There is no doubt in my mind that vitamins and hair growth are linked in a million different ways and that some vitamins, such as B7 (or simply Biotin), are extremely important for maintaining healthy, strong and shiny hair. Now, many beauty products that contain Biotin claim that this magical ingredient can make hair grow faster, re-grow lost hair and even make your hair thicker. Let’s find out whether these claims are true or just marketing hype.
What is Biotin?
Biotin, also called vitamin B7, is a part of something known as the vitamin B complex, which is a whole group of very important vitamins that aid everything from cell growth to balancing hormonal levels in the body. Biotin is created naturally in the intestines and can also be acquired from various food sources as well as supplements.
One very important thing to understand about Biotin and most other vitamins (including B-complex vitamins) is that they do not aid hair growth/re-growth directly. Many hair beauty products claim that B vitamins can improve hair growth – that’s not true!
Now, this doesn’t mean that supplementation is useless! Biotin plays an important role in hundreds of different processes within the body, some of which are crucial to maintaining/producing healthy hair. This is exactly why vitamin B (including B7) supplements seem to have a different affect on different people. If your inner processes are working slower due to mineral or vitamin deficiencies, correcting them will certainly produce great results. In some cases, however, taking vitamin supplements will have no noticeable effect (if your hair loss is genetic, for example).
Oh and remember that vitamins for hair/nail growth should always be taken orally. Topical creams, shampoos and various other solutions that contain Biotin are next to worthless.
Sources and Usage
As with all vitamins, the best way to increase your daily intake is by changing up your diet. That’s because vitamins from dietary sources are much better absorbed by the body. Some of the most common Biotin-packed foods are: green leafy vegetables, lentils, walnuts, almonds, Swiss chard, milk, carrots, berries (raspberries, strawberries) and many others.
Another way to get more Biotin into your system is by taking vitamin B supplements. While this method is not as effective as eating a healthy and balanced diet, it is often the best option for people with Biotin deficiencies and conditions that could benefit from Biotin supplementation.
Remember, however, that you should have your vitamin B levels tested (ask your doctor to perform a blood test) in order to determine what daily supplement dose you should be taking. While Biotin deficiencies are rare, some people suffer from various other vitamin B deficiencies that can have devastating effects on hair growth/health and should be treated with a full B-complex vitamin supplement.
In very rare cases your body might be unable to properly absorb vitamin B. When this happens, you will experience brittle nails, weak/breaking hair, slow hair growth and many other related symptoms. In such cases, ask your doctor to recommend a good sublingual vitamin B supplement instead of pills/tablets. Sublingual supplements are absorbed directly into the bloodstream and have a much quicker and more powerful effect.
And remember that any vitamin/supplement regimen will normally take 2-3 months to start showing measurable benefits. So be patient, eat healthy and don’t lose hope!
You’re getting ready for a night out and you sit in front of your mirror. You switch on your hair dryer and it dies in your hand.
Nightmare.
You know that letting hair dry naturally is the more healthy choice. It means you have fewer cracks along your hair cuticles, which means less breakage.
But you don’t really want to go out with wet hair.
Ever found yourself in a situation like this?
You probably didn’t give a lot of thought to the replacement dryer. You just knew you needed one.
And with the huge number available, maybe you checked a few reviews and just bought the one in your budget.
But is it the right hair dryer for you?
Using the wrong dryer could even cause brittle hair.
Read on to discover what you should look out for in your new dryer.
The best hair dryer for thick/long hair
A high-wattage model is a brilliant choice if you have a lot of hair.
Why?
Because it has more wind power, it’ll cut down how long you need to use the dryer. So you don’t need as much heat. Low-wattage models give more heat and less wind so you expose your hair to more damage. It’s like baking your hair instead of drying it.
You don’t want to end up cooking your hair or destroying the natural water in the hair. That’ll leave you with easily breakable hair and frizzy ends.
Look for a hair dryer that has 1800 – 2000 watts. Some professional dryers will go up to 3600. The beauty of high-watt models is they also don’t burn out as fast. So they’re a more long term investment.
Or you can look for a titanium hair dryer. They keep the temperature steady by using titanium as a construction material. The dryer ends up being a lot hotter. So don’t use them on hair that is prone to damage. But they can really speed up drying your hair.
The other advantage is that titanium is lighter than ceramic. That’s a real issue if you’re drying your hair for more than 20 minutes.
The best dryers for frizzy hair
You could try an ionic hair dryer. This is truly space age technology. Water ions carry a positive charge. But ionic dryers use negative ions.
So an ionic dryer bursts the droplets of water onto your hair. That means it can’t soak in and cause frizz. You’ll get a sleek finish because the ions remove moisture and close the cuticle.
It also speeds up the drying time. So it makes the ionic dryer a great choice for straight hair too. If you’ve got a lot of money to spend, try a tourmaline dryer. Tourmaline is a semi-precious mineral and these dryers have a coating inside.
