Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

You have heard of Aloe Vera and how it works miraculously to help heal burns, right? Perhaps you didn’t know that it is the cure all for many other ailments and can be used both topically as well as internally. When taken internally, it is a wonderful cleanse, and can help remove toxins from the body.

Perhaps what you didn’t know is that Aloe Vera is fabulous for your hair and scalp. Some swear that it will even help prevent hair loss.

Aloe Vera has been used for centuries as a remedy to cure and relieve common skin disorders in North America, India, and the Caribbean. This miracle plant has been used to help relieve skin and scalp disorders and keep hair healthy.

So, what’s the connection with Aloe Vera and hair loss? Aloe Vera is known to balance out the PH in the human system and stimulate the production of enzymes on your scalp which in turn, helps to stimulate hair growth. If you are looking for a totally natural home remedy to help with hair loss or to simply keep your hair healthy, Aloe Vera to the rescue! Perhaps it can help keep hair on your head instead of in the bed!

Just before going to bed, dab a bit of Aloe Vera on your scalp with your fingers or with a cotton ball. Massage into your scalp and hair. You may remember from another post I did, that just the act of massaging your scalp will increase blood flow which can stimulate the hair follicles, which in turn can help the hair to grow.

After massaging Aloe Vera into your head and hair the night before, you obviously will want to wash your hair the next morning. Or, if you prefer not sleeping with the Aloe Vera on, massage it into your hair the next morning, leave it on for at least an hour, then wash it out. Longer is better and again, the massaging is probably almost as important as the Aloe Vera.

You should be able to find Aloe Vera at your local grocery store or drug store. If you live in a more remote area, check on-line. If all of this sounds like too much hassle and a lot of work, come into Fantasia for Hair Support System. This is a salon treatment followed by home care, with natural ingredients known to help with thinning hair and hair loss.

Granted, this is a ways off, but interesting, non the less.

The French are telling us that some of their scientist have officially grown new skin, that developed, on it’s own, hair follicles and sebaceous glands……..They are claiming a potential breakthrought for treating baldness (as well as skin cancer and severe burns) after successfully growing skin with hair follicles using stem cells taken from adult mice.

Once of the cell specialist at the National Institute for Science and Meedical Research reports that “we grew a piece of skin with hair follicles for the first time.” Stem cells are premature cells that develop into various organs. Before we get too excited we need to know that these stem cells were taken from adult mice. The hope from this research is that these cells can eventually be “programmed” into growing replacement limbs or internal organs in a laboratory. I don’t know about you but this kind of reminds me of some horror films I’ve seen in the past,,, some scary sounding stuff.

This five year research effort had isolated stem cells in the hair roots of adult mice that were able to develop into the entire range of cells needed for the outer layer of skin, including the sebaceous glands and follicles producing hair or fur. Each follicle, whether in mice, rats or humans, contained about 1500 stem cells, which could migrate and develop into glands, hair or skin, called keratinocytes. According to one of the doctors who worked on the project, “We now have the first direct proof of the ability of these cells to grow on skin”.

The researchers’ next goal is to find compounds that will guide the cells towards specific tasks, such as promoting the growth of skin, which could be used for burn victims whose skin grafts are often unsightly as they are shiny and hairless. Another goal would be a treatment to encourage the stem to promote hair growth for bald people or conversely, to destroy selected cells in order to discourage hair growth.

Perhaps, someday, they will at least be able to help the half of humanity who wants more hair on their head.  Whenever it happens, it will be a good thing for millions suffering from hair loss.

Homeopathy uses remedies to treat symptoms rather than the prescribed condition. The theory is that there is a deeper level of healing and recovery so homeopathy uses remedies to treat the symptoms. Hair loss is not just a local disorder but rather, a deep-rooted problem.

There are about twenty different homeopathic remedies for female hair loss and finding the right one for you is going to depend on the cause behind your hair loss. If thyroid disease is the cause for your hair loss, you will need a different remedy than someone experiencing hair loss because of menopause or hormonal issues. When you visit a homeopathic practitioner you will need to answer questions about your hair loss, such as how long it’s been a problem, how much hair you are losing, what have you tried already, did it make it better or worse? You will be asked about your general physical and mental health, your stress levels, medical history and personal circumstances. All of these can affect your physical state and contribute to hair loss. The outside of the body is a reflection of what is going on inside.

