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In Beauty & Make Up

Top 150 Nail Designs for Short Nails

5 Mins Read

Your nails don’t have to be long to be beautiful! If you prefer having short nails to longer ones, you’re at the right place. We’ve put together a very large gallery of nail designs for short nails for the next time you need some DIY or professional salon manicure inspiration and don’t want to have to grow out your short nails! Whether you want a cool, cute, girly, bold, fun, or sophisticated look, you’ll see them all in this article. We guarantee you’ll find the perfect short nail design to match any outfit and for any occasion here!

Not enough time for a detailed look? Try these simple nail designs for short nails!

You don’t need to be an artist or have tons of time on your hands to have beautiful and trendy short nails. This section of the article will give you inspiration for easy and quick nail designs for short nails. We’ve arranged the photos by color to make it easier for you to find a look to go with any outfit you’re planning to wear.

Pink and red : Whether you wear nails painted all over in pink or with another color (pink and white, perhaps), pink is such a soft, pretty color that you will always give off a very feminine vibe! Red is a sexy, sultry color that will always make you feel elegant and sophisticated.

Blue and Purple: Blue and purple are great colors separately, but as you will see one of these short nails designs, they look wonderful as a color combination too.

Nude, White, and Gray: These colors are very versatile, especially when you use them on simple patterns like the pictures below. Whether you need to wear them to an important office meeting or out on the town with your girlfriends, you will be good to go with these easy nail designs for short nails!

Add some sparkle and shine to your look!

Glitter, rhinestones, and metallic nail polish will add a touch of glam to any short nails design. Use a lot or just a little and you’ll feel rich and luxurious. These pictures offer the full range of sparkly ideas – from using glitter conservatively to going all-out glam with lots of shimmer!

A small amount of glitter or sparkle truly goes far, as you’ll see with these short nails.

These simple patterns are easy and bold!

In the mood for some easy stripes, polka dots, or zig zags? If your answer is yes, these designs are right up your alley! They’re fun, cute, and very easy to do. You don’t have to be a manicure expert to create these pretty patterns.

These first nail designs for short nails take advantage of simple geometry for a very clean, chic, and modern look.If you have more time on your hands, try these intricate manicure masterpieces

If you fancy yourself to be a nail painting Picasso, try your hand at these nail designs for short nails. They take a bit more time, so be sure you’re not rushing to any important event! You’ll see that all the effort and (maybe) hours spent on your manicure will be more than worth it though, when heads turn and jaws drop at the tiny pieces of artwork you’re wearing on your fingernails.

Here are some short nails designs inspired by bold and intricate tribal prints.

Take a walk on the wild side with an animal print manicure

Sometimes, you need to let out the inner animal in you! Here are some animal inspired short nails for when you want to go a little crazy and take a walk on the wild side.

You’ll feel sunshiney and bright with these floral inspired short nails designs

Whenever you need a feminine touch to any outfit, you should think about painting some flowers on your fingernails! These floral inspired designs will add a very soft and pretty aspect to any overall look. From simple brushstrokes to more complicated floral patterns, we’ve included the whole range of floral nail art designs for short nails here.

Feeling hungry? Try these fun and crazy food nail designs for short nails

If you want a fun and bright look that will put a smile on anyone’s face, why not paint some fruit on your fingernails? These short nails are youthful and cheerful, and may be the perfect manicures to wear to a company picnic or brunch with your girlfriends. If you’re babysitting and need inspiration for what to paint on little girls’ nails, these short nails would be perfect for them too!

For a playful look, go full color with your short nail design!

Finally, to round out this article, take some inspiration from the rainbow and paint on these extremely colorful designs on your short nails. The boldness of bright color will give an edgy touch to any outfit or overall look.

This colorful gradient look is inspired by the latest Instagram logo! Love it or hate it, it looks great on your short nails, wouldn’t you agree?

In Hair Care

Top 10 Foods that Stimulate Your Hair Growth

6 Mins Read

Everyone wants a full head of thick, gorgeous hair, but it can be more difficult to come by than many people realize. For men, typical male pattern baldness can easily get in the way as there is a 4 in 7 chance of receiving the baldness gene. For women, female pattern baldness can afflict as many as 1/3 of women at some point in their lives, although this figure ratchets up to 2/3 among post-menopausal women. The psychological effects of hair loss (the formal medical term for it is alopecia) can be profound, often more so for women than men because of societal norms and expectations. In this article, I will present some important information about the science of hair loss and then give some nutritional strategies that will help keep your hair looking its best.

The Science of Hair Loss

There are particular hormones called androgens that have a lot to do with hair growth. The one that seems to be most related to hair loss is called dihydrotestosterone, though it is mostly referred to by its acronym, DHT. This androgenic hormone is responsible for governing the three different hair growth phases (anagen, catagen, telogen), though how it actually works still remains something of a mystery. What happens, however, is a process called “follicular miniaturization” wherein the hair follicle begins to deteriorate, leading to greater lengths of time between shedding a hair and having a new one get started. As the follicle shrinks, the healthier-looking “terminal” hairs become thinner, shorter, less-pigmented “vellus” hairs that never mature into the better terminal hairs. The loss of both thickness and volume of hair continues until the follicle becomes completely inactive and produces no more hair of any type whatsoever.

What Can Help Maintain Hair?

As noted in a previous article, the best thing you can do for your hair is maintain optimal overall health by paying attention to hydration (drinking 8 glasses of water each day, 8 ounces each), getting plenty of aerobic and strength exercise each week, and maintaining a well-balanced, nutritional diet.

Foods that Stimulate Hair Growth

The remainder of this article is going to drill down into information specifically about what you can do with your diet to keep your hair healthy.