That gives even more negative ions for your buck. But don’t use an ionic hair dryer if you have flat or oily hair. Looks that need volume are also a bad match for ionic dryers.
If you want a bit of variety, look for a dryer that lets you flip between the two modes.
Dryers for fine or dry hair
Look for ceramic or porcelain dryers. Their internal parts are coated with these materials which keep the temperature more consistent. They also emit a softer heat.
Ceramic dryers also give off negative ions which will make drying quicker. If your hair is prone to frizz, the negative ions will help smooth it out.
Combine a ceramic dryer with a concentrator nozzle to battle frizz. Concentrating the heat means you won’t blow the hair about while drying.
A concentrator nozzle is also a brilliant way to add volume and lift at the crown if you have fine hair.
An infrared hair dryer penetrates the hair with longer energy wavelengths. That dries hair from the inside so it’s great for dry hair.
If you’d like longer, thicker hair then check out our 5 expert tips.
Need a dryer for curly hair?
Ceramic or porcelain dryers are also a good choice for curly hair. Blasting curls with heat can make them lose definition.
So you want a slow and steady heat to keep them intact.
Too much heat can also damage naturally curly hair. Research shows that straight hair is much better at handling heat because it dissipates it differently.
So in addition, use a diffuser with your hair dryer. It’ll hold up your hair so you can build up the volume at the roots.
A diffuser also cuts down on the air flow, making the heat less fierce. That also helps with keeping the definition of your curls while avoiding as much damage.
It does take longer to dry your hair with a diffuser, but a porcelain dryer will still do the job.
Other bonus features that can help
You might wonder why you’d need a hair dryer with a cool button. But they’re great if you want to maintain your style because cooler air can seal the cuticle.
You can even switch to the cool setting when your hair is around 80% dry. That way you can dry your hair but avoid overheating it.
Look for adjustable heat settings, especially if you share your dryer with someone else.
And there’s no reason to use the highest temperature setting. Lower settings will still dry hair without damaging it as much. A cheap dryer might do the job. But they’re not designed to take care of your hair at the same time.
A professional level dryer will provide the accessories and settings that help you dry according to your hair type and style.
Ultimately, if you’re going to invest in a hair dryer then choose a model that won’t ruin your hair. You don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune. Just buy a model with the functions that your hair needs.
You should also invest in a routine that will care for your hair. Why not try these essential vitamins for hair growth? If you look after your hair and your dryer, then they will look after you.
What Vitamins Does Your Hair Need For Hair Growth?
There are many reasons why you may want to speed up your hair growth. Whether you simply can’t wait to grow out of a horrible haircut or need help with problems such as hair loss or thinning, there are natural solutions that can help. Choosing the right Vitamins for Hair growth is essential and important.
Vitamins are particularly useful for hair growth as well as your overall health. Now, since hair is actually a part of your body, you can’t have healthy hair growth without maintaining a good vitamin and mineral balance. Another very important thing to remember is that both vitamins and oils can make your hair softer, shinier and thicker, which is something that often goes overlooked.
On this website I will try to answer all of your natural hair growth questions and give you some tips on how to keep your hair looking healthy all year round! While the main focus is on vitamins for hair growth, I will also cover topics such as hair oils and hair loss treatments.
What Makes Our Hair Healthy?
We all have bad hair days from time to time. For some people, however, hair problems are almost a part of life, something they’ve been dealing with for so long that they can’t imagine it being any other way. So what is it that separates people with healthy hair from those who face hair problems on a daily basis?
The answer is usually very simple. Hair growth and health depends on three things: your genes, your hair care routine and your diet. While we can’t change our genes, there’s a whole lot that we can do about how we look after our hair as well as what foods we eat.
In reality, most problems with slow hair growth happen either due to malnutrition (very rare) or because of improper hair care (extremely common). Both of these conditions can be treated with natural solutions and you should see incredible results in no time. And even if you suffer from a genetic condition that causes hair loss or thinning (inability to absorb certain vitamins, male pattern baldness, thyroid issues, and so on), there is probably a solution out there, so don’t despair and start searching.
In the next few paragraphs, I will help you find the best vitamins for hair growth and identify other natural treatments that can help make your hair more luscious, softer and healthier.
Why Choose Natural Vitamins for Hair Growth?
You might be asking yourself why choose natural vitamins for hair growth instead of artificial chemicals/products? After all, these products are scientifically created and therefore superior, right? Not quite.
Most scientific studies show that minerals and vitamins which we need to promote good health, growth, and hair growth are best absorbed when ingested through food. As a result, many people choose natural vitamins instead of artificial supplements, pills or hair care products that contain vitamins and minerals.
Now, some people are under the impression that natural is the way to go for everything and others are the complete opposite; they think that natural is always bad and chemically altered products are vastly superior.
To be honest, there is definitely a midpoint that is ideal for all things in life and hair growth/health are no different: some hair growth vitamins are best obtained from food sources, while others should be taken in supplement form. In the majority of cases however, natural sources prove to be far superior to artificial supplements.
