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Easy Styling Secrets for Thinning Hair

Your hair says so much about you. It is as much, if not more important to your “look” than the clothes you wear. Hair plays a major role in how we look and how we feel. So what happens to those of us not blessed with thick flowing locks? Let’s not kid ourselves; thinning hair is hard to work with. It can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. But it doesn’t have to be. Below are some simple styling solutions to turn flat, thin hair into voluminous tresses.

So Fresh and So Clean

We’ve all heard the rumors that styling with heat products can damage your hair. But for women’s thinning hair it really can be a godsend. Start your hair care regime in the shower. Investing in a good volume boosting shampoo is key. Also, many people are drawn to volumizing conditioners, but 9 times out of 10 these products can actually weigh thin hair down. Instead, look for a conditioner that is light and heat responsive. This way, it’ll activate when you blow dry.

Heat It Up

The best strategy to add volume quickly is blow drying. Once you’re done with your shower, towel dry those tresses until they are just damp. Next, you’ll want to use a volumizing moose. Remember a little dab will do ya. Start at the root and work the moose down to the tips. It’s vital to use it sparingly; with thin hair it’s easy to overuse products which weigh your hair down.

Next, flip your hair upside down and blow dry, again working from the roots out to the tips.

Curly Sue

Curling your hair is an excellent way to create the illusion of volume. Curls by nature take flat hair and round it out, making your hair appear shorter. This is an excellent tactic to give the impression of fuller hair and always serves well for special occasions. Start with the same process described above but after applying your moose, you’ll need to use a heat protectant spray (nothing ruins a hot look like frizz…).

Curling irons work as a great tool to add curl to your ‘do. They come in a huge variety of styles, allowing you a lot of versatility to your look. Thicker curling irons work well with longer hair, but don’t give as dense a curl. Thinner irons are great for hair that is already short and make tight ringlets with ease. Start at the tip of the hair and roll to the root. Hold it for a good 10 seconds, adding a fine mist of hair spray will help the curl keep. Then release. In no time you’ll have a sassy, voluminous look that’ll give them something to talk about.

For a more permanent solution, you can try a perm, but use caution! Perms use chemicals which can further damage thin and fine hair. Do your research before pursuing this as an option.

What’s Up Short Stuff?

Hair styles come and go. Let’s face it, trends in hair evolve just as quickly as trends in fashion (and thank God for that, or we all may still be rocking mullets). But like the little black dress, the pumps, and the fitted jeans, some hair styles are timeless classics.

Short styles work for people with thin or fine hair. Which styles can vary drastically, depending on your face shape and hair color, but a good rule of them is to keep thin hair no longer than shoulder length.

With these styling solutions in your thinning hair care arsenal, your thin hair will be a thing of the past. Now your biggest problem is going to be which shoes match that top.

Other great hair care tips and hair loss solutions for women you can find at http://www.iwanthair.com

Stop Losing your Beauty and Valuable Time Removing Fusion, Braids, Weaves, Hair Extensions and Dreadlocks!

The popularity of braids, dreadlocks, add on hair / wigs, weaves, natural hair styles, and hair extensions with or without glue is exploding.

The key importance and selling point for the Take Down removal cream is that it is an oil based cream. This key factor allows women to transition easily from wearing braids to a relaxer in the same day.

Most women of color assume that after removing braids or extensions they have to wait 1 week in order to relax or straighten their hair, but because Take Down is a cream- not a spray. and is an oil based product.

It protects the scalp and hair so that a chemical relaxer can be used. Most people or stylists donâ??t have the time or patience to remove fusion, braids, dreadlocks, weaves or hair extensions the right way. And the average consumer goes to the salon to undo or â??take downâ? a style.

And if the hair stylist does not have proper understanding of how to remove any of these styles, they just pull and tug, which ultimately damages their clientâ??s hair. But now there is a solution.

The Take Down® brand is not only unique, but is the lead product for the removal of all add-on-hair styles in the beauty industry. It is a very strong cross over product, for all types of women and hair textures.

