15 Hair Care Myths

Everyone has a favourite myth about hair care, and we usually never let the truth get in the way of a good legend! This article examines some of the most widely known - and the reality behind the myths.

1. Excessive washing of hair causes hair loss/dryness

FALSE: Frequency of washing doesn't harm hair. Wash it as often as you like, although the recommendation is three times a week. The right shampoo for your hair type and texture will actually add moisture, body and beauty to your hair.

2. More shampoo = cleaner hair

FALSE: Don't waste your shampoo! A dollop of shampoo, about the size of a quarter is usually enough for long hair. Very long hair may take a little more.

3. Conditioner helps repair split ends

FALSE. No conditioner can 'repair' damaged hair. What it can do is smooth down the cuticle and make hair seem in better condition. A good conditioner can also prevent damage from occurring in the first place

.4. Blow-drying produces hair loss

FALSE. Blow-drying can damage, burn or dry hair, which can cause it to fall, but the hair will grow back immediately. This is not permanent hair loss.

5. Sleeping with wet hair causes scalp fungus

FALSE. Scalp or fungal diseases can't be caught from sleeping with wet scalps. Scalp infections require prior involvement with infected sources such as humans, tainted hair care tools or animals. Scalp fungus (tinea capitis) mainly affects children, whose immune systems make them more susceptible to skin infections.

6. To get your hair to grow, brush 100 strokes each day

FALSE. Brushing that much can damage the hair cuticle. NOT recommended! Actually, your hair reacts better to a comb than a brush. Brushing it will only lead to split ends and hair breakage.

7. Sharing combs and brushes can spread scalp diseases

TRUE.Lice and other parasites can be transported from scalp to scalp through the sharing of combs, brushes and other hair care tools

.8. Cutting hair makes it grow faster and/or thicker

FALSE. This common misconception comes from the fact that hair is thicker at the base than it is at the tip, so shorter hair appears thicker at first. Cutting your hair does not affect its normal biologically determined growth rate or overall texture. Thin, limp or fine hair will not ever grow thicker in response to a haircut. Plump up your hair by using volume enhancing hair care products, experimenting with a hair fattening blunt cut or getting a texturizing perm or color treatment.

9. Color treatment causes hair loss

FALSE. Most hair coloring products contain chemicals that can do serious harm to the hair itself if not properly used, but it wont instigate hair loss.

10. Salon products are identical to drugstore products

FALSE. Although there are exceptions, salon products generally contain higher quality, more expensive ingredients that are designed to consistently provide more intensive cleansing, moisturizing and conditioning results. The quality ingredients found in salon products are not usually found in drugstore brands. If in doubt, read the labels.

11. Long sun exposure favors hair loss

FALSE. Your hair acts as a shield against the sun. Hair loss appears at the follicle level and so the sun would have to penetrate at this depth to do any damage.

12. Diet is related to hair loss

TRUE. it's important to eat right in order to be generally healthy. However, no individual food has been proven to be beneficial or detrimental to hair.

13. Stress causes hair loss

TRUE, Severe stress (e.g. surgery or a death in the family), can shut down hair production, causing temporary hairloss (alopecia areata). The scalp usually recuperates, though, and hair grows back

14. Wearing tight braids, ponytails or buns causes baldness

TRUE. Traction alopecia is a very real hair loss condition that is quite common amongst older African American women. It results from wearing tight ponytails, cornrows or buns over an extended period of time. Over time, hair breakage or loss as the result of tight, stressed styles, can become permanent. Avoid this potential problem by opting for looser styles that minimize scalp tension.

15. Smoking causes gray hair
TRUE. According to J. G. Mosley of the Leigh Infirmary in Lancashire, England in an article in Science News (January 11, 1997) smokers are four times more likely to have gray hair than non-smokers. Even worse, smoking has been conclusively linked to accelerated hair loss.

SUMMARYHeard another myth about hair? Do your research, ask an expert! This doesn't include your grandmother, best friend or local barmaid. Instead, talk to an experienced hairdresser or a trichologist. Always get the real facts before you act on any hair myths, you owe it to your hair.

