Monday, August 26, 2013

Yikes! My Hair is Falling Out!

Don't Panic...Check your medications.


Normal hair sheds about 100,000 hairs in four years or about 500 a week. When shedding rate is faster than replacement rate it results in thinner hair. Faster shedding during spring and autumn is normal for up to six weeks. For anyone to notice hair loss, you would have to lose about 15% of your hair.
Never stop taking your medication because of hair loss or avoid taking it because you are concerned about hair loss. Discuss the problem with your doctor. There are, however, some steps you can take to help your body resist hair loss when using medication.
MEDICATIONS
Aspirin can lower hemoglobin levels which results in a mild anemia. Iron is essential for hair growth and a deficiency may cause thinning or shedding hair. Your doctor may suggest iron supplements. You should include more iron rich foods, such as spinach or lean red meat, in your diet.
Thyroid drugs can result in hair loss or hair being brittle, dry and dull. When you have a hyperactive thyroid, the reproduction of hair follicle cells speeds up and hair falls out faster than they can be replaced. If you have hypothyroid, hair does not grow back as quickly leaving thinning patches. Your doctor may need to adjust your medication. You need to be sure to discuss the problem with the doctor when you first notice the problem. You can also use shampoos, conditioners and other hair products that work to add volume and luster to your hair.
Hormone Replacement Therapy drugs and Contraceptive Drugs are androgenic, meaning they contain male hormones. This can lessen hair growth. Natural microscopic shrinking of hair follicles occurs naturally as we age. This results in smaller hair. You and your doctor can decide if a drug that is anti-androgen would be an effective right choice for you.
Cholesterol inhibitors may be the thinning hair culprit in about 1% of cases. It’s the same for anti-depressants. If taken regularly for over three months, anti-inflammatory painkillers can also cause hair thinning in about 3% of cases. Again, discuss it with you doctor. Do not stop the medication.
Psoriasis Drugs may slow down the product of new skin cells but may have the side effect of changing the hair color or making it curly. The reasons are unclear, but it is thought the drugs interfere with the structure of the hair’s root. Hair returns to its normal state when treatment ended.
Acne medications containing retinoid, which is derived from vitamin A, may cause hair loss. Vitamin A protects hair follicles, but too much may temporarily shut down the follicle. They affect the cells that produce keratin so can cause changes in density, appearance and color. In all cases these changes were temporary and hair returned to normal within a few months once treatment ended.
Antibiotics reduce hemoglobin and can lower vitamin B levels that make hair fall out faster. You can take a vitamin B supplement while you are on the antibiotics. Remember, the illness you’re being treated for may also be the culprit so discuss it with your doctor.
VITAMINS
Vitamin A is essential for healthy hair. However, taking more than 10,000 IU’s a day can make your hair fall out as it increases cell reproduction in hair follicles. This means they reach the end of their growth phase faster. You should lower your dosage.
Vitamin C can be over-used. Many people take large doses of vitamin C, especially when fighting a cold. Although the body may flush out excess Vitamin C, there are side effects. Vitamin C affects skin cell reproduction and increases the levels of pityrosporon ovale yeasts which cause flaky, inflamed scalps. You need to reduce your dosage.
Vitamin E used to excess can lower the absorption of iron in the body. Brittle, thinning hair results when your body does not have enough iron. Taking both vitamin E and iron counteract. If you are taking both, take one in the morning and the other in the evening.
HAIR CARE
Using a shampoo, conditioner and styling products designed for fine or thinning hair will help keep your hair at its possible best while taking a medication that is causing hair problems. A couple of favorites worth mentioning are Alterna’s Caviar Brand Line and L’Anza Healing Nourish. Both help extend hair growth cycle and prevent hair breakage.

Monday, August 12, 2013

Finding the Hairstylist that Fits your Style

hairdresser Finding the Hairstylist that Fits your Style

There are many reasons you may be searching for a hair stylist, but it can be a nerve wrecking experience.  Your hair is a large part of your image and if you have ever had a bad experience the thought of someone you don't know cutting or coloring your hair can be even more frightening.  Finding the right stylist may take a little effort on your part but it will be worth it.  So, if your ready to start your search, try the following tips:
  1. Decide on the type of salon ambiance you would enjoy.  You will spend as much as four hours of a day every six to eight weeks sitting in a chair there, so being in comfortable will make you much happier.  Do you like it young and hip with trendy music, quiet and refined with soft classical music, a comfy neighborhood feel?  It is more likely you will find your right stylist working in a place where you feel comfortable.
  2. Ask a friend or two or even the lady next to you in a checkout line if you like how her hair looks.  Recommendations, both pro and con, will help you.
  3. Know your hair type.  Many salons or stylists specialize in curly hair, ethnic hair, or thinning hair.  If you have special needs hair then be sure one of your considerations is the stylist skill with you hair type.
  4. Walk into different salon lobbies.  Get a feel for the atmosphere and clientele.  Check out the prices for services.  It's no use moving ahead if their prices are more than you can afford to pay.  If you are happy with everything, then work with the receptionist to schedule a "no cost" consultation. 
  5. At your consultation, discuss openly what your expectations are, show pictures of different hair styles you may be considering.  Consider their reactions.  See if they offer ideas you like.  Don't be afraid to say "thank you for your time" and walk out.  If, however, you get a positive feeling, like what they have to say and their ideas, then go ahead and book the appointment.

