boost hair growth and encourage a healthy head of hair, there are a few simple things you can do, starting with improving your diet and boosting your exercise regimen.

Favor foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids—fish contains a lot of these, and salmon, sardines, herring and mackerel are good sources. Flax seeds and walnuts are also chock-full of omega-3s.
Exercise regularly—your blood flow improves as cells receive more oxygen, which in turn helps build healthy hair follicles. Exercise also helps alleviate stress, which has a knock-on effect on your hair.
Avoid wearing a tight bun, braid or ponytail on a regular basis. This can pull out your hair and cause breakage; over the long term it can develop into full-blown hair loss.
Apply a minimal amount of styling products and don’t have your hair colored more than once every six weeks.

The Secret to Dealing with Dandruff

Claudie Jasper — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:15:30 +0000

So what exactly is this condition? Dandruff means that the dead skin cells on your scalp flake off and your scalp can become excessively itchy. It generally comes from an overly oily scalp, which can be the result of poor hygiene, an unhealthy diet, hormonal imbalances or, last but not least, stress. Overuse of styling products can encourage dandruff as the build-up of products can cause an oily scalp.
There are several ways to treat dandruff, namely washing your hair regularly (yes, it can come from having dirty hair) and using an anti-dandruff shampoo when needed. Don’t use dandruff shampoo every time you wash you hair; it’s best to alternate with your everyday shampoo. Be sure to massage it into your scalp with your fingertips (without digging your nails into your scalp!).
Try an herbal dandruff shampoo first as many of these contain ingredients like tea tree oil and ginger that do wonders to clear up the condition, naturally. If you have a serious case, see your dermatologist, but if not, stay away from medicinal shampoos.
It’s a good idea to brush with a natural bristle brush every day as this exfoliates your scalp and gets your blood circulating.
Your diet is also important: avoid fatty and processed foods and favor greens, fish, lean meat and foods rich in vitamin B and zinc. And get a bit of sun: studies have shown that a little sunlight is a good way to treat dandruff.
If you take the natural route, here is a home remedy that clears up those nasty flakes.

Vinegar Rinse:

Blend one part cider vinegar to two parts water and rinse your hair with the mixture after you shampoo. This will not only calm your dandruff problem, but will also make your hair shinier.

Get Rid of Scalp Conditions Naturally

Rino Jasper — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:13:50 +0000

A glossary of scalp ailments and nature’s way to treat them

Here’s a list of the most common scalp conditions that inevitably have a knock-on effect on your hair.

Dandruff is a common condition and one that can be easily treated either with specially formulated shampoos or with natural rinses, such as vinegar. See our latest post on dandruff for a more in-depth look at the condition.
Seborrhoea is the result of an excessively oily scalp and hair. This can be due to hygiene factors or hormonal imbalances. Usually a specialized shampoo and a healthy (as in fresh food) diet can put your hair and scalp back on track.
Psoriasis can appear on the scalp as well as on the body. It is characterized by itchy and tender skin with flaky scales. Consult your dermatologist if you develop this condition, as you’ll need to treat it with targeted products. Hold off on your regular hair care routine during treatment, at least when it comes to styling and cleansing products.
Seawater is known to be good for psoriasis sufferers, but remember that it should be rinsed out out your hair afterwards.
Eczema can be at the root of scalp irritation and even soreness, and is another condition that merits a visit to the dermatologist. The upside is that it appears less on the scalp than on other parts of the body, but the downside is that there is no cure. Natural remedies known to be effective include the application of coconut oil and small doses of sunbathing.
Contact Dermatitis is due to an allergic reaction from a product, colorant or straightener. The obvious solution is to root out the source of irritation and stop using that product. See your doctor is you are having repeat cases of contact dermatitis and can’t identify the culprit!
Allergies to hair colorants can burn the scalp, which in turn creates dryness and even dandruff. Claudie’s tip: If you have an adverse reaction to a colorant, dissolve a pinch of sea salt in a cup of lukewarm water and rinse.

The Trick to Doing Away with Split Ends

Claudie Jasper — Wed, 22 Apr 2009 18:58:53 +0000

Although those with a tendency for dry hair suffer most from split ends, any hair texture will see them turn up at one point or another (no pun intended!). Split ends not only make your hair look unkempt, they also mean that the hair shaft is not getting the protein or the moisture it needs to be strong and healthy.

Follow these pointers to keep your hair split-end free.

To avoid getting split ends in the first place be sure to visit your salon for a cut on a regular basis—every six to eight weeks will keep your hair healthy and vibrant.

If you notice split ends in the middle of your hair, consider getting it slightly layered, which will snip off the broken hair without having to go short all over.

Split ends can be the result of going overboard on hair elastics and regularly pulling your locks back. Beware, as this can not only mean breakage, but could eventually lead to hair loss as well. Vary your hairstyles and wear your hair down as much as you wear it up.
Brush your hair thoroughly before shampooing, and more importantly don’t brush it just out of the shower. Brushing wet hair puts unnecessary pressure on the hair shaft, causing it to snap more easily. Wait until it’s dry to brush.
Excessive use of hair styling products, which tend to dry out your hair (especially those containing alcohol) encourage the formation of split ends. If you can’t do without your styling products, counterbalance them with a nourishing conditioner and regular application of a nourishing hair mask. Leave-on conditioner is also a good option.
Keep blow-drying to a minimum if you have a tendency for split ends as the heat encourages breakage.