Damaging Condition of The Hair their treatment

DANDRUFF

Dandruff is the presence of small while flakes usually appearing on the scalp and the hair. Dandruff is known by medical term "pityriasis". The direct cause of dandruff is the excessive shedding of outermost cells. The indirect causes are

1. Poor blood circulation

2. Improper diet

3. Un-cleanliness

4. Use of strong shampoo

5. Insufficient rinsing of hair after shampooing

Types of Dandruff

1. Dry type

2. Greasy or waxy type

Cause for dry dandruff

1. Poor blood circulation

2. Lack of nerve stimulation

3. Emotional disturbance

4. Glandular disturbance

5. Not producing sufficient oil

Treatment of dry dandruff

• Scalp treatment (ozone treatment)

• Herbal shampoo

• Hot oil therapy

• Use of antiseptic lotion

• Henna treatment

Waxy type dandruff is mixed with sebum which makes the scalp itchy. If the scales are torn off, bleeding or oozing may occur.

Treatment

The best thing to do is to keep the scalp clean, and do oil massage twice in a week.

Herbal Treatment

• Massage scalp with essential oils like rosemary, cedar, lemon and eucalyptus to reduce flaking itchiness of the scalp.

• 'Methi' seeds are also helpful in fighting dandruff. Soak them overnight, grind the next morning, mix in the juice of neem leaves and apply on the scalp .

• In half cup of olive oil, put a small amount of camphor warm it lightly and apply to the scalp parting the hair straight and give a circular massage for the entire scalp.

• Avoid fatty foods and red meat.

Graying of Hair

Causes of Graying hair

The colour of the hair depends on the presence of pigment granules in the cortex of the hair. With age there is a gradual dilution of pigment in the hair, so that in different hairs the full range of colours from normal to white can be found.

Grey hair can some times appear earlier. Rapid graying of hair may occur after severe emotional stress. In certain internal diseases hair might gray early. This is especially true of diseases of the thyroid gland and certain types of anemia's. Localised patches of gray hair can appear in certain areas. Perming, colouring and bleaching work to promote graying.

what can be done

The usual and the most effective way of dealing with graying of hair is dyeing it. There are several types of dyes available. The oxidative dyes are the most versatile and the most frequently used. But dyeing has its drawbacks- once you start dyeing it is seen to increase gray hairs. Henna is also used because apart from its safety, it is a superb conditioner. Having calcium pantothenate in the dose of 200 mg daily is a good treatment.

SPLIT ENDS

Causes:-The most common causes of spilt ends are; use of heated appliances (Hair dryers) and chemical processing (like using dies), using the wrong type of brush and comb and general neglect.

Cure:-

• Since hair grows 1.25 cm. a month, a trim of 6.3 cm. every five weeks should suffice.
• Switching to a wide -toothed, non-metal comb or brush with a padded base and widely spaced bristles to prevent getting trapped at the base of the brush
• Avoiding the hottest temperature setting on your hair dryer
• Using a conditioning treatment on the ends of hair.

  
  DULL HAIR

  Causes:- In healthy hair, the cuticle lies flat and reflects the light. Harsh chemicals and environment assaults can cause healthy hair to become rough and damaged, spoiling the reflective surface. The cause of dull hair is a build-up left by styling products or the conditioning agent that two-in-one products contain. Some times an illness, like flue releases toxins from the body through the sebaceous glands in the scalp, coating the hair, eventually leading to listless hair.

  Cure:- The most important rule is to keep your hair clean. It is better to follow a well- balanced diet -protein and iron are essential for shiny hair, as is vitamin C.

  DRY HAIR

  Cause :The main reason for dry hair is the over use of heated appliances, perming, colouring, bleaching, incorrect use of products and environmental damage.

  Cure: Switch to a shampoo and a rinse-out conditioner for dry hair. Don't apply conditioner to the roots, it will leave hair heavy and limp. At least once or twice a week, use a deep conditioning treatment to re-moisturise. Alternatively, you can rub hair oil between your palm and then massage it into dry areas. Avoid rollers and tight elastic bands on the brittle hair as they may cause it to break.
  

