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By Alan J. Bauman, M.D. –
When is the last time you showed your hair some love?
Whether you are fighting dry hair during the winter months, or frizz during the summer, it is always good to reevaluate your beauty regimen to make sure you are giving your hair everything it needs to be thick, healthy and beautiful all year ‘round.
Since love is in the air this month, here are four easy ways to show your hair a little extra TLC.
Feed Your Hungry Hair – It may seem unrelated, but what you eat, or don’t eat, has a huge impact on the health of our hair. A diet rich in whole foods, especially protein, is essential to achieving and maintaining healthy hair, while on the flipside, caloric, iron and protein deficiencies are among the most common nutritional triggers for unhealthy hair and hair loss. Eating a healthy, well balanced, protein-containing diet is important for maintaining healthy hair growth. In addition to protein, there are other “hair healthy foods” for those looking to increase their hair’s length, shine or thickness. Vitamins, especially of the vitamin B family and biotin (B7, aka Vitamin H), are important to the overall health of your hair and preventing hair loss and thinning from breakage due to overstyling. So if you want to show your hair you care, put down the box of chocolates and replace it with one of the many, healthy hair foods, like salmon, which is loaded with omega-3 fatty acid, dark green vegetables for vitamins A and C, and nuts, which are a terrific source of zinc, which can prevent hair shedding. Nutritional supplements like the marine-derived protein based Viviscal Professional and doctor-designed Hair Vitamin Complex can all boost the vitality of your hair.
Avoid Over-Styling – Salon perms, Brazilian blowouts, frequent color treatments and even that super hot blow dryer or that flat iron used over and over again at home can degrade the proteins that make up your hair and its protective cuticle. Once the protective cuticle is damaged, moisture balance is disrupted and the hair is more prone to breakage. Heat degrades the proteins that make up the structure of your hair and because hair does not self-repair, once the damage is done… it’s done. Turn down the heat or say ‘no’ to the compulsive flat ironing in order to protect your hair from thermal damage. Products like Pantene Thermal Protection and Shine Spray can be helpful in decreasing friction and improving shine. Harsh chemicals are another risk to your hair. Many consumers don’t realize that chemicals like bleaches and dyes fundamentally change the structure of your hair, making it weaker and more susceptible to breakage and damage. Overusing these treatments can lead to severe breakage, hair fall, loss of density, volume and shine.
Treat Your Scalp – Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp! But unfortunately, too many women forget to give their scalp the attention it needs. Daily shampooing and conditioning may help keep your hair healthy, but sometimes the scalp needs a little specialized attention. Whether your scalp is dry, itchy, flaky, or oily, it is easier than you may think to get a beautiful healthy scalp. Love your scalp like you love the skin of your face, and take care of it the same way. We exfoliate our faces to remove dry skin; the same practice can be used on your scalp to remove any dry and dead skin cells. After you’ve removed any dead skin from the scalp, you may want to continue the pampering with a moisturizing treatment to help add back some protective hydration. Itchy, flaky or irritated scalp can be a sign of a Malassezia fungal overgrowth on the scalp and is easily treated with the zinc pyrithione found in the newly improved gentle Head & Shoulders shampoo.
Give Your Hair a Boost – In addition to poor diet and over-styling, there are many lifestyle factors that can impact the health of your hair. Sleep habits, smoking, and alcohol consumption can all affect the hair fiber production. Medications, like antihypertensives, hormones (from thyroid treatment to birth control and hormone replacement), statin drugs, mood modulators (antidepressants/anti-anxiety agents, etc.) all may impact hair growth and hair quality. Chat with your doctor before reducing or stopping any prescribed medication, of course! With so many factors at play with the health of our hair, including our genetic risks and inherited hair qualities, it is good to remember to give your hair a little extra TLC from time to time. For many looking to give their at-risk hair a little boost, “LOVE” is spelled “L-A-S-E-R.” Originally getting the nod from the FDA as a side effect-free way to treat hair loss, low level laser “brushes,” “hoods” and “caps” are now being used by more women to simply improve hair quality by helping hair follicles create thicker, fuller, shinier and healthier hair. Stick with doctor-prescribed and doctor-tracked laser treatments to get the biggest benefit from laser therapy.
No one likes having a bad hair day, but if you find the right hair care regimen and follow it regularly you will find they will be fewer and farther between. Luscious locks are easy – if you follow the right steps! From eating right, to a weekly scalp massage or laser therapy treatments, there are a lot of great things you can do for your hair. The first steps to healthier hair is to assess the current state of your hair, identify any problems, and create a plan of action to get your hair back on track. For some, this is as simple as a shampoo change or daily vitamin supplement, for others, a professional medical consultation from a specialist is needed to get to the root of the problem.
Just remember, your hair can be your crowning glory, or an endless nightmare—it is up to you! Isn’t it time you showed your hair some love?
BAUMAN MEDICAL GROUP
Hair Restoration for Men and Women
www.BaumanMedical.com
1-877-Bauman.9