Hair Care -- Diet for Beautiful Hair

The loss of hair can occur on the scalp or on any part of the body that normally has hair, such as eyebrows or eyelashes.

A certain amount of hair loss is normal. The average person normally sheds 50 to 100 hairs every day. The hair shed daily is not necessarily permanent hair loss. Most of the hair we shed grows back.

All hairs have a life expectancy of three to six years. At any given time, some of our hair is growing, some is done growing and in the resting stage, and some is in the falling-out stage. 

Everyone sheds hair at about the same rate, but there are some people, through genetics, who have fewer new hairs that grow to replace those that shed. Pattern baldness or permanent hair loss is simply the result of genetic programming. Increased hair shedding, or temporary hair loss can be caused by a host of different reasons.

Some of these reasons include poor nutrition and diet, genes, hormones, age, medications such as chemotherapy, radiation treatment, infections, stress, chemicals used for certain hairstyles, and rapid weight loss.

Certain illnesses and diseases can also cause hair loss or hair shedding. Examples include anemia, low thyroid hormone levels, lupus, and sometimes cancer. In most of these cases, hair loss is not permanent.

Nutrition and Dietary Recommendations
Nutritional deficiencies can contribute to increased hair shedding by weakening hair shafts that cause breakage to the hair and slow regrowth.

Hair problems that are caused by nutritional deficiencies can be corrected by a proper diet. Principal nutrients that are involved include vitamin A, certain B vitamins, the vitamin biotin, vitamin C, copper, iron, zinc, protein, and water.


Vitamin A
Adequate intake of vitamin A is vital in helping to promote the growth and health of cells and tissues throughout the body, including the hair and scalp.

Prolonged vitamin A deficiency can lead to hair loss and dandruff caused by the buildup of cellular debris in the hair follicles.

The daily intake of vitamin A for adults is 5,000 IU (international units). The body actually gets vitamin A in two ways: from plant sources in the form of carotenoids, such as beta carotene, that convert to vitamin A in the body.

These sources include red, yellow, and orange fruits and vegetables as well as some dark green leafy vegetables. The body also gets vitamin A from animal sources in the form of retinol. Good animal sources include:

liver

fish oil

eggs

fortified milk

other foods fortified with vitamin A 

Hair Care -- Messaging Techniques

Massage is the manipulation of superficial layers of muscle and connective tissue. This is done to enhance function and promote relaxation and well-being on many parts of the body. 

Kneading and squeezing :

This step involves picking the scalp away from the head and manipulating it in different ways using ones hands or fingers and thumbs.

Holding:

This step involves stillness by just keeping the hands on the head with a semi relaxed presence. It is used to establish the flow of energy.

Precussion strokes:

This step involves the sides or the tips of the fingers applied in a motion similar to playing a drum. This stroke is effective on the other nervous system and the circulatory system.

Pulling & Lifting:

This step involves pulling, lifting, stretching and tugging with ones fingers and thumbs. It works on the principle of tension and release. This creates relaxation and mobility.

Friction Strokes:

This step involves a rubbing or chopping motion by applying fingers and heels or sides of the hand. Since This step tends to be vigorous, it warms the head and stimulates blood circulation.

Stroking:

This step involves using hands, fingers or forearms over the head. It has a soothing effect and is a great way to calm the mind.

Hair Care -- Hair Loss Prevention in Women

CAUSES : There can be several causes for both Hair fall and hair breakage, primary among them being: ·        Childbirth ·        Birth control pills ·        Iron and/or protein deficiency ·        Extended illness or infection ·        Stress ·        Underlying medical condition ·        Menopause ·        Stress, diet changes, Medical condition/ medications, hormonal changes eg: pregnancy, ·        Harsh / chemical products usage, combing entangled hair, hard toweling and tying up hair too tightly ·        Inadequate nourishment, Environmental damage & pollution also affect hair strength and health CARE FOR HAIR FALL Ø  To reduce hair breakage, start by minimizing the 'torture on hair' - tie it loosely, use products that are mild and suit your hair, reduce frequency of heat treatments etc.     Ø  Nourish your hair regularly with the use of special products that revitalizes hair roots and is guaranteed to reduce your hair fall Ø  In case of severe hair fall / balding, its advisable to consult a dermatologist                     Ø  Regular oiling ensures that Hair is well moisturized which makes combing easy. As a result of this, Hair breakage reduces

Hair Care -- Home Remedies for Dandruff

The expression dandruff usually refers to the state of the skin in which shiny, silvery scales disconnect from the scalp and gather amidst the hair. The situation can become worrying when the skin gets infected.