When it comes to hair care products however, things are a little different. The sad truth is that you can spend hundreds of dollars on fancy revitalizing shampoos from salons, but many of these products are merely snake oil. That is, they have a label full of chemicals, a fancy bottle, an appealing smell, and no positive influence on your hair. Things have gotten so out of hand that many beauty product manufacturers today use respectable scientific studies to their advantage by twisting the facts whichever way they like! Here are two examples of such false marketing:
Most hair care products today contain B-complex vitamins. Interestingly, there is practically no scientific evidence that B-complex vitamins have any positive effect when applied externally. In practically all cases vitamin B should be either acquired through food or taken in supplement form. Nonetheless, beauty product makers flaunt all of the amazing benefits that vitamin B can have on your hair.
Expensive shampoos that contain coconut oil and a whole lot of other ingredients such as silicones, vitamins, various oils and so on. The truth is that a simple baby/organic shampoo combined with a little organic coconut oil will do a lot more good for your hair. Without the premium price tag.
Instead of nourishing your hair and allowing it to grow to its fullest capability, artificial chemicals and other ingredients used in beauty products can often cause damage and be detrimental to hair growth.
The Best Vitamins for Hair Growth and Thickness
There’s a lot of debate whether vitamins and hair growth are related and which vitamins, if any, should be used to improve the rate at which hair grows. My opinion is that vitamins do affect hair growth, both directly and indirectly. Below is a list of some of the main vitamins that can help you boost hair growth and thickness.
Vitamin B7 (also known as Biotin)
One of the most important vitamins for hair growth and thickness. Biotin is a necessary vitamin as it aids in the production of fatty acids, promotes cell growth and has many other important roles involving amino acids and fats. Simply put, your hair needs biotin.
An important thing about Biotin is that it works best when taken together with other B-complex vitamins such as vitamins B5, B6 and B12. Most of us suffer from mild to severe vitamin B deficiencies and restoring this balance can do tremendous things to hair health. Sources of Biotin include various foods as well as most dietary supplements and multivitamins.
Using Biotin: Since you are most likely already consuming some biotin through your diet, it is very difficult to tell whether you have a deficiency or not without a proper blood test. Luckily, this test is not expensive and only takes a few minutes – as your doctor for more details.
If your test results show that you do suffer from Biotin (or any other vitamin B) deficiency, you should begin a course of B-complex supplements. Now, some people suffer from a condition that makes it very difficult for the body to process some of the B vitamins. In these cases using a sublingual (under-the-tongue) supplement might be a good idea.
The results will not be instantaneous, but within a few months you should definitely see noticeable results with regards to hair growth and thickness, as biotin is one of the best vitamins for this. It is important to note that no such treatment, even when using all natural products, should be undertaken without first consulting a doctor or a nutritionist.
All vitamins and minerals that improve the immune system (vitamin C) , help with cell growth (vitamin C), improve blood circulation (vitamin E), fight dry skin/scalp (vitamin A) and help the body absorb other nutrients (vitamin D) should be considered when looking to speed up hair growth.
While many of these vitamins do not have a direct effect on hair growth rates, a person suffering from a vitamin deficiency will not be able to sustain normal hair growth. Remember that every vitamin is different. Some should be taken in supplement form, while others must to be acquired through diet and diet alone! Read more about this here and here.
Hair Growth Vitamins for Women
While (at least for the most part) men and women should be following almost identical nutritional and hair care routines, there are a few crucial differences:
Women are much more likely to enjoy various hair oil treatments which can be beneficial for hair growth, shine, softness and scalp health.
Women tend to have significantly longer hair which breaks off easier. This calls for better, more subtle hair care. In addition, hair breakage can be prevented by reducing split ends, using coconut oil to strengthen hair, and so on.
As for vitamins, most women tend to have some (although usually mild) hair problems due to stress and should take vitamin B, C and D supplements to help keep stress and anxiety levels low. Do remember to consult with your doctor and check for deficiencies before taking vitamin supplements.
Hair Growth Vitamins for Men
Believe it or not, hair is, for the most part, just hair, and this means that it is very similar in both men and women. For this reason, hair growth vitamins for men tend to be more or less the same as those recommended for women. This includes B-complex vitamins as well as vitamins C, A and E. Just remember to take all vitamins in appropriate doses and from the right sources!
On top of this, foods that contain essential fatty acids and products such as natural flax oil can do wonders to promote overall male health, and are a good way to improve hair quality.
Vitamins for Hair Growth – Quick Summary
Most shampoos or hair products claiming to accelerate hair growth or improve hair quality are hoaxes, as many of the natural vitamins cannot even be absorbed properly through hair and skin – they must be taken orally.
B-complex vitamins along with vitamins A, C, E and D are all very important to healthy hair growth. With that said, most people should look into using vitamin B7 (also called Biotin). Hair oils are another superb option for people suffering from various hair conditions including dry hair, dry/flaky scalp, bad split ends, itchy scalp, and so on.