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

Did Grandma's Beauty Secrets Really Work?

Did Grandma's Beauty Secrets Really Work?
grandma
In years past, Grandma would goop mayonnaise on her head, wait 15 minutes, wash then rinse her hair with apple cider vinegar. Her facial was a mashed avocado mixed with raw honey or a mashed overripe banana. When you got a zit, she would squeeze a lemon, then add a little sugar and tell you to wash your face with it. Grandpa's hair started thinning and she would apply a mixture of ginger and grape juice.
So...did grandma's beauty secrets really work? The answer is yes! Fortunately, today science understands why and we have a whole range of beauty products that make it unnecessary to keep a refrigerator in the bathroom.

What did these foods contain that made them effective?

banana
Banana contains Vitamin A and lots of potassium. It made a super moisturizer for the skin.
avacado
Avocado is full of healthy fats and phytonutrients, as well as Vitamin A, E and C. It moisturizes the skin and has anti-aging properties. The avocado seed has a type of fat that can reverse sun damage.
P.S. OPI AvoJuice Products gives these benefits to your skin!
mayo
It's the eggs and the oils that made hair shiny and moisturized. Eggs contain L-cysteine, an amino acid and powerful anti-oxidant that makes up 18% of your hair and is keratin-forming.
honey
Raw honey has anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, anti-septic and anti-fungal properties. It was often mixed with the avocado or yogurt to help moisturize and used alone or with lemon to heal acne.
lemon
Lemon has natural lighteners; it's full of vitamins, antioxidants and acids to even out skin tone. Mixed with honey it soothed. Mixed with sugar it helped relieve acne.
yogurt
Yogurt contains lactic acid and is full of probiotics; powerful anti-aging and cleansing ingredients. Blueberries were sometimes added for additional antioxidants.
P.S. Murad Fine Hair Shampoo gives you these hair care benefits.
teabag
It's the caffeine in the black tea that helped to reduce puffiness. Green Tea has anti-inflammatory properties which reduced redness and irritation.
ginger
Ginger is a circulatory stimulant for the hair follicles. It is also high in fatty acids. Fatty acids are recommended for fighting hair loss, stunted growth and thinning of hair.
vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar is naturally antibiotic and antibacterial. It is also slightly acidic so it restored the natural shine and body in hair by helping maintain a balanced pH.

Thursday, August 1, 2013

Start your Tween off Right


Start your Tween off Right
tween
Help her develop habits that will last a lifetime.

Aging beautifully starts when we are very young with good eating habits and a good hygiene routine.
So developing good skin and hair care habits should begin early. When playing with Mommy's make-up
becomes "when can I wear make-up", it's time to commence encouraging grooming habits that will last a
lifetime.

Whatever age you set as the proper time for using make-up, give it a good six month head start by letting
her demonstrate her developing maturity by twice daily face washing, body lotions with SPF, lip balms. Showing
you she will take responsibility for herself in these small items will help you to measure her willingness to
maintain her skin once she is allowed to use more grown-up cosmetics. After all, if fried fast foods are her
snack of choice and make-up is allowed to remain on overnight, it is very likely she will develop acne or other
skin problems. She may not thank you for the strict regimen right away, but she will as a teen when her skin
remains clear and when she is turning sixty and still looks fifty!

Make it a fun experience and a challenge with a reward. Shop together for her first "grown-up" products. 
Discuss the importance of skin and hair care.  It is hard for someone so young to imagine herself "old" (and
remember even you are old to her), so you might want to find a few pictures that demonstrate women with
older, uncared for skin and a few with skin that has obviously been well-cared for.  Challenge her and offer
the reward:

"You are growing up so beautifully. I know you want to start wearing make-up and you will be allowed to
[..when...].  It is my job to teach you as you grow and your job to show me how responsible you can be. 
We will start you with [...].  If you can show me you will wash you face every morning and every night without
being reminded, and you will [...] for the next [...] months, then I think you will be ready to begin using [...] ."

Be sure to get products that work well for young skin.  Go for the natural products in a good quality face wash
such as dermaE's Tea Tree and E Face Wash with it's natural antibacterial ingredients.  Remind her it is better
 to rub gently for a little longer than to scrub hard quickly, and to blot her face dry.

Moisturizers should be used daily. This can be part of the shopping fun.  There are lots of high-quality natural
moisturizers that are naturally scented.  Let her choose her first "signature scent".  We like CND Scentsations
that has a matching body wash for each scent or Smart Spa by Qtica

Choose a good lip balm.  Not the candy scented roll-on's you have used as stocking stuffers, but one with
excellent moisturizing and SPF qualities like Ottilie & Lulu's Lip Balm.
Finally, and most important, encourage her good eating habits.  Start packing her lunch with a few carrot sticks
 instead of two cookies.  Let her go to the grocery store to help you pick the healthy snacks.  Stress the
importance of eight glasses of water a day for a healthy looking skin.  She should come away from this
experience feeling good about herself and you will know she is on the road to a lifetime of healthy skin care.