Dandruff Symptoms

The scales from the scalp fall

When the hair is combed or brushed, or when the scalp is scratched, the scales from the scalp drop like snowflakes and settle on the eye brows, shoulders, and clothes. These scales occasionally appear as lumps or crusts on the scalp.

Itching is there and scalp may turn into red

Often there is itching as well and the scalp may turn into red from scratching.

Dandruff Causes

Impairment of common health, wrong food intake, constipation

The main causes of dandruff are impairment of general health, development of a toxic condition mostly due to taking of wrong foods, constipation, and a low energy due to infectious diseases.

Emotional tension, harsh shampoos, general tiredness

Other causes contributing to this disorder are emotional tension, harsh shampoos, exposure to cold and general exhaustion.

Home Remedies for Dandruff :

·        Massage the Scalp with pure coconut oil. This will also help growth of hair.

·        Apply coconut oil which has been boiled with small onions for about 20 minutes. Wash it off with a mixture of green gram powder and water drained from cooked (boiled) rice.

·        Apply a mixture of almond oil and gooseberry juice with finger tips on the scalp.

·        Apply the warm mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and coconut oil. Do a steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes and wash the hair with a mild .

·        Apply a paste of fenugreek and mustard to the scalp.

·        Mix Shikakai powder with the water drained from the cooked rice and wash the hair with it.

·        Crush  the leaves of five petal hibiscus flower and take the juice. Wash the hair with this juice.

·         Heat oil with a little camphor. Apply the oil in the scalp and massage for 10 minutes. After 30 minutes wash the hair with a herbal shampoo. Do the steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes.

·         It is better to apply castor oil for a healthy growth of hair.

·         Wash hair with tea once in a week.

·         Apply besan in the hair and wash it with water drained from the cooked rice.

·         Soak a handful of gooseberries in a cup of milk for two hours. Make a paste and apply on the hair.

·         Apply the mixture of an egg white, 2 spoons of castor oil, 1 spoon glycerin, in the scalp and hair. Wash it after some time.

·         Massage hair with warm coconut oil an hour before washing. Let it soak. Cover your head with a hot towel and wash after an hour or so. 

·         Boil a few hibiscus flowers in coconut oil. Filter and use this  to control hair loss and thinning.

·         Do a 'steam-towel-wrap' once in a while, if your cuticles are damaged, as this steaming opens out the pores and absorbs the oil.

·         Soak 1 teaspoon fenugreek in curd and keep it for a night. Apply it in the next morning.

·         Boil coconut oil with the juices of curry leaves, basil, hibiscus flower and gooseberry. Apply on hair, keep it for sometime and rinse.

·         Take a cup each coconut and mustard oil. Soak half a cup of curry leaves in the oil mixture and keep it for a night. Next morning, heat on a slow fire till the curry leaves turn crisp. Remove from heat and add two to three camphor balls. Allow oil to cool and then strain. Apply oil to hair roots using cotton wool along the parting and massage in circular movements. Leave the oil overnight and shampoo the next morning. Repeat twice a week. 

·         Add a lemon peel to a 'shikakai' and 'amla' mixture while washing your hair.

For Graying

·         Take a little Mehandi , an egg, juice of  half a lemon, one table spoon of instant coffee powder. Mix it together and apply on the hair. Wash it after 45 minutes.

·         Boil one cup of dried gooseberry with 4 cups of water. Add a pinch of sugar in it. Keep boiling till the quantity of the liquid reduces to one cup. Mix 2 cups of Mehendi, an egg, juice of a lemon and the gooseberry solution and apply on hair. Wash the hair after two hours.

Natural Conditioners 

·         Egg white is a good . 

·         Deep condition with curd, beer and egg. 

·         Mix a little vinegar in warm water and rinse your hair with this solution. This will add bounce to dull and lifeless hair.

