Hair is often considered an accessory, which is styled to fit a mood, suit the occasion or to make a statement. But when hair becomes unmanageable, several hair care products serve as quick remedies that seem effective. Though the results may be lasting and effective, the damage these ingredients cause may result in long-term effects. With so much hype and media advertisements on these hair care products, women especially believe hair gels, mousse, hair spray are the saviors for a hair that looks limp and dry. Dryness, dullness, brittleness, hair fall, split ends and dandruff are some effects of these harsh products. Pollution, smoke, dry weather, chlorine and UV rays are other contributing factors to excessively dry hair. These are the non-medical contributors for dry hair.

The following are known medical conditions that can cause excessively dry and brittle hair: Read More »

There are many ways—mostly traditional ones—for hair loss prevention. Below are some common naturopathic remedies you may try to bring back your mane’s healthy glow:

A simple massage on the scalp for a few minutes everyday can stimulate blood flow to the hair follicles as well as minimize hair loss in temporary hair loss conditions.

Another traditional Chinese way of rejuvenating the hair growth is Qi Gong. P (pronounced as Chi Kung) it is known to increase circulation to the scalp and face. An aromatherapy blend of six drops each of lavender and bay essential oils in a base of four ounces of either almond, soybean, or sesame oil massaged into the scalp and allowed to sit for 20 minutes has been used by aroma therapists to stimulate the scalp. Read More »

Losing one’s lush crowning glory can be a depressive situation for almost all individuals in their late 20s or early 30s. That is why there are a large number of potential hair loss treatments with different levels of effectiveness. A company, which manufactures an eyelash enhancer Latisse, has proudly announced that it has begun the testing method for its hair loss formulation on sufferers whose hair loss is genetically inherited. Latisse is a FDA approved , prescription strength treatment for eyelash enhancement. The manufacturers of Latisse are now hoping that its hair loss product aimed at treating male pattern baldness and other hair loss conditions can gain FDA approval. Read More »

Scientists are on the verge of making extraordinary medical breakthroughs using the latest stem cell technology. Many important hair growth therapies have had fantastic results in animal testing, and human trials are expected to commence in the very near future.

However, knowing that “stem cells” are now a technical buzzword, many dubious companies are using fake stem-cell science to trick customers into buying their ineffective hair growth products. Technically, even chewing bubblegum involves stem cells, so these companies are not liable for false advertising.

Given that the hair loss industry has an extremely long history of misleading claims and patient dissatisfaction, buyers should be extra wary of hair loss companies that claim to have medical technologies that use stem cells to restore lost hair. Very, very few actual stem cell therapies have been approved for human use. If a company was truly using stem cells to cure an illness, it would have an extensive record of clinical testing and media coverage to prove it.

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In this update:

… 18 MONTH CLINICAL STUDY RESULTS

… POTASSIUM CHANNEL STUDY: NEW INSIGHTS

… TRX2 KNOWLEDGEBASE

We are proud to present the results of our long-term 18 month clinical study. 59 participants (47 men and 12 women) entered the study and completed 18 months of therapy. The randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study was focused on evaluation of efficacy and safety of TRX2. The data show statistical significance at four major efficacy parameters:
Hair count (Mean number of hair in an area of 2×2 cm): +35.1% (after 9 months) and +49.2% (after 18 months)

Hair Thickness (Mean weight of hair – bundle of 30 strands): +22.5% (after 9 month) and +38.7% (after 18 months)

Terminal hair change (% change from vellus to non-vellus): +23.2% (after 9 month) and +36.4% (after 18 months)

Self-evaluation of satisfaction (score between 0-10 cm with 10 being the most satisfied): 7.8 ± 2.0 cm (after 9 month) and 8.6 ± 1.6 cm (after 18 months)

Please note that the % numbers given above are the means, i.e. contain the results of ALL participants within the test population. For instance, while the mean percentage increase in terms of hair count was 49.2% after 18 month, some individuals experienced a percentage increase of as much as 120%. Individual results varied depending on the participant’s type of hair loss and individual metabolism. Within the active treatment group 87% of participants recorded cessation of hair loss and a significant increase in the number of hair/hair thickness after 9 month of treatment. Those results are extremely encouraging for men and women suffering from hair loss. The efficacy of TRX2 combined with its safety and excellent tolerability may make this product a viable and attractive alternative to common treatments such as finasteride and minoxidil. Click here to read the the full research article online.

