HAIR LOSS PREVENTION (5)

HAIR LOSS PREVENTION (5)

Good Grooming and Care

Hair is fairly strong and can generally withstand
normal grooming techniques. However, there can be
thinning or breakage of hair due to poor grooming habits,
and following several tips can prevent these bouts of
thinning and breakage. Avoid combing hair with finetoothed
combs when wet, as this is a common cause of
breakage. Although this is a tempting practice because hair
straightens and detangles much better if combed when wet,
the stress on the hair shaft is immense when the hair is wet
because it is weakened.
This goes for brushing the hair when wet also.
Brushing the hair in general can be stimulating to the scalp,
encouraging blood flow to the hair follicles and
maintaining their health. Brushing the hair before washing
it can loosen up flakes of sebum and dead skin buildup and
make it easier to thoroughly clean the scalp during
shampooing. Remember, over combing or over brushing
generally will cause damage to the hair, which is quite
contrary to the old 100-stroke brushing rule.
Although clean hair is desirable and even necessary
for the maintenance of healthy hair, excessive shampooing
can strip vital minerals like calcium, phosphorus, nitrogen
and iron from the hair. This is particularly true when using
commercial shampoos. Most commercial shampoos contain
formaldehyde as a preservative. To disguise the presence of
formaldehyde it is listed in the ingredients as Quanternium-
15. This substance can be carcinogenic (cancer-causing)
and poisonous to the entire system.
Unfortunately for those who suffer with dandruff,
anti-dandruff shampoos are some of the most dangerous
shampoos on the market. Selenium sulfide is the main
ingredient in most dandruff shampoos, a substance that has
shown to cause degeneration of the liver. Other toxic
chemicals such as polyvinyl pyrrlidone plastic (PVP),
which is a proven carcinogenic, and creosol which has been
proven to be highly toxic are commonly found in dandruff
shampoos. This is why it is very important to correct this
condition as quickly as possible through natural means.
Natural shampoos normally found in health food
stores are a much better choice. Even with natural
shampoos, be careful of the ingredient Sodium Lauryl
Sulfate can strip away too much oil from the hair, causing
shampoo residue to be left behind. Ingredients that have
proven useful in shampoos are cocamides, Panthenol Pro-
B, of course the previously discussed vitamins, aloe vera,
sage, nettle, burdock, chamomile, chaparral, horsetail and
rosemary. Also look for shampoos that contain keratin, the
protein substance that hair is made of, or amino acids. This
will help seal breakages in the cuticle.
Choose a shampoo with a proper pH balance; a
level of 5.5 is ideal. The pH scale runs from 0 to 6.9 for
acids and 7.1 to 14 for alkaline, with 7 being neutral.
Although generally conditioners are good for hair provided
that they do not contain the previously mentioned harmful
chemicals, shampoos with conditioners included should be
avoided. Shampooing and conditioning serve two different
functions and the effectiveness of both are diminished by
combining the process.
When shampooing, pour the shampoo into the
hands and rub the shampoo in with your hands rather than
pouring it on your head. By pouring shampoo directly into
the hair you may promote buildup in one particular spot.
Massage gently with your fingertips to loosen flakes and
buildup and to stimulate circulation, but avoid using the
fingernails as this may scratch the scalp and cause scarring
over time. Shampoo with warm water to open the pores and
rinse with cool water to promote shrinking the pores back
to their normal size. After washing hair, dry it by blotting
the hair with a towel. Avoid rubbing, especially with
terrycloth towels, as this will pull hair when it is in a
weakened state due to the wetness.
Be sure to follow directions on all perms and
relaxers, as misuse can cause serious damage to the hair
shaft. Excessive coloring, styling or heat treatments, and
chemical treatments can damage hair and cause breakage
even when directions are followed. Always keep in mind
that these perms and relaxers have harsh chemicals in them
that chemically alter hair, and long-term use of these
chemicals can cause harm to hair shafts and follicles
causing some hair loss. If you can avoid the use of these
chemicals, by all means do. The result could be the
increased life of your hair.
If you decide to use perms or relaxers to process
hair, be sure to use semi-permanent hair color or henna.
This will avoid harsh reactions between the relaxer or perm
and the ammonia and peroxide amounts in permanent dyes.
It is always best to allow the hair to rest untreated as much
as possible, and avoid mixing chemical processes.
Another styling caution is against the overuse of
hairstyles that pull the hair too tight, such as ponytails and
braids, which will cause hair loss especially along the sides
of the scalp. This syndrome is called traction alopecia.
Keep in mind when styling hair that hair is living and
growing, and is susceptible to the stress of constant pulling
continuous abuse causes scarring, which will lead to
permanent hair loss in the areas affected. Along with
leaving the hair chemically untreated for a time, leaving it
in a loose style without over-manipulation for as long as
possible will ensure optimum results.