Iron

For women, Harvard Medical School notes the following related to iron intake: “In some women, iron deficiency could be a cause of hair loss. Your clinician may test your iron level, particularly if you’re a vegetarian, have a history of anemia, or have heavy menstrual bleeding. Iron supplements are recommended if a woman’s iron level is less than 70 nanograms per milliliter. According to the Mayo Clinic, foods that are rich in iron include the following:

Red meat
Pork
Poultry
Seafood
Beans
Dark green leafy vegetables, such as spinach
Dried fruit, such as raisins and apricots
Iron-fortified cereals, breads and pastas
Peas

It is important to note that the human body absorbs iron best from meat than any other source. However, there are plenty of health and other reasons to minimize meat in your diet, so if you don’t want to get iron from meat, you’ll have to pay even more attention to getting it from the other sources listed. In fact, although the iron in meat helps with hair, the fats found in meat can actually promote hair loss, so be forewarned. You may also choose to take an iron supplement. Also note that you can increase the amount of iron you absorb from your diet by making sure you get plenty of vitamin C, which is known to boost iron absorption. Citrus fruits are a great source of vitamin C. Getting enough iron is important for both men and women, but it tends to be more problematic among women.

Biotin

Biotin is known by a couple of other names, including vitamin H and coenzyme R. It’s a water-soluble vitamin in the B complex. It plays a key role in the metabolism of fats and amino acids, both of which are important to healthy hair. Getting enough biotin will also help your nails stay healthy and strong. A normal diet typically results in the body’s intestinal bacteria producing plenty of biotin, usually more than the body even needs, so it’s relatively rare to be deficient in biotin. For this reason, it’s a good idea to check with your physician before trying to significantly boost your intake of biotin. However, foods that are rich in biotin include egg yolks, liver and yeast. Again, however, especially with eggs and meat, there are many reasons to not go overboard with those. Even better sources without those concerns include peanuts, almonds and sweet potatoes. Other great sources include Swiss chard, carrots, salmon, tomatoes and walnuts.

Protein

Protein is absolutely essential to healthy hair. However, getting plenty of protein can also have unintended negative impacts on your health depending on the sources from which you get it. Again, there are all kinds of reasons to limit your intake of red meat even though it is rich in protein. Alternative sources of protein include fish (especially salmon), nuts of all kinds and legumes (beans). The great thing about salmon is that although it is high in fat, it is the heart-healthy kind of fat (the omega-3 fatty acids).

Zinc

Zinc is another nutrient that plays a key role in the body being able to build the proteins necessary for health hair, but you can also get too much of it. A great source of zinc is seafood, but especially oysters. Beef and lamb are also rich in zinc, but again there are many reasons to not eat much of either of those. The next best sources of zinc include toasted wheat germ, spinach, pumpkin and squash seeds, nuts (especially cashews) and beans (especially cooked mung beans).

Top 10 Foods that Stimulate Hair Growth

Based on what foods have been mentioned above in getting optimal amounts of nutrients that play a key role in maintaining healthy hair, you can see some definite patterns emerging. These coincide quite nicely with what WebMD lists as the top 10 foods for healthy hair:

Salmon – Rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D.
Walnuts – Rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E.
Oysters – Rich in both zinc and protein.
Sweet potatoes – Rich in beta carotene that is turned into vitamin A.
Eggs – Rich in zinc, selenium, sulfur and iron.
Spinach – Rich in iron, beta carotene, folate and vitamin C.
Lentils – Rich in protein, iron, zinc and biotin.
Greek yogurt – Rich in protein, vitamin B5 and vitamin D.
Blueberries – Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants.
Poultry – Rich in protein, zinc, iron and B vitamins.

This represents your go-to list of foods that stimulate hair growth. Focusing on making sure these 10 items are featured prominently in your diet will do wonders for you hair.

In Hair Growth

Review: Wild Growth Hair Oil

5 Mins Read

There aren’t very many good solutions for black hair but Wild Growth Hair Oil is a solution.

I like to think about products in two ways: is it scientific enough to work, and did it work. After that, I ask what’s in it and is it natural or does it contain any ingredients that might harm me.

The Wild Growth Hair Oil contains a lot of natural ingredients such as oils and vitamins that are good for the scalp and hair.

After looking at the ingredients of Wild Growth Hair Oil, it’s easy to see it as a nutrient formulation for hair. It has three different types of healthy oils in it: olive oil, coconut oil, and jojoba oil.

For centuries, women have used oils on their hair and body as a luxurious way to soften the hair and skin. Even the girls preparing to be queens used rituals that included oils like jojoba and coconut oil. The king had to have a queen who had soft smooth hair!

After all, everyone knows that the softer your hair and skin is, the more approachable you look. So these primary ingredients have a history of use by smart women who lived decades or centuries before us.

Brand: Wild Growth Oil
Contains: 4 Oz 100% Natural Ingredients

Price: Between $8 and $10

The vitamins in the Wild Growth Hair Oil include vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin A, and choline. Some of the latest research studies on animals are discovering that vitamin D is important for hair to grow. This vitamin is in this formula. Surprisingly, you won’t find vitamin D in a lot of other hair growth formulas on the market.

Vitamin E and A have been used in topical ointments for years for skin (and scalp). They may help with cell differentiation and cell growth, too.

The product also contains some minerals and other plant substances such as magnesium, phosphorus, iron, calcium and chlorophyll. These are as natural as you can get. Magnesium and phosphorus don’t really have any link to hair growth; however, the product formulators must have a reason for why they are included in the product. Of course, magnesium and phosphorus are natural minerals so they wouldn’t harm you in any way.

Iron deficiency is linked to hair loss and there may not be any research supporting the use of topical iron for hair loss, but nevertheless the product works. Chlorophyll is an oxygenator of cells, so the topical application of it may assist in oxygenating the cells of the scalp and bring in more blood flow. This is part of the reason why Minoxidil works – it brings in additional blood flow to the scalp, reports the researchers.

