Hair growth Archives

In Hair Growth

Vitamins for Healthy Hair – Vitamin B Complex

6 Mins Read

B vitamins consist of a group of water soluble vitamins that are essential to your overall health. A common misconception about B vitamins is that they are all one vitamin, commonly referred to as vitamin B. In reality, though, there are many B vitamins including B1, B2, B3 along with vitamins B5, B6, B7, B9 and finally B12. It has been long known that some of the B-complex vitamins can do wonders when it comes to improving hair growth, shine and thickness. Let’s take a better look at how B-complex vitamins can help hair grow better.

Which B Vitamins Promote Hair Growth?

While there are many different B vitamins, each with slightly different health benefits, most hair care experts recommend that if you have a vitamin B deficiency, you should be taking full vitamin B complex supplements (or eating foods that contain all of these vitamins). The reason for this is simple: B vitamins work to support many vital bodily functions and they are better absorbed and produce the best results when taken together.

Below is a list of B-complex vitamins that are commonly used to promote healthy hair.

Vitamin B2 (also known as riboflavin): This vitamin plays a key role in fat, protein and carb metabolism. A riboflavin deficiency can result in severe or gradual hair loss.

Vitamin B5 (also known as pantothenate): This vitamin is commonly found in various skin and hair care products. A pantothenate deficiency can result in hair loss and scalp irritation. Some hair care experts believe that vitamin B5 can be applied to hair externally to make it shinier and stronger. For this reason vitamin B5 is commonly found in hair shampoos and conditioners, although there is no strong evidence showing that B5 applied externally has any measurable benefits (and if it does they are likely to be very short lasting).

Vitamin B6: While this vitamin is not linked to hair growth directly, it can help to keep your skin and scalp healthy, which will in turn promote better hair growth. Vitamin B6 deficiency can bring on a skin condition called dermatitis which is often responsible for slower hair growth and thinning.

Vitamin B7 (also known as Biotin): One of the main ingredients in hair and skin care products, Biotin is thought to make nails and hair grow stronger. Overall Biotin is an extremely important vitamin as it is required by the body in order to produce fatty acids and promote cell growth. Although Biotin deficiencies are rare, they do happen and can cause hair loss, thinning and breakage.

Vitamin B12: Just like with vitamin B6, B12 has no direct link to hair growth. With that said, without B12 the body cannot perform many metabolic functions which can have an indirect negative effect on hair growth and your overall health. Gray hair at an early age (under 30 or so) can also be a sign of vitamin B12 deficiency.

Now, it’s important you understand that if your vitamin B levels are perfectly normal (ask your doctor to have your levels checked), you won’t see much of an improvement when it comes to hair growth. Most people, however, do have slight vitamin B deficiencies and will usually see positive results after taking additional supplements for at least 3-6 weeks. Just remember to consult with your doctor before taking any supplements!

Vitamin B Deficiency

A vitamin B deficiency can often go unnoticed for years. The most common signs and symptoms are very general and most people don’t think much of them until the condition gets really bad.

Now, while there are many different B vitamins, a deficiency of vitamin B12, for example, can lead to a vitamin B6 deficiency and so on. This makes accurate diagnosis without a specialized blood test very difficult. Some of the signs of vitamin B deficiency are:

Dry and itchy skin, especially around the mouth.
Cracked lips, especially around the edges.
Rash on the face or genitals.
Brittle nails.
Lots of dandruff.
Headaches.
Extreme nervousness and irritability.
Gray hair in people under the age of 30.
Depression, lack of energy, fatigue and constant tiredness. Vitamin B helps us access energy from food and a deficiency can make all bodily functions “lag behind” a bit.
Some cases of hormonal imbalance can be caused by lack of vitamin B. Hormonal imbalance leads to hair loss.
Problems with the central nervous system often inhibit healthy hair growth. B-complex vitamins are absolutely essential to nervous system health.

Again, having proper blood work done is very important. In some cases (quite common actually) the body might lack the ability to absorb certain B vitamins which can lead to serious hair problems.

In some instances vitamin B deficiencies are caused by a poor diet. Unhealthy foods can inhibit vitamin B absorption and lead to deficiencies. These foods include potato chips, barbequed foods, foods that have been processed using fats and so on. Birth control pills and environmental factors (toxins, tobacco smoke, etc) can also cause vitamin B deficiencies. Do note that if your body cannot absorb vitamin B due to one of the above reasons (or your genetics), taking simple supplements will not help and you may require vitamin B shots.