Natural Remedies for Hair Loss, Dandruff and Hair Problems

Hairs are very peculiar characteristics of mammalian groups in animal kingdom. It has a very important part to play in living beings. Humans also have hairs that serves important role in their lives.

From very ancient times hairs have been a beauty symbols for both men and women. People are now days spending a great part of their earrings for hair care. People around the globe have passion for hairs. And hair care industry is growing day by day to fulfill the requirements of the people.

But first we should know what are hairs and how do they grow?

Hairs are the outgrowths from the follicles present on the skin.

These follicles are situated on the dermis, the second layer of the skin and extend up to the epidermis that is the outermost layer of the skin. Through this follicle their grows out a hair.

Hair is composed of keratin with chemical constituent like carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, sulphur and oxygen.

Hair growth varies from person to person but on an average hair grows of about 5 to 10 mm per month.

Maximum growth of hairs takes place at the age of about 15 to 30 years. It is seen that hair growth is more in summers as compared to winters.

Scalp (skin on head) consists of seven components. These are papilla of hairs, hair shaft, mouth of follicle, stratum granulosum, sebaceous gland and oil duct.

Hair also possesses a life cycle. Firstly hairs grows from the follicle, then the hair enters a rapidly growing phase, then the hair enters a stagnant phase i.e. inactive phase and then hair dies off and ultimately fell off. An average life of hairs varies from 2 to 5 years.

Majorly seen hair related problems in general life are:
1. Hair loss

2. Premature graying of hairs

3. Alopecia

4. Dandruff

HAIR LOSS

A disease common globally, which has really created chaos around the world now a days. A very common problem which as been faced globally. Recent data shows tendency of hair fall has increased in past two decades.

Causes of hair fall are
· Deficiency of useful minerals and vitamins in body

· Mental and emotional stress

· Prolonged illness

· Hormonal imbalance commonly seen in hyperthyroidism, imbalance in androgen and estrogen.

· Usually after child birth due hormonal imbalance

· Certain medications like blood thinners, vitamin A if taken in excess amount, non-contraceptive pills, anti depressant drugs and medicines used in chemotherapy for treating cancer patients.

· Certain infections that can promote hair loss for example fungal infection on scalp

· Diseases like diabetes may also be a precipitating factor in hair loss.

· Poor blood circulation or excess blood loss

· Poor nutrition

· Lack of sleep and life style disorder

· Hereditary factors.

PREMATURE GREYING OF HAIR

Very common problem especially amongst teens now days. Due certain factors there is early graying of hairs in young people.

Color to hairs is provided by amount melalin content present in the body. More the melalin content darker is the hair colour and vice versa.

Following are the causes due to which premature graying of hairs occurs.

· Faulty dietary habits

· Lack of sound sleep

· Stress· Deficiency of minerals iron, copper and iodine

· Lack of vitamin B in diet

· Maintaing unhygienic condition of hairs

· Bad circulation of blood in scalp

.· Washing of hairs with hot water

· Drying hairs with electric dryer

· Use of chemicals like hair dyes, shampoos

· Hereditary factors.

Alopecia

Aloplecia is a synonym of baldness. It is of many types

.1. Androgen aloplecia or male pattern baldness it is progressive thinning of hairs

2. Aloplecia areata- it involves loss of some hairs from head

3. Aloplecia totalis- it involves loss of all the hairs from head

4. Aloplecia universalis it involves loss of all hairs from head and body

Causes of alopecia

· Emotional stress

· Severe illness

· Hormonal changes

· Improper hair care

· Exposure to certain medication like antidepressant, blood thinning medicines

· Ringworm can also lead to aloplecia

· Fungal infection is also another reason by which aloplecia can occur

· Due to protein deficiency

· Iron deficiency can also lead to aloplecia

Dandruff

Dandruff is a condition of flaking of scalp. It is known as seborric dermatitis in common terms, is the inflammation of upper layers of skin causing scales on the scalp and other body parts.