Products always depend on their ingredients so if they use high quality natural ingredients, you can expect good results. Because of the hundreds of good reviews about this product, we can surmise that the ingredients are high quality; otherwise, there would be a lot more negative reviews.

Some of the other ingredients are found in foods, like the squalene, terpenoids (found in herbs), oleuropein, and pinoresinol (in pine). There is natural fragrance and natural color added to it, so it’s possible that someone who is sensitive to a lot of things can be sensitive to it. This might result in itching but most people shouldn’t experience this.

The beauty of using oil like this is that it can relax those natural curls you may have while it heals the scalp. With the high level of nutrients for the hair, Wild Growth Hair Oil can provide the ideal conditions for your hair to grow. That’s step 1 for what to do to grow hair. Step 2 is simply to keep applying the product regularly.

What’s pretty awesome is that you can replace a hot oil treatment with the Wild Growth Hair Oil. At first, I thought other people were fibbing about the growth of their hair and then I figured out how they were getting such good results. It’s obvious. The oil relaxes the hair, straightening it. When you straighten out a curve, you get greater length fast. It makes perfect logical sense.

Wild Growth Hair Oil can make your scalp and hair come alive. People will see your hair shining and looking its best and know your hair is healthy.

You don’t have to use a whole lot of the oil to get results. In fact, if you use too much, your hair will be dripping, so just use enough to get the results. You can use it after shampooing and conditioning. I know some people don’t like the smell of it and I think if the smell is that horrendous to them, there’s a reason for it so they shouldn’t use it. (kind of like dating – you wouldn’t date someone who didn’t smell right, would you?)

Anyway, I give the product a 4.4 out of 5 just because it works and contains all the natural ingredients that create the right conditions so your hair can grow. You don’t ever have to worry about using something that’s bad for your body with Wild Growth Hair Oil.

In Hair Growth

5 Ways to Give Yourself Natural Highlights

5 Mins Read

People love to change their hair color. And why not? There’s not much more fun than switching up your look. One of the easiest ways to start that new look is by highlighting your hair. Millions upon million of people use highlights, but most use them wrong.

Use highlights wrong, you ask? You’re probably imagining how easy it is to highlight your hair, and you wouldn’t be wrong.

However, chemical highlights actually damage otherwise gorgeous hair. Getting those light tones will dry out your hair and cost you your radiant glow.

Though this doesn’t mean highlights are always bad. Natural highlights provide a way to dye your hair without risking damage.

With a little out of the box thinking, you can have your hair looking fantastic and healthy in no time.

Natural Highlights Tip #1: Lemon Juice

You might have heard of this one, and for good reason. Using lemon juice to highlight your hair is a safe, effective way to lighten up your look.

The lightning works by opening your hair cuticles and lifting out your natural pigment. It won’t take you from brunette to blonde, but it will make your hair several shades lighter.

Start by juicing fresh lemons into a bowl. Remember to remove the seeds! Next, dilute the juice with an equal part water.
Pour the mixture into a spray bottle and shake well to make sure the juice and water blend.
Finally, spray the parts of your hair that you want to highlight and get ready to sit outside in the sun.

Let the mixture dry in the sun for 30 minutes, and as the mixture dries your hair will lighten.

The more lemon juice you add, the lighter your hair will get. Likewise, the stronger the original mixture the lighter your hair.

#2: Chamomile

Chamomile tea is more than just a tasty drink. Boil up some tea leaves and after a little while you’ll be ready to highlight.

Sounds weird? Well, it only is if you focus on running tea through your hair. Think of it as “normal” highlights and you won’t think twice about it.

Start your chamomile highlights by boiling several leaves or tea bags. You’ll want the tea extremely strong; so shoot for much stronger than you’d drink.
Next, wash your hair. The chamomile penetrates your hair much better without contending with your natural body oils.
Now you need to apply the tea to the specific hair you want highlighted. You can use it liberally and highlight your whole style, or apply in a pattern.

Either way, you’ll need to sit in the sun (yes, again) to achieve the full highlighting effect.

#3: Henna

Yes, the same henna that people use to give themselves temporary tattoos can also highlight your hair.

Henna leaves your hair a different shade of red, depending on your starting color. Blondes should expect brighter highlights, while those with darker hair will see muted reds.

The reason this works is the lawsone in henna leaves. Lawsone binds to the protein in your hair shaft and imparts its natural red color.

Start by adding 3 tablespoons of henna powder to a 1/2 cup of boiling water. Mix the henna through until the mixture is free from lumps.
Let this mixture stand for 12 hours. After resting, apply the mixture to your hair as needed. Let stand again, this time for 2-3 hours.
Finally, wash the mixture out and style your hair like normal. You should see red highlights wherever you applied the henna.

#4: Cinnamon

Highlighting your hair with cinnamon results in a similar color as henna. You’ll end up with highlights that are colored, well, like cinnamon.

Again, depending on your hair color the results will vary. Blondes will see a more striking amber, golden color, while darker hair highlights to an auburn, rust color.

Prepare your mixture by combining enough cinnamon to make half a cup of conditioner into a thick paste.
Apply the paste into your hair however you want your highlights arraigned. Aluminum strips work well to keep highlights straight and orderly.
Let the conditioner and cinnamon mixture rest in your hair at minimum 3 hours, or for best results overnight.

Wash out the mixture when you’re ready and style your hair like normal. As a bonus, the antioxidants in cinnamon will leave your hair silky smooth.

#5: Honey & Olive Oil

Our last recommendation for natural highlights is utilizing honey and olive oil. The mixture will produce lighter highlights across all hair colors.

This works because of the enzyme glucose oxidase that produces hydrogen peroxide. Anyone familiar with hydrogen peroxide knows it bleaches everything.