Every one from hollywood,models, entertainers to the everday college student wears some form of hair extensions, braids,and add-on-hair.

Anyone who has removed fusion, hair extensions, weaves that are saturated with bonding glue, or tiny micro-braids, understands the hassle. When removing hair extensions with fusion, braids, weaves or dreadlocks, the hair can become dry and matted together, so it can take hours upon hours to remove these styles. And often, once these styles are removed, unhealthy, broken hair is left behind.

Introducing a new product that helps detangle hair and aids in the fast and easy removal of fusion, braids, hair extensions, weaves and dreadlocks. TAKE DOWN® makes the pain, tangles, knots and damage associated with removing these styles old news.

With TAKE DOWN®, women and men who desire changing their locked hairstyles donâ??t have to cut their Dreadlocks off any more, they can salvage all that beautiful hair. With TAKE DOWN®, you have no more hair loss, damage or balding. And definitely no more excess fusion adhesive or bonding glue stuck to the hair and scalp.

TAKE DOWN®, THE REVOLUTIONARY HAIR REMOVAL CREAM penetrates through the hair and softens the hair as you comb through it. This natural cream can be a relief from the pain of combing out knots and clumps of tangled or matted hair once you have taken out the extension, braid or dreadlock. This revolutionary process makes removal of braids easy, fast and painless�

TAKE DOWNâ??S ®, revolutionary and unique selling points sit squarely with its ability to address a strong, yet previously overlooked, need in the hair care market.

copyright 2007 GBA Ent

Hot Tips To Prevent Hair Loss!

January 25th, 2010 ClipHairExtensions No comments

While Androgenetic Alopecia is the number one reason why individuals experience hair loss, it is not the only one. Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism, ringworm and fungal infections can cause hair loss. Certain medications such as blood thinners, gout medication, birth control pills and too much vitamin A can cause sudden or abnormal hair loss as can following a crash diet, sudden hormonal changes, chemotherapy and radiation. If you are taking prescription medications, talk to your doctor and find out if your medication is contributing to your hair loss.
At any given time 10% of our hair is in what is called a “resting phase” and after 2-3 months resting, hair falls out and new hair grows in its place. Some people, however, experience more hair loss than is normal.
Over here are some excellent resources on how to prevent further hair loss:
Avoid mega-doses of vitamin A. Too much vitamin A can cause your hair to fall out.
Exercise, do yoga, meditate or find some other practice that will help to reduce your anxiety and stress levels. If you wear pigtails, cornrows, use a curling iron, hair dryer or hot rollers, try changing your hair style to one that puts less pressure and stress on your hair and scalp.
If hot oil treatments or chemicals such as those used in permanents are causing inflammation to the scalp, discontinue their use, or reduce the number of times you are using them.
Use gentle shampoos and conditioners to avoid any unnecessary damage to your hair.
In men, herbs such as saw palmetto and licorice root help block the formation of DHT. The same holds true for supplementation with zinc. As an added benefit, studies show that these supplements can also help prevent prostate enlargement.
Massage your scalp with rosemary oil in an olive oil base. Both rosemary oil and massaging the scalp can stimulate the circulation in the scalp and promote hair growth. Again, if you are experiencing hair loss, check with your doctor to ensure that a more serious disorder isn’t the cause.

