Archive for the ‘General’ Category

Basic Knowledge about Hair Loss in Women

Friday, February 9th, 2007


Who would not want to wear the long straight hair of Jennifer Aniston, the gorgeous wavy hair of Farrah Fawcett or the widely popular flip blonde hair of Princess Diana? The hair is women’s crowning glory. The hair changes the countenance of a woman. It also reflects lifestyle, character and attitude. It is a reality though also that hair loss in women happens. When this happens, it is inevitable that confusion, fear and anxiety is experienced by the woman experiencing hair loss. It is hard enough that men lose their hair but at least it is socially acceptable but in women it seems to be a taboo; hence, women experiencing hair loss get devastated. Sometimes these women would feel helpless. Women should not feel so bad about this occurrence. What women should do is to educate themselves・e informed.

Hair growth has three stages. The first stage is the Anagen or the Growth Phase. At this stage, approximately 85% of all hairs are in the growing phase at any one time. The next stage is the Catagen also known as the Transitional Phase. At this stage, hair follicle shrinks to about 1/6 of the normal length. Then the last stage is the Telogen or the Resting Phase. At this stage, the hair does not grow but stays attached to the follicle while the dermal papilla stays in a resting phase below. At the end of the Telogen Stage, the hair follicle re-enters the Androgen Stage. The dermal papilla and the base of the follicle join together again and a new hair begins to form. If the old hair has not yet shed off, the new hair pushes the old one out and the growth cycle starts all over gain.

Hair loss in women also known as Female Pattern Baldness may be categorized into 2 types, Genetic (Androgenetic Alopecia) and Non-Genetic.

The Genetic type of hair loss in women may be caused by aging, hormones and genetics. It is inevitable that hair loss in women occurs after menopause as hormone levels in the body change. Changes in the levels of the androgen ( a male hormone ) can affect hair production which usually occurs after menopause. The higher the level of androgen hormones, the higher probability of hair loss. After the hormonal changes of menopause, many women discover that hair at the top of the head is thinned while facial hair becomes coarser.

The Non-Genetic type of hair loss has numerous causes and the most common among them is stress. Pregnancy, loss in the family, illnesses and worries are body stressors that may affect the hair follicle. These stressors influence the changes in the phases of the follicle moving them from Anagen, Catagen to Telogen phase where the follicle lets go of the hair that’s already there and refusing replacement. This is also known as Telogen Effluvium. This is the most common type of hair loss after Androgenetic Alopecia. It is like a neurochemical event where the hair follicle receives a message that the body needs to concentrate its resources to other more important matter specially during childbirth and nursing. Ones the stress is gone, the hair grows after six months. Other causes of non-genetic type are diseases, deficiencies in zinc, protein and essential fatty acid, anorexia and a lot more.

Treatment of this problem must be closely monitored by certified medical practitioner for said field. The most common treatment is Minoxidil, used topically. However, this is no guarantee. The only hair loss treatment that lasts a lifetime is hair transplants.

So women, worry not. You may still have beautiful hair and hair loss in women is just useless anxiety.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • TwitThis
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • Pownce
  • MySpace

How to Camouflage Hair Loss

Wednesday, February 7th, 2007


Hair loss is not just a simple problem we put off. It is something that affects our social life. Although it is socially acceptable in men to come out bald, this could still affect their way of life. Not everybody looks good in it. Not every woman may carry a balding look like Demi Moore in G.I. Jane either. To camouflage hair loss, most people use hairpieces and toupees as temporary solutions. There are also permanent techniques to camouflage hair loss.

The toupees and hairpieces, as temporary solution for hair loss may be complete or partial. They also come in artificial fiber or natural hair. The goal for using them is for the added hair to look natural. This transformation must be done gradually. A useful strategy is to use 2 or 3 hairpieces over the course of a few months and each slightly thicker than the previous one. However, hairpieces of the times look unnatural because they contain too much hair strand. It is required that a good hairdresser assists in carefully positioning, in the trimming and in securely fixing the hairpieces.

