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Showing posts with label Hair style. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hair style. Show all posts

Friday, April 30, 2010

Take Care Of Your Hair



Possessing a dense and luxuriant mane covering the scalp is a cherished dream for all. However, very often, this dream is eclipsed by the nightmare of large-scale hair loss. It brings with it anxiety and depression. In desperation, we seek ways and means to check this menace completely, or at least curb it.

It should be noted that a certain rate of hair fall, that is, loss of a number [80-100] of hair strands per day is normal. However, when it exceeds that limit, it becomes a cause for concern and is considered a problem. Some people lose a lot of hair early in life because it runs in their family [inherited] or because of disease, medications, stress, injury, or damage to the hair.

What causes hair loss?
The most common cause of hair loss is genetics - you inherit the tendency to lose hair from either or both your parents. This is called male-pattern or female-pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia. [Alopecia is the medical term for hair loss.] About 50 per cent of people have this type of hair loss by about 50 years of age.

Other common causes of hair loss include:

Ringworm of the scalp [tinea capitis], which is common in children.
Mental stress or physical stress, such as recent surgery, illness or high fever.
Chemotherapy, the use of medication to destroy cancer cells.
Pulling your hair back too tightly, wearing tight braids or ponytails, or using curling irons or dyes.
As you age, you grow less hair. It is also thinner and tends to break more easily.
What are the symptoms?
Hair loss can occur as thinning [you may not notice hairs falling out] or as shedding, with clumps of hair falling out. It can be general - you lose hair all over your scalp - or focal, which means you lose it in one area only. In inherited hair loss, men generally develop bald spots on the forehead area or on the top of the head, while women have an overall thinning of the hair throughout the scalp.

Because hair is an important part of appearance, hair loss can result in loss of self-esteem and feeling unattractive, especially in women and teens.

Diagnosis
Hair loss is diagnosed through medical history and physical examination. Your health professional will question you about your hair loss. Do your parents have hair loss? When did your hair loss begin? How much hair are you losing. He or she will also look at the pattern of hair loss, examine the scalp, and may tug gently on a few hairs or pull some out. If the reason for your hair loss is not clear, the person may take a sample of your hair or scalp to examine under a microscope, or do a blood test to identify a disease source.

How should you treat it?
Some people choose to treat hair loss with medications or surgery, such as hair transplantation. Others choose to wear hairpieces [wigs or toupees] or use different methods of hair styling [dyeing or combing]. The approach you use depends on the cause of your hair loss and how you feel about it. Some people feel they need treatment, while others are not as concerned about thinning hair or baldness.

Hair loss that is caused by a controllable factor, such as stress or medication, is treated by eliminating the cause. Whether your hair grows back depends on the cause of your hair loss. If you have inherited hair loss, you would need treatment to re-grow your hair. It will not grow back naturally. However, treatment to re-grow hair does not work for everyone. If your hair loss is caused by medication, stress, or damage, hair often grows back after the cause is removed, although sometimes treatment may be needed.

Home treatment for hair loss includes hair care and hairstyling techniques that may help you cover thinning or bald spots on the scalp. This may be easier for women, because inherited hair loss [androgenetic alopecia], causes a general thinning that is usually not as severe as it is in men. Hair sprays, dyes, and permanents can help make the hair appear fuller.

In women with inherited hair loss, hair care and use of grooming products, hair sprays, hair colour, teasing, permanents, or frequent washing will not increase hair loss. However, if your hair loss is caused by improper hair care, then perms and dyes may contribute to more hair loss.

For both men and women, hair thinning and baldness increase the risk of sunburn and skin cancer on the scalp. When in the sun, wear a hat or use a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more to prevent sun damage to the scalp.

Medication
Medication for hair loss can slow thinning of hair and increase coverage of the scalp by growing new hair and enlarging existing hair. However, they need to be taken continuously. If the medications are stopped, any hair that has grown back will gradually be lost, and within 6-12 months your scalp will most likely appear the same as before treatment. If you are taking medication for inherited hair loss, do not expect to re-grow a full head of hair. Hair coverage is improved on the top of the head, but not on the forehead area. However, when you stop taking these medications, hair loss begins again.

Make sure you choose the best option for your hair and keep looking your best.