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Hair care products are supposed to enhance the quality and texture of our hair. Unfortunately, this is not what many products that are commercially available actually do. Many hair care products are very unsafe and create a toxic environment for our scalp. If you have been using unsafe hair care products (and most people who use store-bought products have been), then it is important to give your hair a break.

Here are a couple of harsh ingredients you may not know of:

• Parabens – More than 90% of cosmetics contain a preservative from the parabens family. Some of the latest research suggests that these may work as endocrine disruptors. This chemical increases the rate of breast cancer and decreases male fertility rates.
• Propylene glycol – There are many warnings about propylene glycol when it is in contact with the skin. It can cause brain, liver, kidney, and other internal problems. This is the agent that is commonly used in stick deodorants, toothpaste, and most personal care products.
• Imidazolidinyl urea or formaldehyde – Formaldehyde is known to cause dermatitis, skin irritation, nerve damage, and certain cancers.

Most people are blissfully unaware that beautifying their hair with certain treatments can actually do more harm than good. Here are some of the many other factors that can cause real hair damage:

Hair Colors

Permanent coloring stays in the hair until it grows out while semi-permanent coloring washes out over a period of time. Permanent treatments can cause hair loss, irritation, redness and burning. Semi-permanent hair coloring treatments like henna are easy to use and are safer than the permanent ones. Before applying any form of coloring to your hair, be sure to test a small amount on your wrist first to see whether or not the chemical could irritate your skin. Read More »

Too much sun exposure can be very harmful to your skin and hair. According to a study by Croda Inc., hair is actually highly susceptible to UV damage.

Croda’s study sought to determine whether hair treated with a polyester polyquarternized UV absorber – Polyquaternium-59 and butylene glycol (PQ-59) – could “mitigate UVB-induced damage in hair…preserving the hair’s natural hydrophobicity, fiber strength and combing properties” in relaxed African-American hair. Their findings were surprising.

Sunbathing turned out to be very damaging for hair. As a result of sunbathing, hair can become discoloured, dry, fragile and brittle. UV rays often destroy the protein bonds in hair, making damage irreversible. In fact, every time we expose our hair to the sun, UV radiation can destroy protein amino acids. This results in the weakening of the hair structure and, as a further consequence, the loss of moisture and eventual dehydration.

Of course, a small amount of radiation does not have a very big effect on healthy hair (especially dark hair), but hair that has already been damaged by other factors is definitely at-risk. Read More »

Researchers believe they may have found a chemical compound that induces hair growth by blocking a stress-related hormone associated with hair loss. This is good, because at the present time there are very few effective treatments for people living with Androgenetic Alopcia. Even FDA approved medications such as Minoxidil show only limited efficacy in most patients.

A scientific team at UCLA used mice that were genetically altered to overproduce a stress hormone called corticotrophin-releasing factor or CRF. As these mice age, they lose their hair and eventually become bald on their backs, making them visually distinct from other mice who have thicker hair.

The researchers injected a peptide called astressin-B – which has the ability to block the action of CRF – into the bald mice to observe how its CRF-blocking ability affected gastrointestinal tract function. When the initial single injection had no effect the investigators continued the injections over five days to give the peptide a better chance of blocking the CRF receptors. They measured the effects of this regimen on the stress-induced response in the colons of the mice and placed the mice back in the cages with their hairy counterparts. Read More »

Biotin is an essential nutrient for hair growth. Biotin is actually a component of vitamin B, which is well-known for aiding in hair follicle cycling. When ample biotin is present the body, healthy cells are produced that stimulate the growth of hair and nails.

Biotin can be found in numerous household foods such as soybeans, tomatoes, legumes, almonds, lettuce, liver, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, onions, eggs, oats, strawberries, and halibut. Although eating biotin is important for hair growth, it is equally important to maintain a well-balanced diet to satisfy your body’s other nutritional needs.

You can always take natural diet supplements that contain biotin in order to marginally counteract your hair loss. There are many diet supplements available in the market today that include biotin, although it is best to find a supplement that includes several nutrients. Read More »

Hair loss isn’t the only sign of aging. There are plenty of physical and mental symptoms that manifest as we get older, the least of which is thinning hair. We may start to feel sick more often, we might become tired more easily, or we might stop enjoying youthful activities like going to parties or playing competitive sports.

What distresses most hair loss sufferers is not the natural process of aging, but the perception that aging has begun prematurely. When we feel (for one reason or another) that we are being robbed of our youth, we become hypersensitive to every physical change that our body endures.
Although hair loss itself cannot be fully reversed (yet), we can work to quell the anxiety of “premature aging” by taking other steps to improve our body, mind and appearance.

For instance: Read More »