Healthy and shinning radiant hairs are the indicators of your good health and feeling. But if you are under stressed conditions then you might observe hair loss and degradation in your hair health. Various research studies have shown that stress and hair loss are correlated. Hair loss due to stress can be of 2 types: TELOGEN EFFLUVIUM or ALOPECIA AREATA. Read more…

Are you worried about the number of hair falls every time you comb or shampoo them? Are you unable to find the exact cause of your hair loss? Till now you must have tried various things like changing of shampoo, hair oil, increased vitamin supplements, etc. But no positive result??? Have you ever thought that the work pressure, tension or stress can be the main reason behind your uncontrolled hair loss?

What is Stress: It’s Causes and Side Effects

Do you remember grannies and oldies at home telling you that: don’t stress a lot as it may affect your health? HAIR LOSS is one of the major side effects of stress on your health. Presently stress has become an integral part of every human being. Stress could be defined as a state experienced by a person where he/she undergoes mental or emotional strain.

As defined above stress is the emotional or mental strain experienced by a person. The main factors causing stress are the work pressure, overload, expectations, competition, passion to be the best, etc. If you are stressed the common symptoms or changes you will observe in yourself are:

• Troubled sleeping
• Reduced concentration
• Tension
• Irritability
• Difficulty in breathing
• Frequent sweating in palms
• Raised heart beat
• Enhanced feeling of being tired

Stress affects your immune system badly and weakens it. Stress can be the probable cause for:

• Frequent cold
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Allergies
• Insomnia
• Eating disorder
• Hair loss
• Hypertension
• Heart ailments

Hair Loss Due to Stress:
There are various research studies which support the concept of stress causing hair loss. Depending upon the severity of stress it can lead to two types of hair loss.

• Telogen Effluvium: This type of hair loss due to stress is more common. Stress caused by physical injury, illness or surgery leads to telogen effluvium. The other factors resulting in telogen effluvium are child birth, sudden weight loss, mental shock or any other stressful event. Basically stress stops 70% of your hair in their growing phase (Anagen) and shifts them into the resting phase (Telogen). After about 3-2 months hair in the resting phase start falling. But within 6-9 months your hair grows back.
• Alopecia Areata: This type of hair loss is considerably more severe type. Chronic and intense stress triggers this type of hair loss. It is observed that during this condition your hair follicles are attacked by White Blood Cells (WBC), which arrests the hair growth. The hair starts falling out within few weeks. It is also seen that hair loss starts as a small round patch but gradually spreads to the whole scalp. There are chances that your hair might grow back but treatment is necessary.

Treatment for Stress Causing Hair Loss:
Basically the hair loss due to stress is temporary and self corrective especially telogen effluvium. Telogen effluvium is not benefited by the various hair loss treatment options. To control your hair loss you need to handle your hair with extra care. You need to avoid over and vigorous brushing or combing of your hair.

Any kind of gentle scalp massage is beneficial in this condition. Make sure that you are taking proper and balanced diet, plenty of vegetables, fruits and proteins. For treating Alopecia Areata you need to consult a dermatologist as soon as you observe a small patch on your scalp.

You must consciously include a diet rich in vitamins and minerals for hair growth to take place. Poor diet, stress, toxins in the environment, exposure to the sun, cigarette smoke, alcohol consumption and lack of sleep sap our energies and make our hair thinner and fingernails weak.

The result: dull and lifeless hair or hair with very little or slow growth.

You can help yourself: By taking a rich diet of vitamins and minerals daily, you can keep yourself and your hair healthy. If your body has any nutritional deficiencies, it will have a direct bearing on your hair by causing to thin or it could also lead to baldness. So, it is very necessary to have a proper intake of vitamins such as:

