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Natural Highlights

Posted on October 12, 2009.

squeeze 3 quarters of lemon juice onto hair; sit outside in sun for 30 mins. DONE!

MAKE SURE TO CONDITION HAIR BEFORE AND AFTER PRCOESS!!!

-CATHY

Tags: damage-free, highlights, for, hair

4 MAJOR Hair KILLERS!!!

Posted on October 12, 2009.

WOW! I never actually knew this:

Poor Physical Conditioning - Lackluster Hair

Not only is poor physical conditioning and heath a major reason behind heart disease and major medical bills, it causes chronic fatigue, low energy and other problems. How does this relate to hair? It has been proven that hair benefits greatly from exercise and good circulation. Hair is a barometer of overall physical health. Think about it, if your body is not being well taken care of, what does your hair and skin look like?

Developing good physical conditioning doesn't mean that you have to join a health club and work out hours ever day. It just means to pay attention to your body and get some exercise for at least 20-30 minutes at least 3 times a week. More is better of course.

I am the original couch potato. My daily exercise used to consist of moving from my PC to the coffee machine and back. Did my hair suffer? Yes, definitely.

I discovered some years ago that when I don't exercise my hair starts to look drab and it seems to "act up". When I walk at least 30 minutes on my treadmill (next to my PC of course) at least 3 times a week, my hair improves significantly. The added physical circulation is definitely a big bonus for healthy hair and skin.

If you are on a tight budget forget the treadmill and go to the nearest mall and walk briskly for several minutes. Or park your car as far from your destination as possible. I have a ding phobia and always park my car in the biggest and most remote corner I can find. Not only does this save my car from door dings, it forces me to walk and get that circulation going.

Yes, it is important to use the best hair care <nobr title="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; color: darkgreen;" id="itxt_nobr_12_0">products</nobr> that your budget can afford. It is also important to visit your stylist for scheduled trims, do regular deep conditioning and avoid the heated styling tools.

However, the best hair care products and best stylists in the world can not help your hair if you don't exercise and take care of your physical health. So go lace up those walking shoes. pop in a great CD or tape and let that energy flow.

Erractic Sleep Patterns - Accelerated Hair Loss & Brittle Hair

I am world famous for running on about 2-3 hours of sleep a night and sending out massive emails at 3 am. Yes, I have lots of excuses. Besides HairBoutique.com I am in charge of a fast growing software company. Yikes. There is always 100 things on my "to do" list. So I always try to "catch up" in the wee hours of the night. Is this a great idea? Not really.

Our bodies are still human and not bionic. We can't just plug into a wall somewhere and zap 8 hours of rest into our body parts. It would be cool if that were possible, but its not.

Last year I started to have lots of problems with my hair starting to fall out. It turned out that besides not exercising, I was also not sleeping much and my thyroid was on strike.

While my fabulous doctor got my thyroid balanced he told me that not sleeping was making everything worse. So I started sleeping more and sure enough, my body and hair improved.

Although we don't all need the same amount of sleep, most of us need between six and eight hours of sleep each day. The more regular your sleep schedule, the better.

While I have not worked up to a regular six hours every night, I have learned to take regular 1-2 hour naps when I get tired. It helps a lot and my hair loves naps.

Some people benefit from naps, some don't. The key is to get in touch with your own personal sleep requirements and then work at meeting them.

If you have problems sleeping for whatever reason, take the time to address the causes. Luckily my problem is that I just don't want to take the time to sleep.

If you have trouble sleeping and if it lasts more than a week or so, it's a good idea to have it checked by your doctor. It has been proven that depression can be a major cause of insomnia.

Besides helping your body to refuel and regenerate, sleep reduces stress levels, helps you relax and is a great hair tonic.

Eating An Unbalanced Diet - Hair That Won't Grow

I used to think that the basic food groups were all grouped around C. Cookies, candy and chips were my staples. My hair and skin were the victims. Unfortunately my skin has a strong tendency to break out if I indulge in the C foods too often.