How to Prevent Hair Loss…

January 22nd, 2010 ClipHairExtensions No comments

Excessive hair loss is truly one of the worst nightmares that any person could have. It is important that everyone knows about ways to prevent it. As many say, an ounce of prevention is much greater in value than a pound of cure.
You should start adopting and practicing ways to prevent hair loss immediately even if there is no imminent problem. There are many ways on how you could prevent this from becoming a serious problem that could bog you.
Hair loss is inevitable and is a natural process that happens. On the average, people from all ages lose about a hundred strands each day. Such hair lost is totally and abruptly replaced. In many cases, new hair starts to grow even if the strands to be replaced are not yet falling off. There is nothing you could do to prevent this natural process.
However, there are certain guidelines that you should practice if you are aiming to prevent excessive loss. This is not natural and is usually caused by the tedious and damaging practices and products you apply to your hair.
Tips to prevent excessive hair loss
Here are some tips that could help you prevent excessive or unnatural hair loss. Take note that there are several practices that you might have thought off as proper hair care but in truth, are contributory to the problem.
1) Consult a dermatologist or a hair expert before deciding to use new hair styling and caring products that are released in the market. To prevent hair loss due to such products, make sure you properly read directions for use of such products and seek feedbacks and product reviews. Also ask experts about possible adverse effects of these products to prevent hair loss.
2) Watching your diet not only gives you proper weight management and nutrition replenishment benefits. It is found that eating foods rich in calcium, iron,vitamins and minerals would contribute enough in giving hair nutrition and thus help prevent excessive hair loss.
3) To prevent hair loss, try to avoid alternate styling that involve putting tension on the hair and scalp, like braids and ponytails.
4) Handle your hair properly especially when it is wet. It has been found that when wet, it is more fragile and vulnerable to falling off. To prevent hair loss after a bath, do not rub the hair briskly with a towel. Instead, blot the hair dry. This is a good and practical way to prevent hair loss.
5) Brushing the hair can be a contribution factor as well especially when you comb roughly with commonly used fine-toothed combs. Doing so would apply excessive pressure to the hair, making it more vulnerable to loss. So always brush your hair gently using wide-toothed combs and smooth-tipped hair brushes.
Overall, the best guideline to hair loss prevention would be to live a stress-free lifestyle. It seems impossible but learning to control and curtail stress would really help prevent hair loss because the hair, just like any other parts of the body is affected when blood and nutrition circulation is not optimal.

Hair Loss & Thinning Hair Information

January 21st, 2010 ClipHairExtensions No comments

For millions of people world-wide, everyday is a “bad hair” day due to the problem of thinning hair or baldness. Discussing hair loss with a doctor is an important first step. There are a number of treatments available these days that make hair loss or thinning hair easier to live with. A concern not only experienced by men but by a growing number of women is Alopecia, or the excessive and abnormal loss of healthy hair. Traumatic situations and genetics can be the cause of hair thinning and loss and also by hormonal fluctuations, excessive physical force or poor nutrition. While these factors can affect both men and women, hair thinning and loss usually occurs for:

Men The most well-known pattern of hair loss is a thinning crown or receding hair line. Due to the presence of a derivative or by-product of testosterone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) hair loss happens. This hormone can contract the hair follicles and has a larger effect in the mid-anterior scalp and temples. Some categories of male hair loss are: Chronic Diffuse Alopecia – can happen because of nutritional, metabolic or endocrine matters. Acute diffuse alopecia – occurs from physical or psychological reasons such as hormones, nutritional shortages or medications. Androgenetic Alopecia – occurs because of genetic sensitivity to male hormones. This hardly ever affects women.

Women Most cases of hair thinning and loss are as a result of hormonal fluctuations, ie during pregnancy, childbirth or use of some methods of birth control. Women can also experience: Anagen effluvium – occurs due to chemotherapy. The matrix of the hair becomes damaged and, as a result, the hair shaft will narrow, eventually fracturing. Traction alopecia – caused by severe hairstyles, such as ponytails that are too tight, braiding, cornrows or the frequent use of extensions. These procedures pull at hair over a period of time but loss can be prevented if recognized and treated early.

Males and females can reduce or even halt hair loss or thinning, if found early enough, by using various over-the-counter treatments like: a). A shampoo that describes itself as “revitalizing/fortifying/energizing”. These will nurture and guard existing hair while removing oils that can obstruct the follicles and stop re-growth. b). A daily vitamin supplement. Look for supplements labelled especially for hair and/or nails and are fortified with Vitamin B3 (niacin). These defend the hair shaft, and antioxidants, to ward off harm from free radicals. c). Weekly use, leave-in scalp treatment prepared with essential oils – oils such as lavender and orange will relax and unblock hair follicles to encourage growth, regulate oil production and sustain cell repair. Results will vary, as with any treatment, and may possibly need to be continued on a regular basis. Also, allow around 6-8 weeks before expecting to see results.

