Archive for the ‘About Hair’ category

Let Your Hair Down!

November 23rd, 2009

Hair loss may be due to negative stress, lack of stimulation or poor circulation of the scalp, a diet deprived of proper balances of amino acids like Lysine, minerals such as Zinc or Iron, or vitamins B1 or C. Here are some simple, yet calming, exercises for the promotion of hair care;

1.      Have someone (or yourself) rub your scalp with fingertips.  A little baby oil may make the experience more pleasurable and less chafing.

2.      Boil dry pieces of Amla (Indian Gooseberry) in coconut oil. Mix even parts fresh Amla juice and lime juice.  Apply as a shampoo.  The Romasanjana variety is traditionally known to specifically stimulate hair growth.

3.      Drink 30 drops of red clover tops liquid extract daily.

4.      Make a mixture of sage tea and apple cider vinegar and place in a plastic bottle.  Use this mixture after shampooing, as a rinse.

5.      Hot and cold cloth applications have been beneficial in stimulating the scalp.

6.      Take 30-60 mg supplemental zinc daily.

7.      Cut a garlic clove and rub it on the problem areas about an hour before bedtime. Just prior to turning in, massage your scalp with olive oil and put on a shower cap. Sleep.  When you wake up in the morning, make sure you shampoo.  Do this for a few weeks.  Hair should stop falling out and new hair may begin to grow. Warning – be careful of lingering odors.  Have spouse or friend let you know if you smell like a deli. Odor

8.      Rub Aloe Vera into the scalp.

9.      Take one and a half Tbsp of apple cider vinegar and mix in a half tsp of cayenne powder.  Dab the mixture onto your scalp 1 hour before shampooing.  Warning – It can sting your eyes so keep the solution and your fingers away from them! Very promising results!

I’ve Been Typecast By Dandruff!

October 21st, 2009

Most of us have one type of hair and struggle to keep it healthy, strong and glistening. If you are beyond “Dry Hair” and your scalp is actually flaking off, you have dandruff (and everyone knows it.  Before you put TAR on your head (literally), try these natural fixes.

For Extremely Dry Hair - Dandruff Help: Possibly hypoactive thyroid. Bacilli may be clogging natural oil ducts causing a thin, scaly crust to form on the scalp. Hair deprived of natural oils may become brittle and break off easily or even fall off at the follicle.  In advanced cases, this may lead to thinning of the hair and/or baldness.  If scalp is to the point of soreness or bleeding, consult a health care provider (dermatologist) immediately.

1.      Massage a little pure coconut oil onto your scalp daily.

2.      Apple cider vinegar kills bacillus and stimulates healthy oil production.
Pour 3 Tbsp apple cider vinegar in cup.  Part your hair in sections and sponge Apple Cider Vinegar directly onto areas of the scalp that are affected by dandruff or redness.  Afterwards, put on a shower cap or wrap your head with a towel. Wait for at least 30min.  Do this once every other day to begin with, then less frequent after remedy shows visible improvement.

3.      After your shampoo, use warm burdock or sage tea as a scalp rinse.

4.      Take a half of a bottle of your favorite shampoo and fill the other half of the bottle with water. Add 20 drops of oil of one or more of the following: Sage, Geranium or Myrrh.

Shake up the new mixture (before each use) and pour an amount roughly the size of a quarter into the palm of your hands.  Gently massage it into your wet hair and distribute it evenly across hair and scalp. Let it sit for a minute.  Rinse well using warm (not hot) water.

5.      Dissolve a teaspoon of boric acid in a cup of wa­ter. Wet your hair and distribute the solution with a natural bristle hairbrush daily for up to seven days. If mixture works for you, repeat this every three days for up to six additional applications.

6.      Blend a half ounce of Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) into two cups of water. Let the MSM dissolve in the water for a couple days. Shake every six-eight hours.  Sponge solution onto your scalp every other day.

7.      Massage Vaseline or olive oil onto scalp nightly

8.      Add fresh fruit, vegetables and low-fat dairy to your diet.

9.      Boil a cup of Urtica Dioica (stinging nettle) in a pint of water and add a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar. Let simmer for ten minutes then allow cooling to room temperature.  After a shampoo, rinse your hair with the broth.

10.  Press all of the juice of a lemon into a plastic cup. Pour half of the lemon juice you collected into your plastic water bottle. Add a pint of water to the bottle.