How to Take Vitamin B

While most hair care products contain B-complex vitamins, there is very little evidence that any of the many B vitamins have any effect when applied externally. For this reason, I recommend that you either take vitamin B supplements or change to a diet rich in B vitamins. The exact dose is very difficult to estimate and only your doctor can give you qualified advice. In most cases, however, sticking to the recommended daily dose that comes with your chosen supplement should be safe and sufficient.

Hint!

People with vitamin B12 deficiencies often choose to take sublingual (under the tongue) vitamin B12 supplements to help absorption.

Foods that contain B-complex vitamins are: green leafy vegetables, liver, enriched wholegrain cereals/bread, all kinds of fish, bananas, peanuts, watermelon, grapefruit, wheat bread, mushrooms, eggs, milk, lean red meat and so on.

I hope that you liked this article and please share if you have any further tips when it comes to hair growth and B-complex vitamins!

In Hair Care

How to Tell if Your Hair Likes Protein

3 Mins Read

Protein is one of the most common ingredients found in strengthening shampoos and conditioners. From my experience I can tell that not all hair types like protein or products that act like protein (such as coconut oil).

Unfortunately, there is no easy way to tell whether your hair will do well with a protein-based treatment. First there’s the fact that everyone’s hair is unique and will likely react differently. Then, to make this even more complicated, there are several different types of protein used in hair care products (whey, keratin, etc). So what does protein sensitivity look like and how to tell whether your hair likes protein or not?

When to Use Protein Treatments

For the most part protein treatments for hair are designed to strengthen broken, weak and damaged hair. These products are often called reconstructive treatments and can vary in intensity from mild to intensive/strong. These products are created to be used on hair that has suffered some sort of chemical (too much hair color), physical (heat) or environmental (sunlight, toxins) damage.

Now, the way most stylists recommend protein-based hair care products is simple:

If you have fine hair that breaks off easily, you should use a shampoo/conditioner that contains protein.
If your hair is of medium complexity – use protein based products about once per week, but only if you want to strengthen your hair. Most people should choose moisturizing treatments instead.
People with thick hair should not use products that contain protein.

The general principle is very simple: fine hair contains far less protein than coarse hair. Since protein acts as a shield (seals in moisture and strengthens, but doesn’t moisturize), it can prevent fine hair from breaking off easily. Coarse hair can be easily overloaded with protein which is not a good thing.

This all sounds great and is pretty straightforward… except for the fact that sometimes fine hair absolutely hates protein while coarse hair seems to love it! In reality, the only way to find out whether protein will work well with your hair is to give it a shot and look out for any side-effects.

Side Effects of Protein on Hair

Most side effects that arise from protein overuse can be categorised into two types: protein overload and protein sensitivity/buildup. Overloading your hair on protein will normally lead to it suddenly breaking off in large quantities (pretty rare). Protein sensitivity is a bit trickier to notice and can have many different side-effects:

Hair that is straighter than normal and feels waxy/straw-like.
Hair can be very difficult to detangle. Breaks off easily when trying to detangle.
The very ends can feel dry and rough.
Extremely dry hair.

In most cases the above side-effects can be cured using a clarifying conditioner. If you notice that your hair appears to be protein sensitive, try using moisturizing products/oils instead of products that contain protein (or mimic protein the way coconut oil does).

In Hair Care

Are Stress and Hair Loss Related?

4 Mins Read

Hair loss is an extremely touchy and stressful subject for most people. It can be caused by many different factors and determining the exact cause early on is crucial. In this article, I’m going to talk about a very specific type of hair loss – one that’s caused by extreme stress.

Why Does Stress Cause Hair Loss?

There are many types of stress and, at least in most cases, we don’t know exactly why or how it leads to hair loss. Some studies suggest that since hair growth is not considered to be a critical function by the body, it can sometimes stop new hair growth during periods of extreme mental or physical exhaustion. Here are the two most common stress-related conditions that cause hair thinning:

Telogen effluvium: This condition occurs when a very stressful experience in your life causes a large number of hair follicles to enter the resting stage (also known as the telogen stage). Once the resting stage is over, hair sheds and new growth begins.
Trichotillomania: A very fancy word to describe a very simple condition – constant pulling of hair from scalp and other areas of the body. We all do this from time to time. In people under extreme stress, however, this condition can get out of control and cause serious damage.

