Tips

Four Hair Masks to Strengthen Your Hair

December 23, 2019 By James

We all thrive for healthy hair, and it’s understandable when life gets in the way, leaving those once beautiful locks looking stringy and unhealthy. Not everyone has the time or money for treatments at expensive salons. However, one great way to ensure healthy, strong hair, as well as the promotion of hair growth, is trying out homemade hair masks. Not only do they give your hair vitamins and minerals it needs to survive, but will keep those locks looking strong and beautiful. Read below to find the four hair masks to strengthen your hair.

The Egg Mask

Eggs are power packed with nutrients and proteins that help in maintaining the health of your hair. Hair follicles thrive off protein and need it to survive, so using hair masks that are comprised of protein allows for the promotion of hair growth and keeps your hair growing strong and radiant. This hair mask works well with all types of hair, providing great nourishment that reduces hair thinning, and is one of the most effective homemade hair masks to stop hair loss and create new hair growth.

What You Need:

1 egg
1 cup of milk
2 tbsp of lemon juice
2 tbsp of olive oil

Mix all the ingredients together in a bowl and apply the mixture to your hair and scalp. Cover your hair with a shower cap and let it sit for 20 minutes. After, wash it with cold water.

The Banana Mask

Bananas are amazing for promoting hair growth and strength. Packed with vitamins and minerals such as potassium, antioxidants, manganese, vitamin C and B6, fiber, and more, bananas are an ideal treatment for hair loss and growth. Bananas improve manageability and shine, prevent and control dandruff, and moisturize your scalp. They can also help soften your hair, protect the hair’s natural elasticity, and prevent split ends and breakage.

What You Need:

2 rip bananas
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 tbsp of coconut oil
1 tbsp of honey

Mix all the ingredients in a bowl to a smooth consistency. Apply to your scalp and throughout your strands until you cover everything. Let sit for 5 minutes then wash out with Lukewarm water.

The Avocado Mask

Avocados are not only great for your body, but can do amazing things for those locks. Rich in omega 3 fatty acids, it can encourage regrowth and improve the health of your scalp and hair. Avocados are also rich in phytosterols and vitamin E that absorb into the scalp and hair shafts. This stimulates growth while protecting against damage and dryness. Anti-inflammatory properties are in avocados, making it an ideal hair mask for those that suffer from itchy and dry scalps. Applying avocado masks once or twice a week can improve the texture of your hair and add significant shine while replenishing your hair shafts and scalp.

What You Need:

1 small ripe avocado
½ cup of milk
1 tbsp of olive oil
1 tbsp of almond oil

Blend the ingredients until the mixture is smooth. Apply from the roots to the tips of hair and keep on for 15 minutes. Wash with cold water when done.

The Castor Oil Mask

Castor oil is rich in proteins perfect for hair growth. It prevents drying of the scalp and nourishes the hair shaft. Castor oil also helps in treating damaged hair and encourages hair growth while stopping hair loss. It has antibacterial and antifungal properties that make it beneficial against dandruff and scalp infections, while its ricinoleic acid content helps increase circulation to the scalp and improves hair growth.

What You Need:

2 tbsp castor oil
2 tbsp brandy
1 egg

Mix all ingredients together. Once mixed, massage mixture into scalp and hair. Let sit for 30 minutes and rinse it off with cold water.

Minoxidil: A Real Hair Regrowth Miracle in a Bottle?

October 22, 2018 By James

Hair fall is a common problem among a large chunk of the population. These days, both men and women alike suffer from severe hair fall problems. While genetics plays a huge role in hair loss, secondary factors, such as unhealthy eating habits, stress, lack of sleep, and so on, also affect the hair. You will find several over-the-counter medications designed to tackle this issue, and Minoxidil is one of them. It could really be a real hair regrowth miracle in a bottle.

Minoxidil is famous all over the world and is available in different brand names including Rogaine, Mintop, and more. Aside from that, this medication is available as either oral or topical solutions.

That being said, many still ask: does Minoxidil really work? Or is it just another product offering false hopes? Well, we have decided to dig deep into this subject to find out everything about this so-called miracle hair regrowth drug and whether it is worth buying or not.

Now, before we can understand how it works, we must first talk about the many different causes of hair loss and hair fall. In this way, we will have a better understanding of this rather unfortunate condition.

Different Causes of Hair Fall

While hair loss is more common in men than women as they suffer from male pattern baldness, it isn’t unusual for women to have hair loss too. Hair loss or thinning hair in women also could be a result of a variety of reasons. These reasons could be as temporary and simple as deficiency of vitamins to something more complex like a serious health condition.

Treating hair loss for both men and women entirely depends on what’s causing it in the first place. Below, we start off listing some of the highly common reasons and then follow with some the uncommon ones as to why you see lesser or thinner hair on your head.

Physical Stress

Something as basic as the flu, severe illness, or even a car accident could possibly trigger temporary hair loss. Any one of these triggers could result in a kind of hair fall called telogen effluvium. How so?

Our hair comes with a life cycle that is fully programmed. This includes a growth phase, a rest phase, and a shedding phase. In case of physical stress, the whole cycle gets affected and puts more of our hair into the shedding phase. Thankfully, this is completely temporary, and your hair cycle will revert back to normal once the stress eases.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is yet another kind of physical stress. That, along with all the hormones in the body, directly affect your hair. You will notice that the hair loss is more noticeable after childbirth rather than during the pregnancy, as giving birth can be traumatic for the mother.