• Vitamin A: Consume primrose oil, flaxseed oil or salmon oil and other fatty acids enhance hair growth. This is an antioxidant that helps to manufacture healthy sebum in the scalp. Vitamin A can be found in fish liver oil, meat, milk, cheese, eggs, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, apricots and peaches. A daily dose of 5,000 IU is preferred.
• Vitamin C with bioflavonoids: Take 60 mg of Vitamin C daily for its anti-oxidant properties that help maintain the skin and hair. You can find this vitamin in citrus fruits, strawberries, kiwi, cantaloupe, pineapple, tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes and dark green vegetables.
• Vitamin E: This vitamin is known largely for its antioxidant properties that help improve scalp circulation. It is found in cold-pressed vegetable oils, wheat germ oil, soybeans, raw seeds and nuts, dried beans, and leafy green vegetables. Take up to 400 IU daily. If you have been taking good care of your hair, you can get the best out of it by an intake of amino acids and B-vitamins.
• Vitamin B-complex: Take 50 mg. of the major B-vitamins that include folate, biotin and inositol
• Vitamin B-6: Take 50 mg of vitamin B-6 to prevent hair loss and to create melanin for hair color. Eat Brewer’s yeast, liver, whole grain cereals, vegetables, organ meats and egg yolk for Vitamin B-6.
• Beta-carotene plays a very significant role in improving hair growth. When beta-carotene is converted to Vitamin A, it helps maintain normal growth and bone development with a protective sheath around nerve fibers, and promotes healthy skin, hair and nails. A daily intake of 10,000 to 15,000 IU can go a long way in promoting good hair
• Niacin (Vitamin B3): This helps promote scalp circulation and can be found in Brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, fish, chicken, turkey and meat. Take a daily dose of 15 mg for best results.
• Biotin: A necessary vitamin for hair growth, it can be sourced in Brewer’s yeast, brown rice, bulgur, green peas, lentils, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and walnuts. Biotin helps produce keratin, and may also prevent graying and hair loss. An intake of 150-300 mcg will help.
• Inositol: This keeps hair follicles healthy at the cellular level. It is found in whole grains, brewer’s yeast, liver and citrus fruits. Take 600 mg daily for best results.
• Folic acid: Folic acid is required for DNA synthesis and cell growth. It also helps in forming red blood cells, producing energy and forming amino acids and hair growth.

By taking a regular diet of vitamins either as part of your food intake or as supplements, you can soon boast of a healthy head of hair.

Organic skin and hair care is gaining in popularity owing to the relative safety that these products afford to the user. There are many organic skin and hair care product ingredients. Skin care range includes organic safflower oil, purified water, organic avocado oil, organic cocoa butter, non-GMO lecithin, organic sugar cane ethanol, lime, olive extract, grapefruit extract, sclerotium gum, organic orange and vanilla extract. Organic hair care products include shampoo-desert flower fro normal to dry hair, lemon myrtle for normal to oily hair, citrus hair rinse, herbal hair conditioner, hair repair and hair styling gel.

Chlorination could be causing heart disease and cancer. Chlorine creates Trihalomethanes (THMs) and haloforms. These substances are potential pollutants and can lead to the production of excess free radicals in human bodies, which damage body tissues. Regular exposure to chlorine water can lead to the onset of aging prematurely, much in the same manner as being exposed to sun. Chlorine affects hair too. Beauty salon mangers maintain that one out of two clients comes with chlorine damage to their hair. The effect is similar to oxidation from peroxide burning, except that chlorine adds density to the hair. Chlorine causes breakage and hair splitting and causes hair to shine like fiberglass. Chlorine affected hair gets tangled and makes combing difficult.

Organic skin care products cleanse, exfoliate and condition the skin. Organic cleansers that contain orange peel oil, calendula and marshmallow remove the top layer of dead tissue, sweat and excess oils. There are different types of cleansers such as balancing cleansers, rejuvenating cleansers, purifying cleansers and soothing cleansers. Thus, organic skin and hair care products help in maintaining skin and hair well.

The right time for a hair transplant: If you’ve taken a good look at your male friends and relatives, you’ve probably seen a pattern in terms of the age at which men begin to lose hair. Men usually lose hair beginning in their teens and till they reach mid-life.

Some wise men who anticipate hair loss at some point in life might choose to go in for hair treatment early in life and keep at it until they begin to lose it naturally. If you want to go in for hair restoration treatment on a regular basis, speak to a physician hair restoration specialist.

If you lose hair late in life or due to stress or a personal loss, you might be forced to go in for hair restoration once you approach 50 years. Our perspective towards people and life has changed so drastically over the years that we swing more towards the young and the smart.

So, youthfulness in a senior person is accepted as his personal charm. In such cases, the need for hair restoration is overriding and when the result is out, it does a lot to the person’s appearance, as you perhaps know.

If you’re 50+ and seek hair transplantation: If you’re 50+ and are going in for a hair transplant for the first time, speak to your physician hair restoration specialist. Discuss the following with him:

• Your hair transplantation should correct loss of hair. Perhaps you don’t want a whole head of hair but just want to improve your state of baldness cosmetically.
• Discuss your goals for hair restoration and decide the outcome with your physician hair restoration specialist before hand. You should not be in for any ugly surprises.
• How much hair is available on your scalp will finally decide the level of hair restoration possible. If you have very little of donor hair, naturally it means fewer number of hair grafts possible for transplanting to the bald patches of your scalp.
• Men in their 50s usually only seek the restoration of a frontal hairline and a limited number of grafts in strategic places, usually behind the hairline if only to give a more pleasing appearance and a look of a full head of hair.

Physical limitations: If you are in your 50s and suffer from some medical conditions, these must be taken into consideration before hair restoration is taken up seriously. After all, your medical conditions can pose a serious risk and your physician hair restoration specialist must take these risk factors into account. You must not hide any medical problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and bleeding disorders that you suffer and the medicines you are taking. Also let the doctor know about anything you are allergic to.