Tips To Prevent Hair Loss
Get rid of stress as this is most dangerous for your lovely hair.
Bend your head while you are shampooing and massage your scalp. This will increase blood circulation to the scalp.
Get sufficient sleep. Like healthy body, healthy hair also needs a good night's sleep.
Ensure your diet is rich in Vitamin B6 and zinc.
Use supplements if you cannot get enough from natural food sources.
Don't pull your hair. By pulling your hair you are placing strain on the hair follicle and may cause permanent damage which results in that particular follicle not being able to grow hair again.
Be careful not to rub you scalp against a towel to dry it. Rubbing your scalp can also damage a hair follicle. If possible, pat away excess moisture and then leave the hair to dry naturally.
Don't use wigs, unless advised by a doctor. The scalp needs to breathe for the hair follicles to work to their maximum effect. Using a wig suffocates the follicles.
Use the right shampoo for your hair. Shampoos are formulated for a reason and giving your hair the most help possible is a good idea. Also, never over-wash your hair, otherwise, you deprive it of all its natural oils.
Don't use permanent or colorants. Using any chemical on the hair can lead to damage of the scalp and hair follicles.
Always wash your hair thoroughly after using shampoo. Shampoo contains soap and chemicals and needs to be washed off thoroughly after use.
It is important to watch your diet. Eating unbalanced diets results in deficiencies and your hair will not get the nutrition it needs. You should also carefully watch your intake of both vitamin A and E as excessive amounts of both these vitamins have been linked to hair loss.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

10 Hair Styling Tips and secrets





We all have bad hair days, there's no denying it.
But there are easy ways to make sure yours are few and far between.
just follow these simple hair styling ideas!

1. A healthy you means healthy hair
The top secret to healthy hair is to be healthy yourself. Drinking lots of water each day will make your hair shiny and prevent split ends - making hair styling far easier. Green vegetables and 'good' oils such as fish will also improve the quality of your hair, as will having plenty of sleep. Just like your skin, hair responds to changes in your lifestyle and even climate, so your hair style could need a bit of a health kick!

2. Find the perfect hair style for you
Starting with the right cut is the most important part of hair styling. It is your canvas for the Great Hair Day. Visiting a salon may not be cheap, but they will be able to style your hair to suit your facial structure, skin tone and lifestyle - and that's priceless. Your hair style should make you feel great, and making sure you feel confident in your cut is your first point of call.

3. Be careful with wet hair
If you wash your hair in the evening, make sure it is completely dry before you go to bed. Sleeping on wet hair will cause frizz and tangles - not a great hair style! Make sure you only use a comb in wet hair and not a bristled hair brush - bristles will break hair and cause split ends and flyaways.

4. Heat not always hair styling's enemy!
There are heaps of new products being released especially for protection against sun and heat damage. This is great news for having straight, luscious hair or that sun kissed look. Your hair style - and whole look - can be dramatically altered using hair straighteners or curling irons without damaging your hair's quality. It's not recommended every day, but can be awesome every so often when you need a bit of a change.

5. Long hair styles don't need to be boring
Long hair may get a bit of a bad rap in the hair style world, but eclectic fashion trends mean you can do more with it now than ever before. Give your long hair a new lease on life by trying creative up dos, knots, quirky pigtails and sleek quaffs. Many celebs sport long hair styles, so have a look through your favorite magazine for inspiration!

6. Try different hair styling products
Hair styles get bored of using the same things, just as we do. Your hair can become a bit "tolerant" of the products you use and need a change, so shake things up a bit with a new hair styling balm or gloss, or try a new shampoo and conditioner every couple of months.

7. Accessorize your hair style!
Barrettes, flowers and headbands are all back in, so take advantage of them! Simple hair clips can completely change your look - tie your hair style in with the rest of your look by using complementary colors and jewels. In summer, be fresh and funky with bright flowers. In the colder months, try headscarves and ribbons in warm colors. For the office, spice up your corporate hair style with subtle crystals or a classy hair comb.

8. Try a new color
If you're bored with your hair style, a new color can bring a subtle difference or a dramatic change. Treat yourself to this season's latest colors at your salon, and consider streaks, foils or even large portions of color to dramatize the look. Alternatively, try doing it yourself - most hair color formula's can actually improve the look of your hair style and improve shine health!

9. The dramatic hair style change
Having the same cut can make you feel weighed down pretty quickly. A striking change in your cut doesn't mean you should shave it all off - try some dramatic layers or a serious change in length to really stand out from the crowd. Your hair will feel lighter and sexier, and you'll feel more vibrant!

10. Spoil your hair
Give your hair style the chance to revitalize with a deep conditioning treatment or salon treatment. Lifeless hair is difficult to style, so choose an intensive moisturizing product and see the difference it makes to your look. Most hair stylists recommend a deep conditioning treatment at least once a week, and even a 3-minute treatment can be enough to give new life to your hair style!