Even for this kind of hair loss, the solution is awfully simple. All you need to do is wait, and things will work itself out eventually.

Too Much Vitamin A

If you consume too many medications or supplements that contain Vitamin A, they could potentially trigger hair loss. Adults are not supposed to consume more than 5,000 IU (International Units) of Vitamin A in one single day.

This issue is reversible, though. All you need to do is stop or limit your consumption of Vitamin A, and your hair fall will reduce over time.

Lack of Protein

If your diet lacks adequate protein intake, then your body is forced to ration the protein by halting the growth of your hair. This typically happens about three months after a dip in protein intake. Hence, for a healthy head of hair, ensure that you stock on a ton of protein on a daily basis.

Emotional Stress

While this isn’t as common as physical stress, emotional stress, such as the death of a loved one or an on-going divorce, can potentially cause hair loss. In most cases, the emotional stress will not precipitate the hair loss. It will rather exacerbate the problem that already exists. This too requires time for the hair loss to stop. Exercising, yoga, or going for therapy could all help with emotional stress.

Deficiency of Vitamins B

Having low levels of Vitamin B could potentially trigger hair loss in both men and women. However, this is quite uncommon in the United States. Tackling this issue can be simple. You can either consume Vitamin B medications or supplements. Alternatively, you can naturally find Vitamin B in foods like meat, fish, non-citrus fruits, and starchy vegetables.

Quick Weight Loss

If you have recently lost a lot of weight, it could be categorized as another form of physical stress, which could either result in hair thinning or hair loss. While weight loss is ultimately good for your health, your hair is undoubtedly going to get affected. All you need to do is wait a couple of months as this issue will correct itself.

Over Styling

It goes without saying that years of styling your hair by using hair straighteners, curling irons, constantly bleaching and coloring your hair, and several other hair treatments could have an adverse impact on your hair. All of these practices could affect the roots and completely stop the hair growth.

It is essential that you give your hair a break from styling from times to time. While avoiding heat treatments is one way to go, you must also use a conditioner after every time you shampoo. Furthermore, only let your hair air dry as often as possible.

Chemotherapy

Unfortunately, a few of the drugs used to beat cancer also affect your hair. Chemotherapy can destroy the rapidly dividing cells. While these are typically cancer cells, the hair too is another rapidly dividing cell. In such cases, there is nothing you can do to help your hair loss until the chemotherapy stops. Once that stops, your hair will begin to grow back normally.

Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is basically a medical term for those who have an underactive gland of the thyroid. This is a little gland that is located inside your neck, and it produces hormones that are highly critical to a good metabolism and also growth and development.

The lack of this hormone could potentially contribute to hair loss. Treating this issue will require you to consume synthetic thyroid medication. Doing so will help bring your thyroid functions to normal.

Anemia

It is said that one in every 10 women who are aged between 20 and 49 suffer from anemia. This occurs due to a deficiency of iron, but it is easily fixable. First, you will need to do a simple blood test that determines if you suffer from anemia. If you do test positive for it, your doctor will put you on a simple iron supplement that will take care of the hair loss.

Male Pattern Baldness and Heredity

It is said that two in three men will experience hair loss by the age of 60. Most of the time, this is because of male pattern baldness. This kind of hair loss is caused by a combination of male sex hormones and genes, which will typically follow a classic pattern in which hair will start receding at the temple and leave a hairline that is M-shaped.

In women, there also exists something called female pattern baldness. This is also called either androgenetic or androgenic alopecia. However, it isn’t as common as male pattern baldness.

This will typically occur to women who come from a family wherein the women begin to experience hair loss at a particular age. Unlike men, women do not typically suffer from a hairline that recedes. Instead, they will have thinning hair, or their part could widen.

In such cases, it is said that both men and women can benefit greatly from a topical solution such as Minoxidil. These do not require a prescription and can be bought over the counter. They are believed to help stop further hair loss and can even promote new hair growth.

On Minoxidil

You will often find this medical term, Minoxidil, brought up over and over again in several medical journals, articles, and even in the media. Typically, Minoxidil is often talked about by health care professionals when they have to discuss male pattern baldness and female pattern baldness.

We decided to find out all the important things there is to know about Minoxidil, which includes what it is, how it works, and also the multiple kinds of applications on the market right now, to name a few.

What Is Minoxidil?

Minoxidil is basically an antihypertensive vasodilator that could help in reducing or even slowing down the process of hair loss in some men as well as women. In some people, it could potentially stop the hair loss altogether, and for others, it has the ability to promote the formation of healthy and new hair.

Minoxidil recently has been off-patented, which means that it can be bought as an over-the-counter medication in order to treat androgenic or androgenetic alopecia. These are hair loss and hair thinning conditions that are often referred to as male or female pattern baldness.

The Origins of Minoxidil

You would be surprised to know that Minoxidil wasn’t first used to treat baldness and hair loss. In fact, this drug was first used to combat high blood pressure and was first sold under the name, Loniten. It was only upon extensive research that it was found that Loniten had a side effect, which was hair growth.

Due to this, Minoxidil was no longer used to treat high blood pressure as an oral medication, but it was prescribed to both men and women to treat hair loss and other hair-related issues.

