healthy hair central

Inositol Stabilizes Hair Cell Membranes Inositol is a member of the B vitamin group and plays several important roles in the body from helping cells to keep their integrity to metabolizing fats and cholesterol. Inositol can also be found in fiber rich foods such as beans, brown rice, corn, and sesame seeds.

While the whole vitamin B family is important to maintain a healthy head of hair, inositol is a stabilizer for cell membrane, and works as an antioxidant on the follicles of hair. It’s believed that it shields hair follicles from membrane damage caused by the build-up of oxidized cholesterol in the scalp, and can play a central role as a monophosphate.

Recent studies have shown that inositol can be used to promote healthy hair growth as used in a supplement form to prevent hair loss. laboratory tests have shown that a diet lacking in Inositol can lead to balding but by taking supplements and eating foods rich in inositol that the balding can not only be reversed but new hair can start growing again.

Not all baldness is caused by the same issues so you definitely want to consult with a medical doctor before beginning and regimen of supplements. If the doctor finds that you are deficient in multiple B vitamins including inositol then you can discuss the best way to re-introduce inositol back into your system. It’s believed the natural form of the vitamins from foods works best as higher percentages of the nutrition are absorbed, but it is certainly the case that supplements including inositol monophosphate can be used as well to great success.

After some time using either supplements or eating natural foods containing the B complex vitamin you should see some change in your hair loss and indeed you might even start growing new hair!

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Do Sulfate Shampoos Really Damage the Hair? Consumers are growing more concerned about the ingredients available in their shampoos. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate especially has become a hot topic on all hair and beauty product forums. Many claim that this chemical compound is responsible for causing problems affecting both the scalp and hair itself. Question is: is there truth to these claims.

Sadly, the answer is yes.

Sulfates are commonly used as lathering agents in your shampoo. Their main purpose is to cleanse the hair from dirt and dust. However, using sulfate shampoos will get more than dirt. The chemical reacts with your scalp and hair, causing dangerous side effects you could do without. To give you an idea of what problems you can expect, here are four common side effects.

Dry Hair – Your scalp and hair will be deprived of the essential oils that keep your hair moisturized. As a result, it will go dryer than normal.
Itchy Scalp – As your hair turns dry due to the addition of sulfate to your shampoo, you scalp may develop dandruff. As a result, it may start feeling tight and itchy.
Hair Loss – Since your hair and the follicles suffer extensive damage, substantial hair loss will follow. You may start losing more hair quickly if you don’t rinse shampoo out of your hair.
Fading of Hair Color – Sulfates are quite aggressive in nature. While they may be great for cleansing your hair, they can leave it dull and force you to live with faded locks.

So if you have a few sulfate shampoos in your bathroom, it’s about time that you dump them for a safer alternative. The simplest way to avoid this harmful ingredient is by screening the labels of your new shampoo before buying it. However, you can always choose a natural product instead to steer away from chemicals altogether.

Ponytails and buns have become infamous because of their ability to cause hair breakage and affecting its thickness. However, for many women, these are the two perfect hairstyles that match their age and suit their looks. If you belong to this group of women, here are some tips to continue wearing your hair in these styles while preventing breakage.

Never Style Tangled Hair

One of the worst things you can perhaps do is to pull tangled hair into a ponytail or bun. If you do so, you’ll probably end up with a rat’s nest, which is a nuisance when you have to detangle it. To avoid such a hairy mess, calmly detangle your hair with your fingers before styling or wash your hair and dry it before pulling it through a ponytail or bun.

Avoid Styling Soaking Wet Hair

Hair is at its most delicate state when it’s wet. So it’s never a good idea to put your sopping wet tresses into a ponytail or bun. The least you could do is to wait for your hair to become a little dry before you style it.

Moisturize Your Dry Hair before Styling

If you want to put your hair into a ponytail or a bun, make sure that you moisturize your hair before you do so. Dry hair is prone to breakage, whereas moisturized hair is more workable and less likely to break.

Use a Satin or Silk Scarf for Slick Edges

After applying either gel or wax, immediately put on a silk scarf for approximately five minutes. If the edges of your hair don’t seem to be smooth enough, try using a different product or moisturizer.

With these tips in mind, you won’t have to worrying about never wearing a ponytail or bun again. Just remember to use a protective style to also promote hair growth and ensure less breakage.

fitness habits that help hair grow longer For many women (and some men) long hair is a symbol of sexuality, beauty and power. Some people even go to great lengths (pun intended) to get it. Studies have shown that medium and long-length hair have a significant impact on the perception of attractiveness.