Good hair, skin, teeth and overall health is directly tied to eating well balanced meals. So many people write to me that they have noticed a definite improvement in their hair after taking the H37 or Edwin Paul vitamins. When I quiz them they often tell me of a history of poor dietary habits. Which explains why the hair vitamins help them.

Our bodies crave vitamins and minerals. When we don't provide these goodies to our bodies, many things suffer. Often our hair and skin are obvious victims. A poor diet will also prevent us from having the optimal energy to be successful in other areas of our life.

I have tried just about every food and dietary plan invented. I have found that my personal best eating plan is closely tied to the Zone way of eating. Yes, I still love C foods, but I work hard to limit those foods to every once in awhile. I have found that a healthy breakfast is one of the best things I can do for my day and my hair.

Self-knowledge is great power. Understanding what foods drive your body best is a key to great success in all areas. Many people do well on lots of small meals while others do well on 2 or 3. Some people are find their optimal physical success on a high carbohydrate plan while others do better with higher protein levels.

Try eating a couple of different dietary programs to find the one that works best for you. It is essential that your body and your hair receive a good balanced diet.

Yes, hair vitamins like HairTopia vitamins do work. This is because they actually supplement the vitamins and minerals that our bodies and hair require for optimal growth and condition. Hair vitamins alone are not the perfect solution. Eating well for your body type in combination with vitamins and minerals will be the real winning combination.

Excessive Caffeine, Nicotine - Hair Robbers

I am not a diehard anti-smoking fanatic. I tend to be a libertarian about most things. I believe in letting people do what they need to do as long as it doesn't hurt other people in the process. There is lots of controversy about second hand smoke and so I tend to follow the path that smokers should be free to smoke where it doesn't harm others.

When it comes to hair and skin, I am totally against smoking because of the known damages that it can do. Smoking has been conclusively proven to prematurely harden blood vessels, restricting blood flow and damaging capillaries. This definitely will harm healthy hair patterns. Smoking has been proven to accelerate the incidence of hair loss and the accumulation of gray hair.

Caffeine is also not blameless. Excessive caffeine use can do all kinds of damage and has been proven to be a culprit in all sorts of hair and skin related problems.

I love caffeine but limit my Starbucks to 1 latte per day. Again, I notice a difference in my hair.

Whether you smoke or not or consume lots of caffeine is a personal choice. Everyone is entitled to do what works for them.

However, these substances are proven hair killers. What is the point of spending a fortune on having gorgeous hair to throw it away with habits that block you from your goal? This is something that everyone has to decide for themselves.

Summary

If you have been struggling to grow gorgeous, thicker, longer or healthier hair without noticeable results, maybe you are sabotaging your own potential for great hair by not addressing the four major hair killers that I have addressed above.

There are several causes for hair problems from overuse of chemicals (bleach, perms, straighteners), hot hair tools (dryers, curlers, irons) to poor product selection that may rob the natural oils from your hair. Some physical problems like major disease or prescription drug therapies can cause hair difficulties.

However, if the basic building blocks for great hair are not met through good physical exercise, enough sleep and relaxation, a good diet and good health habits your hair may never achieve the levels of beauty that you wish to attain.

If you are deficient in any of the four areas, try making some changes and see what happens. Your hair will love you for it.

SOURCE:http://www.hairboutique.com/tips/tip600.htm

Damaged Hair?

Posted on October 12, 2009.

Having damaged hair can be distressing. You spend all your money on products that promise results, you style your hair, hope for the best and still your hair looks damaged in the final process. How can you fix your hair once it is damaged? Well, we will go over some ideas to help “reduce” damage and in some cases fix it.

Do you wake up in the morning with what looks like a matted ball on the back of your head? Is your hair one length but yet after about an hour of styling you notice tons of little hairs that are shorter than the rest sticking out all over the place? These are fixable, or shall I say after putting these tips to use you will get less damage.

All people should use a silk pillow case over their pillow because this allows your hair to move freely while moving in your sleep. People with thin fine hair get the most damage and therefore require this type of pillow case at all times. When you sleep you move around a lot thus matting your hair in the back. After time this will cause damage and breakage to your hair and soon you will notice that your hair seems to be getting thinner just in the back area. You should hand wash your pillow case in cold water and hang to dry, you do not want to get snags in it which would also snag your hair after some time.