Minoxidil is typically sold as a topical solution and is available in 2% and 5% concentrations. In certain countries, for example, such as India, Minoxidil is also sold in a 10% concentration. In Northern America, you will only find 2% and 5% Minoxidil solutions sold under the brand name, Rogaine.

Typically, 2% Minoxidil solutions are used by both men and women. However, 5% and higher concentrations of the medication is only prescribed to men. This is because they contain much more patent properties, and hence, have adverse side effects for women. In Europe and Asia, you will find this product sold under the brand names, Regaine and Mintop.

Different Forms of Minoxidil

The dropper application is the most traditional and commonly used form of Minoxidil. Other than the dropper, there are newer forms of application that this drug comes in as well. These include:

Spray

Minoxidil sprays are fairly new to the market. This is a simpler way to use this medication since all you need to do is spray on the topical solution onto the affected area of the scalp. This form of Minoxidil application is much cleaner as well. It definitely reduces the amount of solution that gets wasted in comparison to a dropper.

To spread the solution a little more evenly all over the head, you can try pulling back your hair that is abundant and thick so that the solution can successfully reach into the scalp and also the hair follicles that are adjoining.

Foam

Another kind of Minoxidil application is via foam. This is much newer than the previous two. To use this, you will need to take a considerable amount of foam onto your hand and then directly apply it onto your scalp. Begin by massaging it in first with your fingertips.

Dropper

The traditional dropper is considered to be one of the most common forms of Minoxidil’s application, and it makes application extremely easy. While this is the most traditional form of applying Minoxidil on the scalp, most people still prefer this. For this reason, we will give you a step-by-step guide to applying Minoxidil using a dropper application.

How to Use Minoxidil: Dropper Application

Before you even begin, make sure you read all the directions on the package before you use this product. If you feel you aren’t sure at any point, then consult your pharmacist or your doctor.
Start by cleaning the scalp and make sure it is dry. Take the dropper application and fill it with about one milliliter of solution. Typically, all droppers will have a one-milliliter line to make things easy for you.
Now, part your hair, especially around the area where there is maximum thinning. Apply the minoxidil solution properly and evenly to the scalp’s affected area and gently massage and rub it in using your fingertips.
Use this solution twice a day and wait for the solution to dry fully before you apply any of your styling products. Make sure you do this at least six months to a year in order to see positive results.

Precautions

It is essential that before you use Minoxidil, you consult with your doctor or your pharmacist to know whether you are allergic to any of the ingredients used in the solution. Furthermore, this solution may also contain multiple other inactive ingredients, which could potentially cause some allergic reactions or even some other problems.

Make sure you find out all the details from the doctor or your pharmacist. This is especially important if you suffer from the following: diseases of the scalp such as infections, cuts, and eczema; heart diseases such as heart attack, chest pain, or heart failure; kidney diseases; and liver disease.

If you are consuming medications for any of the above ailments, then ensure you talk to your doctor or pharmacist before you use this solution. There could be a possibility that these medications could have an interaction with the Minoxidil solution. Ensure you never start or stop any medication without prior approval from the doctor.

For women who are pregnant, this product should only be used if advised by the doctors. While there isn’t adequate research done whether the ingredients in the solution get passed down to the breast milk, we would highly recommend to steer clear of this product even if just for a year or two after pregnancy.

Storage

Store the Minoxidil solution at room temperature between 67 and 77 degrees F. It should also be away from sunlight and moisture. Make sure that the solution is out of reach of pets and children. Minoxidil solution is flammable, so keep it as far away from fire or even open flame until the solution has dried off completely.

If the product is expired and you need to get rid of it, do not flush it down the drain or the toilet. Make sure you properly discard the product. To know how to get rid of the solution appropriately, get in touch with your pharmacist or your local waste disposal company.

Side Effects

Stinging, redness, or burning at the site of application could possibly occur. If you feel you have any of these side effects, or they get worsened, then contact your pharmacist or your doctor as quickly as possible.

If your doctor has advised you to use this solution, it is important to note that the doctor has judged appropriately that the solution’s benefits are significantly greater than all of its possible side effects. That being said, it is rare that people who have used this medication have had a serious side effect.

It is also rare that this solution could be absorbed by the skin, which could cause some side effects. If you feel that that did occur, then immediately stop using the solution and get in touch with your doctor.

Some rare but serious allergic reactions of this product may include growth of unwanted body or facial hair, fast or irregular heartbeat, dizziness, chest pain, fainting, swelling of the hands and/or feet, unusual weight gain, difficulty breathing, and tiredness. As mentioned earlier, these are extremely serious side effects of the solution, and it is unlikely for them to occur. If it does occur, then get medical help quickly.

If you are in the United States, you can report these side effects to the FDA at www.fda.gov/medwatch or at 1-800-FDA-1088. If you are in Canada and experience any side effects, you can report them to the Health Canada at their phone number, 1-866-234-2345.

What to Do In Case of an Overdose

This solution can be fatal if it is swallowed. If you know someone who has swallowed it and has overdosed on it or facing a serious symptom such as difficulty in breathing or passing out, then immediately call 911. Else you can get in touch with the poison control center at 1-800-222-1222. On the other hand, Canadian residents can get in touch with a provincial poison control center. Some symptoms of overdose could possibly include drowsiness, fainting, flushing, and dizziness.