The good news is that most of the time stress-related hair loss is temporary and can be cured by successfully reducing stress and anxiety. Oh and another interesting fact: stress has not been shown to cause gray hair and premature aging of hair. Most people believe that stress does cause gray hair to appear, but it’s mostly just speculation without any real scientific proof (yet).

How to Cure Stress Related Hair Loss

The very first thing to do when you notice hair loss, thinning or uneven hair growth is to get an accurate diagnosis. I’ve written a little about this in my other hair loss article, but remember that only a medical professional can help you in this regard!

Note: most experts believe that only extremely stressful events can lead to hair loss. Just because you are under a lot of stress at work or have to deal with irritating colleagues, you should not experience any problems with hair loss. Only events that quite literally shake you up and keep you up at night for days can lead to such a strong reaction. Things like a serious accident, extremely intensive workouts, catastrophic debt (foreclosure, bankruptcy and so on), sudden illness, loss of a friend/loved one, and so on.

Once you know that your hair loss has been caused by stress you can begin treatment. Now, treating stress induced hair loss is tricky, since you have to address the main cause of stress instead of treating the symptoms (hair loss). This counterintuitive approach can be difficult to follow, which often leads to people using various hair loss medications that do not have any long-term effect and simply cannot treat their hair loss problems.

Here are some tips to get you started:

Talk to your doctor and try to rule out all other causes of hair loss. Think over the last 3-5 months of your life and consider any stressful experiences that may have triggered hair loss. Remember that stress induced hair loss is usually delayed by about 2-3 months (that’s how long your hair stays in the “resting” stage).

If you suffer from ongoing issues with stress, it is time to start making some serious lifestyle changes. See a professional counselor at least a few times to help you build a focused, individual “plan of attack”. Once your stress is under control, normal hair growth will resume and things will slowly go back to normal.

Once your stress issues have been dealt with (or if you experienced very severe, short-term stress) you can ensure that your hair grows at the fastest possible rate by taking natural vitamins, using essential oils and following these hair care tips to maximize hair retention.

Good luck!

In Hair Care

Tips for Growing Afro-American Hair

6 Mins Read

People of African descent are often living with the false assumption that they can’t grow hair as quickly or as long as people of other races. This is simply not true. The kind of science behind hair growth that I’ve presented in other articles on this website is clear – hair grows at a natural rate of about half an inch per month or six inches (15.24 cm) each year. The real problem is that many people do things to their hair and their health that slow down or stop this natural growth. Having said that, African hair is unique and does require some special considerations when keeping it as health and growing as much as possible.

Optimal Overall Health is the Key to Growing Healthy Hair

This rule applies to anyone of any race. The plain fact of the matter is that your hair can only be as healthy as the rest of you, which means the health of your hair is an indicator of your overall health. The exception here, of course, is hair loss driven by genetics, but even that can be effectively combatted. I’ve tried to make it as clear as possible on this site that 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

A hair-supportive diet is one that focuses on making sure you get enough iron, protein, biotin and zinc, which means the top 10 hair-growing foods are 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). If you want fast-growing healthy hair, you must avoid junk food. And guess what – the rest of your body will benefit as well.

Everyone wants their hair to look a certain way, and many people do whatever it takes to achieve that desired look. Unfortunately, when that involves a lot of styling, drying, curling, crimping, coloring, and all the other ways we manipulate our hair, we aren’t doing any favors to hair growth. And yes, this includes relaxing your hair. All of the different treatments we use damage hair and slow down its growth. If you really want to grow your hair, you have to minimize all these different rough treatments. You also need to make sure you’re using a shampoo that actually helps your hair rather than hurting it, which is a trickier proposition than you might think. Too many shampoos have chemical ingredients in them that damage your hair in the long run. I’ve covered this in detail in another article on this website, so just know that you want to avoid shampoos and conditioners with the following ingredients: Sulfates, polysorbates, isopropyl alcohol, formaldehyde, hydrolysed collagen, parabens, propylene glycol, and polyethylene glycol. If you see any of those listed on a bottle of shampoo, put it back on the shelf. What you want instead are shampoos with nut and seed oils (jojoba, avocado and shea), acidic ingredients (cirtic acid or sodium citrate), panthenol (a type of vitamin B), and glycerin. Simple enough, right?

