June 30, 2008
Even though the term “hair loss” is most commonly associated with men, women experience hairloss almost as frequently. Female hair loss is considered to be anything over the loss of about 100 hairs a day, that is experienced during a time when a woman has not just had a baby. After pregnancy, women commonly lose more hair than normal for several months after the birth of their baby because during pregnancy, the body holds onto hair.
Although it’s hard to tell if you’re losing more than a hundreds hairs per day exactly, you should take notice if you start to lose more hair than you normally do. A change in diet, sleep patterns or exercise habits could be a reason for the loss of your hair, but it could also point to something more serious. If you take the time to speak with a doctor and get the proper treatment, female hair loss can be stopped in its tracks.
The most common cause of female hair loss is called androgenic alopecia. It’s also referred to as pattern hair loss. In this type of hair loss, the main culprit is an abundance of the hormone androgen in a woman’s body. Androgen is a male hormone and, as you can imagine, it can wreak havoc in a woman’s body. It can produce thick hair on a woman’s face, back, chest and arms, but can also cause thin hair on top of a woman’s head. The scalp is most effected with this type of hair loss, but it can be treated with laser therapy or corrected with a hair transplant.
The next type of female hair loss goes by the name traction alopecia. As its name implies, it is related to the physical exertion felt against the hair when a woman pulls her hair back in a tight hair style. Tight ponytails buns and braids can cause tension around the hairline. Over time, the hair around the hair line stops growing and begins to fall out. Through this, a woman’s hair line can start to recede. By wearing your hair in a different manner, treating it with a gentle oil massage and using wide tooth combs instead of brushes, you can stop and prevent this type of hair loss.
Hair loss can also be caused by a thyroid imbalance and such cases go by the name telogen effluvium. It’s a result of either a thyroid problem, cancer, liver troubles or lots of stress. This name also applies to the hair loss that is experienced in cancer patients who receive radiation therapy. With this type of hair loss, the hair loss itself or another symptom of the condition can clue you into the presence of the condition. If your hair loss doesn’t fit into any of the aforementioned categories, discuss it with a doctor so you can get the right type of treatment.
Female hair loss isn’t as common as male hair loss, but it has just as much of an impact on the person losing their hair. Fortunately, with the help of a doctor, a hair specialist or a change in hair style, it can be stopped and reversed.
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June 25, 2008
Hair loss happens to a lot of people in many different forms. There’s male pattern hair loss, alopecia, hereditary hair loss, thinning hair and receding hair lines. Just as there are many different types of hair loss, there are many different causes for common hair loss. Understanding where hair loss comes from can sometimes help you deal with thinning hair.
Identifying the cause of your hair loss can help you find solutions that suit your needs. One of the first major causes of hair loss is stress. Stress is more than just an emotion. It effects your body on a biochemical level. It literally changes your blood chemistry so that you begin shedding more hair than normal. Taking steps to reduce your stress and to calm yourself will help your mind, body and hair.
Another common cause is heredity. Unfortunately, for some of us, losing our hair is in our genes. Lifestyle choices can make a difference in whether or not the genetic predisposition for hair loss is experienced fully. But if you carry the gene for baldness it will most likely set in before the age of 40. There isn’t much you can do about hereditary hair loss to prevent it, but there is a lot that you can do to reverse the effects.
Hormonal problems are another common cause for hair loss. A certain type of hormone called DHT (dihydrotestosterone) can cause the weakening of hair at it’s roots and eventual hair loss. This is the most common cause of male pattern baldness, since DHT is a form of testosterone. Women can also experience hormonal hair loss. When a woman changes her hormone levels through using artificial hormones like birth control or hormone replacement therapy, it can have a big impact on her hair loss. With these types of hair loss, it’s best to consult an expert. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 18, 2008
When your hair is damaged it shows. If you constantly pull on your hair with a brush, use heated styling tools or apply styling products each day, then you are paving the way for damaged hair. If your hair is dull, brittle or generally out of control, you’ll be happy to know that there are a few things that you can do to restore part of your hair’s luster and shine. Keep in mind that there are no complete cures for damaged hair other than cutting it off. But there are steps that you can take to have the best head of hair possible while you are growing new, healthy hair.
The first step is to get your hair trimmed. Before you start applying any of the treatments listed below, you need to trim off the most damaged part of your hair at the ends. Getting regular trims help stop split ends and reduces the overall damage on your head. You don’t need to cut a whole lot of hair off, so don’t worry if you’re a fan of long hair. As little as a quarter of an inch can make a big difference.
