Thursday, October 9, 2008

All about hair care products and hair styles

All about hair care products and hair styles

Home | Health And Fitness | Hair Loss

All about hair care products and hair styles

By: Andrew Pal


The market today is full of different kinds of hair care and hair stylizing products. How ever only a few among them are full proof tested and beneficial to the hair.

Age of growing health and style consciousness among the people of the world, more and more people around the globe are becoming increasingly style conscious. Hair is one such part of the human body that has undergone a revolutionary change in aspects of style and care. Today there are innumerable products in the market that go along way in delivering the people with different kinds of hair care products as well as hair stylizing products. These products are gaining immense popularity among the style conscious people so much so that that these products today stand highly in demand among the female masses. Even some fashion conscious males are also no exception to it.

An account of the different hair care and hair stylizing products: Among the different hair care and hair stylizing products available in the market today, the brocato and the rusk shampoo go a long way in meeting the demands of the customers. The brocato shampoo was specially designed to nourish, strengthen and restore the damaged hair. Other products that are quite effective in maintaining hair care today are the brocato and the bed head products. Both the rusk and the bed head come in different forms like hair thickening sprays and liquid shining pomades. These rusk and bed head products help in giving extra shine and volume to the hair, thus bringing about a new sense of style to the hair.

Hair care products for dry or brittle hair: Today there are a number of hair care products like the redken all soft masque as well as the goldwell products that contain avocado oil and help in the smoothening of dry or damaged hair. These redken and goldwell products impart a long lasting strong but flexible hold to the hair, restoring at the same time all the necessary shine and color of the hair.

Apart from the above mentioned different hair care and hair stylizing products, there are also the iso hair, kenra and biolage products that facilitate the moisturizing of the hair and providing the hair with all the necessary extra shine and smoothness. In fact the biolage, kenra and iso hair products are different kinds of gel that should be applied on wet hair before one goes out for swimming. In a way the kenra, biolage and the iso hair are chemical products that protect the hair the hair from the chemicals present in the water of the swimming pool.

Significance of the above mentioned hair care and hair stylizing products: The different hair care and hair stylizing products mentioned above like the brocato, rusk, bed head ,redken ,goldwell, Biolage, iso hair and the kenra products go a long way in today's age of increasing hair style statements and hair care. Scientific studies conducted recently have shown that al tough these are chemical products, yet they do not seem to cause any side effects to the hair. These tested hair care products have of late, caught the popularity of the masses and hence quite in demand today.
For more information on these beauty products, log on to http://www.sleekhair.com

http://www.sleekhair.com/haircare.html

www.sleekhair.com

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Thursday, August 7, 2008

Vitamin Supplements and Hair Loss

Vitamin Supplements and Hair Loss

Home | Health And Fitness | Hair Loss

Vitamin Supplements and Hair Loss

By: Lachlan Walker


There are many vitamins and herbs that have shown promise for hair loss. While it is generally accepted that most male hair loss stems from androgenetic alopecia (not a vitamin deficiency), the effect of certain vitamins and minerals on hair loss should be understood.

Certain vitamins, herbs, and minerals have anti-androgenic properties. In the proper amounts, these "hair loss vitamins" can aid in the blocking and reduction of diydrotestosterone (DHT) in the scalp, reducing or even eliminating further hair loss from androgenetic alopecia. These hair loss vitamins serve to block the transformation of testosterone into the byproduct DHT, which attacks the hair follicle and contributes to male hair loss and thinning hair.

The most commonly tested herbal hair loss treatment is saw palmetto. While not a true vitamin, saw palmetto has shown promise as a potent hair loss vitamin in the battle against male hair loss. Saw palmetto's effect in blocking DHT production is well documented, and it is often recommended for males suffering from BPH, enlarged prostate, and other prostate disorders. Other herbs and vitamins such as zinc, nettles, ginseng, and gotu kola have been recognized for their positive DHT blocking effects as hair loss vitamins.

