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Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Nurturing my hair from the inside out Pt.2

In my last post, I introduced all the oils, pills & potions I am using to nurture my hair and encourage growth.  As I said before healthy hair starts from the inside, so in order to grow strong, healthy hair, we need to take a good look at what we're putting into our bodies.  Don't get me wrong - I'm not on a mission to grow hair all the way down to my backside (I've never been a great fan of length).  I'm more concerned with quality rather than quantity, so without further a do, here are the products I am using. PLEASE NOTE: These are what I find works best for ME and MY hair.  They are not necessarily suitable for everyone.  ALWAYS consult your own GP before taking any kind of medication or supplement.  In order to give the correct information, I will be using internet resources and citing my references:


OILS


Coconut Oil




Coconut oil is one of the best natural nutrition for hair. It helps in healthy growth of hair providing them a shiny complexion. Regular massage of the head with coconut oil ensures that your scalp is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. Coconut oil is extensively used in the Indian sub-continent for hair care. It is an excellent conditioner and helps in the re-growth of damaged hair. It also provides the essential proteins required for nourishing damaged hair. It is therefore used as hair care oil and used in manufacturing various conditioners, and dandruff relief creams. Coconut oil is normally applied topically for hair care.  This is my personal favorite hair oil, as it is very light, doesn't weigh my hair down, and a little goes a long way.



Jamaican Black Castor Oil (JCBO)
Jamaican Black Castor Oil is made using roasted Castor beans prior to extraction, this creates a natural occurring activated charcoal.   This is the reason it is so dark in colour.  It is known to  cleanse toxins from the scalp, eliminate dry flakes, nourish and thicken the hair, stimulate hair growth, moisturize dry & damaged hair and protect both hair and scalp from infections which hamper hair growth.  The only downside to this product is due to the fact the beans are roasted, it does tend to leave your hair smelling like old cigarettes.  I only use it at night (much to my husbands distaste) that way I don't have to go out smelling like an old ashtray. 


 
Amla Brahmi Bhringaraj Hair Oil
Amla Hair oil is made with the best known oils & herbs recommended in Ayurveda, among them the king of all medicinal fruits – Amla.  Amla stimulates hair follicles promoting hair growth, prevents premature greying & dandruff. It is the best source of Vitamin C to strengthen & nourish hair roots thus preventing hair fall.  Amla Oil is one of the world's oldest natural hair conditioners making hair soft & glossy by improving texture and preventing split ends. As an Indian herb, amla oil has been used in since a very long time.
With its added ingredients of Henna, Brahmi, Neem and other special herbs your hair is strengthened and protected against dandruff, premature greying and damage caused by weather conditions and excessive blow drying.  According to Ayurveda Amla has cold potency, it prevents the scalp from over-heating, one of the main causes of hair fall & scalp infections.
Amla hair oil is fortified with the most potent herbs which stimulate hair growth & prevent hair loss including Brahmi & Bhringaraj.   Amla Oil enriches hair growth and pigmentation. It prevents premature greying of hair, dandruff, increases the strength of hair follicles and is preventing hair-fall.  Amla hair oil gives a natural shine and soft texture to the hair. It also helps to rejuvenate hair that is dull and damaged. It also prevents split hair ends.  The ingredients are:

· Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower Oil)
· Emblica Officinalis (Amla)
· Eclipta Alba (Bringaraj)
· Bacopa monniera (Brahmi)
· Nardostachys jatamansi (Jatamansi)
· Cyperus rotundus (Nagarmootha)
· Symplocos racemosa (Lodhra)
· Terminalia chebula (Haritaki)
· Terminalia belerica (Bahera)
· Azadirachta indica (Neem)
· Sesamum indicum (Sesame)
· Lawsonia inermis (Henna)
· Cinnamomum camphora (Camphor)
· Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Almond Oil)
· Tocopherol (Vitamin E)

I chose to try this ayurvedic oil as it is all natural and contains NO mineral oil.



SUPPLEMENTS


Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM)


 Methylsulfonylmethane is a relatively new dietary supplement form of sulfur that is found in our living tissues. MSM supports healthy connective tissues like tendons, ligaments, and muscle, as well as skin, hair and nails.  Be careful with this one though - there are a few odd side effects.  I have experienced crazy - and I mean CRAZY - vivid dreams and when I first started taking MSM I also experienced headaches (although I managed to combat that by increasing my water intake).



Cod Liver Oil w/Evening Primrose Oil
 Norwegian cod liver oil has traditionally been one of the most popular natural sources of Vitamins A & D.  Cod liver oil also contains the Omega 3 Fatty Acids.



Biotin
 Biotin plays a role in carbohydrate, protein and fat metabolism and assists in the release of energy from cells. It also helps to maintain healthy skin and hair, as well as supporting nervous system function.  Biotin is found in most skin, hair & nail supplements.



Vitamin B6
 Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6) plays a role in protein and glycogen metabolism. Vitamin B6 is also involved in the formation of red blood cells, normal function of the nervous system and supports the regulation of certain hormones.  I use this because a lot of my hair loss was due to hormonal changes after I had my second baby.


