In Our Heads About Our Hair

09 March 2012

What are you eating

On average your hair grows 1/2 inch per month. However with that
said, what you eat does play a major roll in your ability to achieve even
more growth.

An average does not mean that this is the full extent. There is
always the opportunity for you to grow your hair longer. Part of
that growth ability depends on a whole lot of factors combined
just right.

One of those key factors is what you eat. You can maximize your
hair growth by committing to add certain things into your diet.
Here are some things that can really boost the growth of your
hair.

Nuts – Have a high content of plant protein as well as a lot of
vitamin B. With that said use it in moderation.


Salmon – high in Omega 3, it helps your hair grow softer,
shinier and stronger as well.

Eggs – contain a high amount of protein and truly enhances your
hair growth.

Green Leafy Vegetables – green vegetables are packed with plant
protein, minerals, and lots of vitamin C, which increases cell
renewal creating a strong growth spurge.

Water, water, water – Sure you don’t eater water but it helps
to detox your system and help moisturize your new growth. A
dehydrated body under functions considerability, so drink up for
longer hair.

http://www.growitlong.info

Some more Facts Tea Tree and Ylang ylang

I have been doing a lot of research and studying various products the way they effect the hair and the body in general and as a whole no matter the extraction method.
Tea Tree latin name melaleleuca alternifolia usually distilled renowned for its remarkable activity against bacteria, fungi and viruses. Research has not shown what if anything it does for the hair...

Ylang ylang latin name canaga odorata var genuina usually distilled has a regulating effect on the heart useful for reducing palitations, welcome for all skin types and said to also promote hair growth... has any one tested this product? On to more research.

02 March 2012

Black women learn to sweat the hair style

KRISTIN TILLOTSON, Star Tribune

To exercise, or to have great-looking hair. For many black women, that is the question.

Sweat and water are the enemies of many a costly, painstakingly achieved black hairstyle. And that has doctors, fitness instructors and even the U.S. surgeon general worried it might be keeping many black women from exercising.

Cecilia Blakey has been a group-exercise instructor for 20 years. She currently teaches aerobics at the YWCA in St. Paul's Selby-Dale neighborhood, which has a significant black population.

"I'd love to have a class full of black women, but the majority of my following is not," she said. "Sometimes a few will start, but they don't hold up long-term, and I'd say 90 percent of it's the hair."

Blakey, 60, can relate. When she first got a job at a US Swim and Fitness club more than a decade ago, "Caucasian women would go out the door looking just as good as when they walked in," she said. "Not me. I couldn't blow-dry or flat-iron or curl it every day without ruining it, and it was frustrating. Mentally it's still an issue for me, but working out is more important. It took me 10 years to accept it, though."

According to recent government studies, nearly 50 percent of adult black women are overweight or obese, compared with 43 percent of Hispanic women and 33 percent of white women. Another study concluded that as girls, blacks also stop being physically active at a younger age.

Of a sampling of 103 black women taken by a medical center in North Carolina, about a third responded that they exercised less because of concern for their hair. Nearly 90 percent of them did not meet the Center for Disease Control's minimum physical-activity guidelines, about 20 minutes a day or 150 minutes a week of moderate exercise.

To U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin, that constitutes a health problem. Benjamin, a black woman who wears her hair in a chemically straightened pageboy, said last fall that concern over hairdos is a real deterrent to staying fit. "When you're starting to exercise, you look for reasons not to, and sometimes the hair is one of those reasons," she said.

Tasha Kirk, 39, a commercial loan administrator for Ameriprise Financial, agrees.

"My hair is definitely a contributing factor in why I don't work out," she said. "My straight style is not wash and go, so I can't do it over lunch, and even after work it's too time-consuming to shower and redo my hair every time. I'm lucky I'm skinny."

Kirk's close friend, nonprofit agency director Jessica Rogers, used to avoid exercising for the same reason, but she started up again last year because "I want to be 40 and fabulous. I don't want to be the fat mom at the pool in her gauchos, I want to be the hot mom. And I want to set the right example for the youth I work with."

Another of their friends, Angela Hebert, works out at least six days a week. A mother of four who lost 60 pounds by sticking to a strenuous exercise-video routine, she pulls her hair back into a clip-on ponytail before returning to her job as a receptionist at Vision Loss Resources. "If you really want to do it, you'll find a way," she said. "Hair is just an excuse."

No puffing, please

Dr. Rebecca Alleyne, a Los Angeles surgeon, is conducting an online survey asking black women to answer specific questions about their hair and how often they exercise (www.startribune.com/a968). Among the 1,200 responses she's received so far, she said, "the main trend I've seen is that women with styles that are salon-dependent tend to exercise fewer days a week."

Black women have never had more or better hairstyles and products at their disposal, including a variety of weaves, smoothing keratin treatments, even wigs, which some use as a temporary solution to "workout hair." But even if a woman has the time to sit in a stylist's chair every other week, she may not have the $100 to $250 it can cost.

While "black hair" encompasses a wide range of textures and curl, from thick kinks to fine waves, many black women cannot just shampoo, dry with a round brush and be good to go in 15 minutes. If their hair has been straightened, they need to dry it, redo it with a flatiron and possibly also use a curling iron to get it how they want it.