Start the process by mixing 1/4 cup warm honey and 1/4 cup olive oil. The oil will help the honey spread easily through your hair.
Stir the mixture until it’s smooth and apply it to the hair you’d like highlighted.
Let your hair stand for 30-60 minutes, and then work the honey into your hair vigorously for the last five minutes.
Wash the mix out taking care to ensure you get all of the oil out of your hair. And voila! Another case of easy natural highlights.

To Conclude

Choosing natural highlights over chemical based lightening products will not only save your hair from harsh chemicals, but also change your look for the better. Any of the materials on our list are easily and cheaply available. In fact, you’ll probably save money using our natural highlights alternatives.

It’s always important to ensure your hair stays as healthy as possible. After all, you only get one chance at beautiful hair. If you’re trying to style your hair without causing it damage, check out our reviews of vitamins essential for hair growth.

Our website is dedicated to making sure you’re choosing from only the very best in hair care products. Choose the wrong product, and you could end up inadvertently damaging your hair. That’s why we make it our goal to inform everyone about not only what’s good for your hair, but also what’s safe for your hair. We have the tips and tricks the salon won’t tell you!

In Hair Growth

The Two Best Hair Growth Shampoo Ingredients

5 Mins Read

All shampoo is not created equal. You need one that does it all — promotes a healthy scalp, keeps your scalp moisturized and conditioned, and makes sure all your hair follicles and hair strands are clean and ready to grow. Your shampoo should be helping your natural hair growth cycle work at full power.

Of course, there are tons of shampoos to choose from. Go to any grocery or pharmacy and you’ll see entire walls dedicated to shampoos. They all claim that they’re “#1 doctor recommended” and “best formula for hair growth,” but don’t be fooled.

If you want a shampoo that will help your hair grow to its full potential, you need to look at the label and make sure it includes two things: biotin and hydrolyzed keratin.

Let’s talk about why these two ingredients are so important for a quality shampoo.

The Benefits of Biotin

Biotin is the most important (and most well-known) of the vitamin B complexes. There’s a reason why so many research articles and lists have it so high on their list of nutrients for hair growth. It really is one of the most important parts of a hair growth diet.

In fact, biotin is so important that if your body is at severe biotin deficiency, you can start experiencing hair loss, just like that!

Biotin is water-soluble, meaning that the body doesn’t naturally produce it. Most people get enough from their diets — foods like eggs, nuts, grains, and milk are great sources of biotin. But assuming that you’re getting enough is not enough. it’s importance is why so many experts recommend it as a main ingredient in your shampoo.

Biotin is crucial not only because it encourages hair growth, but because it also helps make sure that your hair cells are working properly. When your hair cells aren’t working as they should, your hair can become brittle and dry.

Brittle and dry hair leads to hair that falls out…something absolutely nobody wants.

Biotin is one of the best nutrients to prevent hair breakage. It’ll give you strong hair that you can pull on without worrying about strands coming out. And stronger hair means longer hair.

Hydrolyzed Keratin

You know how important protein is in your diet, but did you ever think why that is?

Well, protein, keratin protein in particular, makes up 90% of your hair. Keratin is a special structural protein that protects and strengthens. When you get protein treatments, that is replenishing your strands with proteins that will give you volume and make your hair more resilient to the elements.

Hydrolyzed keratin in particular is what you want to look for in your shampoo. When we say it’s hydrolyzed, we just mean that it’s broken up into smaller pieces. The protein is smaller, and so it can more easily penetrate hair strands…better than regular keratin protein.

Keratin has a unique strength and protective quality. Hydrolyzed Keratin Protein particles are known to fill in the cracks along damaged areas in the hair shaft subsequently strengthening the hair, increasing elasticity and volume.

Due to its moisture binding capabilities, Hydrolyzed Keratin Protein increases the moisture content in the hair, restoring luster, body, and increasing manageability. Keratin has always been a staple nutrient in hair care, but adding this special form will definitely give your results a boost.

How to get the best results from your shampoo

Ok, so you know the two most ingredients to include in your shampoo. Now how do you make sure that they’re working at full potential?

Even though we’ve been shampooing our hair forever, many people still get it wrong. And when you’re not washing correctly, the nutrients and vitamins in your product will not work as they should.

Here are 3 simple tips to get the best results from your biotin and keratin-infused shampoo:

1- Start with a Hot Rinse: Get your hair completely wet (with hot water) before washing. This will open up your cuticle and help remove any dirt or product that may be trapped. Your hair will be much better at absorbing the nutrients in your shampoo.

2- Wash less often: You’d be surprised at how many people still wash their hair everyday. Unless you have extremely oily hair, you should only wash 2-3 times per week. Over-washing will strip your hair of the biotin and keratin that you just worked in!

3- Finish with a Cold Rinse: Cold water will close up the cuticle, keeping all those vitamins and nutrients locked into your hair strands. Plus it will help make your hair shinier since it will better reflect light.

Conclusion

There are lots of vitamins and nutrients that are great for hair growth, but biotin and hydrolyzed keratin stand out. The next time you’re buying shampoo, look for an all-natural formula that includes these two ingredients. With consistent use, you’ll notice a boost in hair growth.

It’s also important to remember that shampoo is just one piece of the puzzle. If you want to see real results, you need a proper diet, and a proper routine overall to make sure your body is able to do what it’s supposed to.

Don’t get too caught up in the marketing. Just read the label and look for these key ingredients. Good luck!

In Hair Care

What Is The Best Shampoo for Hair Growth? How To Choose The Right Shampoo

6 Mins Read

If you’re like most people, you probably wash your hair pretty frequently, if not on a daily basis. Wouldn’t it be nice if just the act of washing your hair would stimulate hair growth? Well, in a way it can no matter what shampoo you use. If you take the time to thoroughly and gently massage your scalp as you wash your hair, this is an important form of hair therapy. Massaging your scalp helps stimulate and increase blood flow to the scalp, and your hair follicles absolutely need plenty of nutrient-rich blood to grow and keep health hair. What about the shampoo that you use? What is the best shampoo for hair growth?

