Saturday, September 28, 2013

IMPROVE YOUR HAIR'S CONDITION BY...

Herbs that help stimulate hair growth:

Dulse: used to replace salt; high in iodine; minerals and vitamins.
Horsetail: use as a tea or capsule; helps to stop falling hair.
Rosemary: used as a hair rinse and oil for the scalp; strengthens the scalp.

Shampoo: designed to cleanse the hair and scalp but should not be used excessively because it can over shampooing can cause dryness.
Hair Oil: has been used in Ancient Africa for medicinal purposes; supplement hair’s natural moisture when the scalp does not produce a sufficient amount of sebum on the hair shaft. Hair care

Trichology: is the branch of medicine that deals with the scientific study of the health of hair and scalp. Forensic trichology can determine the approximate age, body mass, race, and other important traits of the hair's owner. If you are having trouble with severe hair loss, baldness, breakage and a problematic scalp, a Trichologist most likely will be able to help clients by giving them an analysis and assessment of the issues. A digital microscopic instrument is used to examine hair condition.

Tips for Damaged Hair:

Use moisturizing and conditioning treatments that penetrates the core of the hair strand and through the skin without clogging. Products with heavy mineral oil and petroleum can clog up scalp and block moisture from penetrating.

Keep hair supple and moist by using moisturizers and conditioners and hot oil treatments. Moisturizers and conditioners should be applied from the scalp to the end of hair strands. This helps to combat dryness, breakage, brittleness and unruly hair. ( I can hear one of my former instructors saying, "get those ends" or when we did relaxers, she would walk around shampoo area shouting, "Neutralize 2-3 times to close those porous ends to prevent continuous chemical processing-eventually causing further damage to hair" of course after this, you have to condition and restore lost moisture.

Trim of dead/damaged and/or porous ends. When the hair has overly porous and dead ends occur, the hair will begin to become more porous/split from the ends all the way towards the scalp and cause more hair breakage and excessive shedding. Remember that when hair is damaged to the point of being dead, you can't resurrect it. Cutting/trimming off the dead hair is the best solution and focus on nurturing the remaining hair that is undamaged and prevent further damage.

Proper Tools: Do not brush damp hair without using a wide tooth comb/detangling brush to lesson stress and weakness caused by pulling and stretching the hair. Avoid overheated implements (curling irons, blow-dryers & pressing combs). Using tight rubber bands and tight hats that can rub out the edges of the hair and break off hair.

Certain medications have been linked to hair loss. Chemotherapy, other cancer medicines, isotretinoin and other acne medicines can cause hair damage as well as lithium, which is effective as a treatment for bipolar disorder. One should seek the help of a physician to see if medications can be changed.

Over Shampooing is also a factor in some hair breakage issues. Excessive shampooing or the wrong shampoo can rob the hair or its natural moisture (Sebum) from the scalp and hair. With African American hair textures that are more on the kinky side, this type (4a & 4b and even 3a & 3b) of texture generally does not need as much shampooing as other textures that are straight and have more moisture. Use shampoos that have moisturizers in it. Oily hair that has a lot of moisture can use shampoos that are not as oily or moisturizing. This is too avoid heavy and weighted down hair caused by overuse or too much conditioning and moisturizing.
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Moisturizers/Oils/Conditioners & Its Properties
Shea Butter- Moisturizing, Healing, Sealant/Coat, good for Eczema & Psoriasis,
Castor Oil-Moisturizing, Humectant, Sealant, Omega 6 fatty acids, Anti-inflammatory, Anti-bacterial, Antiviral, Anti-fungal, Anti-oxidant, Softness, Supple, Conditions, Increase/Stimulates hair growth by blood circulation, Highly-penetrating, 
Coconut Oil-Moisturizing, Healing, Luster, Penetrating, Conditions, 
Avocado Oil -Moisturizing, Softness, Conditions, Strengthening, Sealant, Nutritious, Protein-packed, Anti-oxidant, Emulsifier, Lubricant, 
Olive Oil-Moisture, Conditioning, Healing, Nutritious, Psoriasis, Eczema.
Protein - Conditioning, (Proteins-Keratin/Wheat/Amino Acids are found in many conditioners), Strengthens hair bonds/amino acids in hair, and adds durability/pliability and life to brittle dry hair (especially due to chemicals). 

List of some protein conditioner are (not all natural but effective)
1. Organic Root Stimulator-Hair Mayonnaise or Organic Root Replenishing Pak, 
2. Queen Helene Cholesterol Hair Conditioning Cream, 
3. apHogee 2 minute Reconstructor (Keratin protein)-especially for naturals-is less harsh than those designed for chemically treated hair, 
4. Dr. Miracles Deep Conditioner, 
5. Home-Made Hair Mayo (Ex: whipped eggs, mayo, olive oil), 
6. K-Pak Deep Penetrating Reconstructor, 
7. Motions Oil Moisturizer Silk Protein Conditioner, 
8. Palmer Coconut Oil Formula Deep Conditioning Protein Pack, 
9. Aubrey Organics GPB,
10. Nuance Salma Hayek Wheat Protein Repair & Restore Conditioner (Sulfate free). 
Just to name a few... Caution!!! The overuse of protein conditioners can make the hair hard and stiff. It is not recommended to use often but only when needed and in between other conditioners (moisturizers).
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Proper application of Moisture to hair & skin:
  • Heavy oils and some butters can weigh down hair and block pores, and block moisture just as build up and dirt does. Avocado, Olive or Coconut Oil can help carry oils & certain butters through the cuticle (outer layer) to the hair's cortex (inner layer) and help water to retain/attach to inner layer. Many of these oils can be mixed half and half to add to skin or hair.
  • Using the what is now called "L.O.C" or "L.O.L.C.B" (liquid, oil, cream/liquid oil, leave in, cream, butters) a scientific method, seems to work best for many because it has the balance of water, oil and good cream to hydrate, stick/retain and seal all at once. You can create your own LOC solution for example: water, castor or black castor oil, coconut and/or olive oil and my favorite Jojoba oil and Almond oil that I use in most of my product line & the addition of Aloe juice/gel. 
  • This is not a new formula/solution. Growing up, I remember my mom and other women including myself when I was old enough to do my own hair, and now on my clients. We used these methods-only didn't give it a name.You can make your own spritzer or solution by putting it in a bottle with a spray or spout top that you can pick up from your local beauty supply store or pharmacy.
  • It is wonderful how we go back to His Garden (God's natural gifts and benefits He created for us from the beginning) and after we try alternative/substitutes, we find that He already had a plan. Not there is something wrong with all alternative but all are not beneficial and using natural ingredients have proven to improve the alternatives!

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