Protective Styles

When you do get your hair growing the length you want it, you can provide it with additional protection by using what are called protective styles, and they happen to look fantastic for African hair. The basic idea is to keep the ends both up and out of sight, which means they won’t get damaged by rubbing against clothes, pillows, car seats and so on. Protective styles include the chignon (your basic bun), braids (using either just your natural hair or in combination with extensions), the two-strand twist (very attractive, and something you can learn to do yourself), weaves, and flat twists (these can look quite stunning when done well and are similar to cornrows). You can easily find YouTube tutorials on how to do any of these common protective styles. Just remember that nothing should be so tight as to cause pain or potential breakage, and don’t keep any particular style in place for long periods of time.

Conditioning is Key

An absolute key to growing healthy African hair is to condition it properly. Castor oil turns out to be one of the best hair conditioning agents out there, so consider using it. You want an unrefined castor oil because it will have the riches array of nutrients, moisturizers and protectors your hair needs, including ricinoleic acid, omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, vitamin E and amino acid proteins. It’s basically a wonder treatment for any hair that I’ve covered in greater detail in another article on this site. The act of massaging it into your scalp and hair provides a boost to blood circulation to your hair follicles, which is essential for hair growth and health. It even has natural anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, which means your also protecting your scalp from infection from all kinds of nasty pathogens that can cause serious hair problems.

People of African descent can grow hair just as long and beautiful as anyone else on the planet. All it takes is treating your hair and your body in gentle ways that optimize your overall health. Be sure to check out the other articles on this site for more details on all the different topics covered above. Adopting the black hair care tips in this article will put you on the path to growing the long, healthy head of hair you’ve always wanted.

In Hair Growth

Castor Oil for Hair Growth – The Benefits Of Using Castor Oil For Your Hair

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.

In Hair Growth

Coconut Oil for Hair Growth

7 Mins Read

You will never have the healthy and shiny hair of your dreams if your hair doesn’t grow properly. Hair growth is influenced by a number of factors, which include your overall health, your diet and of course whether or not you follow a good hair care regimen. If you are looking to promote hair growth, your hair care regimen must include oil application. Many people use coconut oil for hair growth. When used correctly this oil conditions, protects and moisturizes the scalp and allows the hair to grow properly.

In this article I’m going to tell you why coconut oil can help your hair grow faster, explain how to apply it to hair, and give you some general advice for using this amazing natural oil on your hair.

How Does Coconut Oil Work to Promote Hair Growth?

Shields hair protein:Lauric acid, a major component of coconut oil gives the oil its protective properties. Lauric acid is a fatty acid that easily binds hair proteins thus helping in protecting roots of hair strands and preventing hair breakage. A study conducted in 2003 revealed that coconut oil can reduce or prevent hair protein loss more effectively than mineral and sunflower oils (these two oils are common ingredients of many hair care products).

Seals in hair moisture: Regular application of coconut oil can help you to keep your hair strong and moisturized. Coconut oil possesses the ability of penetrating the hair shaft and thus conditions your hair from within. The oil supplies enough moisture to protect your hair follicles from environmental impurities and heat.

Contains antibacterial and antifungal properties: Coconut oil’s antibacterial and antifungal properties give the oil the ability of protecting your scalp against dandruff and lice, both of which can hinder hair growth.

Contains nutrients: Coconut oil is a rich source of nutrients like vitamin E, vitamin K and iron. These nutrients are essential for maintaining your hair’s shine and softness. Vitamin E is particularly effective in eradicating dandruff, which is a major cause of hair fall and hindered hair growth.

Improves blood circulation: Massage your scalp with coconut oil to stimulate blood circulation. Improved blood circulation to your scalp will ensure that your hair follicles receive the required amount of essential nutrients and oxygen. This will make your hair follicles healthy and promote hair growth.

How to Apply Coconut Oil

There are two ways to apply coconut oil to hair – either before or after washing:

People with slightly wavy or straight hai should undergo coconut oil treatment before washing their hair.
If you have curly or thick hair, you can apply coconut oil both before and after washing your hair. As curly hair tends to absorb oil quickly, you will not end up having greasy looking hair even if you apply coconut oil after washing the hair.

Before shampooing: First apply the oil generously to your scalp and rub the scalp gently to ensure that the oil spreads adequately to the entire area. Continue massaging the scalp for 5 minutes. Now, concentrate on your hair strands. If required you can take some more oil for oiling the hair strands. Leave the oil on your hair for at least 30 minutes (or up to 2-4 hours if you have a lot of hair breakage problems) and then wash the hair off with your regular shampoo.