  HAIR LOSS

  It is quite natural to lose about fifty to hundred a day. More than this amount of hair loss could result from any one of a number of factors and may be cause for concern.

  Cause:-

• Daily repetition of certain hairstyles, like hair tightly pulled back, braided or wrapped around rollers can pull out individual hairs. Such pulling can damage and destroy follicles completely and the hair will not grow back.
• Emotional stress may bring on alppecia areata, a disorder that results in bald patches on the scalp and may be associated with changes in the immune system. Emotional stress can also cause hair to fall from parts of the scalp.
• Body stress is also known to cause excessive hair loss. Hair loss can result from pregnancy or begin when a woman stop taking birth control pills.

cure:

It is better to see a trichologist if handfuls of hair fall out after shampooing. For mild hair loss, use products that tone and invigorate the scalp and stimulate the growth. Scalping massage is good, which aside from being relaxing and reducing stress levels, loosens and stimulates the scalp and promotes healthy hair growth.

Most hair loss is temporary, but when the follicles are destroyed by serious scalp burns, excessive exposure to x-rays, or vital infection, hair loss can be permanent.

DRY SCALP

Cause: It may or may not be a cause of dandruff

Cure: Dry scalp can be controlled by using a very gentle shampoo and intensive conditioner regularly.

Hair Care

Hair Care tips

• Brush your hair regularly before going to bed each night.
• Wash your hair with a mild shampoo. Use very little but enough to cover hair completely with lather. Use a conditioner to keep hair manageable.
• Avoid brushing wet hair. This will cause the hair to stretch and finally break. Finger-dry, or use a wide-toothed comb instead of a brush to gently remove the knots.
• Restrict blow-drying your hair. The process of blow-drying is harsh on hair as it robs it of moisture.
• Avoid dyes. Use mehandi (henna) instead as a conditioner and colouring agent.
• Take a calcium supplement or drink two glasses of milk a day.
• Always hold hair dryer away from your hair. Direct air from the hair dryer down hair shaft and not directly into the roots and keep it moving.
• After a perm, never brush your hair. Instead comb hair gently.
• Trim your hair once in 7 weeks to avoid split ends.
• Avoid pulling back your hair tightly.
• Never use a rubber band on your hair as it can pull and damage hair considerably.
• Never go out in the sun without having your head covered.
• Stimulate circulation by massaging your head with oil to which some vitamin E has been added. This will make hair soft and silky.
• Never wash your hair with very hot or very cold water.
• Learn to relax. Hair loss can happen because of stress. Eat foods that are rich in vitamin B, C and E.
• Add iron and minerals in the natural form in your diet.
• If your hair is oily, cut down on fried food and fat. Drink plenty of water.

Hair care

Natural tips for healthy hair

For Dandruff

• Massage the Scalp with pure coconut oil. This will also help for growth of hair.
• Apply coconut oil which has been boiled with small onions. Wash it off with a mixture of green gram powder and water drained from cooked (boiled) rice.
• Apply a mixture of almond oil and gooseberry juice with finger tips on the scalp.
• Apply the warm mixture of olive oil, lemon juice and coconut oil. Do a steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes and wash the hair with a shampoo.
• Apply a paste of fenugreek and mustard to the scalp. Fenugreek is one of the world's oldest medicinal herbs.
• Mix Shikakai powder with the water drained from the cooked rice and wash the hair with it.
• Crush the leaves of five petal hibiscus flower and take the juice. Wash the hair with this juice.
• Heat the oil with a little camphor. Apply the oil in the scalp and massage for 10 minutes. After 30 minutes wash the hair with a herbal shampoo. Do the steam -towel- wrap for 15 minutes.

