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Hair Health

Unfortunately, while that one miracle product doesn’t yet exist, there are several steps that you can take to ensure your hair is at its healthiest, and there are several products that can do their part to help.

Diet
Healthy hair begins from the inside out, so paying attention to your diet is very important. For starters, water hydrates your hair as well as your body, so be sure to drink eight to 10 glasses of water each day. Try to eat lots of fruits and vegetables, which contain antioxidants and vitamins and whole grains, nuts and seeds for vitamins and minerals. Because hair itself is a protein, a protein-rich diet that includes chicken, fish, eggs, beans and yogurt can cause increased hair health.

Several vitamins have been shown to improve the health and growth of hair. Vitamin A, found in meat, dairy products, spinach, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, and stone fruits such as apricots and peaches, helps the scalp produce healthy sebum, an oily substance that keeps hair lubricated and shiny. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that maintains skin and hair health. It can be found in citrus fruits, strawberries, tomatoes, green peppers, potatoes and dark green vegetables. Soybeans, raw seeds and nuts, dried beans and leafy green vegetables are all good sources of vitamin E, which enhances scalp circulation. Many vitamins can be unhealthy if taken in too high of a dose, so talk to your doctor before beginning a vitamin regimen.

Stress
Like everything else in life, your hair can be negatively impacted by stress. Excess anxiety and tension can cause hair loss, dullness and color damage, so do your best to keep stress at a minimum. Try to plan your days so as to avoid getting into a time crunch, and consider practicing stress relievers such as meditation and yoga.

Chemicals
There is little out there that can cause more damage in less time than harsh chemicals. Frequent hair coloring, straightening, perming and other chemical processes not only dry out hair, they can cause damage to the scalp. If you do color or process your hair, try to find a salon or technician that uses natural products that are more gentle to your hair and scalp.

Washing and Drying
If possible, avoid washing your hair every day, which can strip hair of its natural oils. Brush your hair before shampooing, which can help detangle hair while removing product build-up and scalp flakes. Never use a brush—especially one with plastic bristles—on wet hair, as this can cause breakage. Instead, gently remove tangles with a wide-tooth plastic comb, such as Mason Pearson Detangling Comb (wooden combs can have tiny imperfections that can snag hair). If you want to use a brush on dry hair, those with natural boar bristles are best. Frequent blow-drying can cause split ends and brittle hair, so let your hair dry naturally whenever possible. If you must blow-dry, look for an ionic hair dryer which uses negative ions to more quickly break up water molecules, cutting down on drying time, and cancel out damage-causing positive ions.

Trims
The longer your hair gets, the older the ends of hair become, causing them to become split-prone and fuzzy. Because most hair grows at a rate of half and inch per month, it is a good idea to get a half inch trim every six to eight weeks.

Products
True, no product can magically turn dry, brittle, damaged hair into shiny, silky, beautiful tresses. However, there are a number of items out there that can help you achieve that shiny, lustrous look you’re seeking.

Dermalogica’s Shine Therapy Shampoo and Silk Finish Conditioner are fortified with essential oils to infuse hair with shine and reduce dry scalp itching. Shea Butter Milk Shampoo by L'Occitane uses rich shea butter to nourish, repair and protect the hair fiber from future damage.

Spalasium Repairing Conditioner uses rosemary essential oil, citrus flavonoids and hydrolyzed soy protein to nourish and repair.

As hair ages, it becomes more brittle, thinner, and more susceptible to damage from chemicals and environmental aggressors. Age Intervention Hair Revitalizing Conditioner by Jan Marini promises to help hair regain body, bounce and vitality and appear lusher, fuller and younger-looking.

If you suffer from a dry, flaky scalp, try NeoCeuticals Scalp Treatment by NeoStrata. This fragrance-free scalp solution helps loosen and remove flakes while providing much-needed moisture.

Article posted 8/20/2007.

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Spalasium Replenishing Shampoo by Pevonia Botanica $14.00

Spalasium Repairing Conditioner by Pevonia Botanica $14.00

Shea Butter Milk Shampoo by L'Occitane $17.00