Hair loss products are all around us, in the form of hair loss medications, hair loss prevention products, and hair loss products that cover up the appearance of hair loss. Considering the sheer volume of different hair loss products on the market today, it is often difficult to determine which ones are the best hair loss products available. Hair loss medications are often costly and have potential side effects, while natural hair loss products are often unproven or inadequate.

The best hair loss products for one person may have no effect on another person because there are multiple factors that can contribute to hair loss. The best hair loss products typically address multiple factors that affect hair loss, such as nutrition, stress, genetics, or diet. Male hair loss products make up the majority of hair loss products; many of them aimed at treating androgenetic alopecia (male pattern balding). This is the type of male hair loss that Procerin is formulated specifically to combat: hair loss in men that results in thinning hair and eventual male pattern baldness.

Procerin is the only hair loss supplement to combine the most potent hair loss vitamins and DHT blockers into one convenient tablet available without a prescription. Procerin contains all-natural hair loss vitamins combined with minerals and herbs to provide a safe and effective weapon in the battle against male hair loss.

Lachlan Walker has been promoting the benefits of herbal and alternative treatments through such websites as HerbalWorks Herbal Product Reviews for many years. The website has a review of Procerin as well as other hair loss remedies.

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HAIR HIGHLIGHT TIPS

There are three ways for hair highlight: Foiling, done only in salons, involves applying bleach to many fine strands of hair and individually wrapping them in foil. This process is the easiest to control and can be done closest to the roots; it usually will get you the best results.

Hair painting, which can be done at home or also by a colorist, is simply applying bleach randomly to the hair with a small brush.

The third -- and oldest -- method that doesn't produce very good results and is out of favor at salons, though it's still available in home kits. You place a plastic cap with small holes on your head, pull strands of hair through the holes with a small hook and then bleach them. There are benefits to having these processes done by a professional: A colorist can give you a few different levels of highlights for a more subtle look. (Sometimes they'll use a toner after highlighting to get just the right shade.) And of course, a pro can see the top and back of your head better than you can.

Color treated hair has special needs and good care is essential for any hair type. Follow these professional suggestions to keep your hair looking at its best!

Wet your hair with bottled spring water before getting in a chlorine pool, It will help to dilute the harsh chemicals.

Be very careful in the sun. please use hats, scarves or products with sunscreens to help protect against color fade and the drying effects of the sun.

Great for the beach, leave-in conditioners generally contain sunscreens to protect against color fade. You can look on the bottles and they will say UV protectant.

Shampoo gently with a shampoo specially created for color-treated hair. Rough shampooing can strip color or dry out hair. Condition regularly with an intensive conditioner to restore vital moisture and luster to your color treated hair.

Use color enhancing conditioners as color begins to grow out to help blend root areas.

Do not wrap in a towel turban when you get out of the shower with wet hair. The added friction can knot and damage vulnerable wet hair. Instead, carefully blot the hair until dry.

Don't brush hair when wet. Comb with a wide-tooth comb, working tangles out as you move from the ends towards the scalp.

Don't overdry. When you blow dry, dry your hair until it is almost, but not completely, dry. Leave some moisture in to prevent static.

Always use care when styling. When using styling appliances, use thermal protectant for maximum protection.

Try to avoid aggressive manipulation of the hair.

Use hairspray or spritz with moisturizers and sunscreens in them to finish the hair. These products will provide continual protection throughout the day.

Never spray lightening agents or put lemon juice in your hair.

Support your style with a perm. Just because you have color treated hair doesn't mean you can't have a perm. In fact, a perm specially formulated for color treated hair can add wonderful body, fullness and lots of texture to complement your color.

Always your best source, your Strands stylist can answer any other questions you might have and recommend professional products ideal for color-treated hair.