Although it hasn’t been studied, it seems reasonable to conclude that regular cardiovascular exercise stimulates circulation, which in turn stimulates hair growth. It also has numerous benefits on your health which may also eliminate the cause of seemingly ‘stunted’ hair growth or even thinning hair. For these reasons, many people notice a difference in their hair once starting a regular cardiovascular routine.

Many women experience mood swings and even hair shedding which could be a result of hormone imbalances caused by eating too much saturated fat, processed foods or hormones. One of the signs of many hormonal or thyroid problems is hair loss. Eating healthy foods and exercising regularly are so important for combatting stress and reducing stress hormones from making their way into the blood. Here are some specific exercises that will lower your stress and keep your hair growing like Rapunzel.

Cardiovascular Exercise – By doing cardio or high-intensity running or walking for short bursts, you will help oxygenate your blood, get your circulation moving, digestion going and experience the many benefits of what exercise can do for your hair. Modern exercises like high-intensity training (HIT) and Zumba are especially good for increasing circulation.
Yoga – Certain yoga poses or asanas can actually stimulate your hair follicles through gravity or by also increasing circulation, relaxing tense nerves and relieving stress. Stress is also a cause for hair loss in some people, due to the release of cortisol and certain hormones triggered by it. By relaxing and releasing this stress, a number of bodily functions improve, resulting in optimal hair growth.
Add little ‘extras’ to your daily routine to increase your fitness level. Take the stairs instead of those crowded elevators or park your car a bit further than usual from your destination to force yourself to walk more. While watching tv, do lunges or squats, which will not only lift and shape your butt; they will also improve your cardiovascular health and in turn, your hair.

Some experts say that adding these fitness habits every day is important for optimal health, but the time depends on your fitness levels. Remember to check with your doctor before embarking on any strenuous activity!

how to protect your hair during the fall season A wild, untamed mane of hair while walking against the wind might look sexy in commercials but we all know in real life, a cold, windy day does a number on your hair. High winds and dropping temperatures can contribute to knotty hair which leads to damage. So how do you go about protecting your gorgeous tresses from those blustery, sharp winds?

Accessorize Your Hair

If you have longer hair that tends to whip you in the face (or worse) sticks to your lip gloss like super glue, it might be time to invest in some hair accessories to keep your hair pulled back. Make sure never to pull hair too tightly as this can lead to hair loss. If you have short hair, you can begin a hat collection to keep your scalp and hair warm, protected and (maybe) in place! Wrapping a scarf or shawl around your neck to cover the ends of your hair is also a good idea and with so many ways to tie a scarf the style possibilities are endless!

Protection From The Cold

When hair gets cold, the shaft of each strand is more susceptible to damage, just like our skin. Deep-conditioning treatments only work on protecting the surface of the hair, but by nourishing your body with healthy fats like those from avocados and salmon, you will notice a difference in your hair. It will look shinier and the oils will help protect your hair from the cold. Studies have found that getting adequate omegas in your diet can even stimulate hair growth, thus preventing extra hair shedding that Swedish researchers found happens more often in the fall.

Moisturize Your Ends

Moisturizing the ends of your hair is as easy as a trip to your kitchen; take a few drops of extra-virgin olive oil and rub in between fingertips and apply to the ends of your hair while hair is slightly damp from the shower. This will seal in some of the moisture already there and help protect the ends of your hair before you go outdoors.

Eat Plenty of Dark Leafy Greens

Dark, leafy greens like spinach, broccoli, Swiss chard and kale are filled with vitamins A and C which helps boost oil production in your scalp, which will in turn, protect and nourish your hair. Not a veggie fan? Never fear; these vitamin powerhouses also can be added to your favorite fruit smoothies!

By protecting our hair early on before any damage occurs, you can rest assured that your hair will look and feel healthy for years to come, with less visits to the salon….and doctor!

Which of These Mistakes Continue to Keep Your Hair Short? The problem of slow hair growth or the lack of length can be caused by a number of reasons, such as the diet you consume, excessively styling or roughly handling your hair, and even cutting it too often. Now you probably know about these already, but chances are that you didn’t know about the following four habits that can affect the growth of your hair.

Habit #1: Shampooing Too Often

Your shampoo strips your hair of its natural oils, which can completely dry your hair if you use it on a daily basis. Once your hair grows dry, you may experience regular hair loss, which then keeps your hair short. So shampoo your hair after every two or three days to keep it healthy and prevent it from falling.