For men and women hair growth vitamins (as well as other treatments) don’t differ too dramatically. In other words, practically any vitamin treatment that works to increase hair growth or quality in men can also be used to achieve the same results in women (and the other way around).
* Please note that no cure or treatment should be undertaken without first consulting your doctor or a nutritionist. *
Trying to improve your hair health, and give it a luxurious texture? You might be on the cutting edge of scientific research into hair if you’ve considered silica. Check out our complete guide to silica and hair growth.
What Is Silica? Why do we need it?
Necessary for human development and growth throughout your life, silica is known as a micronutrient, and is an abundant mineral found all over the Earth. You can find silica in your diet primarily in whole grains, leafy greens, and vegetables in the scallion family, like onions.
Silica helps balance other substances in our bodies, namely magnesium and calcium. Mineral and nutrient balance is key to hormone balance and feelings of well-being. Look at your calcium supplement bottle sometime. You will see that it likely contains silica!
Another important function of silica is its role in alkalizing our bodies and bolstering our immune systems. Many people get inexplicably sick when the body is too acidic internally. Silica combats this by assisting in the creation of antigens and antibodies that ward off disease. You’ll find silica in every cell; it’s a building block of the human body. It’s important to the central nervous system, heart, and – yes – even your hair!
Silica for Hair Growth? How? Why?
Simply put, development and growth of the body in general will promote healthy development and growth of hair. We lose some of our silica as we age, and thus our hair and nails aren’t as silky and healthy. If we keep our body in alkaline mode, thanks to silica, our hair’s texture and health will automatically improve. The scalp is like a magnet for acid inside the body, and this makes it the perfect place for damage, breakage, and other serious issues.
Balancing trace minerals are factors in treating hair loss, and silica is no exception to that. Vitamin D, calcium, and magnesium will produce fantastically healthy and thick hair if they are optimally balanced. Silica assists with this balance by aiding in the balanced delivery of these nutrients. This includes delivery to our hair follicles. A silica supplement can impact not just hair growth, but mood, skin, and overall well-being.
How much silica do you need?
Almost everything you ingest has a little bit of silica in it. Coffee, mineral water, lettuce, and beer all contain larger amounts. Unfortunately, the typical diet of most Americans is lower in micronutrients than it should be. Because it can reverse or treat your thinning hair, silica rich foods or supplements might be in order.
The FDA does not take a position on the optimum amount of daily silica intake, largely because it is a micronutrient and not one of the major vitamins or minerals. Recent research has shown, however, that an ideal daily intake of silica might hover around 40 mg for men, and 35 mg for women. This will depend on your diet, but it’s safe to assume you’re not getting enough.
A daily supplement of silica, usually 10 mg, is sometimes prescribed to cure a host of ills. Brittle nails, hair, and even dementia, silica deficiency can affect many parts and functions of the body. Especially being mindful of increasing your silica intake as you age, most people should be prepared to need a silica supplement at some point.
Silica in food and supplements
If you eat a primarily meat based diet, you’re likely not getting enough silica. Silica is most abundant in plant life, and as such isn’t typically served as well in the normal American diet. If you eat your vegetables, you might get enough silica. Additionally, eating nuts, fruits, and whole grains do contain silica, but it’s not absorbed properly in the body through these foods. Supplements are the best method of insuring your silica levels are high enough, no matter what your diet consists of.
Promoting healthy hair growth might be as simple as taking a silica supplement. An essential oil with a huge fan following, horsetail extract, is known for its high silica content. Other products, such as Viviscal, also contain this plant extract to aid and assist with hair growth. Bamboo extract is also extremely high in silica, and is often used in place of or with horsetail plant extract.
Don’t Forget!
You need to consult a medical professional before undertaking any new hair growth plan, including one that adds supplements or oils to your diet. If you are diabetic or prediabetic, you should be aware that silica can lower your blood sugar levels. If you are prone to swings, this might be potentially harmful. Silica is also known for its diuretic properties, so make sure to stay hydrated and not supplement with other diuretics.
If you want to boost your hair growth with other solutions, Viviscal is a hair growth vitamin that contains zinc, biotin, and iron. These nutrients are also crucial to maintaining and growing healthy hair, and for extending the hair growth cycle in the right phases for increasing longevity of your hair growth. Viviscal contains a special AminoMar marine complex that other vitamins lack, and it has been proven time and time again to result in fuller and thicker hair for women. Essential oils and topical creams might also be necessary on your path to beautiful, reinvigorated hair. But silica is a great first step, and fun to learn about in the process!
Let’s play with some cool summer nail paint shades to forget the discomforts of this hot weather. I love to do summer manicures because summer nail colors are so relaxing and cool. Today I am going to share some trendy and pretty nail designs for spring and summer. Just pick up some trendy nails paints to give a cool look to your hands and nails.
Summer Nail Color Trends
Before doing summer manicure just gather some shades of nail paints which are n vogue these days. Here are some suggestions.