Techniques to hide hair loss: Perhaps it is time to think of some techniques to hide your hair loss if you are unhappy with your thinning hair. Whether you are a man or a woman losing hair due to heredity, stress, medication or a medical condition you can use these tips to help you cope.

Use a Hair Thickening Shampoo or Conditioner Use a hair thickening shampoo and/or conditioner meant to disguise loss by making the hair appear to be thicker. Brush your hair gently after shampooing and conditioning to stop losing more hair, and allow hair to dry completely before combing or brushing it.

Techniques for Styling If your head of hair is not as thick as it used to be, there are some styling techniques and styling products that you can use to keep your head looking its best at any age. Avoid styling gels they will only matte your hair together and accentuate your baldness. Go for texturizing lotions and creams that will give you fullness and volume. Another great choice is to use a leave-in conditioner that can make your hair appear fuller and more textured. Blow dry thinning hair for a fuller look – For hair that is thinning on top, try blow drying after you wash and condition and comb the hair in front straight back. Use mousse or a light hairspray to keep the style in place. The blow dryer will keep hair from matting together and appearing thinner than it is.

Hair extensions are a quick and simple method Use a professional hair salon to get natural human hair added to your hair. This may last you for several weeks or several months. Hair extensions are used for women and men, with thick long hair to camouflage the fact that they are losing hair, and are an easy way to change your look.

Blow-dry your Hair Consider blow drying if your hair is thinning on top to give it added texture and body and to give your head more coverage. Brush it into a quiff on top of your head by brushing it from the forehead up. Maintain the style with a little hairspray. If your hair is thinning throughout, this is a good way to make your hair look fuller.Chaps – Getting a Buzz from your Hair The buzz cut is a way to disguise the fact that you are losing hair. Businessmen, sports stars and actors all use this as a classy, style that is easy to maintain. Groom your scalp daily and remove the hairs you have left for a clean, fresh look by using a wet-dry electric razor. If you’re disturbed about your hair loss or if your hair is starting to thin, make an appointment with your hairdresser or barber and request some advice on a fresh, new look. There are plenty of hair styles to choose from that have you looking great.