Minoxidil’s FAQs

There are often these questions that are frequently asked by everyone about Minoxidil. So, we decided to list the top FAQ’s and answer them for you to make things easier.

Q: There are different concentrations of Minoxidil, such as 2%, 5%, and 10%. Is the highest one always better?

A: Products that have a concentration of 5% and above have shown far better results in studies. That being said, this only applies to men. If you are a woman, you can only use the 2% solution as anything higher than that can be harmful to you.

Q: There are different kinds of Minoxidil application such as a dropper, foam, and spray. Does any one of them work better than the other?

A: There is no evidence that supports the claim that any one of the applications works better than other. That being said, there has been some evidence that has suggested that the foam application is a little less irritating to the scalp. The biggest difference between the three is the cosmetic result after each of their use.

Q: Do I have to use the Minoxidil solution at least twice a day?

A: You will notice that several Minoxidil manufacturers claim that using the solution twice a day shows better results. This is true only for the 2% and 5% concentration solution. As these are not as strong, and in order for it to show results within six to eight months, using them twice a day is essential. However, if you use minoxidil 10%, then you only need to use it once a day.

Q: What is the most common side effect of using the Minoxidil solution?

A: While it is rare to have a side effect from this solution, there have been cases that have shown people developing an irritated or an itchy scalp when used regularly. Another side effect that could be common would be the growth of facial hair.

Q: How can I know whether the solution is doing any good to me?

A: A good way to know whether this solution is working for you is to look out for any signs of hair growth, possibly after two to three weeks of regular use. It goes without saying that if you see new hair follicles coming along in the front of your hairline or even on the top and the vertex of your scalp, it is an excellent sign.

New hair growth will typically occur only after four to six months of regular use. When these new hairs come out, they will appear to be down and soft. However, after using the solution further and regularly, your hair will become the exact same consistency as all the other hairs present on your scalp.

It has been found that the fastest people have seen results with the Minoxidil solution is a little over two months. However, that is rare. Everyone will respond differently to the solution, and their results will vary.

Q: Can Minoxidil solution be used for beard growth?

A: The fact is that there have not been many clinical trials done to know whether Minoxidil can be used on a man’s face. However, it does not mean that you cannot try it out. Men with lack of beard growth have been using Minoxidil on their beard. While the results may vary, the 5% concentration is safe to use.

The Pros and Cons of Minoxidil

Commonly known as Rogaine in the United States, Minoxidil solution has been used by men and women for decades now as it is believed to help hair loss issues. The solution is available easily over the counter and is known to promote hair growth. However, the question still arises that if this does work so effectively, why do people still opt for expensive hair transplants?

Hence, we decided to do the pros and cons of this medication to see whether it is a viable option.

What We Like About It

Easy to get

One of the biggest pros of using this medication is how easy it is to get. While it is recommended to visit a doctor before buying it, you don’t necessarily have to as there is no need for a prescription to purchase some.

This advantage can also be a disadvantage to a certain extent as it keeps the patient from visiting the doctor. Minoxidil does an excellent job to help treat hair loss, but before using this product, it is essential that you find out the actual cause of your hair loss. In some cases, you may not even need Minoxidil to treat the issue.

Easy to use

Minoxidil is quite easy to use. It is available in different types of applications, and each of them is quite simple to do. All you need to do is get into the habit of using this medication at least twice a day for six to eight months. The application process is in no way too precise or even demanding.

Boosts hair restoration

People who opt to do hair transplant surgery also choose to use Minoxidil solution to boost the result of hair restoration further. That being said, it is always good to speak to your doctor first before you do it.

Remember that Minoxidil was first marketed as a drug that would help patients with high blood pressure. Using this solution right after your surgery could possibly cause a dip in your blood pressure, which may result in dizziness.

What We Don’t Like About It

You have to be consistent

In order to see the results and for this medication to work well, it is highly essential to use it as consistently as possible. This solution will only work if you apply it the way it has been directed on the package, which means that you have to do it twice a day, every single day for a minimum of six to eight months.

If you aren’t consistent with the solution, any new hair that came out because of this medication will cease to grow and will fall out.

Not effective for people with advanced hair loss

Minoxidil solution tends to be more effective if it is used by people who are under the age of 30. It is also typically more effective if it has been only a few years since you have started losing your hair. If you have an area that is entirely bald, it is unlikely for Minoxidil to work on it.

That being said, it is still recommended to use Minoxidil. The treatment works differently for different patients, after all. So, there is a possibility for the solution to actually work for you.

Concerns for women

While the FDA has approved 2% of the Minoxidil solution to be used by women for hair loss, they didn’t approve anything higher than that. There are multiple reasons why women can only use the 2% solution.

For starters, the 5% solution tends to contain ingredients that are stronger and could possibly trigger an allergic reaction or skin irritation. Furthermore, this strong concentration could potentially put women at an elevated risk of low blood pressure, which could cause fainting or dizziness or even hypotension.

The other reason why the 5% and above concentration isn’t safe for women is that it could cause hair growth that is unwanted. The medication can easily migrate from the scalp to the face, and if the solution is left on the face, it could potentially cause hair to grow in that area.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Minoxidil is a brilliant alternative to those expensive hair transplant surgeries. While how well it may actually work for you entirely depends on many factors, it will definitely make even a little difference if used as directed.