Habit #2: Not Moisturizing Your Hair

Spending too much time working outdoors and exposing your hair to various elements can dehydrate your hair. Dry hair becomes rough and breaks easily, keeping your hair short. So consider using a moisturizing conditioner to prevent such a thing from happening.

Habit #3: Getting the Wrong Haircut

As your hair grows long, its highly porous ends act like a magnet for all sorts of air pollution and dirt. However, cutting your hair too often is also a big mistake. To keep things balanced, keep your hair at collar bone length to give it a healthy look and make it look neater.

Habit #4: Choosing Tight Ponytails and Buns

Tight ponytails and buns cause hair breakage and can actually pull out the roots of your hair. This is especially true while pulling soaking wet hair through ponytails. So, to allow your hair to grow and keep it healthy, keep your ponytail loose or go for a loose bun or braid.

Now that you know your mistakes, make sure to avoid them to get the long, healthy hair you’ve always wanted.

Crab is a great source for Zinc

If you want to get healthy hair, zinc might be the way to go, as Amino acid chelate is important for hair health. Zinc does amazing things to your hair by allowing the moisture in your scalp, called sebum, to be produced at a faster rate. That means less of that white stuff called dandruff giving you a hard time. It also means that you won’t lose as much hair in the shower or bath, too because the zinc keeps your hair healthy.

When you don’t get enough zinc in your system, you will find that your hair is more prone to breakage. It also will have problems growing again, which you don’t want to happen. Deficient levels of zinc can also be the cause of premature gray hair and hair loss that leads to balding.

So, you’re probably wondering how you can get zinc in your diet. Well, bread has a lot of zinc in it because of the yeast in bread. Also, you will find that meat has zinc in it, so if you love meat you are getting a good amount of zinc in your diet. If you eat seafood like mussels, you are also getting a good amount of zinc in your diet. Pumpkin seeds have zinc in them, so if you like those, you should eat up. Nuts are also a great source of zinc, as well. You can also get zinc if you take certain supplements with amino acid chelate, as well.

You should get around eight milligrams of zinc a day if you’re a women. Men can have as much as eleven milligrams of zinc each day. Don’t take calcium supplements with zinc because they will not work well together.

To conclude, zinc is really great, but you shouldn’t take too much zinc in your diet because it can have the opposite effect of what you intended and you could lose hair.

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All of us want to have the sleek and shining hair flaunted in beauty and fashion magazines. The fact is that these glossy locks are usually achieved with the help of a lot of hair products, professional lighting and some smart technical edits. However, that doesn’t mean that your hair can’t get shinier and healthier. You can easily get your hair to look good within certain realistic limits and without any special effects.

Before solving your problem, you need to understand why hair gets dull. If you tend to use a lot of heat and chemicals to style your hair on a regular basis, your hair will lose its luster. Using harsh styling techniques, excessive stress and exposure to environmental soils can also lead to dull hair. Now that you know why your hair has grown dull, here are a few simple tips and tricks to help you counter this situation.

Rinse Your Hair with Cold Water

One of the best ways you can retain the shine of your hair is by keeping it moisturized. Excessive heat to your hair results in opened cuticles, which in turn make your hair dull. By simply rinsing your hair with cold water, you can close down these cuticles and improve the look of your tresses. Just make sure that you don’t undo the benefits you get from cold rinsing by blow drying your hair with excessive heat.

Embrace Rinses with Natural Products

You can also rinse your hair with some natural products to add some luster to it. For instance, you can use vinegar to rinse your hair after shampooing and conditioning it. To carry this out, add a cup of white vinegar to a gallon of water and use the mixture to rinse your hair. Using this mixture regularly will tighten the cuticle layer of your hair, helping you keep your hair shiny.

Make the Right Shampoo Choices

To prevent your hair from looking dull, you need to use a shampoo that can moisturize your hair and a moisture rich conditioner to complement it. You can find several of these shampoos and conditioners in stores to help you maintain the healthy look and shine of your hair.

So make sure that your hair is always looking its best using these simple natural remedies.

Preventing Hair Loss in 5 Simple Ways If you’re experiencing rapid hair fall and are scared that you’re going to end up bald very soon, using natural products can be more useful than expensive salon treatments that may or may not work in the end. Not only will these natural products prevent hair fall, but they’ll also strengthen your tresses, ensuring their health. So, without further ado, here are the best five remedies you should use for hair fall prevention.