During shampooing: Some people get amazing results by mixing their shampoo and/or conditioner with coconut oil (50/50 or some other ratio). Give it a try and see how it compares with using coconut oil as a pre-wash treatment. This is by far the least time consuming method, so that’s a big benefit as well.

After shampooing: Not all types of hair react well to post-wash coconut oil treatment. If you find that your hair is “protein sensitive”, it is likely to react badly to coconut oil as well, so keep this in mind. As for application, here’s what I recommend: if you have problems with split-ends or dry hair, apply a little coconut oil to the ends of your hair (up to 2-3 inches) after it has completely dried out.

Tips for Using Coconut Oil On Your Hair

While there are thousands of articles touting the benefits of coconut oil treatments for hair, very few of them provide tips to maximize those benefits and avoid any potential pitfalls. The truth is that coconut oil hair treatments are not suitable for everyone. In the next few paragraphs I’m going to give you some tips for using coconut oil, explain how it works, and help you decide whether this kind of treatment is right for you.

Q: Should I warm the oil up before applying it?

A: Due to the fact that coconut oil turns solid in lower (room) temperatures, it often makes sense to warm it up a little before use. This makes it much simpler to apply to hair/scalp. Avoid using hot oil as it can damage your skin. A simple way to prepare coconut oil for use is to fill a large bowl with boiling-hot water and then place a smaller bowl with some oil into it. Wait until the coconut oil melts and then use it!

Q: How much oil should I apply to my hair?

A: When applying coconut oil to your hair before shampooing you can use as much oil as you feel necessary. Many people dose coconut oil the same way as regular shampoo/conditioner by applying just enough to cover the scalp and full hair length.

Now, using coconut oil as a leave-in treatment after washing your hair is very different. Applying too much of it will almost certainly leave your hair looking greasy and tangled. Plus, oil attracts dust and other pollutants which can make the hair look dirty really fast. I recommend using just a tiny amount of coconut oil on the ends to help combat dryness. If you are looking for a suitable leave-in post-wash oil treatment for your hair, coconut oil is not it.

Q: What are the benefits of pre-wash coconut oil treatments?

A: Using coconut oil on your hair prior to washing is a great way to minimize damage and breakage that occurs when you wash your hair. Water has the tendency to soften our skin and can lead to the skin around your hair follicles becoming tender and prone to damage. This can lead to hair breakage, shedding and various other problems.

Luckily, since coconut oil is a water repellent, applying some of it to the scalp/hair before washing can prevent this from happening. Another thing that sets coconut oil apart from other oils is that it bonds with hair proteins with ease and can penetrate deep into the skin thanks to its light chemical properties. This creates a temporary “shield” that protects your scalp and hair from water damage.

Q: What about using coconut oil as a post-wash treatment?

A: Most people use coconut oil after shampooing to prevent split ends. Wait until the hair has dried out completely and then apply a little oil to the very ends. The oil is quickly absorbed by the hair and forms a “protective” layer shielding your hair from environmental damage.

Q: Does coconut oil really cure head lice?

A: There is a lot of evidence that coconut oil is very effective as a natural head lice treatment. For instance, one UK study found a special coconut oil + anise spray to be nearly twice more effective at eradicating head lice than any other widely used treatment today.

A commonly used (although never studied) lice treatment is to soak the scalp and hair in coconut oil, then cover with foil, shower cap or a towel. Leave it on overnight, then wash the oil out with shampoo. There’s no evidence that this treatment works, but many proponents of all-natural remedies swear by it.

If you have any questions about coconut oil for hair please ask in the comments below and I will answer them as soon as possible.

In Hair Growth

Castor Oil for Healthier Hair

7 Mins Read

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 or 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.

In Hair Care

Jojoba Oil for Hair: Benefits and How to Use It

4 Mins Read

Jojoba oil is commonly used in various skin and hair care products, including shampoos, moisturizers, and even makeup removers. When it comes to using jojoba oil on hair, most people use it as a carrier oil, which means that it “carries” other oils (such as essential oils) and improves absorption into the scalp. Let’s have a closer look at the benefits of using jojoba oil for hair.

What Is Jojoba Oil?

Jojoba oil is extracted from the seeds of a plant called simmondsia chinensis, which is commonly known as the jojoba plant. This oil is considered to be “universal” in a sense that most users should not experience any side effects when using it as a pre-shampoo or leave-in treatment (unlike other oils that can make hair brittle and extremely dry). With that said not all types of hair like jojoba oil and you should experiment with very small doses to start with.

