Sometimes it can be frustrating to spend money on expensive hair treatments that promise to grow your hair back. Many people looking for baldness remedies often want to try something natural. If you are interested in baldness remedies you can try herbs for hair loss such as essential oils. The benefit of using essential oils for hair loss is that they can be easily found and they are inexpensive compared to non natural hair treatments. Essential oils have been used for years to treat illness and have been used in spas to enhance the massage experience.

In a past study of 43 people with alopecia areata, 44% of the group found improvement in their hair growth after using essential oils for 7 months. Essential oils can be found at most health food stores. The most common essential oils for hair loss are rosemary, peppermint, and lavender. Rosemary in particular is known to stimulate hair growth. Essential oils must always be used with a carrier oil such as olive, jojoba oil, or castor oil. Essential oils can cause skin to become burned and irritated if they are used alone.

The best way to use essential oils is by using an applicator bottle which you can buy from the beauty supply store. To create an essential oil blend use 3 drops of rosemary, peppermint, and lavender. Add enough of your carrier oil to make sure the essential oils are properly diluted. For best results, you should use this mix daily. You can apply it on your finger tips and then gently massage your scalp. You should feel a warm sensation from the essential oils.

Massaging the scalp can provide blood flow and stimulate the follicles. If you are experiencing hair loss and you have follicles that have not “died”, massaging the scalp with essential oils can help to regrow your hair in those thinning areas. The best way to see results is to massage the scalp regularly for at least three months before you can see results. Essentials oils usually do not have any side affects however some people may be allergic to certain oils. If you are experiencing any irritation or redness of the scalp from using the oils, please discontinue using them.

Essential oils such as rosemary oil should not be used by pregnant women. If you are pregnant, please check with your doctor before you use essential oils.

DHT is known to cause male pattern baldness also referred to as androgenic alopecia. DHT causes the hair follicles to become smaller and it restricts vitamins and minerals from reaching the follicles. As a result, the follicles enter the resting phase and fewer hairs start growing in and the hair becomes thinner. Many hair loss drugs are aimed at lowering the amounts of DHT that are in the body in order to increase hair growth. Saw palmetto is a popular natural DHT blocker that has been used to treat hair loss due to DHT. If you are interested in a  herbal DHT blocker, then saw palmetto might worth the try.

Saw palmetto is a berry fruit that is grown in the United States. Besides being used a treatment for hair loss, this herb is also used to treat prostate ailments and urinary infections. Saw palmetto works by preventing testosterone from being converted into DHT which then results in hair loss. There are other drugs that can reduce the levels of DHT as well such as Provillus and Procerin. Saw palmetto is also the main ingredient is several hair loss drugs.

There have been studies that have shown that men who have used saw palmetto as an internal supplement have seen more hair growth. Is it still debated whether better results are seen by taking it orally or topically. If you plan to take it orally it can be found in most nutritional stores. Some side effects that have been reported from using saw palmetto include nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Women can also use saw palmetto but pregnant women and women who breastfeed should avoid it.

Before you start using saw palmetto or any other hair loss treatment please contact a dermatologist or trichologist to determine if your hair loss is in fact caused by DHT or other factors. Hair loss can be caused by a number of factors and sometimes it can be a symptom of a health condition therefore it is recommended that you see a professional before trying to treat your hair loss on your own.

Ten Black Hair Care Tips: Relaxers and Black Hair Care

About 80% of African American women choose to use chemical relaxers to straighten their hair. Many women are searching for the best hair relaxer. However, in order to get the best relaxing results you do need to consider the texture of your hair, the smoothing technique, and most importantly the health of your hair. If your hair is damaged, breaking or you are experiencing hair loss a relaxer will only make the problem worse and it may be best to take a break from chemicals. Relaxed hair can be healthy but it is important to remember that relaxers are chemicals and precautions should be taken when applying them.

1. Do not color and relax your hair the same day. You should wait two weeks after your relaxer before you use a permanent color on your hair.

2. Do not relax your hair the day after you take your braids or your weave out. Wait at least two weeks. When your hair is in braids or extensions, your hair is “resting” and applying a chemical to your hair right after you take out the braids can cause your hair to go into shock and can weaken the hair.

3. Do not apply the relaxer to the ends. Only apply the relaxer to the new growth only. When you apply the relaxer to the hair that has already been chemically processed this can result in over processed hair. The cuticle of the hair will be broken down and the hair will be dry because moisture will not be able to stay within the strand.

4. Do not relax your hair every month. How long someone can space their relaxers apart will vary from person to person but no one should relax their hair every 6 weeks. The minimum should be every eight weeks preferably every ten to twelve weeks.

5. Do use vaseline or conditioner to coat the hair that has already been relaxed. You should aim to prevent overlapping your relaxer but in the event that some relaxer has touched the hair the vaseline would serve as a barrier between the relaxer and the strands that have been previously relaxed.

