All Articles Tagged "hair growth"
The Truth @bout Natural Hair With Anu: Growing Hair With Vitamins
Dear Anu,
I am looking for a way to grow my hair quickly. Some time ago I went into a salon for a relaxer and a trim something which I do every 4-5 months and unfortunately this women did not do a good job with the trim. She cut more than she trimmed. Needless to say I was not happy with the service given. In my search to grow hair I have come across Hairfinity vitamins. They promise to grow your hair fast and there are a ton of testimonials on youtube. I have taken the Nioxin vitamins in the past and couldn’t really tell if my hair was growing from the vitamins or from me taking better care of my hair. Have you heard of Hairfinity, would you recommend it?
Regards,
Marilyne A
Top Ten Best Hair Products for the Newly Natural
The process of going natural can be quite daunting. Even though the same hair has been growing from our scalps since birth, many of us are totally in the dark as to our natural hair needs. The trick with hair is to recognize that it needs to be trained with a regular regimen. For those who decide to go natural, by nature, the hair will flourish with natural products. When looking for products the key word is MOISTURE.
In order to prevent breakage, thus encouraging growth, naturally curly hair needs organic moisture and lots of water. We have a list of ten products we think are fabulous for the job, but make sure to notice a trend of key ingredients: shea butter, coconut oil, extra virgin olive oil, water, rosemary and they’re all alcohol-free. And above all, enjoy the process! As many will confess, going natural is not only a physical, but mental and spiritual journey that should be embraced at each stage.
Are Your Hair Vitamins Really Working?
On their quest for long flowing locks many women turn to vitamin supplements to increase their hair’s growth rate. Keep in mind that these women I speak of aren’t experiencing hair loss, they don’t have any serious medical conditions that affect their hair; they just want it to grow faster.
Common hair growth vitamins include biotin (a B-vitamin), vitamins A, E, zinc, iron, and all-in-one supplements that are marketed as beneficial for hair, skin and nails. Some women even take it upon themselves to take pre-natal vitamins because they swear up and down it works for pregnant women’s hair. No doubt that the vitamins may be helping, but hormones deserve more credit. According to the American Pregnancy Association:
”During pregnancy there is an increase in the level of estrogen hormones. Estrogen causes hair to remain in the growing phase and stimulates the growth of your hair. While you are pregnant, you should expect a full luxurious head of hair.”
And on hair loss after pregnancy:
“The rise in hormones during pregnancy keeps you from losing your hair. After delivery, the hormones return to normal levels, which allows the hair to fall out and return to the normal cycle. The normal hair loss that was delayed during pregnancy may fall out all at once.”
What you need to know about vitamins is that if you are consuming them in amounts that exceed your needs, your body will use what it needs and discard the rest. In some cases you may break out severely or experience other side effects as a way of your body trying to purge leftovers. Exceptions to the rule are vitamins A, E, D and K. They are fat-soluble vitamins that are stored in the liver. These vitamins will accumulate when taken in excess and can be toxic with adverse side effects. Supplements are meant to complete what is lacking so don’t overdo it.
Truth be told, many of us are lacking in one vitamin or another, but it becomes problematic when people self-diagnose. You can always have your primary care physician or a nutritionist run tests to identify what you need. Loading up on every vitamin you read about that helps with hair growth is unnecessary. Why take additional biotin if you’re already getting what you need from your diet? For individuals who are proactive and more conscious of their eating habits, the Food and Drug Administration has a recommended daily intake for each vitamin to guide you. Food labels will also tell you what percentage you are getting from their product’s ingredients.
Another thing to take into consideration is how these different supplements interact with each other. In the New York Times article titled Vitamins: More May Be Too Many,Dr. Benjamin Caballero, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at Johns Hopkins, discussed how one can cancel out the effects of another:
“Minerals antagonize each other for absorption, zinc competes with iron which competes with calcium.”
The bottom line is to figure out what you need by seeking the advice of a medical professional. More than likely, supplementing what you are lacking will help you reach your maximum growth rate. A healthier option is to increase the intake of a particular food that is rich in the vitamin you need because many of these pills come with additives or preservatives that can do more harm than good.
My personal take:
I like to think that a well-balanced diet will yield your normal (maximum) growth rate, while an unbalanced one will slow it down. When people say their hair is growing “faster than normal” while on supplements, it’s probably because that wasn’t their normal growth rate to begin with. I believe the supplements are helping them towards a balanced and normal state. As for mega/over-the-top doses, it’s common knowledge that those go to waste. If I need 5mcg of a certain vitamin, taking a dose with 50 times the amount will do nothing but wreak havoc on my body!
Do you take supplements? What do you think? Share your thoughts!