How The Women Can Prevent Hair Loss

How The Women Can Prevent Hair Loss

Home | Health And Fitness | Hair Loss

How The Women Can Prevent Hair Loss

By: Jim Brown1


It is not for nothing that hair has often been called a woman's 'crowning glory'. A vital physical attribute, hair is such an asset that it can make a plain woman look stunningly attractive. No wonder than that most women are highly alarmed at the mere thought of them being suffering hair loss.

The most common reason for hair loss in women is 'androgenetic alopecia'. It leads to immediately noticeable thinning of hair, especially at the top and side areas of the scalp. Female alopecia or female-patterned baldness is a condition that makes an estimated one-third of women vulnerable to hair loss. Though some alarmingly unfortunate instances have been noted to take place at puberty stage, this type of hair loss usually occurs when women are in their postmenopausal stages.

Another hair loss condition in females is - 'anagen effluvium', wherein hair strands may not have yet reached the final stage of their life cycle. However, with the use of certain agents, like medications that are administered internally, still-growing hair follicles can be poisoned and eventually finished.

Conversely, 'telogen effluvium'is a condition of female hair loss wherein there are more hair strands reaching the telogen stage than what their number should usually be.
A number of factors may be held responsible for 'telogen effluvium', namely:

Stress

Though stress is considered to be a psychological factor, it can often be caused by an unnatural physical condition like having just undergone surgery and experiencing the changes it created on your body. Crash dieting, anemia, and various kinds of illnesses can also result in undue stress.

Excessive loss of hair could well be a result of emotional and psychological factors inducing stress. The problem can be aggravated at the time of grief over the death of a loved one or a mental illness.

Medications

A person can temporarily suffer hair loss as a result of a number of medications and treatments. People on medications in the case of high blood pressure, or gout can certainly show symptoms of hair loss. Extra care should also be taken with medications containing great quantities of Vitamin A, as these can also induce hair loss.

Hormones

During the course of menopause, or while experiencing pre-menopausal or postmenopausal symptoms, women become exposed to the condition of hair loss, as are women who are using birth control pills or are pregnant. This is primarily due to the hormonal changes or abnormalities their bodies are being subjected to.

Once the underlying cause of 'telogen effluvium' is found out and effectively treated, the hair will gradually begin to return to its normal condition.

It is not correct to assume that frequency of shampooing hair can cause hair loss, even though harsh or strong chemicals in shampoo products are sometimes blamed for hair loss. At times, some of your hair strands may come to be loosened up with shampoos and cause you to shed more than usual, but affected hair strands may be those already in the 'telogen' stage and would have fallen out in any case. However alarming this temporary condition may be, your body mechanism will automatically replace the lost hair!

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Treatment for Thinning Hair: Modern and Traditional Treatments for Hair Loss

Treatment for Thinning Hair: Modern and Traditional Treatments for Hair Loss     

Home | Health | Hair

Treatment for Thinning Hair: Modern and Traditional Treatments for Hair LossBy: John Tulley

Baldness is an age old problem. For many years, people have been looking for ways to prevent baldness and even cure it. In fact, some people can even go to great lengths just to stop hair loss. Some even try out some old wives tales just to prevent balding or the thinning of hair. Today, thanks to modern technology, there are now quite a lot of treatments for thinning hair.

First of all, you need to consider the fact that hair will thin out as we age. It's only natural for people to lose hair. In fact, even if you are still young, you are already starting to lose hair at a rate of about a hundred strands each day. However, you need to remember that the hairs that fall off will eventually be replaced by a new batch of hair. The only problem is, as you grow older, a chemical in the body which is the byproduct of testosterone called DHT increases. DHT is has been found to be responsible for thinning hair as it will stop the hair follicles to grow hair efficiently.

Hair loss caused by DHT can be treated with the available hair loss products available today. In fact, there are even herbal remedies that can inhibit the DHT and can promote hair growth. Basically, it is up to you to choose what type of hair loss prevention treatment you like. You may want to try the herbal remedies first as it is not only proven to be effective, but it is also very safe and doesn't have any known harmful side effects. Modern medicines are also very effective in inhibiting DHT. In fact, in a few months, you will notice that your hair will thicken.