Dandruff appears when rate at which dead cells of the scalp shed and their replacement speeds up.

Regular dandruff appears as white or gray flakes in sever conditions it may include oily flakes, which are yellow in colour.

Dandruff begins at the age between 12 to 15years i.e. the age of puberty and is seen in old people.

Most prominent age grouped people who are affected are people who are in age between 25 to 35 years. Dandruff can affect any part of the body possessing hairs like eyebrows, cheeks ears and chest

Following are the causes of dandruff

· Hormonal imbalance

· poor health condition

· Poor hygiene of hairs

· Allergic reactions

· Emotional stress

· Consumption of high fatty and carbohydrate diet

· Consumption of innutritious food

· Hereditary factors

· Excessive use of chemicals on hairs like hair styling gels, colors, sprays etc.

· Cold and dry weather conditions

· In adequate washing of hairs.

Some hair maintenance tips:

· Take proper nutritious diet·

Shampoo your hairs regularly with non chemical base shampoo or mild herbal shampoo·

Always dissolve shampoo in water before using it.

· Use a conditioner after you use shampoo· Always rinse off all the shampoo with clean and soft water·

Get your hairs trimmed regularly to avoid split ends·

Avoid using hairstyling gels, hair sprays, chemical based hair colors·

Comb and brush your hairs regularly· Avoid usage of electric driers and let them air dry·

Gentle hair massage should be done regularly to improve blood circulation·

Avoid undue stress· At least have a sound sleep for 6-8 hours·

Oil should be left on hairs and scalp for not more than 2 hours.·

Take proper amount of rest and about6-8 hours of sound sleep.

Hair growth and maintenance remedies by herbal methods:

Amla: A powerful hair growth promoter, which helps us in redefining our lost hairline. As this herb is sheet virya i.e. of cold potency it helps in suppressing pitta dosha, which is the main culprit in causing hair fall and premature graying of hairs.

Indian women, for maintaing long and silky hairs have used Amla since ages and to deal with any kind of hair related problems. As it acts on enhancing liver functioning, which is very important in proper digestion, helps in creating a healthy environment in our body, which will lead to good growth of hairs, and body.

It is a well-established fact that by using Amla regularly, graying of hairs can easily be delayed, as it is a well-known rasayan mentioned in ayurvedic texts.

Brahmi: a well-known herb in India used since time immemorial for enhancing hair growth and memory power.

Due to its actions it helps in promoting hair growth faster. It possess certain properties which helps in repairing the damages occurred in hair follicles due to lack of maintenance and helps in normalizing the damage done to rediscover the lost persona of hairs.

This is the only reason you can still trace out Indian women having very long, black and beautiful hairs inspite of old age.

It is also categorized as rasayan in ayurveda and hence possesses the properties of delaying ageing signs in body like greying of hairs.

Brahmi also helps in relieving mental fatigue and hence helps in maintaing proper bodily environment that leads to healthy hairs.

ZYX herbal hair cream: a unique blend of ayurvedic herbs, which are very effective in hair, related problems. A total solution to hairs and its related problems.

ZYX contain certain powerful herbs that are used since centuries to rejuvenate the lost persona due to damage to hairs.

It contains herbs like Amla, bhringraj, jatamansi, naleeni, shikakai, mahendi, gambhari, neem and satpodina. These herbs have been used extensively in hair related problems in ayurvedic system of medicine.

It helps in revitalizing hairs, and provides new freshness and new power to hairs and hence is very helpful in rediscovering the beautiful hairs. This herbal formulation is completely free from any kind of side effects and chemicals that are the major cause of rise in hair problems in present era.

It helps us in getting relieved from hair loss, premature greying of hairs, baldness, aloplecia and dandruff. Its powerful herbal action helps you in getting rid of day-to-day hair problems to make it shiny and healthier day by day. It also helps in promoting growth by stimulating hair follicles.

