How to get great hair & nails - naturally
by Nancy Dodd Cates
As with skin, the beauty of hair and nails begins with good nutrition, adequate rest, and good personal grooming habits. And, although a beautiful head of hair and well-manicured nails are not necessarily essential to good health, when they look good, we feel good.
Sometimes, in our efforts to beautify our hair and nails, we may do more damage than good. Here, let's take a look at how we can make our tresses and tips look great, gently.
Hair: combing through the facts
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The "power" of hair has been noted time and time again. As far back as biblical times in the story of Samson and Delilah, Samson's great physical strength was found in the length of his hair, as long as it remained untouched by a razor. O. Henry turned long, beautiful hair into the "Gift of the Magi." And Mitzi Gaynor, as she crooned with her fellow nurses that she was going to "wash that man right out of her hair" in the 1958 musical, "South Pacific."
Yet today, we bleach, dye, sunburn, overwash, undercondition, expose to the elements, fry, stretch, and break our hair. Fortunately, there's lots we can do to prevent damage and protect our hair.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, approximately 90 percent of hair on the scalp is continually growing (growing cycle), while 10 percent is in a resting cycle. The growth period lasts two to six years and slows down as we age. The resting cycle lasts only several weeks, and the "falling out" cycle is when hair dies, and falls out, to be replaced by new hair. "Most head hair grows about half an inch per month, faster in the summer," says Earl Mindell, R.Ph., in Dr. Earl Mindell's What You Should Know About Beautiful Hair, Skin and Nails. "We normally shed 50-100 hairs per day."
Hair loss can be caused by a number of factors including genetics, depression, disease, surgery, childbirth, and ringworm (a fungus). Some medications (e.g., birth control pills) can contribute to hair loss. Two of the biggest factors of hair loss in women are stress and yo-yo dieting.
Hair care considerations
Shampoo. When selecting a shampoo, choose one with a pH balance of 7, as alkaline shampoos may clean your hair, but may, over time, also alter the acid balance.
In shampooing, follow these basics (Mother Nature's Guide):
* Rinse your hair first with warm water;
* Pour a little shampoo (diluted with water) into your hands, then massage it into your scalp and hair;
* Rinse with warm water until all the shampoo has gone down the drain;
* Wrap a towel around your head, press to blot excess water, then dry gently;
* Use a wide-toothed comb with rounded tips and draw it through your hair while wet to detangle. Never pull or stretch the hair, especially when wet.
Brushing. There is disagreement over whether you should brush your dry hair the old-fashioned 100 strokes daily, or not. In truth, it depends on the condition of your hair. If your hair is in good condition, brushing draws the oils through and stimulates circulation. If your hair is in poor condition, brushing could break the strands.
The most important part of brushing is stimulating the scalp, which can also be done with your fingertips. To do this, lean your head over to increase blood flow and start in the top center of the scalp with small rotating movements and move outward.
Hot oil treatments. Hot oil treatments with the proper ingredients used once or twice a week will improve the condition of your hair. Look for products containing such ingredients as jojoba oil, olive oil, evening primrose oil, or wheat germ oil and vitamin E. Essential oils, such as rosemary, cedar-wood, juniper, lavender, lemongrass, nettle, or thyme are also good for hair.
Place the product in a container of hot tap water for several minutes. Apply first to dampen the entire scalp, then pat through to moisturize the hair. Massage into the scalp for approximately five minutes and then leave on for 20 minutes. You will probably need to shampoo more than once to remove all the oil, and then rinse with water. Your hair will soon have a silky feel and a lustrous shine.
While the heat of a hot oil treatment may help your hair, too much heat from styling tools, such as blow dryers and curling irons, can hurt it. Avoid overuse of such tools. Your best bet is to let hair "air-dry" as often as possible, and, when blow-drying, use the coolest setting possible.
Remember that the sun, too, can have a drying effect on the hair, so be sure to wear a hat or scarf to protect it.
Hair dyes and sprays. As far as hair dyes and bleaches are concerned, it is better to stick with natural products, rather than harsh chemicals. One natural, ancient hair coloring of choice is the henna herb (Lawsonia alba), which contains 1 percent of a coloring compound called lawsone.
Another effective ingredient found in natural dyes is black walnut, say Myra Cameron and Theresa Foy Di-Geronimo in their book, Mother Nature's Guide to Vibrant Beauty and Health.
As for gray hair, Cameron and DiGeronimo say, "...premature graying is linked to heredity, stress, and nutritional deficiencies." They say that nutritionists have reported success with a high-protein diet plus two tablespoons each of brewer's yeast and vegetable oil daily, and the following supplements: B-complex, choline, and PABA.
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