6. Do keep the relaxer off your scalp as much as possible. In the application and smoothing process some of the relaxer may end up on your scalp but try to avoid it as much as you can. You should always base your scalp with Vaseline or an oil every time you relax.

7. Do not leave the relaxer on longer than the recommended time. This will prevent over processing and breakage.

8. Do relax your hairline and nape last. These areas are most delicate and should never be relaxed first.

9. Do make sure that the relaxer is rinsed out properly. Some people feel that two minutes is enough time to rinse out the relaxer however five minutes would be best.

10. Do make sure to use neutralizing shampoo each and every time you relax your hair. Regular shampoo cannot be used as a substitute for neutralizing shampoo. Applying neutralizing shampoo is necessary. If you don’t want to lose any hair, make sure you don’t skip the neutralizing step. It is also wise to leave the neutralizing shampoo on for 5 minutes instead of applying it and rinsing it out a minute later. This will ensure that your hair has the proper Ph level.

Do you want longer hair? Use these five black hair growth tips.

There is a myth that black hair cannot grow long but this is not the case. In order to grow black hair longer, you need to retain the hair that you grow. Black hair does indeed grow. If it did not, there would not be a need to get a relaxer every few months. One reason that so many black women are unable to retain the hair they grow is because African American hair often has a tight curl pattern which prevents the natural oils to flow down the hair shaft and as a result the hair is often dry. This dryness of the hair also causes the hair to break off. If you are interested in growing black hair follow these five tips.

1. Eat healthy. Hair growth starts from within. What you ingest in your body can determine the health of your hair. When you have a vitamin deficiency your hair and nails will be the first places to show it because hair and nails are not needed to survive. Make sure that you are eating enough protein, vegetables, and drinking enough water. A poor diet can cause hair to become dry and dull. Without enough nutrients your hair may grow slower as well.

1. Limit your use of heat appliances. Using heat appliances on a regular basis can cause your hair to become dry and break off. It is probably best to not use heat more than twice a month. If you must use heat use a heat protectant to protect your strands from heat damage. Roller setting the hair is a good way to avoid using a flat iron and blow dryer every week.

1. Limit your use of chemicals. Over 70% of black women choose to use chemical relaxers to straighten their hair. Many women choose to relax their hair every six weeks. However the longer you are able to space out your relaxers the healthier your hair will be. Make sure that you only relax the new growth of the hair. The relaxer should not be applied to previously relaxed hair, which is called overlapping. Overlapping of the relaxer can weaken hair strands by causing them to become overprocessed.

1. Deep condition regularly. If you choose to straighten your hair by using chemicals or by using heat it is important that you use a deep conditioner at least biweekly, preferably every week. You can sit under a hair dryer or a hair steamer which will allow the conditioner to penetrate better.

1. Use a water based moisturizer as needed. Lack of moisture in the hair can cause breakage and can cause many women to think their hair is not growing when their hair is just breaking off. Your moisture should primarily come from your deep conditioner but there may be a few days that your hair may feel dry. Grease and heavy oils have been used to “moisturize” the hair but they only sit on top of the hair shaft and do not penetrate the hair. Any “moisturizer” that has oil as the first ingredient does not moisturize the hair. Look for a water based moisturizer to properly moisturize your hair. After you apply your moisturizer, you can choose to use a light coating of oil to “seal” in the moisture in the hair. This will allow the hair  to stay moisturized longer.

If you are experiencing hair loss due to chemotherapy, it can be devastating to see your hair get thinner. Hair loss is often a side effect of chemotherapy and can affect men and women. Chemotherapy drugs can cause hair loss but the drugs you are taking and how often you are taking them will affect how much hair you will lose. Your doctor should be able to inform you if you will experience hair loss or other side effects from chemotherapy.

Why does chemotherapy cause hair loss?

Chemotherapy attacks the cancer cells in the body but at the same time it destroys the healthy cells including your hair cells.

Not everyone receiving chemotherapy will experience the same type of hair loss. Some people might lose their hair more gradually and others might lose their hair more rapidly. Hair loss due to chemotherapy can affect not only the hair on your head but also your eyebrows and body hair as well. Women who are receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer may lose hair around their nipple.

Hair loss usually occurs within a few weeks after you start chemotherapy. You will lose your hair throughout the duration of your treatment. How much hair you lose will depend on the drugs you are taking. Hair loss is more likely to occur if you are taking drugs in high doses. You may continue to lose hair a few weeks after you stop treatment.

Chemotherapy and hair regrowth.

Hair loss from chemotherapy is usually not permanent. Hair cells should start to recover a few weeks after treatment. When your hair regrows you may notice that it may be a different color or it might be curlier than it used to be. Those changes are usually temporary. It may take from 3 to 10 months for the hair to grow back after you have stopped treatment.