Hair Care -- Different Hair Styles

The way you wear your hair can affect the appearance of your features. Your personal style will always be a factor in the hairstyles you choose. The right hairstyle makes the most of your best qualities Here, I share the secrets to the most flattering haircuts for 5 different face shapes. No matter your face shape, there will be certain cuts that are most flattering (except for " Round Face Shapes Typically, if you have a round face, you want to make your face appear longer and leaner and less round. To do this, create less volume around the face. Styles that are flattering and stylish: Try cuts that fall just below the chin like  are a great bet because they make your face appear slimmer and tend to remove bulk and weight from the sides. Consider wispy and tapered ends like  The wisps de-emphasize the roundness of your face are flattering, but keep them long or side-swept. Avoid: One-length, blunt cuts such if you have short hair. Curly, short hair is also a no-no. Grow your curls out to shoulder-length or beyond or flat iron Celebs who share your face shape: Fergie, Kate Bosworth, Oprah Winfrey, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst, Michelle Williams, Catherine Zeta-Jones square face shapes: If you have a square face, you'll want to play down your strong, angular jaw. Texture, in the form of curls or choppy ends, does this brilliantly. You can also get away with short, spiky cuts and long, sleek styles with layers that start at the jawline and continue downward. Celebs who share your face shape: Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore, Angelina Jolie, Isabella Rosellini and Rosario Dawson Avoid: Short layers that add height on top of your head. Aside from being dated, short layers can make your face appear long. If your hair is thick or curly, avoid a blunt cut. You'll look like a pyramid. If you have curly hair, short hair is generally a no-no . Try shoulder-length or longer to weigh down curls. Celebs who share your face shape: Kate Hudson, Jessica Alba, Jada Pinkett Smith Long face shape. The perfect haircut for us is one that doesn't drag down the face, yet adds width.  is very flattering on a long face. Just make sure your stylist cuts the hair a bit shorter in the back so it doesn't look boring.  work well because they add width to the face. Be careful with long hair: Hair that is too long can drag down the face. Long layers work best with pieces hitting at the nose, the chin and the collarbone. Consider a v-shaped style where the length is mainly in the back, while the sides and front of your hair appear shorter. Also consider adding wave or curls to the hair Avoid: Stay away from the extremes. Don't go longer than the collarbone and avoid a skull-capping pixie cut . Celebs who share your face shape: Sarah Jessica Parker, Ashlee Simpson, Liv Tyler, Giselle Bundchen. Avoid: Short, blunt-cut bangs and harsh, choppy layers. Find a hairstyle that suits you: Here are some hair styles which may suit you

Also, you can visit my other blog for latest top 50 hair stlyes :


http://becomeabeauty.blogspot.com/2011/07/hair-care-50-latest-hair-styles.html

Hair Care -- 5 Tips for Healthy, Shiny Hair

Hair is one of the essential factor when it comes to defining good looks. Healthy and beautiful hair is dream of every girl.It is a reflection of your internal health. Most of the times, hair loss or changes in the texture of the hair could be indicative of some underlying pathology such as hypothyroidism, anemia, cancer, diabetes, and nutritional deficiencies. Hair fall, greying of hair, dandruff, and a receding hairline, are some common hair care concerns. This section gives you tips on hair care to complete your definition of beauty

Great hair doesn’t have to cost a fortune.Here are some tips for your beautiful hair.

Tip #1

Preventive Care: Don’t let your hair be a victim to the environment. Protect it by deep conditioning once a week or using a hair mask. This will fortify your strands, making them much healthier and easier to manage. So treat your hair to some spa time every week and within a month, you’ll definitely see a difference!

Tip #2

Skip the Heat: I cannot tell you how important it is that you skip the blowdrier/straightener/curler as much as possible! On your days off where you’re not leaving the house for example, why not let your hair air dry to its natural state? The more heat you put on your hair, the more you dry out the strands, leaving your hair weak, brittle, and not very healthy. If you must blowdry every day, make sure you do it at the lowest heat setting possible. Yes, it does take a little longer, but especially for those with thin hair like mine, it can make a world of difference! Also, don’t forget that ceramic irons are much more gentler on your hair than non-ceramic ones, so be sure you use the best kind.

Tip #3

Don’t rub! After getting out of the shower, PAT your hair dry and then wrap it in a towel. But under no circumstance should you rub your hair dry since that causes breakage which will eventually lead to split ends.

Tip #4

Brush With Care: The way you brush your hair is very crucial to its health. Never pull on it too hard – you’ll end up pulling out strands! If your hair gets easily tangled, brush it slowly and with care starting at the ends and working your way up – especially if your hair is wet.

Tip #5

Skip a Day: One of the best advices I was given by my hairdresser was to not wash my hair every day. Sure, it may sound a little gross, but washing your hair every single day strips it of its natural oils, which leaves your hair dry and brittle. Instead, wash your hair every other day to retain essential oils.