What’s Really in that Bottle of Shampoo?

What I want to do is first describe what you do not want in your shampoo. It has always mystified me that products like shampoo that should not only help you clean your hair but also keep it healthy, often wind up containing ingredients that might actually be doing more harm than good! That’s the problem with large-scale manufacturing and business – they often do things that add dollars to the bottom line without caring or realizing that what they’re doing is not in the best interests of the consumers that buy their products and keep them in business! Look at the ingredients of any shampoo you use or are considering. If it has any of the following, put it right back on the shelf and keep looking:

Sulfates. These are strong chemical detergents found not only in some shampoos but also in dish detergent. That should be a clue right there that they’re probably not something you want on your scalp or in your hair. They can cause itching, irritation and redness. They help make shampoo foamy, but the price you pay for some extra suds is very much not worth it!

Polysorbates. These chemicals help oil and water stick to each other, so it gets put into hair products to dissolve the fragrance and various oil ingredients into the shampoo. You’ll find it mostly in conditioners, but it’s also in some shampoos, and it’s one you definitely don’t want in any of your hair products. It can totally upset the pH balance of your skin and break down protective barriers.

Isopropyl Alcohol. This is a cleaner that comes from petroleum and is great at dissolving oils, which is why you’ll find it in antifreeze, wood finishes and even shellac, but you shouldn’t let it anywhere near your hair. It’s extremely drying, which is not what you want for your scalp or your hair. Excessive dryness can lead to both hair damage and loss.

Formaldehyde. This one is a preservative. At some point in your life you’ve probably seen something icky in a jar, preserved by formaldehyde. Sure, it kills bacteria, but it also causes cancer and be very irritating to your eyes, respiratory system and inflame the skin. Steer clear of formaldehyde!

Hydrolysed Collagen. You’ve probably heard the importance of collagen to both skin and hair, and it’s true. So this one doesn’t cause any damage, but it’s also completely useless in a shampoo. The collagen molecule is too big to be absorbed by the skin, so any shampoo claiming benefits from its collagen ingredients is just blowing smoke.

Parabens. Look for ingredients such as methylparaben and propylparaben. These are more preservatives that can not only irritate your scalp, they can even upset your body’s hormonal balance.

Propylene Glycol. This is another form of alcohol, which means it can cause excessive drying (and oddly enough is found in many skin-moisturizing lotions). It’s also a detergent that helps the cleaning power of shampoo really penetrate your hair, but it also causes important proteins your hair needs to deteriorate, and can also irritate those with sensitive eyes and skin. And if you see another form of glycol called polyethylene glycol, that one’s a cancer-causer.

So the overall problem with all these chemicals is that many shampoos are just too harsh. Your scalp produces natural sebaceous oils that help keep your hair healthy, and there’s also good bacteria that also help keep hair healthy. The harsh detergents and antibacterial preservatives in many shampoos strip your hair of all that natural good stuff, leaving hair vulnerable to damage and your scalp open to invasion by all kinds of less kind pathogenic organisms that can cause irritations and infections. Any chemicals strong enough to eliminate your natural sebaceous oils are also undoubtedly damaging your hair follicles, which can only serve to accelerate hair loss. You also can’t necessarily trust any label on a shampoo bottle that says “natural.” Take the time to look at the ingredients and you’ll more than likely find that even many “natural” shampoos are full of suspicious chemicals.

What You DO Want in a Shampoo?

So what sorts of things do you actually want to see in a shampoo? Here’s the run-down:

Nut and seed oils. Look for jojoba, avocado and shea, all of which help moisturize your hair and make it shine while at the same time helping to eliminate any oily build-up.

Acidic ingredients. Cirtic acid or sodium citrate a great because the give shampoo the right pH balance to clean your hair while at the same time making your hair cuticles lay down nice and flat, which give hair a smoother, shinier look.

Panthenol. This is a kind of vitamin B, which means it will help make your hair follicles thicker as well as promote shine and moisture retention.

Glycerin. This one forms a protective barrier for follicles that helps seal in moisture.

Hmmm… are you noticing something here? The list of bad ingredients in shampoos is much longer than the list of good ingredients. In a way, that shouldn’t be surprising. Simpler is often better. Your shampoo simply shouldn’t have a mile-long list of ingredients with names so complex you can’t even read them. For those of you who might have thought I was going to recommend specific brands of shampoo, that wasn’t the point of what I wanted to do, which was to educate you about what to look for in shampoos so that you can make your own informed choice. After all, you need to find one that works for you. So to answer the question of what is the best shampoo for hair growth, the answer is simple – the one that has the fewest and most natural ingredients that works for you. Happy hunting!

In Hair Growth

Ten Home Remedies for Hair Growth

5 Mins Read

Many people suffer from hair loss each year. They need hair growth to regain their sense of social confidence. Since many cases of hair loss are not considered that important by medical doctors, you may have to resort to natural remedies for the problem.

Home remedies for hair growth have been around for years. Some work while others don’t. The primary thing to remember about them is that if the remedy provides the missing link to why you have hair loss, it will work. If not, it won’t and you’ll have to try again.

Here are 10 home remedies for hair growth that you can start testing out yourself:

1. Rosemary oil

For this home remedy, you’ll need about 12 drops rosemary oil and 12 drops jojoba oil. Mix together in small bowl and apply with fingertips to scalp. Then cover your hair with a cap and leave it on for a few hours. Then shampoo it out.