Cancer and hair loss prevention
In general, there is no way to prevent or control hair loss that results from chemo. However you can do your best to manage it. You can choose to get a haircut to give your hair a fuller appearance. You can also consider wearing wigs and head scarves. Some people may experience their hair falling out in patches and decide to shave it bald.

During and after treatment it is important to treat your hair very gently. During treatment your scalp might feel sore. You can sleep with a satin scarf or buy a satin pillowcase which is healthier for the hair. Use gentle shampoos, preferably ones that do not have sulfates.

Look Good Feel Good is a free program that offers tips and makeovers to women dealing with cancer. Their programs are offered throughout America and in some countries.

It can take time for the damaged hair cells to be repaired and for the hair to regrow. The most important thing is to be patient.

Why do women experience post pregnancy hair loss?

Shedding is a normal part of the hair cycle. It is normal to lose up to 200 of strands a day.

One type of hair loss that many women experience is post partnum hair loss. Not every woman experiences hair loss after childbirth but many do.

If you are a new mother and notice that you are losing more hair than usual after you have given birth, this is normal and there is nothing to worry about.

Normally, each strand of hair goes through a cycle, where the hair goes it goes through a growing phase and then a resting phase.  All strands do not go through the same phase at the same time. Normally after the resting phase a hair will start to shed and a new hair begins to grow.

During pregnancy, there are higher levels of hormones that extend the growth phase and there is less hair in the resting phase. This causes a decrease in shedding and is the reason many women experience longer, thicker hair during pregnancy.

About three to six months after a woman gives birth, hormones decrease and more hairs go into the resting phase and begin to shed. All the hair that was not shed during those nine months of pregnancy begins to fall out. There is nothing you can do to stop the shedding but do not worry; the shedding should stop within a year of your baby’s birth.

If your child is older than a year and you are notice that you are still shedding, please see a doctor to find out if something else can be contributing to your hair loss .

In the meantime, you can experiment with styles that give the illusion of thicker hair.

What is alopecia and what causes it?

Alopecia is the word that is used to refer to any type of hair loss or baldness. This can occur in any hairy region of the body. 

At present, there is no known cause of Alopecia. It is speculated that the disease may be hereditary since most people who have it, have relatives who also suffer from the condition. It is also believed to be a form of autoimmune disease. How so? Well, that’s because Alopecia occurs when the body’s immune system rejects its’ own hair follicles – thus, causing hair to fall out. It has also been observed that Alopecia affects patients with other autoimmune disorders such as SLE (Lupus), Thyroid problems, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis and others.

Who is at Risk for Alopecia?

Both men and women suffer from Alopecia. It can affect people from every race and nationality. The disease can also strike at any age – but, most of the time symptoms present themselves in the teenage years. As mentioned, there is evidence that the disease is hereditary. That is why individuals who have relatives with Alopecia are at risk for developing the disease. People who presently suffer from autoimmune conditions also have a chance of developing Alopecia.

The Patterns of Alopecia

Alopecia Areata, is a form of Alopecia that causes bald spots on the scalp. This can  occurs anywhere on the body, but it usually occurs on the scalp. It is also referred to as Spot Baldness. Total loss of the scalp is known as Alopecia Totalis. Alopecia Barbe refers to spot baldness on beard region and Alopecia Universalis is when a person looses all bodily hair. Early symptoms of Alopecia often include tenderness (pain to touch) on the bald spots.

How is Alopecia Diagnosed

Diagnosis of Alopecia often involves a biopsy of the affected scalp tissue. This will determine if the hair fall has been really been caused by Alopecia and not by other causes. Another telltale sign of Alopecia is referred to as – Exclamation Point Hair. It means that the strands of the affected hair taper off towards the roots.

Treatment

There is no known cure for alopecia. The majority of people diagnosed with alopecia areata will notice that their hair will grow back after a year. In the cases where the hair has not grown back, there are some treatments that may help. Steroid injection and steroid creams and common treatments. New ‘experimental’ treatments for alopecia include drugs that subdue the autoimmune system.

If you think that you might have alopecia or hair loss, please contact a dermatologist or trichologist.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Benedict_Yossarian

 What is causing my hair loss?

It is normal to shed about 150 -200 strands of hair each day. When the shedding is excessive it may be known as hair loss or alopecia.  

Hair loss can be caused by several factors. If your hair is coming out in clumps the following factors could be why:  

Poor diet or nutritional deficiency- Diet is very important for healthy hair. Iron deficiency also known as anemia can cause excessive shedding. Eating disorders such as anemia and bulimia can cause hair loss.  

Stress- Stress cannot only cause you to lose hair but it can cause premature graying.  