Pinks: Go for soft pinks, Glittery pinks, Peach pink, Coral pink, Girly Pink, Fuchsia,
Metallic: Creamy Gold, Metallic sand,
Orange and Yellow: Vandal Orange, Lemon, Tangerine,
Blues and Greens: Turquoise, Cobalt, Sea green, Palm green,
And obviously different shades of red always remain hot no matter mercury level is up or down.
Now I am going to share some pretty nail designs below. French manicure, graphic nails, dotted and stripes nails all are ok for this summer. Have a look at these pretty nail arts made with appropriate summer shades.
Some designs are basics that you could make as a beginner using simple nail paint and glitter. Some are freehand nail art designs that could be made using detailing nail art brush. As a beginner you could create pretty nail designs using dotters, nail art tape, stickers and other accessories for doing nail art available online and in the market as well. Don’t forget to share your summer nail designs on our Facebook page. Good luck with summer Manicure.
Having a nice, full head of hair may seem like an unreachable goal for men who suffer from hair loss. If you’ve struggled with thinning hair or fear that you may be genetically predisposed to hair loss, don’t give up, there are solutions to assist you in your quest for hair growth. You don’t have to resort to getting a hair transplant, go toupee shopping, or get an embarrassing comb over. Instead, consider these vitamins for hair growth for men.
Best Hair Growth Vitamins for Men
There are tons of different vitamins that can have a direct or indirect influence on hair growth. It’s important to note that healthy hair growth is only possible if you do not suffer from essential vitamin deficiencies. Now, another thing to keep in mind is that in some cases vitamins won’t be able to cure your hair loss condition – natural methods are rarely effective in treating genetic conditions, for example.
Vitamin A: This vitamin is essential to healthy sebum production (which is a natural skin moisturizer) and a vitamin A deficiency can cause dry scalp and dried out hair follicles. Both of these problems can lead to hair thinning, although that is rarely the case.
Now, vitamin A overdose can actually be very bad for your hair and health in general. Foods that contain beta carotene (which is converted into vitamin A when needed) are completely safe to consume, so eat as many sweet potatoes and leafy vegetables as you want without worrying about overdosing on vitamin A. When it comes to supplements, however, be careful – most multivitamins contain a lot of vitamin A and prolonged consumption can cause toxic amounts of vitamin A to build up in the body, inhibiting healthy hair growth.
Vitamin B: The next time you go shopping for shampoo or other hair care products look at the ingredients. I guarantee you there will be at least one B vitamin in there. There are tons of B vitamins including B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12. Now, an important thing to understand about vitamin B is this: it is not effective when applied directly to hair/scalp. This means that all of those expensive shampoos that claim to contain vitamin B for healthier hair are, simply put, worthless.
While vitamin B products applied externally are mostly worthless, taking oral supplements can have tremendous benefits. I’ve written an extensive article about vitamin B and hair health – check it out!
Vitamin C: This vitamin plays an important role in collagen synthesis and without collagen hair cannot exist. The best way to take in vitamin C is through natural food sources: citrus fruits, green leafy vegetables, sweet peppers, guava, tomatoes and all kinds of berries. The effectiveness of vitamin C supplements is very difficult to determine properly and many nutritional experts believe that supplementation is nowhere near as effective as vitamin C obtained through diet.
Vitamin E: Again, just like most other nutrients, vitamin E has no direct impact on hair growth. However, since it is known to increase blood circulation to all areas of the body (including the scalp), it can help your hair absorb more essential nutrients and minerals. Good sources of vitamin E include kiwis, avocados, mangos and peanut butter. Since extremely high doses of vitamin E can be toxic and actually contribute to hair loss, you should consume any vitamin E supplements with care.
Fresh garlic: Garlic has incredible healing, antibacterial and antifungal properties. Allicin, an active ingredient found in fresh garlic, can increase nutrient delivery to the skin (which includes your scalp and hair follicles). Many nutritional experts advise people to consume at least 2-3 clovers of fresh garlic daily. Just remember that processed or cooked garlic loses many of its core properties.
As you can see, vitamins are not only good for your immune system health, but can also have a very positive effect on your overall wellbeing, and that includes healthy hair growth. Just remember:
Vitamin A overdose can cause hair loss, but it is nearly impossible to overdose on this nutrient if you get it from food instead of supplements.
Vitamin B is one of the most important vitamins for hair growth.
Vitamin C works best when obtained through diet.
Vitamin E overdose is toxic and can cause hair loss. With that said, it is essential to healthy skin/hair growth.
Eating fresh (unprocessed and uncooked) garlic on a daily basis can cure many skin conditions and improve scalp/hair health.
External hair care products (shampoos, conditioners, etc) that contain vitamins are not going to do much good for your hair. Almost all essential vitamins and minerals have to be taken orally for maximum effect.
Lastly, you have to understand that vitamins alone will not prevent hair loss. A combination of a healthy diet, reducing stress, exercise, and proper hair care all should be used in the fight against hair loss.