2. Nettles

Nettles is one of the herbs that is high in silica. Although silica isn’t recognized as a nutrient essential for humans or animals, it really is. We suffer from all sorts of connective tissue diseases when we don’t have enough silica in our body. Nettles are anti-inflammatory which can interfere with inflammatory compounds causing a hair loss problem. Take the capsules daily – two capsules twice daily or make a tea with one teaspoon dried nettles and then apply onto scalp after shampooing.

3. Silica

By feeding the connective tissue, this one of the home remedies for hair growth works for about 90% of those with hair loss; that’s what I’ve found. It encourages growth of the hair. You’ll be able to see much faster growth in about 2-4 weeks, as you notice your haircut is long overdue. If you purchase silica capsules at a health food store, take 6-10 capsules daily. If you take diatomaceous earth powder, get the loose powder from feed stores marked USDA Food Grade and take one heaping tablespoon twice daily.

4. The herb ginkgo biloba

Ginkgo sends blood circulation to the head and scalp while making you feel much more intellectually alive. One to two cups of tea daily is all you need; drink it.

5. The herb saw palmetto

Interestingly, this herb works by decreasing the amount of testosterone in the scalp, which has been linked to hair loss. Some health experts report it’s better than Rogaine. Take two capsules twice daily.

6. The herb Pygeum

This herb is similar in its action to that of saw palmetto. Take the same dose as in saw palmetto.

7. Biotin and folic acid

Taking 3-5 mg of each of these may stop hair loss if your hair loss is due to a biotin or folic acid deficiency. But don’t forget to add a regular B complex to your dietary supplements so you don’t create any imbalances in nutrients.

8. Tea tree oil

It’s possible you may have picked up a mite or parasite or fungus which is causing your hair loss. Stop it with a tea tree oil scalp massage applied once daily for three or more days. Shampoo after letting it soak into the scalp for a few hours.

9. Fo-Ti herb

This herb has been known to turn back gray hair coloring while it stops high levels of testosterone from damaging your crop of head hair. Amazing herb! Take two capsules twice daily.

10. Diatomaceous Earth

This one is my favorite. Diatomaceous earth is the tiny bodies of diatoms from sea creatures that are high in the element silica. What’s really important about this is that silica is one of the most essential elements yet it’s rarely included in multivitamins and minerals. Smart hair, skin and nails supplement companies have included small amounts in their supplements for years and have created silica supplements for hair in capsule form that is outrageously expensive and meant to gouge the pockets of those who want to look beautiful.

But now you can be smarter than these supplement companies by going right to the source and getting diatomaceous earth from the feed stores. This is fed to animals, used on the garden and in the pool and will truly make your hair grow wild. I’ve seen this one work wonders for hair growth – it even helps increase the numbers of hairs on the head and the length will grow exceptionally long for you despite your genetics. Here’s why: everyone is deficient in this element as its levels in the soil have dwindled drastically. Deficiencies affect all the connective tissues in the body: the hair, skin, nails, lungs, colon, muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments. Not only will your hair grow with this one but your nails will, too.

The recommended amount per day is two heaping tablespoons daily. Simply mix it into juice, milk, protein shake or yogurt. The flavor isn’t bad at all.

Discover which of these home remedies for hair growth works best for you! Then let me know!

In Hair Care

What Is Seasonal Hair Loss And How To Prevent It?

5 Mins Read

Sudden hair loss of any kind is enough to freak you out a little bit. You start wonder “Why me,” but the truth is, it happens to more women than you think.

We automatically think life is over when we start noticing that we’re losing hair. When you start to see me a few more hairs left on your pillow or in your brush, but nothing in your life has changed, it could be seasonal hair loss.

Seasonal hair loss is almost always temporary, but it can really catch you off guard if you don’t know much about it. To understand it better, let’s compare the different types of hair loss.

Standard Hair Loss

Everyone’s hair sheds. It’s just usually not noticeable enough to become an issue. Our hair growth cycle makes sure that at any given time, more hair is growing than is falling out.

A person with healthy hair can expect to lose up to 100 strands of hair per day. Sounds like a lot, but it’s not noticeable. When your hair growth cycle is working properly, around 90% of your hair is growing, and only 7% is resting (and shedding).

As long as you’re seeing a consistent amount of hair left on your brush, you shouldn’t worry. It’s a natural part of the hair growth cycle. But when you start noticing more hair being left behind, it’s time to take a step back and see if something else could be going on.

Seasonal Hair Loss

Seasonal hair loss is also natural, but it’s caused by different factors. As you can imagine, scientists have been researching hair and its role for a long time.

Some time ago it was discovered that only reason we evolved to have hair on our scalp was to protect it from a harsh summer sun. When the sun was less intense (the cooler seasons), the hair wasn’t needed to protect the scalp.

That’s why the two most common times for seasonal hair loss are late summer and late winter. Those are the times when the weather is changing the most. Your hair is simply reacting.

How to Slow Down Seasonal Hair Loss

Seasonal hair loss is not something that you should worry too much about. If you know there are no other signs that it could be a more serious form of hair loss, you don’t need to change much in your routine.

That being said, there are a few easy ways to help your hair grow thicker to possibly fight the effects of seasonal hair loss. Here are two ways to do it:

1 – Use Fewer Styling Products

Styling products make your hair look great, but sometimes at a cost. You may not notice it, but sometimes you don’t wash out all of the product. If there is residue left from your styling products, they could be clogging your hair follicles which can cause serious damage.

Use lighter products, and make sure that you’re using organic whenever possible. Many of the organic formulas include all-natural nutrients that will help your hair grow and keep the area clean.

2 – Try Looser Hairstyles

Keeping your hair pulled too tight is bad for your follicles. If you’re noticing hair loss and like wearing tight ponytails or braids, try switching it up until you see an improvement in your hair.