Never use elastic bands on your hair, they get tangled easily and when you try to remove them they cause breakage. When you use hair ties you should make sure that they are not bound up too tight, this causes breakage also. In some cases hair will become too damaged and require some cutting and deep conditioning treatments.

Breakage is what makes your hair look like it has shorter pieces all over and stick out every which way.

This is a close up of a piece of hair that has been broken and is splitting, ergo split ends.

This is badly damaged hair.

When you brush your hair always start from the bottom and work your way up, this will prevent ripping your hair and breaking it. If you have a lot of hair it is wise to use a detangler. Johnson and Johnson’s no more tangles is a good product, good enough for babies then definitely good enough for you. Spray this in and start brushing from the bottom up. Do this every time you brush, I know it is time consuming but in the long run you will notice that you have less breakage. Continue this process of “silk pillow, loose hair ties, and brushing from bottom to top” and you will notice that as your hair grows you will no longer have this problem of flyaways.

SOURCE: http://www.myhairstylingtools.com/blog/damaged-hai...

Good source for hair styling tools/equipment: http://www.myhairstylingtools.com/blog/tag/damaged...

Grow you Hair long & Strong - TIPS

Posted on October 12, 2009.

The answer to "instant hair <nobr title="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; color: darkgreen;" id="itxt_nobr_0_0">growth</nobr>" is that there isn't any. I am sorry to report that there is just no known magic hair bullet. If you want to go from a short chop to long flowing locks instantly you have limited options. Your best bet for overnight long hair is to consider hair extensions, long wigs, clip-on braids, tails or other "instant hair".

Yes, there are lots of things that can maximize the potential of your hair growing cycle but it is folly to imagine that you can go to bed one night with chin length hair and the next day wake up with a new inch of growth.

There are some very rare exceptions, but hair on most people is genetically programmed to grow an average maximum of 6 inches a year.

Make The Commitment

Yes it is really true. Anything in life worth having takes time, commitment and focus.

It is also true that not everyone can have that gorgeous head of waist length hair. People with fine, thin, or severely damaged <nobr title="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; color: darkgreen;" id="itxt_nobr_4_0">hair</nobr> may have a difficult time growing hair past a medium length. Other factors can also retard hair growth including serious illness, ingesting some prescribed medications and a variety of environmental factors.

If you believe that you have the right type of hair to grow it long then make a serious commitment to hang in there for the duration. Growing long, strong, luscious hair requires time, effort and focus.

How long? Remember that the average person is genetically programmed to grow hair at the rate of 6 inches a year. If you want to grow 30 inches of hair, plan on waiting approximately five years to experience that length. Is it worth it? Only you can be the judge.

Patience Is A Virtue

Although it is always a good idea to measure your hair on a regular basis, avoid the urge to measure more than once a month. Growth spurts can vary widely. Hair tends to grow more rapidly in the summer while slowing down in the winter.

To sanely track your progress start a hair growth diary with a baseline measurement. Ask someone to help you acquire a good starting hair measurement. Have your hair buddy use a soft measurement tape to measure from the very tip of your roots to the very end of your strands.

Record the baseline measurement in your diary and measure again in 30, 60 or 90 days. Remember that hair growth is volatile so don't get discouraged by monthly patterns. To avoid growth stress consider only measuring your hair a few times a year rather than monthly.

Start With A Clean Slate

Ditch the damaged parts of your hair at the very beginning of your growing cycle. If your heart is set on with the right locks.

Visit your hairdresser and explain that your mission is longer, stronger tresses. Request that your stylist give your hair a proper growth launch by trimming off all damaged and split ends.

Discuss proper handling of any other damaged hair with your hairdresser. Although cutting may not be necessary, starting with a good conditioning program may be essential to reverse long term damage leftover from environmental, chemical or other ravages.