Almond oil is one of the most popular skin and hair oils out there. It’s unique, neutral properties make it the perfect oil for people who don’t like thick, heavy, greasy oils that can be difficult to wash out. There are two main types of almond oils: sweet almond and bitter almond. Most skin and hair care treatments use sweet almond oil, since bitter almond oil can sometimes be poisonous and should only be used by professional therapists.
Why Choose Almond Oil for Hair?
First of all, almond oil doesn’t directly improve hair growth (only some essential oils promote hair growth). It does help to keep hair strong and healthy, which is essential to retaining length and making new hair growth more prominent. Now, as I’ve already mentioned, sweet almond oil is unique in a way that it is one of the most “neutral” oils out there:
When used sparsely, almond oil won’t weigh your hair down or make it greasy.
Most brands of sweet almond oil have a very weak smell that disappears quickly.
It’s very easy to spread on scalp/hair.
This oil can be used on both fine and coarse hair.
Sweet almond oil can be applied to both dry and wet hair.
As you can see, this oil is perfect for those of us who simply don’t have the time or know-how to use trickier oils such as castor, coconut or even jojoba. There are three things that you must remember about sweet almond oil:
It is a sealant, not a moisturizer. This means that it can be used to seal-in moisture and is great for people with dry hair (only when combined with a moisturizer, though).
Sweet almond oil doesn’t condition/strengthen hair – use coconut oil for this.
It will make your hair shiny, soft and easier to detangle.
Almond oil doesn’t have any of the side-effects that can arise when using more complex oils (such as castor, coconut, etc) and is a superb “starting” oil for people new to using hair oils in general.
How to Use Almond Oil
There are many ways that you can use almond oil on hair. I normally apply some oil to my lengths while they’re air drying, but there are many other ways to go about it. I’ll list some of the possible application methods below.
As a leave in: Since sweet almond oil is a carrier oil (which means that it spreads easily and can “carry” other oils), it can be used as a leave in treatment when mixed with your favorite essential oil. Simply apply almond oil to your hair and scalp and leave it in for as long as you like, then wash it out!
Depending on whether you like to sleep with oily hair or not, you can either apply it an hour or so before washing your hair or leave it in overnight and wash everything out the next day. Almond oil is relatively easy to wash out since it’s not as thick as castor or coconut oils.
After shampooing: Almond oil is known to have strong sealing properties, which means that it is very effective for sealing in moisture after you wash your hair. Simply apply some sweet almond oil to wet/damp hair after washing and let it air dry. Since hair can never have too much moisture, this technique should not cause any problems and will leave your hair feeling soft and shiny for days!
Now, remember that while almond oil is relatively simple to use, it can still cause numerous undesirable effects on your hair! The key is to experiment slowly to find out exactly how much oil your hair needs. Here are some tips to get you started:
When applying almond oil post-wash, put 1-2 drops of oil on damp lengths (on each side of your head) and spread it evenly. Do not use more than a few small drops or your hair might look oily!
Using oils on dry hair is tricky! Be very careful when applying any oil to dry hair. I would recommend using a small drop of oil on your ends, that’s it.
You can put some sweet almond, distilled water and a drop of your favorite essential oil into a mister bottle. Add a few drops of your favorite conditioner as well. Use it to keep your hair cool, shiny and moisturized!
Let me know if you have anything to add! I’d love to hear your thoughts on using almond oil for hair!
Hair oils are incredibly popular these days and castor oil specifically is one of the most commonly used oils right now. Many people believe castor oil to have countless benefits such as increased hair growth, thicker and stronger hair, and that it can even make your hair darker.
In this article, I’m going to take a closer look at castor oil benefits and try to find out whether it can really help with hair growth and thickness. Continue reading or jump straight to the sections about hair growth, hair darkening and other castor oil benefits or how to apply castor oil.
What is Castor Oil?
Castor oil is a very thick vegetable oil that is extracted from castor beans (which are not real beans, actually) that are part of a plant that grows in India, China and parts of Brazil. This oil is used in a variety of industries and is known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and laxative effects. That’s right, I said laxative, as in it can cause digestive problems, diarrhea and nausea in some individuals (but only when used in very large amounts or ingested). Castor oil has a very low molecular mass which allows it to penetrate deep into the skin.
The American Cancer Society notes that castor oil should never be used by women who are pregnant of suffer from chronic digestive problems. Under normal conditions castor oil is considered to be completely safe and should not cause any issues.
Castor Oil for Hair
Castor oil, just like many other oils, is often used as a leave in scalp and hair treatment. Just like with coconut oil, not all types of hair and scalp like castor oil and the only way to find out whether it will work well for you is to give it a shot. Let’s look at some of the benefits of using castor oil for hair.
Castor oil for hair growth: While many articles online claim that using this oil regularly can help to speed up normal hair growth and even spur new hair growth, there is no scientific evidence whatsoever showing that castor oil has a direct influence on how fast hair grows. This doesn’t mean that using castor oil to help with hair regrowth is pointless, though.