Homeopathic remedies are made from herbs, vegetables, minerals, chemicals and a tiny amount of animal products. Help for female hair loss is best when administered in very small doses. These doses work with your body to stimulate the hair growth process. It will take time before you will notice results if in fact you will have results. You will need to take the homeopathic treatments for several months. If they are going to work for you, you should see some results in about four months.

Many homeopaths believe that detoxifying your body can also have a positive impact with female hair loss issues. Obviously stay away from smoking, alcohol and recreational drugs. Aside from these toxins, there are toxins all around including second hand smoke, pesticides, chlorine, exhaust fumes from vehicles, air-born germs, toxic ingredients in cosmetics, just to name a few. All of these can place a big load on our metabolic systems and cause our health to deteriorate, which can cause hair loss. It is impossible to avoid all toxins which is why cleansing or detoxifying is a good idea on a regular basis.

Many women who have tried homeopathic help for female hair loss report it has worked for them. But, it does not work for everybody. It depends on the cause of your hair loss. Go ahead and give it a try to see if it works for you. If not, there are many other hair loss solutions you can take advantage of which are natural and non-invasive.

Recently I came across some tips for taking care of the hair and scalp to help slow down hair loss that I thought I would pass along. People take their hair for granted until one day when they realize they are beginning to lose it. Rather than wait till this stage, it would be better if we did some preventative things now.

So many factors influence how our hair will grow and whether or not we are prone to hair loss. As we have discussed previously, factors include hormonal changes, hereditary influences, environmental factors, stress and health. A change in lifestyle will impact what would become of our hair in the future. Consider following these tips in order to encourage the growth of hair and so that it is less likely to be dry, brittle and fall out.

Drink the recommended daily amount of water. Water meaning pure water, not soft drinks, coffee, and beer. When you are dehydrated your entire body feels weak and is easily exhausted. It is also another factor in hair drying out and breaking off. Being dehydrated also impedes hair growth. On average, women should be drinking 2-2.6 liters daily, men need 2.8-3.5 liters daily. Adjust these amounts for factors such as weather, age and weight.

Exercise a couple times per week. A 15 minute brisk walk will increase your normal heart rate. This then improves blood circulation which brings more nutrients to the hair follicles and scalp. It’s best to exercise at least an hour after eating in order to give time for digestion to finish and put less pressure on the system.

Maintain a proper diet. Avoid foods rich in salt, sugar, and fat. Those three components stress the kidneys and make our blood more acidic, resulting in hair loss.

Drink green tea daily. This will reduce the risk of hair loss as it contains anti-oxidants which inhibit 5-alpha-reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into DHT. DHT induces hair loss and increases prostate size.

Indulge in aromatherapy. This alternative form of medicine has benefits both on our health and our mood. Massage the scalp with essential oils such as lavender and olive. This encourages healthier hair regrowth. Plus, it eliminates stress, which we know, is another factor in hair loss.

Avoid putting any strain on the scalp and hair in the form of tight clips and pony tails. Pulling your hair against the scalp can result in hair loss. As a result, bald patches may arise and this is known as traction alopecia.

Avoid using heat and chemicals on your hair such as straightening, perming, coloring, and excessive blow drying. These processes only weaken the internal structure of the hair and damage its chemical bonds. They may also cause dryness and irritation, making the hair fall out more easily.

So there you have it, just some common sense tips, which if implemented, could make a big difference for your hair and scalp now, causing you less stress in the future.

If you have read very many of my posts, you will know I like natural things. (for the most part) I love essential oils and have used many for different things such as sleep issues, making my own bath salts, room fresheners, etc. Essential oils/aromatherapy is amazing and there are so many applications. Oils are as old as time itself and are mentioned numerous times in the bible (frankincense and myrrh come to mind).

Today aromatherapy is once again popular because of the proliferation of spas, salons and organic products. More known for its relaxing and skin improvement benefits but; according to medical researchers and some recent discoveries, oils can be used as a natural way of reducing hair loss. Some essential oils have been proven to stimulate hair growth. Others help stimulate the cells of your scalp and increase the flow of blood to your hair follicles. Then there are others which detoxify your scalp. Here are some examples of essential oils which may help alleviate your hair loss problems.