Aside from DHT, you need to remember that there are other factors that can contribute to thinning hair or hair loss. One factor is stress. Research has found that severe stress can cause a lot of hair to fall off. To treat this, you can try aromatherapy. It is a known fact that aromatherapy will be able to get rid of the stress you have and can really provide you with a great way to grow new hair.

The oils in aromatherapy are known for its relaxing scent. However, not many people know that the oils used in aromatherapy are also very good in stimulating the hair follicles which can promote hair growth.

If there are no more conservative treatments available that works for you, you can always try hair transplant. Here, you will undergo a minor operation where hair will be taken out from the parts of your head that still has thick growth of hair and transplants each strand to the thinning area on your head. Although this may sound uncomfortable, the success rate of this treatment is very high.

Many people who went through hair transplant treatment have stated that it's like having new hair on their head again and they also state that it's very effective. It may take several sessions in order to get all your head covered with hair again, but if you really want to stop hair loss and grow new hair, hair transplant treatment is well worth it.

These are the different treatments for thinning hair. So, whatever methods you choose, always remember that the best method is one that works for you and one that you are comfortable with.

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About the Article Author

About the author: John Tulley manages the Provillus Alpha7: treatment for thinning hair web site. Our web site has more detailed advice and information about hair loss treatment for men.

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Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Alopecia and the Challenge of Hair Replacement for Women

Alopecia and the Challenge of Hair Replacement for Women

Home | Health And Fitness | Hair Loss

Alopecia and the Challenge of Hair Replacement for Women

By: Travis Keeler


"You can't judge a book by its cover."

"Beauty's only skin deep."

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder."

Hackneyed proverbs like these are ingrained in our society just as are ideas of what constitutes "beauty". As women, like it or not, we put a value on how we look. Celebrity magazines constantly flaunt ideal beauty at us from the supermarket shelves: movie stars with the facade of perfect skin, perfect bodies and perfect hair (generally accomplished through air brushing, photo-cropping and Hair Extensions.)

There's no keeping up with that, and most of us realize it's what's inside that makes us beautiful. But when real women unexpectedly lose their hair through some medical crisis or simply because it begins to fall out, the boundaries of what's acceptable to us begins to shift. Hair Replacement experts understand that this hair loss can truly change the way we feel about ourselves. Our hair is the one thing that truly identifies us as women. Hair makes us feel feminine. We use it, hide behind it, change it and wear it as an accessory. We're often so attached to our hair that we let it define our beauty. So hair loss can be a truly devastating blow to self-esteem. Fortunately, according to hair replacement experts, there are many options for women today who experience hair loss. Wigs, Hair Extensions and Hair Systems can resolve this problem either temporarily or permanently.

So what can cause hair loss in women?

• Chemotherapy and radiation are major culprits causing temporary hair loss.

• Alopecia Arcana, or excessive hair loss, caused by medical factors, including: stress, fungal infection, diabetes, hormone changes and medication.

• Traction Alopecia - caused by hairstyles like corn rows, pigtails and braids that put undue stress on hair. Scarring caused by tension or use of harsh chemicals can cause permanent hair loss.

• Nervous pulling out of hair can cause patchy hair loss.

At any one time, there are around 100,000 hairs on our heads. We shed somewhere around 100 every day. Normally, new ones grow in right behind it. But any of the above factors can inhibit that hair growth, causing more hair to fall out than is being replaced. When women lose hair it is quite different from the male pattern baldness we see every day. Women lose hair in patches or get thinner all over. Wigs used to be the only hair replacement solution for this. But Hair Replacement experts are constantly developing new and better Hair Systems and hair extensions that are more breathable and wearable than old fashioned wigs. There are also new hair systems that allow what remains of a woman's own hair to be pulled through a hair system to volumize her hair. Hair extensions now come with removable clips for those not interested in the adhesive used in hair systems.