Now, a lot of times slow hair growth happens due to issues with the scalp or the fact that hair strands grow weak and break off early. Another common factor is improper use of hair care products or bad hair care in general. Since castor oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, applying it to your scalp can help treat dandruff, flaky scalp, dryness, and itchiness. There are no guarantees that it will work for you though, but it is definitely worth trying, especially with so many people reporting amazing results when using castor oil.
Another (indirect) reason why using castor can help with hair growth is improved blood circulation in the scalp due to stimulation with fingers when applying the oil. It is well known that scalp massages are good for hair health and the process of applying castor oil (or any oil for that matter) to the scalp is like a mini-massage.
Castor oil for hair darkening: Some people say that using castor oil can make hair darker. While there is no scientific evidence of this, I have actually seen this happen (although the effect was very small and temporary) so there’s definitely something to it. Most experts believe that since castor oil is extremely thick, it actually coats the hair and makes it look slightly thicker and darker than usual. This effect is temporary, because natural hair color is not changed. So, if you have blond or light colored hair, keep this in mind when using castor oil. And again remember that the darkening effect is very, very mild and might not really be noticeable at all in some cases.
Castor oil for thicker eyebrows/eyelashes:
This oil is commonly used to make eyelashes appear thicker and grow longer. While I don’t believe that it can actually make eyebrows/eyelashes grow faster or longer, it can definitely add some (temporary) thickness and make them look darker and “fuller”. Some beauty experts say that castor oil used on eyebrows kills off bacteria that hinders hair growth and can actually help increase length and stop shedding.
Do note that castor oil should not be allowed to get into your eyes! Use very little oil and apply it carefully.
Castor oil for hair shedding and itchy scalp: Some people say that castor oil stops hair shedding and can cure various conditions that cause itchy scalp and dry, flaky skin. Others have tried using castor oil but had to stop due to increased shedding. This just goes to show that everyone’s scalp is different and there’s no way to tell exactly how your hair/scalp is going to react to castor oil without giving it a try.
How to Use Castor Oil On Hair
The process of applying castor oil to scalp/hair is very simple. Do remember that most people use it as a leave in treatment for scalp and hair strands. Castor oil is rarely applied to hair length/ends. Here are some tips to get your started:
Castor oil is very thick. Applying it undiluted can be problematic – you should either get your scalp/hair wet before using the oil or mix (50/50) castor oil together with a different oil such as coconut, avocado or almond. This will make it easier to spread the oil out nicely and should help to prevent buildup.
Castor oil doesn’t smell nice. Add a few drops of rosemary, peppermint or a similar essential oil to help with the smell.
Use very little oil. When applying castor oil to your scalp you should avoid overuse to prevent having to deal with greasy hair afterwards. Plus, if you put too much of it on your head, it can be very difficult to wash out!
Spread it evenly. While many people like to use a dropper bottle to drop oil directly onto the scalp, I prefer using my fingers instead. Put your castor oil mix into a small bowl, dip your fingers in the oil and then apply it gently to your scalp. This may not seem like a big deal, but it does help to reduce problems with greasy/oily hair post-treatment.
Warm it up. If the oil feels extremely thick you can warm it up a little to make it more fluid. Don’t microwave it though – fill up a bowl with hot water, then add a smaller bowl with some castor oil into it and wait 2-4 minutes.
Shampoo or conditioner? If you find that your regular shampoo just doesn’t get all of the oil out of your head, try using a conditioner instead (and skip the shampoo). Apply some conditioner to your head/hair, wait for 10-20 minutes and then wash it out.
How long? Leave the oil in for at least 30 minutes and then wash it out. Some people like to leave castor oil in overnight which is also fine. I don’t think that going any longer than 2-3 hours has any added benefit, but choose whatever method is the most convenient for you.
How often? Just 1-2 treatments per week should be enough to see good results. Give it about four weeks and if you aren’t seeing an improvement in how your scalp/hair feels – try something different.
As you can see, castor oil is a superb scalp treatment that you should try at least once, especially if you have problems with itching, dry scalp and shedding. Just remember this:
Dilute the oil using coconut, almond or some other oil. Use very little oil.
Add several drops of your favorite essential oil (rosemary, peppermint) to make it smell better.
Warm it up a little (don’t microwave!).
Apply it evenly to your scalp and leave in for at least 30 minutes.
If shampooing doesn’t get it all out try using a simple, cone-free conditioner instead.
That’s it! Let us know how it goes and feel free to ask questions in the comments below.
As if having cancer wasn’t bad enough in and of itself, having it treated with chemotherapy comes with its own set of challenges. The side effects can be debilitating and include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, loss of appetite, fatigue, fever, mouth sores, pain, constipation, and easy bruising. On top of all those, you’ll probably lose all your hair as well, which can be the most psychologically difficult one of all. The reason for this is that chemotherapy kills the cancer cells, but it also does a good deal of damage to healthy cells as well, including your hair follicles. If you’re in this situation, you’re probably very interested in finding out how to stimulate hair growth after chemo. That will be the focus of this article.