If you are young and male or female pattern baldness runs in your family, then we highly recommend you start using this solution right away to show results as quickly as possible and more effectively!

Want more hair growth tips? View our “Best Laser Caps For Hair Regrowth” article.

What Vitamins Are Good for Hair Growth and Thickness?

October 15, 2018 By James

Everyone can agree that having healthy hair is a trait we all desire. Healthy hair isn’t just a sign of beauty, but it is also a sign of good health. Like all the other parts of our body, our hair also needs a set of nutrients in order to be healthy and grow better. Hence, in this article, we will talk about what vitamins are good for hair growth and thickness.

When it comes to hair health, other than vitamins, there are various minerals and proteins that are absolutely essential. With proper intake in the right proportions, they will ensure that you have thick and fast-growing hair.

Do Vitamins Really Make That Much of a Difference?

Yes, vitamins can do wonders for your hair. It provides it with all the natural and essential nutrients that your body requires in order to produce glossy and thick hair. In a nutshell, the right diet is about 90% of what is needed for the thick and long hair that you desire.

Having all the necessary vitamins on a regular basis will ensure that they travel into your bloodstream, reach all the essential organs, and then, at last, to your hair cortex and hair follicles. This is where they get used for growing beautiful and thick hair.

What Is the Difference Between Hair Growth and Hair Thickness?

Hair growth and hair thickness are two very different things. Hair growth refers to the rate at which the hair grows. This rate could possibly be affected by multiple factors such as diet, hair care, genetics, and general health.

Hair volume or thickness, on the other hand, refers to the appearance of the greater mass in your hair. This, too, is affected by what we mentioned earlier. However, in addition to those, even the kind of haircut makes a difference to the volume of your hair.

What Vitamins Are Good for Hair Growth and Thickness?

While hair growth and the hair thickness are two different things, you can tackle both of these issues in one blow. All the vitamins, minerals, and proteins you consume make a difference for both of them.

Here is a list of the best vitamins to take for hair growth and hair thickness:

Vitamin A

All the cells in our body require vitamin A in order to grow. These include our hair cells too, which is the second fastest-growing tissue in our body. This vitamin is also essential to help keep our skin glands create the oily substance called the sebum, which helps moisturize the scalp and keep them healthy.

Diets that are deficient in this vitamin will lead to several health problems including hair loss. However, as important as it may be to get enough of this vitamin, too much of it is not good for you as well. In fact, it can also be dangerous. Studies have shown that excess of vitamin A leads to hair loss too.

You will find vitamin A naturally in carrots, kale, spinach, pumpkins, and sweet potatoes. These are also all high in beta-carotene. Additionally, you can find vitamin A in eggs, yogurt, and milk. Cod liver, in particular, is a good source of this vitamin too.

B-Vitamins

B-vitamins, also called biotin, is considered to be one of the best-known vitamins for hair growth. In fact, a deficiency of this vitamin in the body is known to cause hair loss in humans. Biotin is used extensively as a treatment for hair loss. However, those who are genuinely deficient in it show the best results.

That being said, having a biotin deficiency is extremely rare as this occurs naturally in a lot of foods. Furthermore, the effectiveness of biotin for hair growth in a healthy individual is suspect as there is lack of data on it.

Other B-vitamins are essential as they create red blood cells. These cells carry nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles and the scalp. These processes are extremely important for healthy hair growth.

These vitamins can be easily found in whole grains, seafood, dark and leafy greens, and meat. However, animal foods are considered to be the better sources of vitamin B12.

Vitamin C

This vitamin is a powerful antioxidant, and it helps us protect our bodies against oxidative stress that is caused by free radicals. These free radicals cause our hair to age by blocking the growth.

Vitamin C is essential to create collagen, which is an important part of our hair structure. It also helps in absorbing iron, which is a necessary mineral for hair growth. You can find these naturally in peppers, citrus fruits, guavas, and the likes.

Vitamin D

Having low levels of vitamin D causes alopecia, the technical term for hair loss. It has been shown that vitamin D can help to create new hair follicles. They also play an important role in the hair production. However, the actual role of vitamin D with regards to hair growth is still unknown.

Our bodies produce this vitamin when we are in contact with the sun’s rays. Other sources of this vitamin include cod liver oil, fatty fish, certain mushrooms, and fortified foods. Many people do not get the necessary quantity of vitamin D naturally. So, it will be a good idea to increase its intake via supplements.

Vitamin E

Vitamin E is quite similar to vitamin C in that it is also a powerful antioxidant that can help prevent oxidative stress. In fact, there are people suffering from hair loss who experience a significant increase in hair growth after taking vitamin E supplements.

Among the natural sources of vitamin E include almonds, spinach, sunflower seeds, and avocados. These are all both very nutritious and delicious.

Other Essential Nutrients

Vitamins aren’t the only necessary source for healthy hair growth. Minerals and proteins are also essential for having thick and healthy hair. Some of these minerals and proteins include:

Folic Acid
Iron Zinc
Magnesium
Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Are Hair Supplements Good?

Food is always the best source of getting the vitamins needed for hair growth, but if you cannot get those in your diet, supplements are the next best option. These supplements, however, are believed to work best on people who are deficient of those particular vitamins.

Furthermore, if you aren’t deficient and consume large doses of these vitamins and minerals, they can be harmful to your well-being. Hence, always consult a doctor before you take these supplements or any other kind of supplement for that matter.