For Healthy and Shiny hair

• It is better to apply castor oil for a healthy growth of hair.
• Wash hair with tea once in a week.
• Apply besan in the hair and wash it with water drained from the cooked rice.
• Soak a handful of gooseberry in a cup of milk for two hours. Make it as a paste and apply in the hair.
• Apply the mixture of an egg white, 2 spoon of castor oil, 1 spoon glycerin, in the scalp and hair. Wash it after some time.
• Massage hair with warm coconut oil an hour before washing. Let it soak. Cover your head with a hot towel and wash your hair after an hour or so.
• Boil a few hibiscus flowers in coconut oil. Filter and use this hair oil to control hair loss and thinning.
• Do a 'steam-towel-wrap' once in a while, if your cuticles are damaged, as this steaming opens out the pores and absorbs the oil.
• Deep condition with curd, beer and egg.
• Mix a little vinegar in warm water and rinse your hair with this solution. This will add bounce to dull and lifeless hair.
• Soak 1 teaspoon fenugreek in curd and keep it for a night. Have it in the next morning.
• Boil coconut oil with the juices of curry leaves, basil, hibiscus flower and gooseberry. Apply on hair, keep it for sometime and rinse.
• Egg white and curd is a good conditioner for hair.
• Take a cup of coconut and mustard oils. Soak half a cup of curry leaves in the oil mixture and keep it for a night. Next morning, heat on a slow fire till the curry leaves turn crisp. Remove from heat and add two to three camphor balls. Allow oil to cool and then strain. Apply oil to hair roots using cotton wool along the parting and massage in circular movements. Leave the oil overnight and shampoo the next morning. Repeat twice a week.
• Add a lemon peel to a 'shikakai' and 'amla' mixture while washing your hair.

For Graying

• Take a little Mehandi , an egg, juice of half a lemon, one table spoon of instant coffee powder. Mix it together and apply on the hair. Wash it after 45 minutes.
• Boil one cup of dried gooseberry with 4 cups of water. Add a pinch of sugar in it. Keep boiling till the quantity of the liquid reduces to one cup. Mix 2 cups of Mehendi, an egg, juice of a lemon and the gooseberry solution and apply on hair. Wash the hair after two hours

Lip Care

A few tips about caring your lips :

• You can mix one-tablespoon cranberry sauce juice with two tablespoons Vaseline for a delicious home made lip balm.

• Apply the juice of lemon skin for avoiding black colour of lips

• Massage your lips with coriander leaf juice for soft and rosy lips.

Eye care

A few tips about caring your eyes :

• Dip wads of cotton in a chilled mixture of cucumber and potato juice. Keep this on your eyelids for 15 to 20 minutes and gently wash it off. Apply a little baby oil.

• For long eyelashes.., apply a thin coat of castor oil every night. It strengthens lashes and cools your eyes.

• Massage a few drops of coconut oil around the eyes to get rid off dark circles.

• To reduce puffiness of your eyes, grate a potato; tie in a cloth and place the cloth over your eyes for about 15 minutes.

• Add a small pinch of salt in water and wash for bright and sparkling eyes.

• Mix tomato juice and lemon juice in equal quantity and apply around the eyes. After 30 minutes wash it off with cold and hot water alternatively.

• Make a paste of sandal wood and nutmeg. Apply the paste around the eyes before sleeping and wash it off in the morning.

• Crush a cucumber and take the juice. Add a little rose water and apply around the eyes and wash it after 30 minutes.

• Place cotton wool swabs dipped in cold milk on closed eyes for removing dark circles.

Body Care

A few tips about caring your body :

• Mix six-teaspoon petroleum jelly, two-teaspoon glycerin and two-teaspoon lemon juice. Apply this moisturizing lotion at least twice a week if you have dry and flaky, arms and legs

• Peel and grate a cucumber. Squeeze the juice to this, mix half-a-teaspoon glycerin and half-a-teaspoon rose water. Apply this on sunburns, leave it for some time.

• If you have cracked heels, melt paraffin wax; mix it with little mustard oil and apply on the affected area. Leave it overnight. After 10 or 15 days, your heels will become smooth.

• Massage your body with a mixture of coconut oil and any of your favourite scented oils like lavender or rosemary.
  

• For rough palms, use a mixture of glycerin and lime juice in equal proportion.

• For cracked heals, massage the foot with coconut oil and keep the foot in warm water for some time. Wipe the water off the feet and apply a mixture of hibiscus flower(10), Henna (1 handful) and juice of half a lemon. when dry wash it off.

• Remove scars on your hands and feet by rubbing them with lemon peel.