Another technique for hair loss camouflage is Hair Weaving. It allows artificial and natural hair to be anchored onto, or braided into, the remaining natural hair. Some of this natural hair are woven or braided together to serve as an anchor for the artificial or natural hair tufts. They may be sewn, woven, knitted or glued. This technique is semi-permanent in nature. The additional hair can be trimmed and styled onto blend with the natural hair. However, as the remaining natural hair grows, the braided or woven anchor natural hair needs to be tightened every six to eight weeks. This procedure is costly. Further, vigorous washing of the hair may loosen the attached hair.

There are several ways to camouflage hair loss just be sure that these procedures are administered by persons in authority to avoid complications.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • TwitThis
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • Pownce
  • MySpace

Using Herbs for Hair Loss

Wednesday, February 7th, 2007


Hair loss is a horrifying experience for both male and female. While it is mostly males who are afflicted with hair loss, women are more scared of this occurrence. It is very embarrassing for most people. Hair loss can make a person loss his or her confidence and be very insecure about it. Many feel that it makes them look older which can ruin the lifestyle they currently enjoy. So because of that, most of the persons afflicted with hair loss looks for hair loss treatments. These treatments include pills and capsules, surgery and herbs.

Since day one of the human race, people used natural substances to help them in their daily life, this included medication. Today, many or most of the population use herbs for this benefit in the forms of herbal products. Herbal products have been the precursor of so many medicines we use today. They are highly recommended and scientifically found to be very effective. Because of the natural chemicals they have, herbal products are less likely to mess up the chemicals found in the human body. They are well established as a natural and safe supplement and medicine for the human body.

For hair loss, many herbs have been found that contains natural substances that stops hair loss, stimulates hair growth or do both. Hair care products use natural substances like herbs in their formulation because they are natural, safe, clean and effective. One of the most common products seen in hair loss treatments is saw palmetto, which is a shrub that promotes natural hair growth.

Other herbs found to have hair loss treatment qualities are Aloe, Arnica, Birch, Burdock, Catmint, Chamomile, Horsetail, Licorice, Marigold, Nettles, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, Southernwood, Stinging Nettle and a plethora of others. Herbal products work by increasing circulation, cleansing the scalp and stimulates hair growth. Some herbs are processed to make them into herbal products like pills, some are made into tea and drank while some have their oils extracted and massaged to the affected area.

Apple Cider vinegar and Sage tea is used to massage the scalp. It aids in hair growth. Catmint or chamomile infusions used as a final rinse can help with itchiness, another source of hair loss. Aloe, nettles, stinging nettle, birch leaves and watercress are excellent blood and skin cleaners. Drinking 1 tablespoon of juice of stinging nettle, birch leaves and watercress, then mixed in a glass of water cleanses the blood, this aids with hair loss also so that nutrients can be properly provided for hair growth. Licorice extract also may help prevent hair loss. Horsetail provides silica; silica is a natural substance that helps in keeping hair clean, strong and shiny. Psoralea seeds when ingested is scientifically known to aide in hair growth, if you eat 3 to 9 grams of the seeds daily. A study examining the effects of psoralea extracts and exposure to ultraviolet light in forty- five bald men found that, within six months, hair was completely restored in 36 percent of the cases and there was a noteworthy restitution of hair in another 30 percent.

With herbs and herbal products used in hair loss treatment and prevention, you can never go wrong. They don’t affect the body in a harmful way and they provide good clean rewards to your health. Herbs are also very affordable and if you like gardening, you can grow them yourself.

Share and Enjoy:
  • Digg
  • del.icio.us
  • Facebook
  • NewsVine
  • Reddit
  • StumbleUpon
  • YahooMyWeb
  • Google Bookmarks
  • Yahoo! Buzz
  • TwitThis
  • Live
  • LinkedIn
  • Pownce
  • MySpace