When their scalps sweat, the roots of hair that is naturally very tightly curled will swell or puff. The same happens when hair gets wet from swimming or in the shower, which is "why a lot of women won't swim," said stylist Yisha Eson.

The most obvious solution, to "go natural," isn't right for everyone. Despite the expense, time and hassle, many women prefer chemically straightened hair for cultural and socioeconomic reasons.

"For African-American women, our hair is really an important part of our image," Blakey said. "If your hair isn't looking right, you just don't feel right."

Rogers also noted a regional influence: "Out East you see a lot more women with natural hair, in dreads, but Minnesota is more conservative and you just don't see it as much."

Frizzy but fit


Michael Cole, who owns Talk of the Town salon in Minneapolis, has specialized in styling black hair for 30 years. Cole said that chemically straightened or "relaxed" hair and elaborate, pricey weaves (including a newer style called the quick weave) can all be difficult to touch up at home between appointments.

"Styles are so intricate today, it's hard to attain the skill set necessary to do it yourself at home," he said. "Anytime you perspire, it's going to put moisture into your hair and it's going to relax any straightening or loose-curl process and revert it to some degree."

Beverly James, an administrative assistant with Hennepin County, exercises three or four times a week, sometimes on an elliptical machine, sometimes at Curves. But there is one day when she refuses to break a sweat -- the day she gets her hair done.

"You can't work out right after you've had your mop whipped," said James, 54. "Not unless you want to ruin what you just paid for."

Shop assistant Dalona Ethridge, 26, said it's an issue that crosses generations. "Most women will work out Monday through Thursday, have their hair done on Friday and not exercise again so they can keep their hair looking good over the weekend," she said.

Barbara Doyle, a social services program manager who at "let's just say 60-plus" looks at least a decade younger, is slim with a chic straightened bob, tinted a burnished red. She puts her health first.

"You can have cute hair and look like you're 80, or you can look 50 and the hair's not perfect," she said. "I've got high blood pressure, and I want to play with my grandchildren."

Doyle said that with their history of being more prone to diabetes and heart disease, black women need to pay special attention to fitness: "Hair can be replaced. Your body can't."

Kristin Tillotson • 612-673-7046

28 February 2012

When products no longer work...

One thing that I think we can all attest to is finding a product
that you like a lot but after only a few months the product
changes. Your hair no longer responds to the product as it first
did. Many of you complain about this and I know I have.



One reason your hair may be acting up and simply not responding
to the product anymore is that your hair may need a break. Often
times a product may have so many ingredients. Quite a few of
those ingredients may create a seal on the strand. This seal or
coating blocks out moisture from entering the hair causing the
hair to become frizzy and unresponsive to other hair care
methods.


Give even your favorite products a bit of a break from time to
time. Find an alternate product to use even for a bit. Also
rebalance the strands by doing an apple cider and water rinse to
remove the excess product build up.

http://www.growitlong.info

23 February 2012

Natural products and Natural Foods

Hair Growth


Hair is an important aspect in one’s physical appearance and plays a vital role in keeping one’s morale and self-confidence. Therefore, there is no doubt as to why the hair growth product market is such a lucrative one. Millions are spent by people all over the world for hair growth products. However, it is best to use natural hair growth products such as herbs, roots, and seeds.
Hair growth could become a major concern if you are losing a lot of hair or exhibit visible thinning or balding hair. However, there are plenty of natural products which you can get in the market to promote fast hair growth. Besides these products, you could also make your own herbal hair growth remedies at home.


Hair Growth Vitamins


Hair growth is facilitated when you consume adequate amounts of vitamins such as vitamins A, C, and D. The other vitamins that are beneficial for natural hair growth include vitamins B1, B2, B6, B 12, biotin, folic acid, inositol, and pantothenic acid. Natural hair growth vitamins can be obtained by consuming green vegetables, soy beans, almonds, dairy products, eggs, and omega 3 fatty acids from fish. These will supply the nutrients needed for fast hair growth. Remember to drink enough water to keep the body well hydrated. Coffee, tea, and alcohol tend to dehydrate the body.


Hair Growth Tips


Drinking green tea is an effective hair growth treatment as it contains antioxidants which help clear toxins and improve blood circulation. Get enough sleep as your body requires sufficient rest for optimal functioning. Sleep deprivation over long periods will show on your health and eventually on your hair. Massage the scalp with coconut, almond, or olive oil boiled with herbs like rosemary, basil, or henna leaves. Cumin seeds, fenugreek seeds, peppercorns, or lemon peels can also be added. These will relax you and also stimulate hair growth. Egg white could be used as hair conditioner. You can also rinse your hair with warm vinegar after washing it.


Hair Growth Remedies


Avoid using harmful hair care products. Always use good shampoos and do not wash hair too often as they strip the hair of natural oils. After a bath, wrap your hair with a towel that has been dipped in hot water and squeezed dry. Trim your hair once every few months to avoid split ends. This is an effective hair growth remedy.
Take brisk walks at least thrice a week and exercise well to maintain a balanced life style and to keep healthy. Try and also reduce your everyday stress by using aromatherapy to refresh and relax.