Next, you need to change the way that you treat your hair. Never brush your hair when it is wet. Always use a wide tooth comb to get out tangles after your bath or shower, and make sure to use a leave in conditioner or detangler if you have longer hair. Pulling at your wet hair with a brush pulls and snaps strands of hair which leaves you with breakages.
You should also reduce your reliance on heated styling tools, like hair dryers, curling irons and straighteners. If you wear your hair in a style that requires a hair dryer, try to use the dryer on the lowest setting and let your hair dry naturally as long as possible. Test out different “sleep in” rollers to see if you can eliminate the need for a curling iron. Hair straighteners should be used on low settings and in conjunction with styling products that will make straightening your hair easier. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 10, 2008
If real life were just like T.V., we’d all have shiny, healthy hair that looked perfect no matter what. Unfortunately, there are many hair problems that plague us. From thin hair to frizzy unmanageable hair, there are several common problems that people that prevent them from having perfect hairdos. If you’ve been struggling with your hair for years, there’s hope!
There are some simple solutions to common hair problems that will minimize your hair’s weaknesses and emphasize its good looks.
Problem #1: Thin, straight hair - Solution: For those with hair that refuses to hold volume, body or curl, the solution lies in the careful selection of hair care products, along with a few simple styling tips. Thin hair has trouble holding onto body, so look for hair care products that emphasize body and volume. Instead of using a conditioner each day, look for a lightweight conditioner to use every other day. This will keep your hair from being weighed down. Opt for mousse instead of gel when it comes to styling products, or avoid them all together. Blow drying your hair instead of letting it air dry will also help it build volume. You can also try Velcro rollers which provide body and volume, but not curl. Place the rollers near the root of your hair and then let your hair air dry. You’ll get the natural volume that you’ve been looking for.
Problem #2: Dry, brittle hair - Solution: If you’re addicted to using heat to style your hair or you frequently use harsh chemicals (like when you color your hair), then you may be experiencing brittle hair that breaks and splits. You’ve got a lot of work to do when it comes to repairing your hair, but it is possible to rebuild the strength of your hair. First, you need to eliminate as many of the harsh products as possible and start using a deep conditioning treatment every other day for a week. After that, use a conditioner each day and avoid heated styling implements. Make sure to get regular trims so you can keep split ends out of your life for good. Read the rest of this entry »
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June 4, 2008
Few people realize how much your hair’s health depends on the vitamins and nutrients that you put into your body. When you think about it, it makes a lot of sense. Your hair grows from your scalp, and it is created using the building blocks that your body has to offer. If you’ve got missing building blocks from a poor diet, then your hair won’t be as healthy as it could be.
Instead of spending time and money trying to figure out what products to put on the surface of your hair, you should look into getting the right hair vitamins and minerals into your diet. Here are the top 8 hair health vitamins that your body needs to grow a healthy, shiny head of hair, start stocking your medicine cabinet with the below today:
Vitamin A: You should be getting between 5,000 and 6,000 IU of this vitamin each day, but keep it within that range. Too much Vitamin A can be toxic. It helps your scalp produce sebum, which makes your hair shiny and soft. Vitamin A can be found in most sources of protein (meat, dairy products, eggs) as well as spinach, broccoli, carrots and cabbage. Apricots and peaches are also good sources of the vitamin.
Vitamin C: This immune-boosting vitamin is also helpful in creating healthy hair. You need 60 mg a day to produce healthy hair and skin. If you want to eat your daily serving in food form, try adding citrus fruit, kiwi, strawberries, cantaloupe and pineapple to your diet. If you’d rather eat it in vegetables, make sure to eat green peppers, dark green vegetables and tomatoes. Potatoes are also good sources of Vitamin C.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is effective in helping your hair because it boosts circulation to your scalp. This means that your hair will grow faster. You should know that Vitamin E can raise your blood pressure and reduce blood clotting, so before you start taking supplements you should consult your doctor if you are on any blood pressure medication or anticoagulants. Foods that are rich in vitamin E include many types of oil, nuts, beans and leafy green vegetables.
Vitamin B3 (Niacin): This also helps boost your scalp’s circulation. Make sure to stay under the 15 mg daily dosage, or you’ll experience a hot sensation called “niacin flush.” Brewer’s yeast, wheat germ, and protein foods (fish, chicken, turkey and beef) are good sources of niacin. Read the rest of this entry »
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