So it can be said that ZYX is the new revolution in hair industry that will fade away all your problems and will make you more confident of yourself like never before when you find your hairs healthier and shinier

THE BEST HAIRLOSS REMEDY

The most common cause hairloss is iron deficiency.

Iron deficiency is also known as anemia in medical terms wherein the body has a low iron level than what the body requires.

Due to iron deficiency the number of red blood cells is reduced in the blood and result in a number of ailments.

In most of the cases the person suffering from anemia will suffer extreme feelings towards hot or cold temperature (that is the person feels either too cold or too hot even at normal temperatures).

This is because iron is used to maintain the body temperature. Due to iron deficiency in the body the hair begin to fall. The person who is suffering from iron deficiency also takes time to recover from blood loss.

More than 80% women suffer from some type of anemia. The common reason for iron deficiency is that there is insufficient iron in their food.

Iron is one of the key elements in creating red blood cells in the body. Due to fewer red blood cells the person appears pale (due to loss of pigmentation) and the hair follicles become weaker. The weakened hair follicles cause hair loss.

The best method for hair loss prevention due to iron deficiency is, to consume nutritious food containing high iron content.

Doctors usually stress the patients to increase iron intake by consuming dried fruits, fish, legumes, meat, molasses, potatoes, dark green leafy vegetables, wheat germ, and grain products in the diet.

Sometimes lack of vitamins in body can also cause excessive hair loss in women.

Deficiencies in folic acid and B12 vitamin one of the causes for hair loss.

For immediate recovery doctors usually give iron and vitamin pills.

However these medicines are dangerous and should be consumed only after consulting a doctor.

Natural Cures for Hair Loss

Hair is made of the protein kerotin, the same substance found in nails and skin. Each hair rises out of a bulb-like follicle and goes through a cycle of growth for up to five years. It then stops growing and goes into a period of rest, after which it falls out and a new hair starts to grow.Hair loss is a process that occurs everyday.

On a single day you can lose anywhere between fifty to hundred hair. But, since it is replaced everyday, you hardly notice any difference.

Alarm bells however, start ringing when the rate of hair fall occurs faster than the rate of hair growth. This can lead to depleting hair and eventually, baldness. But, there are methods you can use to stop hair loss.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is by far the best solution for natural hair loss prevention - eat a balanced diet, exercise well, sleep well and avoid junk food and chemical treatments on your hair.

Hair is the fastest growing tissue of the body, made up of proteins called keratins. Every strand of hair is made up of three layers:

the inner layer or medulla (only present in thick hairs);
the middle layer or cortex, which determines the strength, texture, and color of hair; and the cuticle, which protects the cortex.

Hair grows from roots, which are enclosed in follicles. Below this is a layer of skin called the dermal papilla, which is fed by the bloodstream carrying nourishments vital to the growth of hair. Only the roots of hair are actually alive, while the visible part of hair is dead tissue, and therefore unable to heal itself.

Natural Products - Treatment with herbs can show significant results in achieving re growth of hair. However such treatments might not show any immediate results and takes longer than other treatments, but can at times work wonder.

Also, you must remember, the resultant effect will always vary from person to person.

Herbs like Ginkyo biloba are popular herb and are believed to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin.

Green tea is thought to inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone into hair-unfriendly DHT. He Shou Wu is a Chinese herb and has traditionally been used to reduce hair loss.

Aromatherapy
A blend of six drops each of lavender and bay essential oils in a base of four ounces of either almond, soybean or sesame oil massaged into the scalp and allowed to sit for 20 minutes has been used by aroma therapists to stimulate the scalp.

A vigorous rubbing of the scalp with fingers after washing the hair with cold water is one of the most effective among the several home remedies for the prevention and treatment of hair loss.

The scalp should be rubbed vigorously till it starts to tingle with the heat. It will activate the sebaceous glands and energise the circulation of blood in the affected area, making the hair grow healthy.

Vitamin B5 - In addition to its beneficial effects in helping to counteract stress and promote metabolism, building new cells, and maintaining normal cell growth, vitamin B5 also helps to protect skin and cells against the signs of aging