Wearing these types of hairstyles too often will damage fragile hair and it might even cause your damaged follicles to get mixed up with healthy hair. This can cause even more hair to fall out. Wear your hair down to avoid this.

3 – Reduce the Friction

If you’re seeing more hair than normal in your brush or on your pillow in the morning, that’s a sign that you need to try and reduce the amount of friction. Too much rubbing around through the night can pull out damaged strands and tangle healthy ones.

The two easiest ways to reduce friction are replacing your cotton pillowcases with satin (or sateen) and swap out your cotton towels with microfiber. Two small investments that will absolutely reduce the amount of hair that falls out during this time of seasonal hair loss.

4 – Stick to Your Regimen

It’s never a good feeling to see your hair fall out, but in the case of seasonal shedding, it’s important not to overreact. Understand that it’s a natural process. Rather than running to the store trying to find a product that will stop any more hair from falling out, sometimes all it takes is a re-commitment to your normal routine.

Things like drinking enough water, getting enough sleep, and keeping a balanced diet can be far more effective than introducing new products into your hair care routine.

Talk to Your Doctor

If you are ever unsure about what’s going on with your hair, please don’t hesitate to talk to your doctor. Even if you’re almost positive that it’s just seasonal hair loss, it never hurts to check in and make sure everything’s working correctly.

While you should stick to a routine that’s been working for you, it may be worth looking into a daily hair growth vitamin that can give you an extra boost. An all-natural vitamin with ingredients like iron, biotin, and vitamin C and E is relatively inexpensive and can improve your overall hair health in just a few weeks.

Keep up a strong routine so that when seasonal shedding is over, you can kick-start your hair growth into high gear.

In Hair Care

8 Tips to Maintain Your Long Straight Hair

6 Mins Read

Is there anything more stunning than long, luscious locks? Throughout history, the world’s most beautiful women have been portrayed in art and fashion with flowing manes of long straight hair.

But, as most of us know, that can be a hard look to achieve. While some are blessed with naturally healthy hair, most people need to put a bit of effort into getting the best results.

Helpful Tips For Long Straight Hair

Keeping long straight hair healthy and shiny does take a certain commitment. It takes longer to wash and dry, and can be prone to problems if left unkempt.

The good news is that there are some easy tips you can follow to bring back health and shine. This helpful information will also be helpful if you are only just starting to grow your hair out.

1. Avoid Over-Washing Your Hair

One of the most important things to learn about long hair is that you shouldn’t over wash it. If you’ve been used to short hair, the temptation is to shampoo it every time you get in the shower.

If you do that with long hair, you risk drying it out, which will lead to breakage and split ends. If your hair feels brittle, and breaks easily when you brush it, that’s probably the cause.

2. Choose The Right Hair Brush

Talking about brushing your hair, the type of brush you choose will also make a big difference to the look and feel of your hair. Your best choice is a brush specifically designed for long hair, made from wood and bristles.

Your brush should be quite soft and you should always brush your hair slowly and gently. Long hair can be prone to knots and tangles but being rough isn’t the answer. The best way to detangle your hair when wet, is with a wide toothed comb.

3. Keeping Your Cool

Long straight hair can also be damaged by excessive hairdryer use. Understandably you will need to blow-dry your hair sometimes, to keep it straight and shiny, but here’s some helpful advice.

Before you start blow-drying your hair, it’s best to apply a heat-protectant product. And try and avoid using the highest heat setting. The ‘cool’ setting will dry your hair just as well, without causing as much damage.

The same rules apply to any hair styling appliance that uses heat. Always protect your hair first and choose products recommended for long hair.

4. Avoiding Breakage

You might not know it, but drying your hair with a normal towel can also cause damage. A rough dry towel can damage the hair shaft, causing breakage.

The experts recommend using a microfiber towel and just blot and squeeze the hair dry, rather than rubbing it.

For much the same reason, many people swear by using only satin or silk pillowcases, as they believe cotton is too dry for both your hair and your skin.

Whenever possible, allow your hair to dry naturally. And if you’re not going out, set aside a few hours to apply a hair treatment. The longer you can leave it on, the better.

5. Natural Oils For Shine And Growth

Some of the best hair treatments are made from natural oils – and different oils suit different purposes. For example, olive hair is excellent for hair growth. You’ve probably seen pictures of those ancient Egyptians, with their shiny, long straight hair? Well, their secret was olive oil.

Another natural oil that comes highly recommended for hair growth is coconut oil. This will also protect and moisturize your hair and scalp. It is also antibacterial, making it great for dandruff.

As with any natural oil treatment, the best way to use it for long straight hair is to apply it before shampooing. Take time to massage it into your scalp and hair, and then leave it for at least 30 minutes. Two to four hours is better.

6. Choose Your Shampoo Carefully

Then simply shampoo and condition your hair as normal. Remember, the type of shampoo and conditioner you choose will also make a big difference to the health of your hair.

There are certain ingredients you really don’t want to see on your shampoo bottle, such as sulfates, formaldehyde, parabens and propylene glycol. These chemical-based products can cause dryness and damage to your hair and certainly won’t do any good.

Instead, choose shampoos that contain natural ingredients, like nut and seed oil. Acidic ingredients are good, too, to give you the right pH balance. That’s why rinsing your hair in apple cider vinegar will leave it super shiny!

7. Essential Herbs And Vitamins

In fact, there are quite a few home remedies you can use to improve the condition of your long straight hair. Silica is a very important ingredient for hair growth and that can be found nettles. If you can’t find the real thing, try taking silica capsules.

The herb ginkgo biloba is also excellent for hair growth, as it boosts blood circulation to the head and scalp.

Now, we’ve talked a lot regarding what to use ON your hair, but there is another really important aspect to achieving those luscious locks. And that’s what we put inside our bodies.

Just as it affects our general health, what we eat also has a big impact on the health of our hair. We’ve already talked about silica, which is excellent for hair and nails, but there are some other vitamins you need, too.