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Breakage: Why Your Hair Doesn’t Seem to Grow
A common misconception regarding black hair is that it doesn’t grow. In reality black hair is extremely fragile and very dry, making it more prone to breakage than any other race. It requires extra care to retain length, but many black women lack the knowledge or just prefer styling their hair to actually caring for it.
Before I delve into the causes of breakage, it is important to address what breakage is. Unlike shedding, breakage doesn’t occur at the root but within the hair strand. It is easy to distinguish shed hair from broken hair because shed hair will have a white bulb attached to it. Excessive breakage indicates weak and damaged hair. Here are the main reasons for hair breakage:
Dry Hair
Lack of moisture means dry brittle hair. Daily moisturizing and sealing with an oil will add elasticity to your hair. Your ends are the oldest and weakest part of your hair, so pay close attention to them. If your ends are breaking off at the same rate that your hair is growing, you will see no changes in length.
Be sure to wash with a moisturizing shampoo and deep condition after every wash.
You can also try the baggy method:
- Pull your hair back in a ponytail
- Moisturize and seal the ends
- Wrap the ponytail up in a shower cap and secure it overnight
Too Much Moisture
Yes indeed, there is such a thing. Overly moisturized hair feels mushy and extremely stretchy. To counteract this, you can wash with a clarifying shampoo and do a protein treatment.
Chemicals
If your hair is relaxed or dyed, it will naturally be weaker than virgin hair. This doesn’t mean it won’t grow, but it will break more if it’s not properly cared for. Chemicals strip the hair of protein so make sure you incorporate protein treatments into your hair regimen.
Overlapping Relaxers
Relax your new growth only. Do not spread your relaxer all the way down to the ends! It will weaken and thin out your previously processed hair even more.
Too Much Protein
Some people have protein sensitive hair. Too much protein will leave your hair feeling stiff, brittle and dry. Always make sure to deep condition and moisturize after protein treatments.
Heat Tools
Excessive heat will damage your hair and cause split ends. Opt for styles that don’t require heat and if you must use heat, be sure to use a heat protectant first.
Five Reasons to Ditch the Weave
Stay tuned for more topics, comment or write us at editors@madamenoire.com if you have suggestions!
The notion of “good hair” is a misconception that dates back to the days of American slavery, when European culture and standards of beauty were used to disparage the self-esteem of Black women…ultimately causing divisiveness that has damaged our appreciation for what could be described as ‘black beauty.’ Naturally, some developed a desire to look like the white women in the main house—well-groomed and sweet-smelling with long, flowing straight locks. It was made clear that thick, coarse hair was undesirable and worth less. Read the rest of this entry »
Help, My Hair Won’t Grow!
To some degree, we all have encountered struggles with our hair just as we struggle to maintain a healthy diet plan. The average woman must maintain healthy hair because our femininity says so. Yet, being a woman doesn’t always produce perfection or cost-savvy results. Whether our hair is long, straight, medium, curled, short, or natural, we are striving for that blended style to make us feel confident and regal! If you’re aiming for a stylish “natural” look without the use of relaxers or press perms, your best bet is to go with fresh foods that revitalize hair growth.
Check out which six foods made it to our list of foods for healthy hair: Read the rest of this entry »
5 Ways to Reinvent Your Look
Yesterday, Keri Hilson made headlines as she premiered her new single “Breaking Point”. Although her new single was mentioned, the media seemed to gravitate more towards her new look than the actual song, itself. The newly blonde singer took a different approach with her new music and a new look; and even for those who didn’t like the somewhat gothic looking Keri, the change was still noticed.
It’s always refreshing to see a transformation in someone’s appearance. Who can forget how pop star Rihanna went from the cute island girl to bold fashionista? It’s called reinventing your look; and for those of who aren’t in the spotlight, it’s something we can benefit from as well.
Childhood Memories of Father Have Lasting Impact on Men’s Ability to Handle Stress
Sons who have fond childhood memories of their fathers are more likely to be emotionally stable in the face of day-to-day stresses, according to psychologists who studied hundreds of adults of all ages.
Psychology professor Melanie Mallers, PhD, of California State University-Fullerton presented the findings August 12 at the 118th Annual Convention of the American Psychological Association.
Writer Tells African-American Hair Tales In “Curly Like Me”
By Demetria Irwin
Stretch, pull, burn, slather in grease. These are just a few of the ways some of us naturally curly Madames have tortured our hair and scalp over the years. Teri LaFlesh, author of Curly Like Me: How to Grow Your Hair Healthy, Long and Strong, understands that struggle and she’s here to help.
Are You Relaxing Your Hair Too Often?
You see it every couple of weeks. Creeps up on you unsuspectingly leaving you in a frizz. Curly and thick, it’s hard to part, needs constant moisture and looks completely different from the rest of your locks. It’s new growth, and although some like the sign of hair maturing, others rush to their nearest beautician to get a touch-up. The question is: when is it time to run to the salon and are you running too often?
