There Are Many Things You Could Do To Avoid a Bad Hair Day

There Are Many Things You Could Do To Avoid a Bad Hair Day - Sandra’s hair took a knock during her pregnancy, Mike has thick hair which is the envy of many women (and men), while David is very worried about his receding hairline. He rather fancies himself as a ladies’ man, which is quite difficult to pull off if you're involuntarily bald at his age. And Margot’s hair has taken a fair battering over the years with perms and colourants.

Whether you have long hair, short hair or very little hair, it needs care. Regular shampooing of hair and cleansing of the scalp is of course, essential. We have hair to provide some protection for the scalp and head against the sun and a few hard knocks. It also helps to insulate us against heat and cold.

Read More : Four Tips For Healthy Winter Hair


Read More : SA Women Depressed Over Early Hair Loss

A few things to remember:

Basic hair care starts with clean hair.
All hair is not created equal – some people have dry hair, others have oily hair and then there is quite a variety of combinations in between.
Too much washing can, however, damage the hair as it washes away the sebum, an oily substance that protects our hair and makes it shiny.
Good shampoos only remove excess oil.
Low ph shampoos should be used by women with dry, permed, damaged or straightened hair.
Anti-dandruff shampoos work, but they can be fairly harsh, so they should be used in conjunction with hair conditioner.
Don’t brush your hair too much. You could be adding to split ends.
Remember that a balanced diet containing proteins and vitamins is more important than expensive conditioners.

Read More : How Your Lifestyle Triggers Hair Loss

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SA Women Depressed Over Early Hair Loss

Many South African women with signs of early hair loss are suffering from anxiety and depression

SA Women Depressed Over Early Hair Loss - More than a third of South African women over 30 polled in a new survey say they are showing signs of early hair loss which has impacted negatively on their self confidence, their appeal to their partners and has led to anxiety and depression.

The survey found that 37% of 505 women canvassed in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town were either showing signs of hair loss (28%), had a serious hair loss problem (8%) or were going bald (1%).

Thirty eight percent of those losing hair said they had experienced symptoms of depression or anxiety due to hair loss. This figure rose to almost half of the respondents aged between 46 and 55, while demographically, the figure was slightly higher among white women at 42%.

The survey was conducted on women over 30 by independent company Plus 94 Research, on behalf of Plantur39, a phyto-caffeine shampoo shown to protect against premature hair loss linked to menopause.

Healthy hair builds self-confidence

Among the 505 women polled, the research also found:

The majority (69%) believe healthy hair plays a huge part in their self image, while 55% said healthy hair builds self confidence and attracts attention from the opposite sex.

A third believes hair loss will affect their appeal to their partner.

Almost 75% are spending up to R500 a month on hair care, 13% up to R1 000 and 7% over R1 000.

Half say they would be willing to sacrifice a new wardrobe while 39% would sacrifice holidays to solve a hair loss problem.

Commenting on the results, clinical psychologist, Dr Colinda Linde, chairperson of the board of the SA Depression and Anxiety Group, said the importance women placed on their hair contributed to feelings of anxiety and depression when faced with hair loss.

"Hair is an accessory we carry with us daily – we feel good when our hair looks good and even speak about 'bad hair days' when we have difficult days. Hair has also been associated with youth and vitality, and thinning hair is an often an unwelcome reminder of our own mortality. When the hair loss process is accelerated, the stressors associated are often amplified as well."

Caffeine may be the answer

German scientist, Dr Adolf Klenk, head of research at cosmeceutical manufacturer, Dr Kurt Wolff, discovered the positive effects of caffeine on hair roots and explained that hair loss in women is often related to menopause.

"Before menopause, hair roots are protected by high levels of the female hormone oestrogen. After menopause, oestrogen levels decline and the impact of the male hormone testosterone increases. The result is thinning hair which falls out prematurely. This is typical in some women over 40 and a cause for concern for them."

"Caffeine is a highly effective substance. During daily washing, the phyto-caffeine penetrates the hair follicle very quickly to reach the hair root where its protective effect unfolds. This has been proven by scientific studies."

For further info, contact Craig Doonan on 083-463-1827

References:

Effect of caffeine and testosterone on the proliferation of human hair follicles in vitro; Clinic for Dermatology and Allergology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany, published in International Journal of Dermatology 2007, 46, 27-35.

Investigation of the penetration and storage of a shampoo formulation containing caffeine into the hair follicles by in vivo laser scanning microscopy; Department of Dermatology and Allergology and Center of Experimental and Applied Cutaneous Physiology, Charit University, Berlin, Germany, and the University of Athens, Greece, Published on the Internet 26 February 2007.