Hair systems, or human hair pieces built on delicate, virtually invisible lace caps, come in all shapes and sizes for women. If patchy hair loss is your problem, either hair extensions or small hair systems can be designed by a skilled hair replacement expert to disguise the problem while the hair is growing back.

There are many hair systems advertised on the internet. But be careful. All hair systems are not alike. The hair systems that come in a measure-your-own-scalp package over the internet will most likely be ill-fitting and disposable after three or four months. They are not cheap either, even though the end result will look that way. Look instead for one of the high-quality, custom hair replacement companies that has local hair replacement clinics and hair replacement experts on staff to help you custom-fit your hair system or hair extensions. These are more expensive, but in the end, it's difficult to put a price on self-esteem. If a woman can get through radiation treatments with her self-esteem intact, then the price of a hair system is low, indeed.

What can you expect when you use a hair system? If you find a great hair replacement company with local clinics, you will be fitted with a hair system by an expert who works with dozens of clients every week. After carefully measuring the area requiring hair replacement, technicians will manufacture a virtually invisible human hair system that is breathable and light. It will be attached with an adhesive to your scalp. Depending on your body chemistry and the amount you sweat, this hair system will stay in place for two to three months before requiring re-adjusting. The hair replacement technician will then style and color your hair system to match your own hair.

Hair sheds from hair systems and must be periodically re-knotted on. Hair replacement technicians will teach you how to touch up the adhesive on your own in case it comes loose around the edges. The same is true of hair extensions, whether attached to hair by adhesive or with clips. But, meanwhile, as you give your hair time to grow back in, you can live your life worry free. You can swim, bathe, exercise and do all the things you'd do with your own hair. But most of all, when you look at yourself in the mirror, you'll see you, and not someone you don't recognize. And the value of that kind of peace of mind? Priceless.

Travis M. Keeler is a Hair Replacement expert who generously shares his expertise with hair loss sufferers and hair replacement wearers. For more information about the opportunities and pitfalls of nonsurgical hair replacement, please visit : www.myhairfacts.com/

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TIPS ON HAIR CARE PRODUCTS

Rinse. Lather. Repeat. Sounds easy enough, but are you using the right product for your hair?Bored kids read cereal boxes. Smart women read shampoo bottles. While products like hair color and styling gels command greater attention, choosing the wrong shampoo can have a serious impact on how your hair looks. You'll never achieve the result you want if you buy the wrong shampoo-or use the right one incorrectly.

It all starts with shampooing frequency. And with a penchant for cleanliness, Americans always tend to overwash their hair.

"The hair and scalp should be cleaned, on average, every other day," says Dr. Andrea Lynn Cambio, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.

But women with exceptionally dry hair, such as African-Americans, need to reduce their shampooing frequency. Conversely, if you have incredibly oily hair, daily shampooing may be required to cut the grease.

"The consequence of overdoing it is stripping the hair of sebum [oil]," Dr. Cambio tells Stellure.com. "This causes the hair to look dull, feel coarse, be prone to static electricity and be a styling nuisance."

Shampoo & Your 'do By definition, shampoo is designed to remove dirt and excess sebum from the scalp and hair. Sebum is necessary for hair health. It is secreted by sebaceous glands, found in skin all over our bodies, including the scalp. These glands provide healthy lubrication to our skin and hair. Scientists estimate that the average woman produces approximately 1 ounce of sebum every 100 days, so it's a substance worth protecting!

If you have oily hair then your sebaceous glands secrete too much sebum, and you'll want to select a shampoo designed to control it. If you have dry hair, your glands secrete too little sebum, and you'll want to choose a shampoo that provides extra moisture. If you have "normal" hair, sebum production is how Goldilocks described her final bowl of porridge: "Just right!"

