Fine Hair and Protein Myths

A lot of people think that you can increase your hair’s vitality by what you eat - and they are correct. However, a lot of people are wrong to assume that you need to consume a lot of protein, and specifically animal protein, to have healthy hair. For example, some people recommend those with fine hair consume a lot of eggs. Nothing could be further from the truth!

Here’s a personal example. My mother and I both have fine, thin, straight hair. She has eaten meat all her life, while I am a strict vegetarian (vegan). No matter that our diets differ, we both have similar quality hair. Of course part of this is genetic. But also, this is because we both get a well-balanced diet (mine just doesn’t contain any animal products).

To increase the vitality of your hair through diet, you need to include the following on a regular basis:

Clean water

A wide array of fruits and vegetables, preferably raw or cooked low-heat

A good selection of protein from several sources including: soy protein/flour, plant protein (like whole grains and rice) and brewers yeast.

I also recommend a high-quality multivitamin. In particular look for multivitamins with biotin and folic acid. These are the amino acids required for hair growth.

Gelatin Caps

Knox Gelatin sells packets and capsules of ground-up gelatin and markets it as a supplement to strengthen hair, skin, and nails. Before I became vegetarian my mother and I tried consuming these packets and capsules - along with eating tons of Jello — for a period of four months. Neither of us saw a bit of difference in our hair, skin, or nails. Perhaps it takes longer to work but I doubt it. Besides, the thought of eating ground up animal bones (that’s what gelatin is) just isn’t appealing.

Are You Vegetarian/Vegan?

You might have encountered good-natured people who tell you that eating meat will increase the diameter or quantity of your hair. And I’m sure you know this just isn’t true. I can believe you get all the nutrients you need through a well-balanced diet. However, if you are thinking of adding anything to your routine in an effort to help your hair, skin, or nails, I’d recommend the following supplements:

Vegan Multivitamin

Flaxseed (oil form or ground up) - add to a variety of dishes, this provides omega 3 fatty acids typically found in seafood.

Nutritional Yeast - add to dishes, tastes kind of like mild powdered cheese. Make sure you buy the nutritional kind, not the kind for baking bread or from the brewing process.

People who are not vegetarian/vegan will benefit from adding any of the above-mentioned into their diets, too.

Yes, diet does play a role in the health and vitality of your hair. However, eating too much animal protein won’t thicken fine hair - but probably will thicken your arteries! So, be healthy and get your protein from plant sources. Don’t be fooled by well-meaning, but uninformed people when it comes to having great health and fabulous hair!

Holly Houff considers herself a champion for women “cursed” with straight, fine, thin, limp hair - and tirelessly works in the pursuit of happy hair days! She reviews fine hair products and techniques at her website, http://www.finehairsecrets.com

Hair Replacement Surgery

Hair Replacement Information

Hair Replacement Surgery is the medical terminology that covers the variety of procedures utilized to counter balding. The goal is to minimize the loss of hair and restore the appearance of hair. Several techniques utilized include scalp reduction, tissue expansion, strip grafts, scalp flaps, or clusters of hair plugs. This procedure is most effective on men who have experienced a slowdown or halt in hair loss resulting from existing male pattern baldness.

Length and details of the Hair Replacement procedure

The length of operation typically runs 1 to 3 hours with several techniques requiring multiple procedures over the span of 1 to 2 years. Patients are given a general or local anesthesia, with sedation.

Most Hair Replacement Surgery procedures are routinely outpatient.

Risks and/or complications related to Hair Replacement Surgery

In Hair Replacement Surgery the patient may experience potential side effects consisting of a temporary achy and tight scalp, to an unnatural look in initial stages.

In addition there are other associated risks with this procedure that include the risk of infection, excessive scarring, and the failure of the procedures effectiveness that could result in the loss of scalp tissue and/or transplanted hair.

Patients may return to work in approximately 2 to 5 days. Those involved in sports or other physical activities will be able to resume these activities in approximately 10 days to 3 weeks. The final results of the procedure may take up to 18 months or more to achieve the desired results.

Long-term results of Hair Replacement Surgery

In this procedure the results typically are permanent.

How much does Hair Replacement Surgery cost?

The national average cost for the procedure is $3,000

Will my insurance cover a Hair Replacement Surgery?