Silicon Dioxide
 A biochemic remedy for for impure blood and for boils, brittle nails and lack-luster hair.  Prepared from safe, natural and non-habit forming ingredients.   I was introduced to this by a friend and I can honestly say that since taking it, I have had no brittle, splitting or breaking nails on my hands or feet.



Vitamin D
 AKA Sunlight!  We don't get enough of it here in the UK.  Vitamin D is necessary for absorption and utilization of calcium from food. It plays a role in the maintenance of normal bones and teeth, supports cell division and can be manufactured by the body on exposure to sunlight.
 


Flaxseed Oil
 Also known as Linseed Oil, another source of omega-3 fatty acids.

 


Sea Kelp
 Kelp is a rich source of the trace mineral iodine. Iodine is required for normal thyroid function and the production of thyroid hormones. Iodine has also been shown to support normal energy metabolism and can help in the maintenance of normal skin. 



Vitamin E Oil


This is just a great all-round beauty oil.  I use it on my hair and my skin.




Water

WATER WATER WATER WATER WATER WATER WATER WATER and more WATER!!!!!!!!!!

So there we have it.  As I said before, this is what works for ME.  Everybody's hair has different needs, so you just need to do your research and find out what works best for you.





References:









Tuesday, 12 April 2011

Nurturing my hair from the inside out Pt.1

Many people don't seem to realise the importance of nurturing their hair from the inside as well as the outside.  What happens internally will greatly affect the way in which hair grows.  This is just a quick post to introduce the products I will be using throughout my hair journey:




My lotions & potions




Internal products




External products




I will take you through all my products and my regimen in my next post.  In the meantime, here's a sneaky peek at my latest hair progress:




Hair brushed back


Edges are still thin, but at least there's hair!


The worst affected area


 I'm not going to bombard you all with daily/weekly photos as that won't really show my progress.  I will be uploading new shots on a 4-weekly basis.



Introducing... BALDILOCKS!!!!

Well well well, after many requests from Twitter, Facebook and various hair forums, I've finally decided to create a blog to document my hair journey, literally from scratch.  In order to put everything in perspective, allow me to give you a little history of me and my hair.


  • I was born with a head of fine, curly hair that was too silky to accommodate any accessories, yet my mother still managed to find 3 strands to put in a tiny ribbon.
  • Age 7/8 - I got my first curly perm.  I also got to sleep in a shower cap that made crunchy noises every time I moved and came off in the night, leaving my pillowcase greasy and practically see-through.
  • Age 10 - First relaxer in Jamaica.  My dad had a fit when he saw it.
  • Age 14-6 - Various relaxers, cuts and colours - y'know, the general amount of abuse teenage girls put their hair through.
  • Age 17 - Hair dyed blonde and relaxed in the SAME WEEK.  It fell out.  I vowed NEVER to use the creamy crack EVER again.
  • Age 18 - Relaxed my hair
  • Age 20 - Cut off all my relaxed ends and said goodbye to relaxers FOREVER!






  • Age 24 - Started locs:


Day 1




3 months




1 year




2 years


  • At 27 I had my first child and I suffered post-partum hair loss, so I made the decision to cut my locs. 

The day I cut my locs.  I look real happy.






My big chop!







My first proper puff




Freshly washed 'wash & go' style


  • At 28 I decided to loc again, but then after I had my second child, I suffered hair loss again, but much more severely.  I was determined to hold onto my locs - I did NOT want to cut them again.


  • 29 years old and my hair is still falling out - especially at the front and around the edges.  And to top it all off, my 5 month old son grabs a handful of locs at the front and pulls them clean out of my head.  So.......
          On Thursday 3rd March 2011, I shaved my hair off completely:


Baldilocks!!!







So, that was my literal 'start from scratch'.  I have to admit, it felt SO liberating shaving it all off!  I was starting to get really depressed about the hair loss and fed up with trying to hide it all the time.  I've never really been too hair obsessed - I'm not really a fan of long hair unless it's extensions or a wig.  I realised that this new look was going to be quite a shock for some people.  I didn't tell anyone I was going to do it because I know I would have been bombarded with people trying to talk me out of it.  I didn't even tell my husband! Maybe I should have given him a little warning - he came in from work to find me in front of the mirror with his clippers in my hand - he thought I'd gone completely bonkers!  My mother didn't like it.  The words were "Hmmm, it takes some getting used to." coupled with her complete lack of eye contact told me straight away that she just wanted to cry!


So, what does one do whilst waiting for one's hair to grow back?  The answer: wear a lace wig of course!


Deep wave 16" lace front wig


There is NO need for a lace wig to look like something out of Planet of the Apes!










Three weeks on from my big shave, I finally had something to work with.  My edges were still very thin, so I just filled in the gaps very lightly with a little eye liner:








So that's me so far!  I am not afraid to say that I don't think I look like I hoped I'd look - personally I think I need to lose more weight in order to make a really short crop look good.  However, this is not going to be my permanent style.  I intend to keep it short, but my emphasis for the time being will be on nurturing my hair back to health.