While Goldilocks may have been a porridge expert, it's hard to say whether she knew how to choose the right shampoo for her specific hair type. Gentle shampoos, like baby shampoo, remove the bare minimum. Harsher shampoos, like dandruff shampoos and those that are made especially for oily hair, are manufactured to cleanse more thoroughly and remove more sebum. Problems typically occur when, for example, a woman with oily hair accidentally buys a shampoo intended for dry hair. She may not discover why her scalp has become an oil slick until she checks the shampoo bottle.

Understanding Labels As with food products, ingredients in shampoos are listed by the amounts contained in the bottle, in descending order of weight. The higher up on the list, the more of the ingredient in the shampoo.

Normally, the first ingredient in shampoo is water. If it, alone, could cleanse the hair, we wouldn't need shampoo. Water, however, cannot remove oil, sebum or product buildup, so manufacturers must add detergent agents which are known as "surfactants."

Surfactants cleanse the hair and create lather. Manufacturers can choose from inexpensive or pricey surfactants, and these are what will determine the quality of your shampoo. Cheap surfactants, such as sodium lauryl sulfate and ammonium lauryl sulfate, are popular among manufacturers because they keep down costs. You'll find these particular surfactants in generic, supermarket, drugstore and certain mass-market brands. (They're also the chemicals most commonly associated with eye irritation.) The problem, however, is that these surfactants are harsh on hair, stripping it of oil and causing hair color to fade more quickly.

The more expensive "designer" or salon brands contain more expensive surfactants, such as sodium cocoyl isethionate and methyl cocoyl taurate (sometimes labeled simply as "coconut oil" or "fatty acids"), cocamidopropyl betaine and cocamidopropylamine oxide. Yes, they're certainly a mouthful, but they are also nondrying, much more gentle on the hair and tend to work well regardless of whether or not you have hard or soft water. They're also more expensive for manufacturers to use, so that's why you'll pay more for a bottle of shampoo. (Many manufacturers compromise, mixing low-cost sodium lauryl sulfate with a coconut-oil surfactant. This can work well.)

Some shampoos can contain detanglers and anti-static agents, which function exactly as their names imply. A common agent to look for is "quaternary ammonium."

"Humectants" act like tiny sponges, attracting and holding water. You'll find them in shampoos for dry, damaged or color-treated hair. Commonly used humectants include glycerin, sorbitol, sodium lactate and hyaluronic acid.

"Conditioning agents" help soften the hair and allow it to retain moisture. Look for amino acids, collagen, panthenol, elastin and proteins on ingredient lists.

"Thickening" or "volumizing" shampoos increase bulk and improve manageability. They contain ingredients like hydroxyethyl cellulose, gum arabic, guar, xanthan and chitin.

"Preservatives," such as methylparaben, quaternium-15, methylisothiazolinone and propylparaben, help prevent the shampoo from becoming contaminated by mold or bacteria. "All-natural" shampoos that contain no preservatives have a tendency to "spoil" if not used within their designated shelf life.

Never buy a shampoo based on its fragrance, which is no reflection of a shampoo's quality. It's only one more ingredient manufacturers use to convince you to buy their products. (Who doesn't open the cap and sniff before buying a shampoo?)

What's Best for You? Since each of us has different needs, experiment with different shampoos to determine which ones make your hair most manageable.

Many women fail to take their hairstylists' recommendations on shampoo, assuming the stylist is "ripping them off" or "trying to sell them something" so the salon can make more money. In reality, stylists know that salon-quality shampoos are generally superior to their drugstore counterparts. If you trust your stylist, it's worth taking her advice. The worst-case scenario: You won't like the product, and you can express your disappointment to her.

If budget is a problem and you simply cannot bear the thought of spending $10 to $15 for a single bottle of shampoo, dilute the $3 brand you're currently buying (one part water to two parts shampoo). This will somewhat reduce the harshness; but is still not the best for your hair.