First, rinse your hair with the pure lemon juice.  Let it sit for up to a minute then wash your hair with your favorite shampoo.  Rinse out the shampoo with warm water. Follow that with the mixture of water and lemon juice in the plastic bottle. Do this two to three times a week until the dandruff subsides.

11.  Use natural pomades that include Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM).  Add essential oils like Sage, Geranium or Myrrh to it.  Experiment with scent combinations before adding to pomade.

12.  Shampoo with DILUTED detergent made with pure vegetable soap in an alcohol and water solution. Try Green Soap tinctures diluted 1 part soap to 9 parts water. Start with high dilution ratio. Used in cleaning skin of bacteria for surgery, wound cleaning and tattooing.

13.  Massage 4 tablespoons of kitchen-variety corn oil into dry hair and scalp and cover hair with a shower cap. Let it sit for 20 to 30 minutes. Shampoo out and rinse thoroughly.

Dry Hair? Here’s Your Cure

October 14th, 2009

Every man has a different condition, texture and daily ph that affects the look and feel of your hair.  Whether your hair is greasy (oily) or you have ongoing dandruff, your hair can be fixed!  However, severe cases should be checked by a dermatologist.  The following are ways to improve the health and condition of your scalp and hair from natural approaches.

For Dry Hair: Your body may be deficient in essential fats and oils.

1.      After shampooing, dry your hair with a towel using a wicking/sponging motion. Evenly distribute 2 tablespoons of mayo through your hair. Keep mayo in your hair for an hour. Finally, wash hair again with shampoo and rinse out the mayo completely.

2.      Make a mixture of two cups of water and a half-cup of apple cider vinegar (ACV). After your normal shampoo, rinse your hair with a Tbsp oil of wheat germ. Follow that with a second rinse using the diluted ACV mixture.

3.      Take a half of a bottle of your favorite shampoo and fill the other half of the bottle with water. Add 20 drops of oil of one or more of the following: Sage, Chamomile, Calendula, Rosewood, Lavender or Sandalwood.

Shake up the new mixture (before each use) and pour an amount roughly the size of a quarter into the palm of your hands.  Gently massage it into your wet hair and distribute it evenly across hair and scalp. Let it sit for a minute.  Rinse well using warm (not hot) water.

4.      Apply olive oil to hair once every week.

5.      Part your hair in sections and apply apple cider vinegar onto dry scalp with a sponge.  Wrap your scalp and leave in for up to 3 hours before shampooing.

6.      Boil a cup of water in a small saucepan.  Once boiling, add two tsp of marsh mallow root.  Reduce heat to a simmer and cool for 10-15 minutes. Strain out the remaining root solids and let the broth cool. Once the liquid is tepid, apply to your scalp and hair like shampoo. Keep it in your hair for a couple minutes then rinse with warm water.

I’ve Never Seen Your Hair Look Lovelier

October 6th, 2009

The following are some home remedies as used for many generations and passed from family to family. Enjoy them and add some to your list of tonics and shampoos:

1.      Use Castile (vegetable oil) soap to wash hair in place of shampoo.  Follow with a diluted solution of Apple Cider Vinegar which is 1 quart of water to 1 Tablespoon of the vinegar.

2.      Mix 2 table­spoons of sesame or olive oil and 2 drops of rosemary oil. Massage the concoction onto your scalp. Cover your scalp with a shower cap before turning to bed. In the morning, rinse off scalp after your normal shampoo routine. Repeat daily or as often as desired.

3.      An electric massager with a rubber-disk vibrator is great for scalp stimulation.

4.      Take a spoon of un-sulfured blackstrap molasses daily.

5.      Whisk egg whites and apply them to your scalp. Let it sit in your hair for up to five minutes then rinse away.

6.      Massage in several drops of baby oil or mineral oil onto your scalp.

7.      In a small saucepan boil 1 cup of water then throw in 1 Tbsp of chives. Turn off heat then cover.  Allow it to sit for 15 min. After broth cools, strain out chives and pour it into a small plastic container.  Use it in a cool state in the shower as a rinse after shampooing.