Many articles claim that jojoba oil is best suited for thicker hair while other oils, such as almond, are better for thinner hair types. I believe this to be false, because I’ve seen many cases where people with extremely fine hair use jojoba oil with amazing results. Other common complains include:

Jojoba oil smells like “burnt wood” or “bacon”: Not true, although some types of jojoba oil seem to have a very weak smoky scent to them. Pure jojoba oil has virtually no smell at all.
Jojoba oil can make hair fall out/shed more than normal: Maybe if you use way too much of it. In general, however, most cases of hair shedding are caused by other ingredients (such as petroleum products) found in commercial oils. Don’t be fooled by the label on the bottle – always read the ingredient list!

The structure of jojoba oil is similar to that of sebum, which is a natural moisturizer produced by our skin. This makes it a superb face moisturizer (when diluted with water), as well as a good way to treat dry scalp/hair.

How to Use Jojoba Oil

Just like any other oil, jojoba can be used in a variety of different ways. I’ll describe some of the most common methods below.

Jojoba as a leave in treatment: This basically means applying some jojoba oil (often mixed with essential oils) to your scalp before washing your hair. Some people leave this mix in for about 20-30 minutes and then wash it out, while others prefer to soak their scalp/hair in oil overnight and wash everything out in the morning. Experiment to see what works best for you!

Jojoba oil mixed with shampoo or conditioner: A very popular technique which is somewhat similar to mixing coconut oil with shampoo. The only difference is that jojoba oil comes in liquid form and doesn’t need to be melted before use! Mixing jojoba oil with conditioner instead of shampoo can often produce much better results – give it a try!

Using jojoba oil after shampooing: This technique doesn’t work for everyone, because jojoba oil is quite heavy and using too much of it will leave your hair looking greasy. Normally, just 1-2 drops of jojoba oil applied to the ends of damp/drying hair should be enough to provide long-term protection from breakage and dryness. If your ends feel somewhat “crunchy” after applying oil, it means that your hair simply doesn’t like this type of oil.

Remember that everyone’s hair is different and the only way to find out which oil suits your hair is through experimentation! In general however, I find that jojoba oil works well in places where coconut oil doesn’t. For example:

If your scalp doesn’t like coconut oil treatments, try jojoba + essential oils instead.
If your lengths can’t stand jojoba oil (look greasy and dry), try using a little coconut oil instead.
Many people find that jojoba oil works best when applied lightly to the very ends while they are still wet after washing. In some cases however, this can make the ends feel dry and crunchy. If this happens – try using coconut oil instead.

Good luck and don’t forget to report back with your results!

In Hair Care

Herbs for Hair Growth

6 Mins Read

If you want your hair longer, there are several options. You could go to a medical doctor and go home with a prescription medication such as Minoxidil, and then deal with side effects as they arise. Minoxidil is a vasodilator that allows more oxygen, blood and nutrients to get to the hair follicle.

You could improve your diet on your own and hope that this change makes a difference. You could be more proactive about your nutrition and see a nutritionist who can give you a plan to correct any vitamin and mineral deficiencies. You could also take herbs for hair growth.

When you consider all three of these methods, the one solution that has stood the test of time is using herbs for hair growth. The interesting part is that science hasn’t kept up with research on herbs over the years. Science has lagged behind and now medical doctors tell you there’s not enough research on herbs for hair growth to recommend them. You will have to determine whether or not there is enough research or not yourself.

How Herbs for Hair Growth Work in the Body

Herbs for hair growth are quite interesting because they work via one of a few different mechanisms. They may:

stimulate hair follicles to grow
have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-parasitical activity that eliminates the ‘bug’
on the scalp causing hair loss
decrease high levels of testosterone that increases hair loss
decrease effects of stress which deplete necessary nutrients to keep hair growing
restore female hormone levels
provide active vitamins and minerals that are necessary for hair growth
provide medicinal constituents not necessarily known for hair maintenance,
synthesis and hair growth

Red Korean Ginseng: One of the Herbs for Hair Growth

Before you give up on herbs for hair growth, you have to read about what happened when scientists compared the effects of corticosteroids on hair growth and density against effects from Korean red ginseng.