• Lavender and bay: Combine six drops of these two essential oils with four ounces or either soybean, almond, or sesame oil. Massage this into your scalp. Let it sit for 20 minutes before washing off with water. Not only does this help you relax, these essential oils will stimulate your hair follicles. You can also add three drops of bay oil to a palmful of shampoo and you can use this daily to wash your hair.
• Almond and castor: Combine equal parts of almond oil and castor oil and massage into your scalp once or twice weekly.
• Olive: Apply olive oil onto hair and scalp. Cover your head with a shower cap and let it sit overnight. Wash off the following day. The moisturizing properties of olive oil will help keep your hair and scalp healthy.
• Henna and mustard: Boil four tablespoons of henna leaves in 1 cup of mustard oil. Strain the mixture using a sieve and store it in a glass bottle. Massage the oil into your hair and scalp and leave it on for at least 30 minutes. If you can, it’s better left overnight and washing off the following day.
• Cedarwood, thyme, lavender, rosemary, jojoba, and grapeseed: Mix two drops of cedarwood and thyme oil, three drops of lavender and rosemary oil, half a teaspoon of jojoba oil, and four teaspoons of grapeseed oil. Apply the mixture to your scalp and massage well for two minutes nightly. Using a warm towel, wrap your head and leave overnight. Dermatologists at the Royal Infirmary in Scotland did a study of 43 people suffering from hair loss. Using this mixture daily, 19 grew half of their hair back . A small fraction of the group, regrew almost all of their hair. (If you have high blood pressure, you should avoid the rosemary oil; grapeseed oil can cause minor irritations for those with sensitive skin.)

Essential oils are easy to buy and to apply. As with anything natural, be patient. It could take 3-6 months or longer for hair to grow back and for scalp health to return.

There is another innovative hair restoration technique we have not discussed. Laser hair therapy is one of the latest and most popular treatments for thinning hair.

Many men and women are regaining confidence through these treatments and; with more than half of the men and women in the United States experiencing hair loss, this is a big deal!

Laser hair therapy is a non-invasive approach to stimulate hair growth with no side effects. There is also no pain and no down time. Using laser light, laser hair therapy applies the same principles to hair that photosynthesis does to plants. Hopefully you can remember back to science class when we learned about this process. Laser hair therapy stimulates protein synthesis in cells to create a healthier, thicker head of hair. This process is referred to as “photo bio” stimulation.

The best candidates for laser hair therapy are those with thinning hair and those with scalp disorders. The procedure increases blood flow to the scalp and boosts cell metabolism. This creates more energy for the hair follicles. A patient must have functioning hair follicles in order for this therapy to work. If a person has been bald for awhile, laser hair therapy would not be a good option.

Laser hair therapy is a welcome alternative to hair transplants and has been used successfully in Europe for the past ten years. A good nutritional program for the scalp such as Hair Support System would work well in conjunction with laser hair therapy.

For those of us who prefer non-invasive solutions, this just may be a good one to consider.

Many people may not aware that there are camouflage makeups designed to hide hair loss and thinning hair. If the right products are used, the client can look nearly perfect and no one need notice their hair loss issues. This is usually a short term solution, until one can budget for something more permanent.
It’s important to note that the skin on the scalp is very different than on the face so the product used must be specifically formulated with this in mind.

In order for this technique to be effective, the scalp must first be exfoliated. This should be done twice a week. A professional hair stylist will instruct the client on in-home maintenance so that this is done properly. If done incorrectly, this makeup can clog the pores and block hair growth which would only exacerbate and make the hair loss problem worse.

If the client has oily to normal skin on the scalp, it would be best to use a pressed powder. If the scalp is dry to normal, a creme base would eliminate dryness. It is imperative the the camouflage makeup is a product suited to the client’s lifestyle. If they are extremely active, the makeup should contain a certain level of pigment stain to prevent it from running.

Cosmetic, camouflage-tints color in exposed scalp areas and can create the illusion of additional hair fibers. The manufacturer assures us these products will hold up under perspiration and weather and they will wash out. While not suited for extreme hair loss cases, this technique is best used on someone who has lost little or an intermediate amount of hair. It is also for someone who has little or minimal budget to deal with thinning hair. This treatment is available at Fantasia, call for a consultation.