8. For healthy, well-hydrated hair and scalp do the following once to twice a month. Warm up tap water in a small saucepan.  When the water is warm, pour it out ½ to ¾ cup into a small plastic container.  Add one egg (yolk only) to the water and whisk well. Over a sink, gently massage the concoction onto your scalp for five to eight min­utes.  Cover up with a shower cap for ten minutes. Finally, rinse out with room-temperature water.

9.  For a helpful after-shampoo rinse for shine, body and a balanced ph, add 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar to one quart of water. Pre­mix the solution in plastic bottle and keep in shower to use. Shake before applying.

These are just a few of the home-made remedies which have been passed from generation to generation. If you have some time honored tips, be sure to share them with others online.

Herbs that Stop Hair Loss

August 28th, 2009

Here are the celebrities of the supplement world when it comes to promoting hair growth and preventing hair loss.  *Always check with your health care provider before taking supplements. Some supplements have not been included in the list below because of a possibility of a stronger negative effect on the health of the man taking them:

  1. Black currant oil: High in Gamma-Linolenic Acid, which supports hair growth.  May take 60 to 90 days for visible results. 1 gram a day.
  2. Capsicum: Increases blood flow to the scalp thus stimulating and accelerating hair growth up to 40-50 percent.
  3. Danshen (Red Sage): Danshen has been known since ancient times to preserve the hair that is currently on your head. Some hair-preserving shampoos include a mixture of sage in them.  Try adding a little sage (liquid alcoholic extract of the leaf) to your shampoo.
  4. Dong Quai: (Chinese Angelica) helps block the process of DHT production. It is a Chinese herb traditionally used for high blood pressure and hair re-growth among other things.  Known as a rare non-animal source of B-12 and aphrodisiac.  Thorough, conclusive testing has not yet been completed.
  5. Evening primrose oil: High in Gamma-Linolenic Acid, which supports hair growth from the inside.  May take as long as 60 to 90 days for visible results. 200 mg – 500 mg a day
  6. Flaxseed oil: One tbsp daily or one tablet – roughly 4,000mg
  7. Fo Ti (Polygonum multiflorum or He shou-wu): A Chinese herb used in Ori­ental medicine that has been linked to slowing or stopping hair loss.  Try 400-500 mg three times daily.
  8. Full-spectrum Enzyme com­plex: 1 capsule with each meal
  9. Ginger: It is rich in fatty acids. It boasts properties that increase circulation and stimulate the hair follicle.
  10. Grape Seed Extract: Contains Flavonoids that helps grow epithelial cells.  Take 100-160mg a per day
  11. GREEN TEA EXTRACT: Effective for fighting against the transformation of male testosterone to DHT.
  12. HOPS: Thicken and condition hair with nourishing oils.
  13. Horsetail: Contains Selenium and Silicon.  These minerals promote scalp circulation.  Check with holistic health care provider before use.
  14. Jojoba Oil: Used traditionally for centuries to promote hair growth and for dandruff control. This oil imitates healthy scalp-produced sebum.
  15. L-ARGININE: A natural amino acid necessary to grow new hair.  Hair follicles need nitric oxide.
  16. Lemongrass: Stabilizes natural oil production on the scalp. Amplifies hair and gives the appearance of fullness.
  17. Licorice: This plant legume contains a compound that prevents conversion of testosterone to DHT. Add licorice to your favorite shampoo when you shower.  Too much Licorice may lower potassium in bloodstream
  18. L- LYSINE: Another amino acid that treats hair loss. Take about 1g per day.
  19. NETTLE: Clinically shown to inhibit 5-Alpha Reductase.  Also provides stimulation increasing vitamins A and C, amino acids and minerals to circulate more efficiently throughout the scalp.
  20. Omega-3 fatty acids: Possibly stop hair loss. Some people believe it makes it possible to grow new hair. Fish such as Herring, Salmon and Mackerel contain high amounts.  Also may be taken in supplement form.
  21. Safflower: Aids in the stimulation of blood vessels on the scalp – opening them up for more nutrients to get to the follicle. Used topically in oil form massaged onto scalp or add a small amount into your shampoo.
  22. Rosemary: Shown to increase circulation, remove dandruff and sebum accumulations.  Great when used topically in olive oil and massaged into hair and scalp.  Stimulate the scalp by pouring a quarter-size amount in your hand then gently rubbing onto scalp.  This should improve scalp circulation.  Or instead mix 3 to 5 drops to each ounce of shampoo.