Post-marketing surveillance study for Plantur 39 Caffeine Tonic; Clinic for Dermatology and Allergology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany.

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How Your Lifestyle Triggers Hair Loss

How Your Lifestyle Triggers Hair Loss - A traumatic divorce can trigger hair loss in women, but so can smoking, excessive drinking and certain medical conditions. Coffee, sun protection and a happy marriage, on the other hand, preserves your hair.

As if the heartache of divorce wasn't hardship enough, it appears that women enduring marital break-up may also have to deal with hair loss.

TIPS : How Your Lifestyle Triggers Hair Loss

New research reveals that, genetics aside, the next strongest predictor of midline (central) hair loss among women is their marital status, with the loss of a spouse (through either divorce or death) raising the risk for thinning hair above that of married or single women.

"Most likely, stress is the aspect of a troubling divorce that appears to lead to hair loss among women," noted study author Dr Bahman Guyuron, chairman of the department of plastic surgery at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine.

Smoking, drinking and hair loss

Excessive drinking and/or smoking also appear to boost the risk for hair loss among women, the study found.

But in other respects the two genders were affected differently, with various patterns of male hair loss sparked by overexposure to the sun, cancer history and having a "couch potato" lifestyle, among others.

"What we can say is that we identified factors that appear to both raise risk and lower risk, for both men and women, independent of genetic disposition," Guyuron said

In the first study, the authors focused exclusively on a pool of 84 female identical twins, all of whom completed lifestyle questionnaires, followed by hormone blood level testing and an extensive photo analysis of their hair.

Studies of identical twins can be useful because each twin carries the same genes as the other, ruling out genetic differences as a potential cause for a trait or illness.

Across the temporal area (near temples) of the head, the team found that the more years a woman had smoked the greater the hair loss.

A history of skin conditions also contributed to hair loss in that area, while having just a couple drinks per week actually seemed to reduce the risk.

Hair loss in the coronal area (nearer the top) of the head among women was linked to being diabetic having some form of skin disease and being a current smoker, while being overweight or obese was associated with lower risk of hair loss.

Guyuron said the findings indicate that female hair loss can also be sparked by excessive sleeping patterns, as well as situations commonly associated with stress such as having multiple children and/or getting married.

Sun exposure and hair loss

Women who drank coffee, used sun protection (such as a hat) and were happily married all faced a lower overall risk for hair loss, he added.

The team's second study similarly looked at hair loss among 66 male identical twins.

The results: in addition to smoking and sun exposure, having a history of dandruff also boosted midline hair loss risk, while cumulative sun exposure and a history of cancer elevated risk for both temporal and coronal hair loss.

Men who didn't exercise regularly and had high blood pressure also had a higher risk for coronal hair loss.

Men who exercised outdoors a lot also face a higher risk for hair loss, and Guyuron believes sun exposure could play a role there.

Dr Doris Day, an attending physician in dermatology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, expressed little surprise at the findings relating divorce to hair loss in women.

"It's complicated," she noted, "but it's not a shock to suggest that various kinds of stress can lead to hair loss. Or that men and women don't experience stress in the same way, so that their hair loss patterns may be different."

"And in the end, I am a big proponent of the idea that it's how you handle the stress that can make a difference," she added.

"The mind-and-body connection is incredibly powerful. It helps to try and keep perspective, put the big things that happen in life, the major milestones, in their place and keep an open mind."

"Of course, you can still get treatment," said Day.

"You can still go for Rogaine (minoxidil) drops or laser hair treatment, for example.

There are always medical things that can be done, and one does not preclude the other.

But patients also need to try and control what they can control in terms of the way they approach stress and handle situations."

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Four Tips For Healthy Winter Hair

The days are starting to get colder and because of this your outward appearance from the top of your head to the tip of your toes starts to change.

Here are four tips on how to keep your hair healthy during the colder months.

Out comes your winter checklist: woollies, scarfs, boots, gloves, extra-moisturising crème for your skin and extra-nourishment for your hair.

When it comes to winter our attitudes change along with our wardrobes; everything and everyone becomes dull, unfriendly and a sort of hibernation begins – whether it is at home, or behind the many layers you have put on in the morning.

This shouldn’t be a time for keeping a low profile, it should still be a time for making an impression, and since your hair is probably the only part of you not covered up – it should begin there.

“Your hair can lose its fullness and shine in winter, but if cared for properly there is no reason why your mane of envy during summer, should become your mane of embarrassment during winter,” says Maameya Dankwa, Brand Manager of Vigro® – a hair and scalp support product from Nativa.