Hair Growth Timetable
If you don’t do anything after your treatment ends, you should begin to have a soft fuzz appearing with two or three weeks. A month after completing treatment, real hair should start to grow at its normal rate. This varies from person to person, but generally speaking, hair growing from your scalp tends to grow at a rate of about .3 to .4 mm/day, which translates into about 6 inches (15.24 cm) per year, or half an inch per month. On that schedule, two months after treatment you ought to have about an inch of real hair.
The Importance of Overall Health
In terms of getting back a health head of full hair, the most important thing you can do is keep yourself as health as possible. As noted in previous articles, this includes 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.
Nutrition for Healthy Hair
In terms of a really hair-supportive diet, you want to focus on making sure you get enough iron, protein, biotin and zinc in your diet. Your top 10 hair-growing foods that are the healthiest sources for those nutrients include the following: 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), and poultry (rich in protein, zinc, iron and B vitamins). Most importantly, remember that there are foods that actually serve to fuel the growth of cancer cells, including getting too much protein from soy, and foods with lots of added sugars. Basically, you want to strictly avoid anything that fall under the umbrella of “junk food.” Your hair, and the rest of your body, will thank you!
Additional Strategies for Hair Growth
You want to treat your newly developing hair very gently. Dyeing it, straightening it or curling it can cause damage that makes your hair grow back more slowly that you want, so avoid those. You may find that your hair grows back substantially different than it was before, such as more curly. It’s only natural that you might want to get your old look back, but avoid any rough heat treatments until your has come back all the way to make sure it’s as strong as it can be before you start making changes.
Consider Minoxidil
You can also consider a special treatment for your hair such as Minoxidil, which is sold under such brand names as Rogaine, Avacor and Regaine. The Food and Drug Administration has approved minoxidil as a hair-growth treatment, and the Mayo Clinic also endorses its use among those undergoing chemotherapy treatment for cancer. Interestingly enough, this medicine was first developed to treat high blood pressure as was administered in pill form. An unfortunate side effect was excessive hair growth. This prompted scientists to come up with a topical form of treatment specifically for hair growth. What it actually does is enlarge small arteries in the body, increasing blood flow, which is essential to supply hair with what nourishes it. It also widens hair follicles, which allows for a thicker strand of hair, and lengthens the important anagen growth phase of hair. Minoxidil can increase hair density by as much as 10-12%.
Scalp Hypothermia
This one needs more research, and it’s one that you would use during your chemotherapy treatments rather than after. The idea is that by applying cold packs to the scalp during chemotherapy, you reduce the flow of blood and decrease the amount of damaging chemotherapy drugs that destroy your hair follicles. However, if there is or might be cancer cells in your scalp, then you’re also reducing the effectiveness of the chemotherapy to kill all the cancer cells in your body.
Perhaps the thing you will need most when it comes to growing your hair back after cancer treatments is a healthy dose of patience. Growing hair takes time, and there’s no magic treatment that will get your hair back in a short amount of time. If you want to know how to stimulate hair growth after chemo, the tips and strategies I’ve provided in this article will have you well on your way to the full head of hair you enjoyed before your chemotherapy treatments.
Chalk this quick little post up to impulse shopping at it’s finest. Sheesh.
I was walking through Wal*Mart yesterday on my way to the toilet paper isle when this $2.24 wonder practically blinded me from cosmetics.
Wow, that’s bright.
I am so, so not a make-up person — a minimalists at heart who skips make-up all together most days. But for some reason, the freakishly-bright-Halloween-hey-why-not mood came over me and into my cart it went. And while the kids where down for naps and I was supposed to be folding laundry had free time, I started playing around on my otherwise un-prepped and un-plucked eyes.
The result?
A little something I like to call The Candy Corn Cat Eye
What do you think? Kicky or creep?
Obviously I’m no 16-year-old YouTube make-up tutorial wiz, but for some reason I really enjoyed brushing wide strokes of garish color all over my eyelids with reckless abandon.
And stepping outside my everyday routine makes me want to do other wild and crazy things today … like take my hair out of a clip, wax my upper lip and get some bangs-ha!
Or maybe go someplace special with my all-dolled-up-self … like Target.
Ah, the power of make-up.
So what are you doing for Halloween?
Do you dress up?
Do you do fun little things like wear funky socks, play with your make-up or drag out the black polish?
If you eat a primarily meat based diet, you’re likely not getting enough silica. Silica is most abundant in plant life, and as such isn’t typically served as well in the normal American diet. If you eat your vegetables, you might get enough silica. Additionally, eating nuts, fruits, and whole grains do contain silica, but it’s not absorbed properly in the body through these foods. Supplements are the best method of insuring your silica levels are high enough, no matter what your diet consists of.
As you can see, this oil is perfect for those of us who simply don’t have the time or know-how to use trickier oils such as castor, coconut or even jojoba. There are three things that you must remember about sweet almond oil:
