Hair Care News

Vitamins for Hair Loss in Women

Posted on March 10, 2011 with No Comments

Growing you hair long can be a very slow and painful process, it could take a few years to achieve the look you want. We all know there is no magic pill you take that makes you wake up with long hair. There are hundreds of products on the hair loss market today that claim results but which ones are legitimate and which ones are selling snake oil that is where vitamins for hair loss come into play.

It is has been proven by science that certain vitamins and minerals can help with hair loss. To understand how these work you need to understand the life cycle of your average hair. There are three basic platforms in a hairs life. The birth phase this is where the hair sprouts out of a pore and starts growing. This hair can actually continue to grow for between 3 and 7 years depending on how healthy it is.

The dormant phase is the second platform, this is basically where the hair stops growing and rests. At the end of the platform is the shed phase this is where the bulb of the follicle starts to dissolve and the hair follicle simply falls out. Depending on your hair health this can take between 3-7 years to cycle the phases.

So now lets talk vitamins and minerals here are some key ones that will help with hair loss in women.

Cycancobalamin – Known as vitamin B-12 is easy converted to methylcoblamin which can aid in new hair growth.
Folacin – Know as Vitamin B-9 helps repair damaged cells.
Biotin – Known as Vitamin B-7 helps with the growth on new cells.
Pyridoxine – Known as Vitamin B-6 helps by increasing the blood flow to the root of the hair.
Pantothenate – Known as Vitamin B-5 helps by creating new proteins which help build the hair.
Nicotinic Acid – Known as Vitamin B-3 helps with the metabolic rate on living cells.
Riboflavin – Known as Vitamin B-2 helps the cells process materials easier.
Thiamin – Known as Vitamin B-1 aids in cell enzyme translation.

The hair itself gets nutrition by blood flow to the bulb of the hair. So if you have poor circulation this can cause hair fall as well. Keeping the hair hydrated is very important, if your body becomes dehydrated your hair will suffer so drink plenty of water. B Vitamins mixed with other minerals can make your hair healthier which in turn makes it grow faster.

It is important to take them as recommended you can take too many vitamins. Taking vitamins are a great way to supplement your body for the vitamins that it is not getting from your diet. Eating more leafy green vegetables and fruit will help you get more vitamins and minerals as well.

Emu Oil Benefits

Posted on January 26, 2011 with No Comments

Emu Oil History

Emu oil naturally comes from a patch of fat on the back of bird found native to Australia; it has been used for thousands of years for many different things. This bird is called an emu; they are a flightless bird that is only found down under. Emu is used for nutrition, fashion, architecture and religious purposes; it was used by the Aborigines for healing many different illnesses. It is made by heating the oil to a high temperature causing it to keep its oil form; this fat reduction is then purified and bottled. Emu oil has been used in beauty products, medicinal products as a pain reducer, to help lubricate joints help with muscle tears and strains. It also helps cuts, burns and scars heal more quickly, and helps reduce pain.

Emu Oil for Hair

Studies have shown emu oil helps make hair stronger while also helping it grow faster as well; this can help reduce the effects of hair loss. Emu oil is known as a carrier oil because it penetrates deep down into the scalp, by doing this it can help carry other ingredients down there as well. It helps irritated skin by reducing inflammation and easing the swelling, this is great for blisters or sun burn. Emu oil also also been know to help with new hair growth, it does this by unblocking the follicles to allow new hair to grow through. It also is an anti microbial which mean it kills bacteria on site and is even hypoallergenic, so you will not have to worry about allergic reactions. It is also good for your face because it will help flush out blockages in your pores and get rid of black heads on site.

Vitamin E and emu oil go hand in hand which is good because vitamin e is very good for your skin and helps your body fight off free radicals, free radical are a harmful by-product of the environment around you. Emu oil helps hydrate skin to help heal damaged areas due to weather or skin conditions; it works on the scalp much in the same way. When it comes to your hair emu oil helps coat the hair and lock a layer of moisture in between the hair shaft and the outside environment locking moisture in. When this happens you will notice that your hair has become soft and shiny, also it help add strength as well.

Because emu oil works so well to help do all of these wonderful things, it has become a very popular product over the last few years. Almost any product that contains emu oil in it is very beneficial to you and your body. It helps carry active ingredients deeper into the skin and scalp where they can become more effective.