“In winter your hair does need extra-attention, but a few simple changes to your hair care routine are all you need.”

Dankwa provides 4 tips on how to keep your hair healthy this winter:

1. Avoid the heat. Constant use of the straightening or curling iron zaps the moisture from your hair, leaving it dull and course. Try and avoid using these hair items, and opt for a more natural look, or wear your hair up from time to time.

2. During winter your hair loses a great deal of moisture from the continuous change of temperature – the cold outside, and the dry heat from the heaters inside.  Wear a stylish hat to avoid your hair being exposed to the elements. Wool hats are not advisable, but a light hat to give your hair protection is a must.

3. Your diet plays a huge role in keeping your hair healthy. Eating extra fruits and vegetables gives your hair the nutrients it needs to keep healthy during the winter months, as well as drinking water as it keeps you and your hair follicles hydrated.

4. Visit your hairdresser before winter begins and trim you hair, as dry hair means split ends. Trimmed hair is less likely to get knotty, and keeps your hair healthy for the upcoming winter showdown.

Don’t allow hair shedding to become a problem in the colder months, especially due to a ‘comforting diet’ and not taking proper care of your hair. Hair thinning due to such behavioural factors, as well as stress, illness and medication, can be helped by adding Vigro® to your beauty routine.

The active ingredients in the Vigro®3-Step System can assist the scalp with non-genetic hair thinning by cleaning and opening the hair shaft preparing the scalp for penetration of the actives, as well as assisting hair follicles to reduce hair thinning through the active ingredient Follicusan™ (topical products).* The Vigro® 3-Step System also provides a combination of vitamins and minerals needed for healthy hair growth.*

For more information visit Vigro or call the customer care centre on 0860 628482 (NATIVA). The product is available for online purchase at Vigro.

* Efficacy of support may vary between users. Consult a medical practitioner for a diagnosis or if symptoms persist. Use as indicated. Vigro®3-Step System is not indicated for genetic hair loss.

Read More : Hair Loss for Men

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Hair Loss for Men

Alopecia is a condition affecting hair follicles, resulting in discrete areas of hair loss.

How common is hair loss in men?

The average person sheds more than a hundred hairs per day. This is no real cause for concern, as long as your body is replenishing these losses. When hair loss begins to exceed these thresholds, then it is time to worry.  

Alopecia is a chronic inflammatory condition affecting hair follicles, resulting in discrete areas of hair loss. The separate areas may coalesce to form larger areas. The most commonly affected site is the scalp, but in rare cases the whole body, including pubic hair, may be affected. This is called alopecia universalis.

Alopecia occurs in approximately one per 1000 persons, affecting men and women equally. Most patients are below the age of 30 at the outset. The majority of cases resolve spontaneously, though recurrence is common.

Male pattern baldness, the most common form of alopecia, has been the source of emotional distress for men over the centuries.

Man's obsession with hair dates back to 3500 BC. From ancient biblical times to the Roman period, the specter of male pattern baldness has reared its ugly head. Julius Caesar was preoccupied with his hair loss and grew his hair long in the back and combed it all forward. He also wore laurel wreaths to camouflage his baldness.

Hippocrates, the father of Medicine made a potion for hair loss consisting of opium, horseradish, pigeon droppings, beetroot; spices and many other exotic ingredients (it didn’t work).

He observed that eunuchs (sexually immature men) never became bald. 2400 years later, researchers at Duke's University showed the association between the male hormone testosterone and male pattern baldness.

Baldness affects the scalp in a "horse shoe" pattern on the top of the head. In the majority of cases, the sides of the head is never lost. In approximately 1-2% of cases, the condition is spread to the entire scalp (called alopecia totalis). 

What causes baldness?

There is no single definite-known cause for alopecia, but the most accepted explanation is that it is an auto-immune condition. Antibodies to hair follicles are frequently present in affected persons: these attack and temporarily damage the follicles, preventing further hair growth.

There is an association with other auto-immune diseases, such as thryoiditis, vitiligo and pernicious anaemia.

Up to 20% of patients have a family history of alopecia, which suggests a genetic predisposition. You may even have this tendency despite the fact that your parents have full heads of hair - this is due to a process known as spontaneous mutation, whereby the genetic information changes at conception.

Regardless of the genetic or auto-immune status, it is possible that a triggering event is required to initiate the episode of alopecia.

Trigger factors which have been proposed include: 

1. drugs

2. vaccination

3. infections

4. burns

5. radiation therapy

6. surgery    

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