Hormonal Imbalances-Women can experience hair loss or thinning hair during menopause. Many women also notice that they are losing more hair than normal after childbirth. This is known as postpartum shedding. This is usually temporary. An underactive or overactive thyroid can also affect hormone levels, therefore causing you to lose more hair than normal.  

Poor hair care practices- Improper use of chemicals such as relaxers can cause hair loss. Braids and weaves, if they are done too tightly, can cause the hairline to recede.  This type of hair loss is known as traction alopecia and it is usually found in women. Tight buns and ponytails can cause this as well.  

Medications- Some medications  can cause thin hair. Hair loss usually stops once the medication is no longer being taken.  

Genetics- For men who suffer from male patterned baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia, genetics is usually the cause. Male patterned baldness causes a receding hairline and/or baldness on top of the head.  

Scalp Inflammation- Infections such as ringworm are known to cause hair loss. Ringworm can be treated with medication and the hair usually grows back. Seborrheic dermatitis is a skin condition that can cause inflamed skin. If it is located on the scalp it can cause temporary hair loss.  

If you are noticing that you are losing more hair than normal, please contact a dermatologist or a trichologist to assess the cause and possible treatment for hair loss.  

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How protein affects hair growth

Many people that suffer from hair loss take protein supplements in hopes of accelerating their hair growth. Although protein deficiency is not usually the cause of hair loss, adding protein and amino acids to your diet can improve the rate at which hair grows.

All cells found in our bodies are composed of protein. Protein absorbed from our food is broken down into amino acids during digestion. Amino acids are essential components in the make up of protein.
Hair growth is stimulated by a continuous flow of amino acids received from our blood stream. The hair follicle requires allot of energy because the hair follicle is one of the fastest growing cells in the body. If the hair follicle is not receiving enough amino acids, the rate at which the cell grows will decrease.

Types of Protein

Protein is either classified as complete or incomplete. Complete proteins are those sources of protein that contain adequate amounts of all nine amino acids. Some common sources of complete protein in our diet are meat, fish, poultry, eggs, milk and cheese. Incomplete proteins are lacking on one or more of the nine amino acids. Sources of incomplete protein in our diets are plants, grains, nuts, seeds and vegetables. As a result, Vegans may intake a considerable amount of protein but lack all of the nine amino acids. This is one reason that Vegans may need protein supplements.

What is the most important amino acid in hair production?

Cysteine is the most important amino acid when considering hair growth. An extension of a keratin protein bong, the sulfur molecules within this amino acids work together to produce disulfide bonds. These bonds are responsible for stronger hair. In order to see the benefits of faster hair growth, you have to retain what you grow. Stronger hair will allow you to retain more hair.

This article was written by Olivia Crawford, Editor at ProteinSupplementHelp.com, where she talks about various protein supplements and the overall affect on the human body. For more information on protein supplements visit her at www.proteinsupplementhelp.com.

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We all want hair that’s healthy and looks beautiful. Dr Oz, who has been featured on the Oprah Winfrey show, has shared health and anti-aging tips and he is now giving hair advice for those seeking healthy hair.  

According to Dr. Oz, your outer beauty is a reflection of your health. Deficiencies in vitamins, minerals, and having a poor diet can lead to weak hair. Illness and disease can also cause hair loss or dry hair . If you are experiencing difficulties with your hair, it’s best to examine what you have been putting into your body. If you are noticing that you are losing your hair, it would be best to consult a dermatologist or a trichologist.
Dr Oz also states, “You’ve got to treat [your hair] like a fine silk blouse that got wet…if you’re blow-drying your blouse that got a little wet or if you’re combing it backward over and over again, or if you’re too rough with it, it begins to fray. Your hair has to be dealt with extraordinarily gently.”  This is especially true for damaged hair which tends to be fragile. Rough handling with your hair can lead to thin hair and split ends.

Dr. Oz also mentions the effects hard water can have on the hair.  He suggests the best thing you can do is to “get a charcoal filter and put it in your showerhead,” he says. “When chlorine is present in the water in your shower, it can dry you up a lot. A filter is an easy fix”. Chlorine and other minerals present in water can cause your skin and hair to become dry and dull. To prevent dry hair from hard water, you can use a shower filter and you can also use a chelating shampoo to remove the minerals from your hair.  

The article also states, “Finally, only shampoo when your hair is dirty—not every day”. Many shampoos contain sulfates that can strip the hair of moisture leaving it dry. Many find it helpful to use conditioner to wash their hair (if they wash several times a week) and to only use shampoo once a week.  

Environmental factors such as the sun can cause damage to the hair as well. Dr Oz explains, “the sun actually fries the hair and will take away that lovely body it’s supposed to have.” Exposure to the sun can also cause your hair to become lighter and duller. Try covering your hair when you are in the sunlight, especially during the summer time.

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