Coconut Oil and Scalp benefits

Posted on December 21, 2010 with No Comments

Coconut oil is said to have so many healthy attributes, including anti-fungal and antibacterial properties as well as vitamin and mineral richness. With so many benefits, is it any wonder that there are coconut oil hair growth effects. The oils and proteins in coconut oil work well to help keep hair from losing protein, which is one of the major contributors to hair breakage and hair loss. When used at least two times weekly, in addition to a stimulating scalp massage, it has been found that coconut oil can help to stimulate proper circulation and keep the scalp moisturized. Coconut oil and scalp benefits can also help to keep the head free of things like dandruff.

For people interested in growing their hair longer and thicker, it helps to keep the hair well moisturized and the hair shaft strong. This will prevent breakage of the hair and allow it to grow longer and thicker without looking damaged. It can also be used as a very effective hair conditioner daily, to help keep hair strong and damage-free.

These benefits of coconut oil can be attributed to the presence of lauric acid, capric acid and caprylic acid, and its properties such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, antifungal, antibacterial, soothing, etc. Organic coconut oil contains minerals such as magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron. Applying the oil on the scalp helps in lubricating the hair. It penetrates deep into the hair shaft and softens it. The presence of lauric acid and capric acid is known to help in fighting off the microbes that are responsible for causing scalp infections. For people suffering from a dry scalp or conditions such as seborrheic dermatitis, application of organic coconut oil will certainly help. Organic coconut oil also contains saturated fatty acids like oleic acid, linoleic acid, caprylic acid, myristic acid and palmitic acid. The presence of all these ingredients makes it an excellent hair conditioner.

Shampoo for Dense, Coarse or Thick Hair

Posted on May 26, 2009 with No Comments

Two years ago my wife and I were fortunate (blessed) to adopt a 5-year-old boy from Guatemala.  He always has a smile on his face, is inquisitive, humble, smart and has the thickest, densest hair of anyone I’ve ever met.

No kidding – his hair is jet black, stands straight-up and as thick as a carpet.  Whenever he is in the sun, his head absorbs heat like asphalt on an August day and the sweat starts falling, even when the temperature is rather mild.  It is coarse and stiff, and we have experimented with all sorts of shampoos to keep his scalp moisturized and follicles somewhat soft and manageable – what we needed was a shampoo for dense, coarse and thick hair.

Needless to say, we have several hispanic friends – mainly from Central and South America – and many of the “hispanics” we know have similar challenges, whether they’re from Mexico, Guatemala or Venezuela.  And the issue we hear repeatedly is how to maintain and manage hair that is so coarse and thick.

Here is what we have found.  First, maintaining moisture is paramount and the two best products we found for that are those with emu oil or LusterPlex.  LusterPlex, interestingly, was developed by Croda (a personal products research and ingredient company) to increase flexibility, shine and smoothness of coarse or thick hair.  It has become a top active ingredient for use in African American hair products for its’ properties for increasing sheen and reducing breaking.

Shampoos and conditioners with this ingredient work great for hispanic hair (latino, latina) too - I can attest.  Though density hasn’t changed (and I hope it doesn’t for a long time), his hair is much softer and smoother – and doesn’t have that “velcro” feel.  It still gets hot – as a recent trip to the pool proved, but the feel of brittleness is gone and it doesn’t seem to get as dirty as it once did.

The other ingredient I mentioned was emu oil.  Emu oil is great for moisturizing the scalp and works very well in shampoos and conditioners.  It is a very popular ingredient for African American shampoos and for anyone who deals with breakage or coarseness.  It is a great moisturizer – reducing dryness and poor hydration – and works well for those whose locks are thin…it adds body, softness and life.

Zincidone (Zinc PCA) – 5-Alpha Reductase Inhibitor & Sebum Control

Posted on April 27, 2009 with No Comments

Zincidone (Zinc PCA) is a an effective ingredient used in popular clarifying shampoos such as Follicleanse and for products developed to block DHT.  Zinc PCA has been shown to reduce sebum production as well as blocking the conversion of 5-Alpha Reductase Enzymes.  Reduced sebum flow helps guard onset of Seborrheic Dermatitis believed to be the result of yeast and oil forming bacteria.

Zincidone tested at 10-7m reduces 5″ alpha reductase power by 65%.  At 1%, in vivo tests have exhibited a 22% reduction in sebum flow.  Barnet Products Corporation

Needless to say, its’ efficacy for products for oily hair or to inhibit DHT are measurable, making it well suited for hair loss, thinning in men and for deep-cleaning and regulating excessive scalp oils. It’s also important to note that Zinc PCA can be useful in addressing what causes scalp psoriasis. Often symptoms such as scaling, flakes, tenderness and itching are eased by products such as Follicleanse shampoo or a good psoriasis shampoo that use Zinc PCA as a primary active ingredient.