While you discuss with your doctor the amount of hair transplantation you wish to achieve, it is equally necessary to see just how far your goal is actually achievable. You can come to a realistic decision by discussing this subject with your doctor. Share with him your needs, desire for hair restoration, fears and expectations after you undergo a scalp examination and other tests.

Tweezing: This is a very traditional and old method for hair removal. Many women still prefer to tweeze. This is not considered a healthy solution. If you repeatedly pluck hair there is a chance of developing an irritation of the hair follicle and also sometimes would even cause scarring. There are also chances of the hair growing back thicker.

Depilatory creams: These creams work by dissolving facial hair growth at the base of the follicle This method is good for areas like the legs. Don’t use it on the face as this can cause irritation on the skin, and also won’t always remove all the hair. The advantage with hair removal creams is that they are relatively inexpensive.

The results after using these creams lasts for around one to two weeks.

Waxing: it is a popular solution for hair removal. This is a good method to remove hair on the upper lip and the hair on the sides of the face. This method should not be used in the chin area, as the hair there can be very coarse. Waxing is not always ideal for dark skinned women, as it can lead to discoloration, irritation and inflammation. The results of waxing range from two to six weeks.

Electrolysis: This procedure uses low electricity to kill or make the follicles inactive. The results for electrolysis last for longer than waxing or shaving. This process is time consuming and very costly. Another difficult part of electrolysis is finding a good practitioner as if done incorrectly can cause scarring. Make sure that your practitioner uses a new needle for each session. Electrolysis is a best method for women with white or blonde hair and for women who have very little unwanted hair.

Laser hair removal: This is the latest technology for hair removal. This method is ideal for people who have fair skin and dark hair. This is also best for dark skinned women and not very effective for white hair or light blonde hair. It is best to consult a dermatologist first before you go in for laser treatment.

In plants, these oils are ingredients of hormonal growth and reproduction. Plant pheromones are used for their fragrance to attract pollinating insects, and as a defense from predators and bacterial, virus and fungi.

All parts of plants have reserves of essential oils: Flowers give off oils that have a sedative or narcotic effect; resins, woods and barks produce hot essential oils that move fluids in the body; and the essential oils from leaves have a cooling effect due to the colour green of chlorophyll.

As essential oils go, many of them have a very beneficial effect on hair growth. They stimulate the hair follicles to grow faster than the hair would normally. You could use some of the following depending on your specific need:

Burdock: This is good for the scalp and encourages hair growth. It is also good for the skin, scalp and hair cell renewal, and stimulates blood flow to the root of the hair. It helps men and women with the problem of hair loss.

Basil: This helps circulation of blood and works well in combination with fenugreek and ivy burdock herbs. If you have oily hair, basil will help it grow.

Peppermint: This helps to stimulate blood flow to the root of your hair and so give it good nourishment and grow well. It is good for your hair if it grows slowly or if it is thinning.

Rosemary and Sage: These two herbs when used together externally prove extremely beneficial to anyone wanting to grow his hair. For best results, in a pan of water boil rosemary, sage, peach leaf, nettle and burdock. Strain the loose herbs from the liquid and wash your hair with this liquid everyday.

Bay: This essential oil helps in growing your hair. In fact, if you have dull and lifeless hair, it will restore it with life and shine. If you’re plagued with dandruff problems or if you have aches and pains, use this oil for pain relief.

Clary Sage: If combined with jojoba and applied to the roots of your hair, it can cause your hair to grow.

Usually, essential oils are too concentrated to be used directly on the skin or hair, so it’s best to use them in combination with carrier oil, chosen in accordance with the effect you’re looking for.

So, go ahead and choose the appropriate essential oil and team it up with carrier oil. And soon, you’ll find you have long, lustrous hair.

The other common way of fighting hair loss is by the use of hair loss products or hair growth pills that are made by manufacturers both with prescription and over the counter as well. Actually there is no concept of a magic pill that promises anyone that the hair will grow faster. But recently there has been the discovery of some hair loss products and treatments that have been effective.

The very famous pills for hair growth are Propecia, Rogaine (Monoxadil), Avacor and Proxiphen. These are the most popular products in the market. The degree of effectiveness for all these products differs. Many of the hair growth pills are now available without any prescription. They have become very economical and convenient.

There are several pills that are vitamin based especially formulated to make the hair grow healthy and shiny. They are usually pills that have a combination of There are also several vitamins that have been specially formulated both for thinning hair and to promote the speedy growth of healthy, shiny hair. Vitamins for thinning hair and faster hair growth and re-growth are usually a varying combination of biotin, vitamins B6, zinc and vitamin E.