Dramatics Of Hair Loss In Women

November 27th, 2009 ClipHairExtensions No comments

Have you noticed a gradual and progressive increase in the number of hairs lost when combing or brushing? Perhaps after months or years of vain denial, you have realized that the mirror does not lie, visible thinning has occurred. You’re not alone if you’re experiencing breakage, increased hair shedding or significant hair loss.
Many women may cover it up with wigs, hair extensions, hats or scarves. Others choose one of the several approved medications or surgical procedures that are available to treat baldness.
Excessive hair loss or balding is mistakenly perceived as a strictly something that happens to men although women actually make up to forty percent of American hair loss sufferers. In America, one in four, or over 30 million women will seek solutions and treatment for hair loss annually.
First of all, don’t panic! Hair loss or hair shedding is consistent within the hair growth cycle and it is normal to lose some scalp hair each day. The average human scalp has roughly 100,000 to 150,000 individual hairs and the normal hair growth cycle results in the loosening or shedding of about 100 to 150 hairs on a daily basis. New hair growth then emerges from these same previous dormant hair follicles, growing at the average rate of about half an inch per month.
Hair is composed of two separate parts: the follicle and the hair shaft. The follicle lies below the scalp and produces the hair strands that we see growing out of our head. The follicle is alive, however the hair strand is simply composed of dead cells that have no regenerative ability.
For most people, 90% of our scalp hair is always in a to six year growth phase (anagen) while the remaining 10% is in a dormant period (telogen), which lasts about three months. When the dormant period ends the hair is shed; these are the worrisome hairs we obsess over in our comb, hairbrush, on our pillow or down the shower drain. Relax, some hair loss is perfectly normal.
Baldness or Alopecia happens when the normal pattern of hair growth is disrupted. The normal pattern of human hair growth is growing, resting, shedding and growing again. If the growth pattern is out of balance, hair does not grow back as readily as it falls out. A family history of androgenetic alopecia increases your risk of balding. Heredity also affects the age at which you begin to lose hair and the development, pattern and extent of your baldness.
What concerns us is not these normally shed hairs, but the noticeable thinning we confront in the mirror. For a woman, thick, vibrant hair is our crowning glory, our vanity visible. A luxuriant full mane epitomizes the beauty of a woman and is integrally woven into our self image. Our culture strongly identifies femininity with a thick, silky head of hair. Throughout recorded history, images of shining, full bodied hair are associated with female beauty, youth, desirability and good health. Society unfairly identifies dry, lack luster and thinning hair with old age, sickness and poverty.
A dramatic decrease in self esteem is evident in women when their hair begins to fall out. Hair shedding is not physically painful, however it often causes severe emotional distress. We obsess over our thin tresses as we battle depression and self loathing. Women frequently become introverted and withdraw from the world. We avoid intimate contact and make futile attempts to disguise the quality and quantity of our hair.
Hair loss is especially injurious to those who have professions or careers where physical appearance plays a significant role. A young woman is especially vulnerable to the stigma of balding. Not until we are confronted with the loss of our hair do we fully realize how essential hair is to our overall perception of ourselves.
A woman’s hair is at its thickest by age 20. Once we pass 20, however, our hair gradually begins to thin, shedding more than the normal 100-150 hairs a day. With aging, hair strands hold less pigment and become smaller so that what was once the luxuriant and thick hair of our youth becomes thin, fine and lighter in color. For even the elderly woman, significant hair loss can threaten self image. A woman’s sense of sexuality and femininity as well as her establish place in family and society are often undermined by hair loss.
It is hardly surprising when a man starts balding. By the age of thirty-five about 25 percent of American men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss and about 75 percent are either bald or have a balding pattern by age 60.
In men, hair loss is often perceived as a sign of virility, a demonstrable sign that his male hormones are functioning at maximum capacity. To project strength and masculinity, men often choose to shave their heads.
Although many men are quite dismayed by a receding hairline, research indicates that the phycological pain of hair loss does not affect men as adversely as it impacts women. What makes coping with hair loss so difficult is the frightening lack of control, the feeling of the inability to do anything to make our hair stop falling out.
Causes Of Hair Loss In Women
As we age, women face a multitude of changes and challenges: wrinkles, a widening waist, cellulite deposits and thickening ankles. It does not seem fair that for many of us hair loss is yet another blow to our self esteem.
Female pattern baldness or Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss in women and is genetic in nature. This type of female balding is caused by the chemical Dihydrotestosterone or DHT which builds up around the air follicle and over time destroys both the hair shaft and the hair follicle. Pregnancy or the onset of menopause may cause a fluctuation in the production of estrogen. Lacking sufficient estrogen to produce testosterone-blocking enzymes, testosterone is then converted to DHT on the scalp. The result is a shorter hair growth cycle, finer hair and excessive hair loss from shedding and breakage. Some women experience an increase in hair loss several months after delivering a baby.