Hair replacement surgery is a cosmetic procedure that usually is not covered under most insurance plans. However some costs may be covered if there is a medical necessity behind the procedure, such as serious burns or similar traumatic event. In this circumstance, hair replacement surgery could be considered a reconstructive treatment and may be covered by health insurance. As always consult with your physician and health insurance plan.

Read more about Hair Replacement Surgery facts and costs. Alan Hood is a contributing writer at http://www.houstonmedcenter.com

How to Get The Perfect Haircut Every Time

I’m not known as a person who worries much, but I usually get a feeling of anticipation and anxiety whenever I go to get a simple haircut. I have been with the same hairstylist for over 10 years (we’ll call him John), but there are still some areas of concern when I ask him for a new hairstyle.

The same process goes on every time: I sit down in the chair, he puts the cape on me, then he fluffs my hair a little and says “what do we want to do today?” If I’m just in the mood for a trim, that’s easy, I know what to expect, he will just follow the same cut as last time and make it a little shorter.

However, the worry starts when I’m in the mood for a change, and, in fact, we have discussed this topic several times. He was complaining to me one day that a guy came in and wanted a haircut that made him look “daring.” What the heck does daring look like!? John said he had no clue, and basically gave him the same haircut as usual, and wasn’t sure if he would ever come back for another cut.

I have to admit that I am guilty of the same thing. I go in and say I want a change, he says what were you thinking of, and I say, Oh, I don’t know, just do your Magic. I know he is the professional, and he’s really good at his work, but I have gotten cuts that were wayyy shorter than I wanted, and then sometime, as in the case above, I get practically the same hairdo I had before, and go home disappointed.

Sometimes I will try to get to my appointment early so I have time to go through the books and see if there is a hairstyle that I like. Usually there is nothing that I can even imagine suggesting for myself, and of course, John can’t help me because he is busy with his customer.

All this makes my 6-week visit a pain in the rear, if you know what I mean. That’s why I finally decided to do things the easy way. I registered with an on-line Hairstyle Selection agency about a month before my next haircut was due. I uploaded my picture, tried on several different hairstyles before I went to my appointment, and then picked the one I was in the mood for and gave it to John as I sat down.

You would not believe the results! John cut my hair exactly as shown in the picture! We were both on the same page as to what I wanted; I was less nervous knowing how I would look when it was all finished; and I was so happy with my new hairdo that I tipped him really good and left the shop humming a happy tune.

In my opinion, it just doesn’t get any better than that!

Evelyn Grazini is a Health and Wellness Researcher, and the Editor at “aHealthStop” Your One Stop Shop for Health, Wellness, and Beauty. Find Discount and Natural Vitamins, Skin Care, Hair Care, Weight Loss, Home Health, and More! http://www.ahealthstop.com

Nails Times Ten

There are ten tools at your fingertips, used to tighten screws, slit seals, crease paper, scratch itches, peel labels, scrape lottery tickets, tap out rhythm, and the ever politically-correct task of removing that spinach from between your teeth. Your fingernails are a universal tool, and most of us couldn’t function without them being so close to (pardon the pun) … hand.

Fingernails are composed primarily of keratin; a tough, insoluble protein substance that is the chief structural constituent of hair, nails, horns, and hoofs. Nails grow about 1/8th inch per month and require 3 to 6 months to completely re-grow, while toenails grow about three times slower. Fingernail growth slows as you get older, in cold weather, during illness; men’s nails grow faster than woman’s, and nails on the dominant hand grow faster.

Your nails are always in sight, so it doesn’t make a positive personal statement if they are grubby, broken, or split with rough, ragged cuticles. Taking care of your nails is no big thing, but there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to nail care:

• Start with a good soak to soften things up and then cut straight across the front of the nail with a sharp clipper or nail scissors, use a nail board to shape, file in one direction to avoid splitting the nail.

• Buff nails with a 4 in 1 multi-function buffer to smooth ridges, rough spots and remove stains.

• Next apply a cuticle remover or cream, and push the cuticle back (Note: cuticle pens work really well here, the moisturizer is in the felt tip so you don’t have to touch it and get your hands oily).

• Do not clip or cut ragged cuticles; this removes the nail’s protective barrier to bacteria and can cause irregular nail growth and infection.

• Clip hangnails and apply cuticle cream; biting and picking only tears the skin and makes things painfully worse.

Now you have great looking, well-manicured healthy nails, let’s work on your dry, rough hands:

• Gentle scrubbing with a granular scrub and a good brush will get the ground-in dirt on knuckles and around the nails.