Conclusion

Knowing what vitamins are good for hair growth and thickness are essential even for your overall well-being. It is best to derive these vitamins naturally from foods and not from supplements. An active and healthy lifestyle is also beneficial for good hair growth.

Want more hair growth tips? View our “Best Laser Caps For Hair Regrowth” article.

How to Accelerate Hair Growth the Natural Way

October 8, 2018 By James

Have you ever seen someone with the most beautiful hairstyle and wish to have the same? In most cases, though, to get that particular hairstyle, you will need to let your hair grow out. Now, only if there was a magic potion to grow your hair quickly, right? Sadly, there isn’t, which is why we aim to talk about how to accelerate hair growth the natural way in this article.

While you may have seen ads for certain hair oils or serums that claim to grow your hair at lightning speed, let us tell you right away that these claims aren’t true. Sure, they may help to a certain extent, but nothing will grow your hair instantly or overnight. So, don’t bother with all these claims and let us give you some top tips on growing your hair quickly.

How to Accelerate Hair Growth?

Scientifically, on an average, human hair grows at the rate of half an inch every month. It could be lesser or may be slightly more, but there are no proven ways to make your hair grow significantly faster than half an inch per month.

With that in mind, rather than aiming to unrealistically growing your hair faster, what you should try to understand are the factors that slow your hair growth and how you should be avoiding them.

What You Should Know About Hair Growth

After the intestinal cells, the human hair is the fastest growing cell in the body. In fact, the average scalp will approximately have about 120,000 strands of hair growing on it.

With that being said, the hair is not an essential tissue nor is it a vital organ. Hence, in that case, your body will never put the hair’s nutritional needs ahead of anything else. So, when you have a nutritional imbalance in your body, it will first take a toll on your hair before anywhere else.

While growing more than half an inch a month is very difficult, it is possible to grow your hair slightly quicker. However, that entirely depends on genetics, which is also known as the gene lottery.

There are certain remedies that you can try to encourage a better supply of normal and healthy growing hair. Some of the tips we have listed below are everyday lifestyle tips that don’t just benefit your hair but also your entire well-being.

Top Tips on Accelerating Your Hair Growth

Eating Healthy

Since our hair is a representation of our overall health, it comes as no surprise that what we put inside us makes a massive difference on its appearance. So, for a well-nurtured and nourished hair, there are certain things you must regularly do and add to your diet.

Water: Just like your skin, your scalp also gets dry. To address this, ideally, you should consume about two to 2.5 liters of water every single day. If you work out or live in an area with a warm climate, then adding half a liter more is necessary.
Vitamin C: Vitamin C, which is a resource for producing the necessary collagen for hair growth, is needed for having healthy skin and hair. This acts as a major antioxidant, which will fight the cellular damage we do on a regular basis. Sweet potatoes, red peppers, and citrus fruits are some of the excellent sources of Vitamin C.
Biotin: Like all cells in our body, hair cells are also coated with a fatty membrane. For these cells to multiply and grow healthily, it is necessary to keep the fatty membranes healthy as well. This can only happen when you have the right diet that includes a healthy amount of fat. Some of the top natural sources of biotin include nuts, salmon, oysters, and avocados.
Protein: Since our hair is protein-based, it is essential to consume more protein. Having a serving of roughly 120 grams of meat protein for your breakfast and lunch would be ideal. If you are a vegetarian, you can get these 120 grams of protein from beans, legumes, nuts, and tofu.
Breakfast: There is a good reason why our parents told us that the breakfast is the most important meal of the day. A nutritious breakfast is basically like refueling most of your body, which also includes your hair follicles and your scalp. Having a meal that contains all the above will give your hair cells all the energy it needs to be formed.

Don’t Shampoo Often

Shampooing too often will result in your hair becoming drier and more brittle. It also strips away the scalp and hair off of their natural oils and sebum. What you will need to do is use a good conditioner daily.

Using a conditioner will help in maintaining the ends of the hair. It will also minimize the risk of split ends, tangles, and breakage. The conditioner is used to replace the natural oils that are washed away.

Exercise

Hair cells rely on oxygen in order to stay healthy and duplicate. The oxygen can only reach every cell through blood circulation that is fully operational. A half-an-hour-long cardio three times a week is recommended. At the same time, also make it a habit to massage your scalp regularly as that will help the hair cells too.

Sleep Well

Sleep also plays an important role in your hair growth. Ideally, about eight hours of sleep every night is perfect. It is during these eight hours that the body gets the chance to repair itself. This is also the window for more growth hormones to come out, which in turn speed up the process of cell reproduction. Furthermore, sleeping will increase the blood circulation too.

Don’t Comb When Wet

When your hair is dripping wet, it is at its most vulnerable state to break. Combing it then will result in you stretching and pulling it, which will cause damage. So, before combing, dry your hair with a towel until it is just damp and then gently use a comb or a brush. Do not rush this process. Even the drying process should be gentle. Do not quickly rub your hair with the towel.

Conclusion

Knowing how to accelerate hair growth entirely depends on how much you know about hair and how they develop and grow. We hope that this article has given you enough insight into this matter.

While you cannot magically grow your hair overnight, you must ensure that you keep yourself healthy to promote good hair growth and avoid damage. Follow our list of tips to the T, and we are certain that you will have healthy hair in no time!