It is very important that you find a supportive stylist that will help you as you travel on your long <nobr title="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; color: darkgreen;" id="itxt_nobr_14_0">hair</nobr> journey. If your regular hairdresser is not supportive of your goals, there are many excellent long hair experts that you can locate to assist you. To find a list of long hair consultants check out your local Yellow Pages or through word of mouth.

Grow With Grace

Once your hair is ready to grow, make sure you keep it trimmed every 8-10 weeks. Regular trims keep your hair looking and feeling healthy. It will also give you hair a great transitional shape as it grows through the many different stages. Don't fool yourself into thinking that you don't need regular trims. You do.

Some long hair specialists will be willing to "dust" your ends which means that they will remove as little as possible from your ends focusing only on split ends. If your hair is in great shape, dusting will trim the minimal amount of hair preserving as much of your hard earned-growth as possible.

Many people prefer to trim their own ends. This is perfectly acceptable as long as high quality, professional scissors are used. Dull or scissors that are not designed for cutting hair can rip or tear delicate ends.

Make The Investment

If you are planning on investing several years to grow you hair, why not invest in the best hair care <nobr title="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; color: darkgreen;" id="itxt_nobr_18_0">products</nobr> you can personally afford. Salon products are generally better than the products sold at your local drugstore.

There is no right or wrong product for growing long hair. Finding what works for you and your hair type is the key. Some of the top product lines for assisting with the creation of healthy <nobr title="font-weight: normal; font-size: 100%; color: darkgreen;" id="itxt_nobr_19_0">hair</nobr> include Phyto, Rene Furterer, Prawduct, Philip Pelusi, Paul Brown, Paves Professional, to name a few.

Many of the chemicals used in the majority of over-the-counter products contain sulfate related ingredients which can be quite harsh and drying to delicate hair. These nasty additives can also accelerate breakage and split ends. Other products may contain harmful versions of silicon which can suffocate hair and ultimately cause all sorts of hair related problems.

Eat Right & Take Your Vitamins

The right vitamins and minerals play a major role in keeping your hair healthy. Any nutritional deficiencies can lead to thinning hair or even total baldness. It is a well-known fact that an under active thyroid can result in frizzy or brittle hair while an overactive thyroid turn hair greasy and limp.

The bottom line to this thread is that your hair ultimately reflects the overall condition of your body. If your body is healthy and well- nourished, your hair will be your shining glory.

If you are having any health problems or suffering from any nutritional deficiencies, your hair may stop growing or show damage.

If your body is in good health, you can maximize your genetic growth cycle through taking the proper blend of amino acids and B-vitamins.

It is also important to include B-6, biotin, inositol and folic acid in the supplemental program. It has been found that certain minerals including magnesium, sulfur, silica and zinc are also very important toward maintaining healthy hair.

Beta-carotene is also important to hair growth. This is because beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A as the body needs it, helps maintain normal growth and bone development, protective sheathing around nerve fibers, as well as promoting healthy skin, hair and nails. Beta-carotene is found in green and yellow vegetables and fruits.

Protein Is Important

Since hair is protein, a diet that is too low in protein may cause a thinning in hair or a retardation in the growth cycle. The converse is true, if you eat a protein-rich diet it will often result in improved hair growth.

Some nutritional experts suggest the dietary utilization of calves liver, brewer's yeast, wheat germ and a daily dose of two tablespoons of granulated lecithin to maximize hair growth, strength and beauty.

Other good food sources for protein include fish, eggs, beans and yogurt. Soy protein has also been found to be helpful in stimulating hair growth. One study of the results of soy on the hair found that it not only strengthened the hair but caused it to grow. A great source of soy is tofu.

Growth Blockers

Excessive stress and some medications are conclusively known to retard hair growth. If you have a medical condition and your physician has prescribed medications it is imperative that you follow your doctor's orders regardless of the impact to your hair.

Warning: Always consult your doctor before you undertake any new type of vitamin or mineral program to make sure it does not interfere with any medical treatment you may currently be on.

However, if you are under severe stress it is helpful to reduce the stress as much as possible. Consider meditation or relaxation as a way to cut back on any major stress in your life. Your hair will love you for it.