Hair growth pills are of many kinds. They range from tested to untested, Reasonable to pricey, clinically unproven to proven and so on. There is enough information on the Internet about these products. There are some offers on money back policies for products that are not well established in the market.

Some medicines also aggravate or cause hair loss. Usually these medication’s include gout medication, blood thinners, chemotherapy etc

Hair loss pills both prescription and nonprescription are used as treatment. They take around six months before you can tell they are working. Patience is the key need. There is no treatment to hair loss overnight. So it is important to wait patiently for the results to show. If there are no positive results then, don’t get dejected, as there might be another magic pill that will work for you.

There is a lot of information on the hair growth products available on the Internet and other media. If any product makes a claim of guaranteeing hair growth then that is untrue. There are no such legitimate products in the market with the ability to do this. There are some amazing products like hair growth pills that can be taken without a doctor’s prescription, but it is advisable to check with a doctor before taking the pills. Sometimes even herbal hair growth products have side effects. It is better women don’t use these hair growth product because it can cause hair growth allover the body.

The best way for deciding what products to buy is by checking for any products online and then makes a list of all the products. It is also advisable to read about the research or clinical studies conducted on the product to prove its authenticity. Even after you do all the above-mentioned research, it is also important to remember that what works for one person need not work for you. It is important to know the problem with your hair before you buy a product.

There are two kinds of hair growth products that are topical treatments and growth pills. The creams can be applied directly on the scalp and then can wash your hair. You may have to apply it twice in a day. And the other includes pills which have to be taken as prescribed by the doctor. If nothing seems to be working then consider the saying ‘Bald is beautiful’. Products meant for hair growth are not for everybody. As they don’t work for everyone.

Try and select the products carefully according to your need so that you are not disappointed in the end. Try maximum to use herbal products, as with them there would be minimum Side-effects.

One must keep the split ends at bay. They prevent hair growth and make the hair look dry and listless. Beauty care must also mean hair care. Just using a nice lipstick or mascara does not mean that your hair looks neglected.  Even hair is an essential part of one’s body. It is also requires necessary attention. One must have proper intake of nutrients and also outwardly take care of it by using conditioners, getting it trimmed regularly and shampooing it well to remove the dirt.

How does one get rid of spilt ends?

• Trim the hair.
• Do not allow the hair to dry out.
• One must treat the hair gently.
• Avoid tight braids as they can damage the hair.
• Prefer henna for coloring hair. Other colorants affect the hair.
• Visit the beauty salon regularly to treat the hair.
• Keep the hair confined at night like making braid.
• Use a satin pillowcase to avoid split ends.
• Moisturize the hair with a hair conditioner.
• Wash the hair carefully.
• Avoid over drying.
• Excessive blow drying needs to be avoided.
• Curlers also can damage the hair.
• Vigorous brushing of the hair should be avoided.
• Gently comb wet hair while removing the tangles.

Split ends are best avoided with proper care of the hair.  It is better to get rid of them as your hair will look healthy.

Steps Before Shampooing Your Hair:
Before going directly into washing your hair with a shampoo, you have to make the necessary arrangements that will make hair cleaning easy and effective. These are:

• Choosing the Right Shampoo: Go for a shampoo that is good for your hair type. How to do that? Simple.

For Curly or Coarse Hair: If you do perm often or if your hair is naturally curly, chance is that your hair is coarse. Coarse hair is usually dry. Select a moisturizing shampoo that will add moisture to your dry hair. Along with it, use a silicone-based conditioner. It will smooth out your curls.

For Fine or Limp Hair: If you have fine or limp hair, use a light shampoo or conditioner. You may consider going for a conditioner which absorbs oil. These kind of conditioners are used for cleaning of oily hair, but is also equally good for fine and limp hair.

• Brush Hair Before Shampooing: To prevent hair from getting tangles, brush your hair before going for shampoo. In addition, brushing makes it easier when you apply shampoo on a smooth hair to spread easily.
• Warm Water is Good: Wet your hair with warm water before applying shampoo. Do not use hot water, it will make your hair oily by increasing the production of sebum in hte scalp. Also do not use cold water. It is equally not good for washing your hair.

Steps During Shampooing Your Hair:
A proper shampooing involves regular cleansing of hair. It keeps your hair healthy, free from dusts and oils. Shampooing can be really easy, if you follow the following steps:

• Take small amount of shampoo into your palm and rub it together.
• With the tips of your fingers, apply shampoo to your scalp gently.
• Now massage your scalp in circular motion. Do not use finger nails while massaging.
• Allow the foam to spread throughout your scalp. Wait for few minutes.
• Then rinse your scalp and your hair thoroughly with water to free it from shampoo.

Regular shampooing is a necessary haircare in today’s life that you must not avoid. After shampoo, you can apply conditioner. Develop it into a habit and keep your hair clean and shiny all day long.