Herbal Remedies Center
Care your Hair
The more you know about your hair, the better you can care for it! Your hair has two separate parts:
Root:- The root is the part of the hair located just under the skin surface. The hair follicle houses the entire hair root. The papilla is where all of the action takes place; it is a rich blood and nerve supply that nourishes the hair shaft and produces hair cells. The bulb is a white sack located on the lower part of the hair that covers the papilla.
Shaft:- The hair shaft is what is grows out of the hair follicle and is what we consider to be hair. It has three parts; the cuticle, cortex and medulla.
The outer layer of your hair shaft is called the cuticle, which holds your hair together. The cells or scales that make up the cuticle layer overlap similarly to the scales on a fish or the shingles on a roof. In healthy hair, the cuticle scales lay flat. In damaged hair, the scales may be missing or broken.
The cuticle layer is your hair’s armor; it protects the heart, or the cortex, the layer beneath the cuticle. It is made of long, molecular chains of amino acids (protein) and is the largest section of your hair.
Chemical straighteners must penetrate through the cuticle to access the cortex, where shape and color changes take place.
Hair is made of dead keratin (protein) cells that are pushed up through the scalp at an average rate of about one-half inch per month for six inches of hair growth each year.
Keep your hair healthy by eating well, frequent conditioning and gentle treatment.
There's plenty you can do to hang on to what hair you have and encourage healthy regrowth without spending an arm and a leg for it. You can start by taking a look in your very own kitchen. If you are suffering from hair loss or baldness, apply a paste of hot olive oil, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder to the scalp before shampooing your hair. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then shampoo. A heat cap may be applied for deeper penetration. Even 5 minutes proved to be effective.
Below are a few simple tips to follow to slow or reverse hair loss from the inside and out:
Air-dry your hair :- Avoid drying vigorously with a towel. If you must use a blow-dryer, keep it on a low setting
Style when dry :- Grooming wet hair can cause it to stretch and break so don't comb or brush your hair until it's dry.
Switch shampoos with the season :- Change your brand of shampoo at the beginning of every new season--summer, winter, spring and fall to prevent some shedding.
Don't tease :- Even women who aren't losing their hair should avoid teasing or back-combing. It is one of the worst things that you can do to your hair. Teasing breaks the hair and contributes to the appearance of hair loss.
Perm and color carefully :- When perming and coloring your hair, follow product nstructions carefully. Neither perms nor color causes hair to fall out, but both, when done incorrectly, do cause hair to break. When the break is very close to the scalp, it can make you look as though hair has fallen out.
Get adequate protein :- Eat a couple of 3 to 4 ounce servings of fish, chicken or other lean sources of protein every day, even if you're dieting. Protein is needed by every cell in your body, including the cells that make the hair. Without adequate protein, the cells in your body don't work efficiently and can't make new hair to replace old hair that's been shed.
Maintain iron levels :- Since iron-deficiency anemia can also cause hair loss, make sure that you eat a well-balanced diet that includes a daily serving or two of iron-rich foods. Good sources of iron include lean red meat, steamed clams, cream of wheat, dried fruit, soybeans, tofu and broccoli.
Take vitamin B6 :- 100 milligrams a day decreases hair-shedding in some people. Larger amounts can be toxic, especially over a prolonged time. If you prefer a hair, nail, & skin supplement, select a product which include nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E, which protect skin, hair, and nails from free radicals. Beta-Carotene is converted in the body to Vitamin A, an essential vitamin for maintaining the health of skin and hair. Vitamin C, Zinc, and L-Cysteine support the integrity of hair, skin and nails.
Consistenly implement these simple changes for several months and see what kind of results you get. A thorough medical exam, better diet, stress management, and medical treatment may easily spured regrowth. |
Child Add