Genetics aside, there are many other reasons why women lose hair. Surgery, extreme physical or emotional stress, hormonal imbalances, chemotherapy and scalp infections are but a few. Female hair loss can also be triggered by birth control medications, certain prescription drugs or result from the use of harsh chemicals or aggressive styling that can cause permanent damage to the fragile hair follicle. Excessive hair shedding may also be symptomatic of rapid weight loss from dangerous fad-dieting or an eating disorder such as anorexia. The use of street drugs such as cocaine will also exhibit sudden and severe hair shedding.
When To Contact A Medical Professional
Reacting intensely to the physical state of our thinning hair may seem like excessive vanity, but it is not. Baldness is not usually caused by disease, but is more commonly related to heredity, aging and hormone function. However, changes in hair appearance, texture and growth patterns may indicate serious health concerns. Hair is one of the first areas, along with skin and nails, to reflect nutritional deficiencies, hormonal imbalance and illness. It is wise to pay attention.
Women’s hair seems to be particularly sensitive to underlying medical conditions so it is important that women with undiagnosed hair loss be properly evaluated by a physician. If your thinning hair is a result of a medical condition, your doctor will treat these ailments and as a result you may experience significant growth of new hair.
Once you and your doctor have identified the cause of your hair loss you may be referred to a hair specialist or implant surgeon to learn about the treatment options available such as or hair transplant procedures to promote growth or hide loss. For some types of alopecia, hair may resume normal growth without any treatment.
A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise, hydration and rest can go a long way towards preventing hair loss and maximizing the potential of your hair growth cycle.
Although medical research is on going, the following have proved beneficial in growing and maintaining a healthy head of hair.
Nutrition
Poor nutrition is often an underlying cause of hair loss as the hair is a reliable indicator of nutritional well being. Discuss with your health care provider your diet, all medications and any supplements you may be taking. Dull hair color or dry and brittle hair may be indicators of a deficiency in essential fats in the diet, oily hair may be a sign of a B vitamin deficiency.
Recent medical studies have found that a high percentage of women with thinning hair are deficient in iron and the amino acid lysine. It is difficult to obtain sufficient lysine through diet alone. Lysine is important in the transport of iron and necessary to support hair growth. Lysine is found in eggs and red meat so vegetarians needs to be aware of this potential shortfall in their diets.
The amino acids L-Cysteine and L-Methionine are believed to improve hair texture, quality and growth.
Low-fat foods that rank high in protein, low in carbohydrates, can play a vital role in sustaining healthy hair growth and aid in preventing hair loss. Important essential fatty acids for maintaining hair health are found in walnuts, sunflower seeds, sardines, spinach, soy and canola oil. Omega 3 and Omega 6 Oils protect the heart as well as your hair so include salmon in your diet on a regular basis.
Herbal Remedies Offer Hope For Hair Loss
Discuss with your nutritional advisor or medical professional the benefits of herbs. The following natural plant derivatives have properties to encourage a healthy head of hair.
Aloe
Arnica
Birch
Burdock
Catmint
Chamomile
Horsetail
Licorice
Marigold
Nettles
Parsley
Rosemary
Sage
Hair Care
Always choose organic natural products to avoid the chemicals and toxins found in many hair care products. Harsh chemicals may strip the natural oils from your hair and lead to breakage and poor hair growth. Dye, hair straightening and permanent solutions are highly destructive to the hair shaft and follicle as well as the delicate sebum balance of the scalp.
Be gentle with your hair. Allow hair to dry naturally rather than using a hair dryer. A natural bristle brush is helpful in preventing damage. Do not style until completely dry. Wet hair is weak hair so handle with care.
Avoid or break any bad habits you may have that pull or twist the hair. Try not to constantly run your fingers through your hair, tug at the hair and avoid hair clips or rubber bands that pull at and break off the hair. Minimize the usage of mousse, gels and hair sprays. These products dry and weigh down the hair shaft and dull the natural luster of your hair.
Avoid salt and chlorinated water when swimming. If exposed, always wash the hair with cool water and an organic gentle shampoo and apply a mild conditioner. Sun worshippers should make sure that hair care products have sunscreen properties to protect hair from the damaging affects of UV rays. Remember to wear a hat to prevent sunburn of the scalp.
Healthy Lifestyle
Hair loss is traumatic, however our hair is only part of who we are. I remind myself to keep my obsession with my hair loss in perspective and be happy with all the other areas of my life that are going right and in balance. Focus on the positive, eat well, rest well and be at peace with who you are. Remember, that for some, hair grows back as mysteriously as it disappeared.