Another secret hair helper is rest and sleep. It has been discovered that to grow faster, hair needs an adequate amount of sleep (7-9 hours are suggested).

Hair Growing Supplements

Eat right, exercise, reduce stress, rest, gets lots of sleep and you are well on your way to maximizing your own personal hair growth potential.

You can either take a good supplement that contains the necessary vitamins and minerals or you can make up your own formula.

I have personally had some success (at least for me) with the HairTopia vitamins. HairTopia was designed to assist the body with the maximum hair growth building blocks.

For more details check out Jane Bullock's review of the Hairtopia Vitamins and also get the facts on what the vitamins consist of.

While eating the proper foods that contain all the necessary vitamins and minerals will help, it is a lot more difficult to guarantee that you will get all the vitamins and minerals you need from the foods you eat.

List of Supplements

In addition to making lifestyle changes, taking the following supplements every day can boost hair growth for many people:

Vitamin B-complex - 50 mg. of the major B-vitamins (including folate, biotin and inositol)
Vitamin B-6 - 50 mg. of vitamin B-6
Vitamin C with bioflavonoids - one to two grams daily
Vitamin E - 400 to 800 IU daily
Beta-Carotene - 10,000 to 15,000 IU of beta-carotene daily
One recommended daily dose of magnesium, sulfur, zinc
Silica (horsetail) - 300 mg. daily
Nettle - 250 mg. three times daily
Flaxseed oil - one tbsp daily or one tablet
Beta-Carotene - 10,000 to 15,000 IU of beta-carotene daily

Pursue Growth With Passion

Knowledge is power when it comes to growing gorgeous hair. Learn everything you can about the tricks and techniques of growing lovely long locks. The Net offers a wealth of information of hair growing tips.

Great long hair focused Web sites and Messageboards like Dave Decker's Long Hair Support board, and the long hair specific sections of HairBoutique.com, provide a wealth of information on growing long hair with finesse and passion.

Brush Properly

Treat your hair like a piece of fine old lace. Handle it carefully avoiding any unnecessary brushing, combing or handling.

Invest in the best brush you can afford. Never ever use a brush that has tiny knobs on the end of the bristles. Those little knobs are famous for ripping and tearing out unsuspecting hair.

Be careful not to brush your hair excessively. Brush only as much as you need to style your hair or remove knots. Too much hair brushing can lead to split ends and ripped hair.

When you must brush, follow proper brushing techniques. Always start by bending forward allowing all of your hair to gently fall over your face. Use a brush with natural bristles and when possible, a wooden base (consider a Mason Pearson or Kent brush if your budget allows). Carefully brush your hair from the nape of the neck over your head and down to the ends of the strands. After each brush stroke, use your hands to smooth your hair to reduce static. Allow your hair to fall normally. Continue to brush your hair in this position until you are finished.

Remember that hair should only be brushed when it is 100% dry. Hair is in its weakest condition when it is wet. Brushing wet hair can damage it.

Comb It Right

When you comb your hair always separate the hair into small sections. Whether your hair is wet or dry use care and a wide-tooth comb of pick. Start at the bottom of the hair near the ends and carefully work in a downward direction.

A wooden comb is always an excellent choice for hair's health. Avoid the use of hard rubber combs that can tear or rip hair right out of the scalp.

Use Your Fingers

When possible use your fingers as "picks" or "rakes" to remove snarls and tangles. Fingers are the softest tools you can use on your hair to prevent pulling and snagging.

Always Start At The Ears

No matter what the pros say, daily shampooing can be damaging to some types of hair. Wash only when necessary for your hair’s needs.

If your hair is excessively brittle or dry, consider using pre-conditioning treatments before you shampoo. Apply hot oil or rinse out conditioners to wet hair before you shampoo. This will protect fragile locks.

When applying shampoo never apply it directly from the bottle to your hair. First pour a dime to quarter size of shampoo into the palm of your hands and mix with a little warm water. Gently suds your hair starting at the roots.. Let the bubbles and suds from the shampoo gently flow down your hair length to create easy cleansing without unnecessary hair friction.