Want more hair growth tips? View our “Best Laser Caps For Hair Regrowth” article.

How to Prevent Hair Loss in Men: Effective Tips and Tricks

September 17, 2018 By James

Itching to know how to prevent hair loss in men? Hair loss is a serious problem among men of all ages. It usually becomes severe as we grow old, but there are also people in their 20s suffering from it.

This on-going and growing problem is mostly caused by unhealthy urban lifestyle, exposure to pollution, and the use of chemical-filled hair care products. If you

Hair loss is a serious problem among men of all ages. It may become severe as we grow old, but you can still find people in their twenties suffering from hair loss. This is also a growing problem, mostly because of an unhealthy urban lifestyle, pollution, and chemical-filled hair care products.

According to recent estimates, about one-third of the population suffers from mild to severe hair loss problem. The Cleveland Clinic even states that almost half of the men in the United States start losing their hairs by the time they reach 40 years of age.

While it is also a natural phenomenon as we lose about 100 hair strands a day on average, anything more than that is considered hair loss. There are many ways that can help us reduce the hair fall, or even promote healthy and thicker hairs.

How to Prevent Hair Loss in Men

Before you can learn how to prevent hair loss in men, you first need to identify the causes. For example, are you taking a medication that is causing hair loss? Is it due to your lifestyle and eating habits? Is it due to mineral deficiency, stress, genetics, or pollution?

In many cases, few lifestyle changes can reduce or stop hair fall. Our diet also plays a vital role in hair loss prevention. The best case scenario is if you can find the cause and take steps to rectify the problem.

For example, if it is your diet, then you should start eating food that is rich in nutrients required for healthy hair. If it is your habit of wearing a hat that’s causing it, then consider letting go of your hats.

However, in most cases, people have no idea why they are losing their hairs, or are often confused about it. In that case, you can do the following to reduce the risk of hair loss.

Choose Your Shampoo Carefully

Not everything that shines is gold, and the same is true with your shampoo. If it is offering you instant shiny and silky hair, check the list of ingredients before feeling proud of your shampoo.

The chances are, it has synthetic compounds that provide instant shine but ruin your hairs in the long run, doesn’t offer any nutritional value to your scalp, weakens roots, and builds DHT, which is product build-up and one of the leading causes of hair loss.

So, what to do? The best course of action is to throw it away and replace it with a better option—organic shampoos. These may be a little expensive and offer slow results, but they ensure healthy, strong, and thick hair for a long time.

These shampoos also promote better hair growth, provides nutrients to your scalp, and treat the roots of your hair. It is recommended to wash your hair daily with these shampoos.

Check the Label!

Our hair needs some specific vitamins and nutrients for healthy growth. When buying an organic shampoo, makes sure to check the list of ingredients and formula for Vitamin A and Vitamin E.

These vitamins promote circulation of blood in our scalp and encourage healthy production of sebum. This means that they not only prevent hair loss but also make them stronger and shiny.

Also, modern studies suggest that a lack of vitamin D is also a cause of hair loss. If you are suffering from Vitamin D deficiency, add foods that are rich in vitamin D to your diet or take Vitamin D supplement.

Eat for Healthy Hair

Some minor modifications to your weekly diet plan can have long-lasting effects on your hair. Just like other parts of our body, protein is also the primary building block of our hair. Eat food that is rich in protein like beans, fish, lean meats, and soy.

Treat Your Scalp with Essential Oils

Another way to provide your scalp with all the nutrients it needs is to massage it with essential oils. There are plenty of good options available in different varieties.

When you massage your scalp with these essential oils for a few minutes, it offers deeper penetration. The process also helps our hair follicles remain active. So which essential oils are best for the hair loss? Lavender oil and almond oil are some of the best options.

Meditation and Exercise

As mentioned earlier, lifestyle changes can also have a long-lasting and positive effect on our hairs. Our inactive urban lifestyle and lack of physical activity are causing a lot of health-related problems, and hair loss is one of these problems.

Make sure to add half an hour of exercise to your daily routine, in addition to meditation. When we exercise, blood circulation gets better, which means that our scalp also gets the freshly oxygenated blood that it needs.

Stress and anxiety is also a common cause of hair loss. Start living a relaxed life, meditate, and do things to relieve stress.

Avoid Common Mistakes

Do you brush your hair when it is still wet? If yes, don’t do it again. Avoid brushing wet hair as they are in their weakest state when wet, which increases the chance of hair loss.

For the same reasons, rubbing your wet hairs with a towel is also not recommended. Also, don’t brush your hair again and again, as the practice weakens the roots of the hair. A good alternative is to use fingers in case you want to undo tangles.

Make Lifestyle Changes

If you smoke, stop smoking. If you drink a lot of alcoholic beverages, reduce the quantity. Make sure your hairs are not exposed to constant heating or drying. Try to keep your head sweat-free as much as possible.

You can also change the style of your hair by loosening them up. Stop applying hair care products like hair gel, colors, and other similar products with chemicals. All of these will help prevent hair loss.

Conclusion

All in all, even when hair loss is a common and growing problem, there are also effective solutions available that would not only reduce hair loss but also to reverse the damage. Even few minor changes to your lifestyle can have a very healthy and long-lasting effect on your hair.