• Follow up with a light aloe-based hand moisturizer; your hands won’t feel or look greasy, just smooth and comfortable.

You clean and maintain your work tools without a second thought, don’t you?

… Remember to give your hands the same consideration.

© 2005 Jolene Schwartz

Jolene Schwartz is a grooming specialist for over 20 years; as a master barber and licensed cosmetologist in her own men’s salon. She launched http://appearancesformen.com e-com site; writing monthly columns about men’s products, lifestyle, and offering the finest in men’s grooming products.

Fighting Wrinkles

Perhaps there are people that do not care if they look like an old hag but I do. Then I would fight wrinkles and age spots until the day I die. I didn’t say that I would not have them, but I did say I would fight them. They do matter to me. My appearance is very important to me and I intend to do everything I can to prevent it, not just let it happen to me.

I don’t think people have to be old and wrinkled just because they have aged. Both events do not necessarily go hand in hand. As in my family my mother did not have a wrinkle on her face when she died at 72 (the nurses thought she was in her 40’s). My grandmother died at 72 with skin as smooth as a young girl. She stayed out of the sun all her life and her skin was like peaches and cream. On the other hand, my aunt (my mother’s sister) lived in Arizona all her life. She refused HRT and died of heart disease and looked in her 90’s with wrinkles and sagging skin. She was only 74 when she died.

With a little effort everybody can be buried with attractive skin and body, but it takes some effort and a lot of women don’t have the desire to work at it.

Who said I was to old to die young??
I am going to be 55 this year. I do not consider myself old. Age is actually a state of mind and I am only 16 in my heart. How old are you in your heart?

How to Treat Baldness?

What is baldness? In medical terms baldness is called as Alopecia. Baldness is the loss of hair and the scalp is viewable to normal eyes. This condition is more prevalent in men than women. Hair loss is mainly due to age, illness, hereditary, changes in hormones etc.

In male pattern baldness the loss of hair is in the front side of the head, crown or thinning of hair. Some men do lose all their hair. In female pattern baldness, the hair gets thin all over the head or mainly in the crown and front position. In female pattern baldness, it is very rare to see fully bald women.

How to treat baldness? The doctor takes into account the age, heath condition, family history, tolerance for certain medicines etc. There is no treatment for baldness but hair replacement surgery can be done to fix some hair in the bald spot on the head. This is a little painful process. 99% of baldness has no cure through medications. There is lots of medication available over the counter for alopecia, but most of them are of no use. The baldness in men starts in the shape of “M” and the hair becomes very thin and small. Baldness could lead to lower self-confidence and low self-esteem.

Shiny top on the head is always something, which would make a baldy, lose his self-esteem. Though slowdown in the process of hair loss can be achieved, hair growth is not possible. If baldness is detected early then certain precautions can be taken to prevent further falling of hair.

Paul has been providing answers to lots of queries through his website on a wide variety of subjects ranging from satellite phones to acne. To learn more visit http://www.askaquery.com/Answers/qn478.html

Skin - Stretch Marks Avoidance

Stretch marks are not for women only. They affect many teenagers and body builders. What are stretch marks? The fine lines that change in color over a time and appear on different parts of body generally after pregnancy or after sudden weight increase are Stretch marks.

Skin care and stretch marks formation-

Stretch marks don’t form only because the skin stretches during certain periods. Let us look at this carefully. Most of the women believe that they get stretch marks because of their body expanding during pregnancy. This is true, but please note that the marks that you see in your skin get formed when the skin does not stretch and therefore tears. This not stretching of skin is believed to be because of certain hormones. These hormones don’t allow the dermis to make more collagen and elastin. If the skin had made enough collagen and elastin to support the stretching, no marks would have appeared. This hormone called glucocorticoids is responsible for formation of stretch marks.

Skin Care and stretch mark avoidance-

Stretch marks form during pregnancy in women, in teenagers when they gain weight very fast, in body builders and in some conditions such as Cushing’s syndrome. Use of steroid creams over along period may also form stretch marks.

Skin care and stretch marks treatment-

There is no proven treatment available for stretch marks. Rather than trying any product that claims to treat stretch marks, please consult your doctor. Chemical peeling and laser is being tried to remove them. Vitamin C creams and retinoids are said to help. Your doctor is the best judge. Please consult him/her and find the remedy if possible. Even otherwise don’t get disheartened. They fade away over time.

This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article.