If you love using natural remedies, this study will be one more piece of evidence that what you believe in is correct. The study followed people with alopecia, a type of hair loss, who were in their 30s for 12 weeks. Fifty people were divided into two groups of 25 individuals. One group was given corticosteroids as treatment since alopecia has an autoimmune component to it. The other group was given cortiocosteroids plus ginseng. Both groups received treatment for 12 weeks. The goal was to see who had the best hair growth.

Here’s a table of the results:

Types of Treatment	#Patients	#Hairs		Hair Density
		Before	After	Before	After
Corticosteroids + Ginseng	24	44 cm2	101 cm2	0.062	0.085
Corticosteroid	24	40 cm2	91 cm2	0.058	0.078

Korean red ginseng is known for its ability to prevent hair loss and make hair grow. And according to this study, it did – although researchers said that statistically, there wasn’t a difference in the results of the two groups.

The researchers concluded that Korean red ginseng can improve hair regrowth in those with autoimmune causes of hair loss. They proposed that the reasons why it worked so well was because the herb contains medicinal components called ginsenosides that are known to be anti-inflammatory and anti-allergies.

Fo-Ti: Affects Hair Regrowth Via Interfering with Testosterone

While you’re using Red Korean ginseng for hair growth, you may also want to check out the herb Fo-ti. As many women in menopause produce less estrogen, their testosterone levels may increase. High levels of testosterone are sometimes associated with hair loss. It’s one of the hormonal disruptions that can be related to hair loss.

Fo-ti has been known by herbalists for centuries to turn restore the original color of gray hair over time, and recently, has been found to have estrogen activity. Thus for those women who don’t want to take hormone replacement therapy, the herb fo-ti can provide three benefits all at one time:

Eliminate the gray hairs
Provide more estrogen
Reduce the testosterone levels in the body

Fo-ti provides about 1/300th of the activity of 17-beta-estradiol, according to researchers at the University of California in San Diego. (Source: Jour Clin Endocrin Metab 2003,88(9):4077-79.)

Eclipta alba: Another of the Herbs for Hair Growth

An Indian herb called Eclipta alba Hassk is known in that country as one of the herbs for hair growth. Research on rats confirmed the legends about this herb. When a water extract of the herb was incorporated into an oil cream base and applied topically, the researchers might have been surprised about the results. Compared to Minoxidil, Eclipta alba worked twice as fast! The herb initiated hair growth quickly. Even the time for completed hair growth was significantly less. This herb for hair growth grew 46% more hair than Minoxidil. (Source: Arch Dermatol Res 2008 Aug; 300(7):357-64.)

Chinese Herb Extract Dabao Acts as a Hair Restorer

Dabao is used in China to grow hair in those with alopecia androgenetica. In a randomized, double-blind study with 396 volunteers, Dabao grew 24 more hairs in a 5 cm squared area.

That’s quite a bit, considering the placebo group only had 109 hairs; it comes out to about 22% more hairs. When the volunteers had to rate their results, 42% of the Dabao group were happy with their results, compared to 37% in the placebo group.

(Source: J Clin Epidemiol 1991;44(4-5):439-47.)

Chinese Ginseng Works Too

Panax ginseng is not the same herb as Korean red ginseng. They are two separate plants. Besides Korean ginseng helping improve hair growth, Panax ginseng does so too. Radix panax ginseng is widely used in China for alopecia (hair loss).

In one study using a slightly different plant, Fructus panax ginseng was tested to see whether or not it also might grow hair in mice. It did. A topical application of the new herb lengthened the amount of time that the hairs stayed in their growth phase and enhanced growth of the dermal papilla cells compared to the placebo of Minoxidil.

(Source: J Ethnopharmacol 2011 Nov 18;138(2):340-4.)

Rosemary Extract: Another Herb for Hair Growth

A 6-inch branch of rosemary from your herb garden made into an extract may also be one of the herbs for hair growth you use.

In a Japanese study reported in the Phytotherapeutic Research journal, scientists tested a topical preparation of rosemary extract on mice that lost hair due to high levels of testosterone.

The rosemary extract promoted hair growth and the dosage of the extract determined how much testosterone 5-alpha-reductase was inhibited. An 200 mcg/ml rosemary extract inhibited testosterone enzyme by 82.4% while an500 mcg/ml rosemary extract inhibited testosterone enzymes by 94.6%. (Source: Phytother Res 2013 Feb;27(2):212-7.)

There are dozens of other herbs that have been used as herbs for hair growth over the centuries. These are only some of them!

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.