Use the pads of your fingertips to massage your head to help increase the blood supply to your scalp and hair roots. Unless you have very fine or thin hair, always follow your shampoo with a rinse out conditioner.

Remember to apply conditioners from the top of your ears down to the ends of your hair. It is important to keep conditioners away from the scalp unless your hair is severely tangled at the root. Conditioners applied to the scalp may cause clogging of the hair follicles which will slow growth.

If hair is dry and doesn't need to be washed every day, skip a day or two between shampoos. You can always take a shower without using shampoo. You also have the option to dilute the shampoo so it is less harsh. Use your judgment and experiment to determine the best dilution formula based on the product you use and your hair’s texture.

One other option is to apply a very light coat of hair conditioner to wet hair, rinse well and let hair "aid dry". This will add needed moisture without any risk of causing dryness from too frequent shampoos.

Keep It Cool

Avoid hot styling tools as much as possible. If you must blow dry, always first coat and protect your hair with a leave-in conditioner like Phyto 7 or Phyto 9. Never focus the air flow on one section of the hair longer than a few seconds. Rotate the dryer back and forth to prevent burning hair.

When possible, use a blow dryer on medium speed, cool heat with the air flow directed from the roots to the ends. This is the least damaging way to use a dryer and still achieve good results.

If your blow dryer doesn't have a cool setting but does have a cold shot button, use this at the end to seal and protect the hair.

When possible limit your use of the blow-dryer to just your bangs or limited sections of your hair. Look for ways to get maximum coverage with minimal heat exposure.

Grab The Rags

Avoid hot rollers, curling irons and other hot tools that can cook delicate hair. If you crave curls, use soft rag rollers or sponge curlers that will not tug or pull precious hair.

Use your imagination. There are a myriad of ways to roll your hair on soft tools that will not harm your hair. Some alternative rollers include Popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners and empty toilet paper or paper towel rolls.

Other Hair Growing Tips

Hair specialists have discovered excellent hair growing results from adoption of the Zone Diet which is very low in fat.

Here are some other general hair growing guidelines:

Eliminate or cut back on smoking, caffeine and carbonated sodas which weaken the body and block maximum hair growing potential.
Minimize intake of alcohol and try to avoid foods that are high in sugar or fat.
Avoid the use of hot water, hot steam or saunas that may stress the hair.
Have a weekly scalp massage to provide added stimulation to the hair follicles.
Perform a series of ongoing hot oil or deep conditioning treatments to protect the hair's shaft.
Keep the environment in mind. Before taking your hair for a ride in a convertible or for a day at the beach, comb a protective conditioner through the hair. Protect your hair from sun, wind, heat, salt water and pool chemicals.
Exercise for your hair. Any form of physical activity will increase blood circulation to the scalp, helping nutrients to flow more easily down to the individual hair follicles.
Get enough sleep to allow your cells to renew and refresh. To avoid breaking hair while sleeping, consider using easy glide satin pillowcases. Another option is to invest in a hair sock that will keep the hair from twisting, breaking or snagging if you happen to be a restless sleeper.
Allow your hair to breathe. Avoid constricting your hair with tight bands, hats, cornrow braids and the like. These also lead to split ends and hair breakage.
If you must use chemicals on your hair, go to a professional and try "spot" treatments to get maximum results with minimal damage.
Use "hair friendly" hair accessories like elastic covered bands, smooth hair clips and snag less barrettes.
Avoid boredom. If you get the itch to clip, divert your attention with a new or zig zag part, new or altered bangs or wild clip-on hair.

Summary

Growing long hair is not an instant gratification project. It takes time and work. People with gorgeous long hair spend years achieving the glowing lengths that they love. Understand that long hair is a way of life that requires passion, commitment, focus and attention to detail.

Trust me, you'll know the rewards were worth the effort the first time you feel silky tresses brushing past your shoulder, gliding across the middle of your back, tickling your waist or swinging against your knees.

Source: http://www.myhairstylingtools.com/blog/damaged-hai...