Saturday, July 6, 2013

Aging, Medications and Your Hair. Tips that can help.

More hair in your comb or brush?  Is your hair now dryer then ever before?   Are you going grey? Do you now have thinner hair or bald spots? You feel ugly and changing hair styles just doesn't work. Taking medication can also cause these changes and not taking them is an option most people can not avoid.  All of these are signs of aging hair.  But these changes can be treated -it just takes changing your relationship with your hair.  

Going Grey...The first while strand of white hair is a sign of aging hair.  The average person sees this in their 30's with most people in their 40's and beyond.  Hair grows grey when cells stop producing pigment naturally.  By 50, 50% of people have grey hair.

Using permanent hair dyes can be harsh on your hair; choose wisely. There are new over the counter hair dyes that are rich in Argan oil or use a semi-permanent hair dye.  Most are very good for your hair but lose its color in time, so if you don’t mind the hassle this is also an option.  Your hair stylist also has great products that can do wonders as well.  I have a friend that dyes my hair with a new permanent hair dye which lasts 6 months and adds highlights where the grey was.  It looks great and makes me feel so young so have a sit down with your stylist.

Just remember, there is nothing wrong with going grey.  We have seen this now in many people, especially celebrities and they look fabulous! 


Dryness...Oil glands shrink over time and they don’t produce oil efficiently.  When you were younger, oil coats your hair naturally.  When you are older, you are not producing as much oil which leaves your hair dry.

The best "fix" for this is to put oil in your hair.  Argan oil works great to hydrate your hair and you can find this ingredient in many hair products on your store shelves.  Remember, avoid hot heat, which can strip the oil in your hair.


Brittleness...This can be a sign of damaged hair and aging.  This can be the worse thing ever in the world; it quickly can lead to hair loss. 

 Your hair loses elasticity causing it to become brittle.  But there is hope; it is more often due to products you use.   Hair that is treated with chemicals like bleaches, straighteners or permanent dyes is more prone to breakage.  Give you hair some TLC by using protein rich hair treatments instead that can be found on your store shelves. Foods that have relatively high biotin content (Swiss chard and eggs) are a great source of vitamin D as well as a great way to help put oils back into your hair.

Hair Loss...For women, hormonal changes can affect hair growth patterns.    It’s not uncommon for menopausal women to experience hair thinning as well as hair loss.

 Nuts are good for fighting hair loss.  They have oils which contribute to the elastin in your hair and promote growth.  If you don’t have enough oil in your hair it will snap, but don’t overdo.
Iron deficiency is the second cause for hair loss.  Spinach and bok choy are rich in iron, beta carotene, folate and vitamin C, which keep hair follicles healthy and scalp oils circulating.  Carrots are also rich in vitamin A which helps produce the oils for your hair as well.  Halibut and other kinds of fish are rich with magnesium and help with hair growth.  Greek yogurt can also help with your hair; low fat versions have vitamin B5 and vitamin D which is linked to hair health.  Use it as a substitute in your recipes instead of sour cream or add it to your morning cereal.  Be creative; it is yummy!