Natural Heated Oil – Using natural oils after slightly warming them up can be a wonderful idea to prevent hair fall. All you have to do is massage your hair gently with oils like coconut, canola and olive oil and leave them on for an hour. After that, you can easily rinse your hair with shampoo and water. By using these hot oil treatments regularly, you can steadily improve your hair fall situation.
Head Massage – A nice and gentle head massage every day can improve the blood circulation to your scalp, keeping your hair follicles active. For this massage, you can use sesame or almond oil as base while adding a few drops of bay or lavender essential oils. Regular head massages can boost the health of your scalp and improve your hair fall condition.
Natural Juices – Rubbing your scalp with natural juices can be quite helpful in preventing hair fall. Juices such as garlic, onion and ginger should be rubbed in and left overnight before you can wash them off.
Meditation – Stress and tension are often the main cause of hair fall. In that case, practicing meditation can help improve your hair by reducing your stress levels and restoring your hormonal balance.
Antioxidants – Brew two green tea bags in a cup of water and then apply this warm green tea on your scalp regularly, leaving it for an hour before you rinse. The antioxidant properties of green tea can boost hair growth remarkably.

Try these simple tips at home and see how much change they can bring to your falling hair.

Have a Flaky Scalp? Try These Home Remedies Flakes, which are a combination of dead dried skin and dandruff, can be one of the most embarrassing situations to deal with. Caused due to low oil production in the scalp, flakes can often lead to several skin infections, not just on your scalp, but on your face and neck as well.

If you have a flaky scalp, here are some simple home remedies to use.

Baking Soda – Add water to baking soda and apply the paste to your scalp. This will remove the dead skin from the surface. Finally, wash with warm water, shampoo and conditioner.
Coconut Oil – Warm coconut oil first and then massage it on your scalp gently. To get better results, add a few drops of lemon juice to the oil.
Lemon Juice – Since flaky scalp can lead to excessive dandruff, the best way to get rid of it is to massage your scalp with lemon juice. Doing so won’t only get rid of dandruff, but would also prevent further flakes.
Apple Cider Vinegar – In order to remove dead skin cells from your scalp, you can use apple cider vinegar, but not the distilled type. Applying it will leave your hair follicle clear, preventing flake formation.
Coconut Milk – Another way to get rid of your flakes is by rinsing your scalp with coconut milk and leaving it that way for about ten minutes. You can also add lemon juice to it and massage your scalp.
Aloe Vera – Aloe Vera can be used for dandruff and flakes since it moisturizes and repairs the skin of your scalp. You should apply the gel and leave it overnight. After waking up in the morning, wash your hair with cold water.
Tea Tree Oil – If you want to protect your scalp from the bacteria forming due to the flakes, your best solution is tea tree oil. Simply use the oil to massage your scalp and then wash it off with shampoo.
Olive Oil – Olive oil is a good remedy for moisturizing your scalp and increasing hair growth without promoting flake formation.
Witch Hazel – Another thing you can use to prevent scalp infection due to flaking is witch hazel. You need to boil this flower and make a paste of it. Once ready, apply it for about 30 minutes before rinsing.

Try these simple remedies at home and see how well they work for your flaky scalp.

healthy hair central

Tag Archives: lifestyle

Inositol Stabilizes Hair Cell Membranes

Do Sulfate Shampoos Really Damage the Hair?

Preventing Breakage from Ponytails and Buns

Never Style Tangled Hair

Avoid Styling Soaking Wet Hair

Moisturize Your Dry Hair before Styling

Use a Satin or Silk Scarf for Slick Edges

Fitness Habits That Help Hair Grow Longer

How To Protect Your Hair During The Fall Season

Accessorize Your Hair

Protection From The Cold

Moisturize Your Ends

Eat Plenty of Dark Leafy Greens

Mistakes That Keep Your Hair Short

Habit #1: Shampooing Too Often

Habit #2: Not Moisturizing Your Hair

Habit #3: Getting the Wrong Haircut

Habit #4: Choosing Tight Ponytails and Buns

Make your Hair Zing with Zinc

How to Make Dull Hair Look Sleek and Polished

Rinse Your Hair with Cold Water

Embrace Rinses with Natural Products

Make the Right Shampoo Choices

Preventing Hair Loss in 5 Simple Ways

Have a Flaky Scalp? Try These Home Remedies