The Route to Younger Hair
Restore the vitality and life to your hair with a few simple steps, and enjoy a lifetime of gorgeous, glorious, shiny hair!
Think only your skin suffers from the effects of aging? Unfortunately, hair also succumbs to age and environmental damage as well, causing hair to become brittle, frayed, and thin. Read on for a bevy of tips on how to battle the signs of aging and attain, and retain, younger-looking tresses.
The hairy side of aging
Hormonal changes, sluggish cell regeneration, and certain medications used to treat high blood pressure or cholesterol can all contribute to dry, coarse hair. Also, with age, hair loses protein and melanin, leading to the inevitable appearance of gray or silver hair. And this condition doesn’t discriminate. Anyone, male or female, may begin to notice hair has become thinner, less shiny and more prone to breaking or damage with age, especially over the age of 40. Additionally, many post-menopausal women may experience female-pattern hair loss, a condition that causes thinning hair around the crown. As hair ages, elasticity is lost, hair follicles shrink, growth slows and sebum and keratin production diminishes, resulting in brittle, lifeless hair. What can be done?
Changing your hair habits
How to combat these change? To start, a brilliant haircut, or new boost to your color will work wonders on aging hair. But don’t be deceived: these superficial camouflages don’t reverse the effects of aging. To keep your locks looking young, think young! Avoid over-exposure to harsh chemical treatments, and use snag-free ponytail elastics or smooth clip barrettes to hold hair off the face. In addition, be cautious with hot tools, such as blow dryers, rollers, curling irons or flat irons. If used improperly, or too frequently, these appliances will seriously damage and weaken the hair shaft. Towel dry the hair carefully before blow-drying, use a protective styling cream and the lowest heat setting for the safest blow-out. Also, invest in a natural bristle brush, designed to gently detangle and smooth the hair while massaging the scalp. Finally, a deep-conditioning hair mask, used once weekly will replenish lost moisture and help protect the cuticle: Philip B White Truffle Nourishing Hair Conditioning Crème.
Start in the shower
Hair can also suffer damage in the shower. For shiny tresses, seek out shampoos and conditioners containing shea butter, panthenol, hydrolyzed yeast extract or sweet almond oil, which will respect the hair’s natural moisture balance. Also, consider cutting back on the amount of times per week you wash your hair, opting for once every 2 to 3 days, rather than everyday, which can over-dry the hair, making it appear parched and dull. For the shiniest hair ever, try Alterna Hemp with Organics Shine Shampoo, followed with Alterna Hemp with Organics Shine Conditioner. And for even more hair repair, reach for targeted anti-aging hair treatments, which feature antioxidants and protein. DS Laboratories Revita Hair Growth Stimulating Shampoo enlarges the diameter of each hair strand and invigorates follicles to improve scalp vitality while Jan Marini Age Intervention Hair Revitalizing Conditioner promises to reveal fuller, thicker hair after two weeks.
Hair fare
Since we regulate our diet for glowing skin and a good figure, why not also nourish the hair through our diet, as well? One of the best ways to nourish and prevent the appearance of aging hair is a high-protein, low-fat and low-carbohydrate diet, rich in essential fatty acids, leafy, deep green vegetables and biotin, a B vitamin. Stock your kitchen with non-citrus fruits, fresh leafy vegetables, yogurt with live cultures, tofu, legumes, whole grains, and oily fish such as salmon, tuna, herring, and sardines. Drizzle cold pressed olive, sesame or flaxseed oil over salads; flaxseed oil in particular encourages the growth of healthy hair. Snack on sunflower or pumpkin seeds, almonds, figs, dates, and soy products such as soy nuts or soy milk. Because iron deficiency is often responsible for hair loss in women, consult your physician to assess iron levels. If you’re not getting adequate iron in your nutrition, you may want to consider taking a supplement.
A diet with nutritional deficiencies can cause sudden hair loss or thinning. Instead, strive to maintain a regular exercise routine and eat well-balanced meals to maintain a full, healthy, vibrant head of hair. If exercising outside, wear a leave-in conditioner to diminish breakage and a hat to shield hair from the sun. UV rays can also damage hair, destroying precious moisture and reducing shine.
Although gray or damaged hair is often regarded as one of the most noticeable signs of aging, there are alternatives. Make a few simple skincare changes to your daily routine now, and strip the years away to achieve younger, healthier hair!
Add comment May 5th, 2008