8. Avoiding And Treating Hair Loss

The best four vitamins for hair growth are biotin, folic acid, vitamin D and the B Complex vitamins. Vitamin D is one of the most under-rated vitamins. For example, if you’ve been experiencing hair loss, that could be due to a vitamin D deficiency.

Hair loss can also be caused by stress, grief, illness or by eating the wrong diet. Pregnancy, too, can cause your hair to fall out. But before you panic, hair loss can often be short-term and can be treated with the right vitamins and products.

Grow Your Best Hair Ever

If you do have long straight hair and you want to keep it looking good all year round, it will require a little work. But nobody ever said beauty came easily, right?

The good news is that whatever you do to improve your hair, will most likely be beneficial to your general health and wellbeing, too. So for your best hair ever, take those first steps today.

In Hair Growth

Castor Oil for Hair Growth

6 Mins Read

In all the research I’ve done on various ways to stimulate hair growth and keep hair healthy, perhaps the single most interesting and unexpected finding I’ve come across is using castor oil for hair growth. This is without doubt one of the best-kept secrets when it comes to having a full head of gorgeous hair. Castor oil is considered a vegetable oil, and it’s obtained by pressing the seeds (called castor beans, even though they aren’t true beans) of the castor oil plant (Ricinus communis).

The plant originates in the southeastern Mediterranean Basin, eastern Africa and India, but it is commonly grown as an ornamental plant throughout many tropical regions, especially variations with reddish leaves and flowers. It’s important to be aware that the plant and its beans constitute one of the most poisonous plants in the world. If you ate a handful of the seeds and didn’t get immediate medical attention, it could very well be fatal. The toxin it contains is called ricin, which is obviously removed from castor oil products. I only mention all of this in case you get the idea to grow your own plants and try to make your own castor oil. Don’t do it!

With that quick disclaimer, let’s get into the huge benefits you can reap by using castor oil for hair growth and health. If you’re like me, you’ll wonder how you haven’t heard of this wonder hair treatment before! Here are seven major benefits of using castor oil on your hair:

Castor Oil Hair Care

Reduces Hair Loss. With all the styling, drying, coloring and other things we do to our hair, not to mention the genetics we inherit, hair loss is an all too common and psychologically depressing occurrence for many people. Using castor oil on your scalp and hair helps protect it because of the ricinoleic acid it contains, which both protects your hair and stimulates nutrient-rich bloodflow to your scalp that keeps hair strong, healthy and intact. Ricinoleic acid makes up about 90% of castor oil, so it’s definitely one of the richest sources of this hair tonic you’ll find anywhere.

Stimulates Hair Growth. The act of applying castor oil by gently massaging it into your scalp and hair boosts circulation of blood to the scalp and hair follicles, which is essential to stimulating hair growth. But the oil itself also helps because of its high omega-6 fatty acid content, which is another important component in growing healthy hair. Well-nourished hair will be stronger, more resilient, and less prone to falling out prematurely.

Fights Scalp Infections. Various pathogenic microbes can take root in the scalp and cause all kinds of trouble, from bald patches to itchiness, all of which can stall out hair growth. Castor oil has natural anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, and even anti-viral properties that will help wipe out any pathogenic organisms that can cause a variety of scalp and hair issues, including follliculitus, ringworm and peidra.

Controls Split Ends and Hair Breakage. Castor oils rich levels of vitamin E, amino acids, and omega-6 fatty acids help put a stop to both split ends and breakage by penetrating deep into your scalp and smoothening out rough hair cuticles (the hard, outermost part of the hair shaft).

Moisturizes and Conditions. There are omega-9 acids in castor oil that help lock moisture into both your hair and scalp, making it a surprisingly effective conditioner. Because dry scalp can lead to dandruff, making regular use of castor oil can help keep that problem under control as it moisturizes your scalp. Castor oil has the ability to penetrate dry and damaged hair to heal and restore it.

Gives Hair a Beautiful Shine and Silky Feel. By coating each shaft of hair and locking in moisture, castor oil leads to a natural luster as well as a smoother, silkier feel. Note also that castor oil tends to give hair a richer, darker hue due to its humectant effect and nutrients.

Increases Thickness of Hair. Both the omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids will help make your hair feel thicker, giving a real boost to its volume.

Heal and Regrow Eyebrows and Eyelashes. If you find yourself needing to regrow or thicken thin eyebrows, castor oil is probably your best bet. You can also use it to repair and strengthen your eyelashes as well. Use a mascara brush to apply it to your eyelashes.

How to Use Castor Oil for Hair Growth?

The first thing to be aware of is that you want to use an unrefined castor oil product because that will have many more of the nutrients that make your hair healthier. Also know that castor oil is quite viscous, meaning you’ll find it a lot thicker and stickier than other oils, so you might consider mixing it with a lighter oil to make it easier to work with. Coconut, olive or almond oils are good choices to mix with castor oil. Choosing an oil with a pleasing odor will also make your hair smell great (who doesn’t like the smell of coconut?).

A good rule of thumb here is that the longer you’re going to leave it in, the less you should use. It’s powerful stuff, and you don’t want to overdo it. If you only use a small amount, feel freet o use it on a daily basis as an added conditioner. Leave it in a good 15-30 minutes before washing your hair with your favorite shampoo. For longer treatments, use less, massaging it into your scalp and throughout your hair in sections, then wrap your hair in a moist, warm towel for an hour. If you leave it in overnight, be sure to wear a shower cap. To reduce the messiness of the whole process, you can also try using an applicator like a hair dye dispensing bottle or brush instead of your hands. Although you won’t see substantial improvements immediately, after about a month or so of regular use, you’ll notice all of the amazing benefits of using castor oil for hair growth and health.