However, one of the most important factors is the shampoo you use. Organic shampoos that are nutrient-rich are the best possible solution to prevent hair loss as well as to grow healthy hair.

Want more hair growth tips? View our “Best Laser Caps For Hair Regrowth” article.

What Shampoo Makes Your Hair Grow: Secrets to Healthy Hair

September 10, 2018 By James

Believe it or not, your shampoo may be your first line of defense against hair loss. For growing hair, you may have to oil your hair, change your diet, and obviously change your shampoo. However, the question still remains, “What shampoo makes your hair grow?”

There are thousands of hair product brands that convincingly sell shampoos for growing long hair and fighting hair loss. You cannot blindly pick any of these shampoos and trust them to help with the hair growth, though. So, how do you find the shampoo that is good for your hair?

The key is to look for certain ingredients in the shampoo. Your scalp and hair both need certain nutrients that only the shampoo made with the right ingredients can provide.

Ideally, your shampoo should not just increase hair growth but also make your hair healthy. At the end of the day, you want long, strong, and smooth hair, which you can achieve by using the right shampoo. Yet, what makes the right shampoo? To learn, read ahead!

What Shampoo Makes Your Hair Grow?

There are many ingredients that are known to enhance hair growth. Some shampoo may contain only one of these ingredients, and some may contain many. The more of these ingredients a certain shampoo has, the better it is at making hair grow.

The Make-up of a Good Hair Growth Shampoo

When looking for a hair growth shampoo, here are some of the ingredients you should keep an eye out for:

Biotin

Biotin is a Vitamin B that is known to make hair, nails, and skin healthy. Its usefulness for hair, in particular, is that it plays a vital role in the production of keratin. Keratin is the main protein that serves as the building block of hair. You can find this ingredient in many shampoos and other hair products.

Niacin

Niacin is a miraculous ingredient not just for our hair but also for our body. It is a B3 Vitamin, which, when ingested, helps transport energy to our cells. In fact, it helps convert carbohydrates into energy and stops it from becoming fat. Other functions of this ingredient are improving blood circulation and producing keratin.

When applied topically, it can strengthen hair and induce growth. This is why it is another common ingredient in hair products. Avocado is abundant of this kind of B3 vitamin, so if shampoo contains avocado, it is good for you.

Zinc

Zinc is mainly responsible for fighting dandruff. It can help make your hair healthy and enhance growth as dandruff is often the cause of hair loss in the first place. If you treat your dandruff and get it under control, your hair growth will automatically improve.

Zinc is a common ingredient in anti-dandruff shampoos. Some anti-dandruff shampoos may have multiple effects, including improving hair growth.

Ketoconazole

You will find this ingredient in many anti-hair loss shampoos. It is known to be very effective for this purpose, but there is a catch. Ketoconazole is an anti-fungal, which can cause problems for those with sensitive skin.

Using a shampoo with ketoconazole can make your scalp get dry or oily, and you may get skin rashes or headaches. Since this ingredient is a bit of a dice roll, make sure to test it before using it regularly.

Vitamins and Minerals

Vitamins and minerals are generally great for your hair, especially if you are trying to grow them long and get more volume. Shampoos with a blend of vitamins and minerals provide the necessary nutrients for your scalp and hair. Shampoo brands usually advertise their shampoo with these ingredients rather than the chemical ones.

Scented Shampoos

One of the common reasons for hair loss is stress. If you have a stressful life, your hair will pay the price. Scented shampoos are proven to be great at relieving stress.

Shampoos, such as lavender-scented ones, can reduce stress and return your hair to how it was before. There are various scent options, but the most commonly used in shampoos are lavender and vanilla.

Protein

Protein creates an environment that both repairs damage and nourishes hair. Shampoos that are rich in protein can effectively end hair loss problems and help your hair grow faster. These shampoos are mostly sold as anti-hair fall or damage repair shampoos.

If the underlying cause of your stagnant hair growth is hair damage or hair fall, go for a bottle of shampoo that contains protein.

Moisturizing Shampoo

This is a no-brainer as your scalp and hair need all the moisturizing you can get. Most shampoos have a few ingredients whose purpose is to moisturize. This is good for hair growth as moisturizers will fortify hair follicles. As a result, you will grow more hair and face fewer hair problems.

Effective Tips To Help Enhance Hair Growth

Now that you know what shampoo makes your hair grow, it is equally important to know some other things about hair care. Here are some tips:

Always go for natural ingredients as they are not risky and will not create more hair problems for you.
Do not apply shampoo daily as it will dry out your hair.
For the shampoo to work efficiently, gently massage the scalp when you apply it. This will increase blood circulation, and subsequently, your hair follicles will absorb more nutrients.
Make the necessary changes in your lifestyle as well. These include eating healthy, avoiding stress, and keeping your hair clean.
Avoid residue shampoos (those containing wax).
Avoid mechanical damage to your hair by limiting the use of therapies and machines.
Do not use a brush when your hair is wet.

Final Words

Your hair is a vital part of your overall look, and it is your job to take the best care of it. Hair growth problems are very common among both women and men. The easiest way to fix the problem is to choose the right shampoo.

When buying your shampoo, make sure to read the list of ingredients carefully. If there is an unfamiliar ingredient, research about it. Even one small toxic ingredient can exacerbate your condition. In the end, using the right shampoo, improving your diet, and generally taking good care of your hair will go a long way.