Fantasia Salon / Spa and Wig Specialists

On many occasions, I have blogged about proper nutrition and hair care aiding in the prevention of hair loss. Some of this I’ve talked about before but I think it bears repeating. Others is new information that I like to pass along.

Some of what we know about the hair is that it grows in cycles. Some follicles rest while others are shedding and growing. As you age, re-growth eventually becomes so fine that you can’t see it. The unfortunate statistic is that over 25 percent of women over 50 will lose more than half of their hair.

Hair loss can be passed down from either parent’s side. In all likely hood, if you father is bald, you could end up with hair loss issues as well. For the female, the thinning usually occurs throughout the crown area.

Pregnancy, illness, divorce or any other major stressors can cause you to shed all of you “resting” hair. Usually this will happen from 2-6 mounts after the event, although, in these situations, the hair loss is usually temporary and will most likely grow back naturally.

Other contributing factors for hair loss which we’ve also discussed, include protein deficiencies caused by extreme dieting which can also make the hair dry and baby-fine, while tight hairstyles such as ponytails, can put so much tension on the hair follicles that they are ripped out. Once gone, there is nothing left to product new hair.

It is important to keep your hair hydrated and to style it gently. Repetitive stress such as brushing and blow drying can cause damage and break the hair. While clean hair is a good thing, too much shampooing can strip it of nutrients needed for healthy growth. Hot air strips the hair strands of moisture so minimize your use of a hair dryer. The chamois towels we sell at Fantasia are fabulous because they pull most of the moisture out of your hair so it requires very little blow drying.

Last, but not least, here are some foods that can help prevent hair loss:

• Chickpeas have zinc and vitamin B-6 which are needed for healthy hair. Zinc helps build hair protein and works well with vitamin A. A lack of either of these causes dandruff which can contribute to hair loss.
• Almonds are a great source of protein, iron and vitamin E. They reportedly lower cholesterol which is a good thing because, you don’t want to have to take cholesterol lowering drugs as they may actually cause hair loss.
• Whole wheat is a good source of sillica and iron. Silica is important as it helps with the absorption of many other vitamins and minerals.
• Oats are a great source of easily absorbable iron in addition to potassium, phosphorus and magnesium.
• Oranges are a good source of vitamin C which, again, helps make iron more absorbable in the human body. Vitamin C plays a big role in the development of collagen, which is necessary hair growth; helps keep your skin tight and is the “glue” that holds things together in the body.

Sometimes the whole diet thing seems so complicated. The things mentioned above are very simple to implement into your diet. And, as I’ve said many times before, supplementing your diet is necessary as most of us are just not getting everything we need on a daily basis. Many of us at Fantasia are on Isagenix products as we feel they are superior to anything else out there! Call us if you are interested in joining us!

I’ve been passing along some things I’ve been reading about how you should accentuate yourself as you age. Maturity is a badge of honor to be respected with good taste. There comes a time when all the extra bling and fabulousness of fashion, hair, and makeup is best when toned down. Wisdom carries with it a confidence and sophistication which allows you to do less and achieve more. We are no longer screaming to be looked at, grasping for status or hipness. Less is more makes a statement in and of itself that doesn’t require bright lips, over-the-top earrings, or a crazy hip belt to bring it forward.

Here are some great guidelines for aging gracefully:

• Avoid drawing attention to your mouth with bright or dark lips
• Avoid drawing attention to your aging eyelids with frosted eyeshadow
• Avoid drawing attention to aging hands with bright nail polish and a multitude of attention-grabbing rings
• Draw the eye to your face with the neckline interest and earrings
• When in doubt, leave it out

I’ll be the first to tell you I personally like funky. However, I find these days I like funky within reason. There are some hairstyles I might have worn a few years ago that I will passon today. The same with clothes. While I really like the boho look, there are somethings I just can’t bring myself to wear today that I would have worn only a few years ago.

I must admit I still like bling in purses and shoes. That is one addiction I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to break. There’s just something about the gold with the stones in shoes and purses. I guess since they aren’t drawing attention to the aging parts of my body I’m okay, besides, I’ve always said my feet are one of my best assets, so I don’t mind drawing attention to them. The only sad thing is that they are covered up for over half of the year!

Your hair is the frame for your face. The way your hair is cut should highlight the best features of your face.

There are many hairstyles out there to pick and choose from. However, some may look good on some but not on others. If a particular hairstyle does not flatter the shape of your face, then it is not a good style for you.

For example, if you have a round face, you should wear your hair in such a way that it lessens the width of your face and choose a style that would add length to your face. In contrast, hairstyles that add length should be avoided by women with long faces. These women should choose a style that adds width to the face.

Whatever the shape of the face, there are a few cuts that look good on almost anyone. This is an all-around hairstyle which is simple and versatile and would look good on any type of face for any occasion.

What are the elements of this all-around haircut? Well, there are actually two main elements to the style which looks good on all.

The first element is layering. The layers of the hair should act as arrows that direct the eyes of whoever is looking at you to the best features of your face. This could be your eyes, lips or cheekbones, So - the layers of your hair should be done to the front of the face, rather than in the back. Avoid having the layers cut too short. Hair layers should not fall above the eye or above the earlobes.

The second element is length. Try to keep the length of your hair to just about your shoulders. Long hair that falls to the middle of the back and cut without any shape or layers should be left for teenage girls.

If you want to wear your hair long, wear it with layers around your face. Also, have the length at the back cut to a round shape, or a V-shape. Long hair cut straight without any shape, can make a woman look either too old or too juvenile. Long hair done with layers and with ends shaped in the back can give you a sophisticated, sexy look.

Since the all-around haircut if perfect or any face, regardless of shape, perhaps you should try it and see if it’s a good frame for your face?

To blow dry or air dry, which is better, which is right? Well… actually its a matter of personal preference. Some people don’t have much time to devote to styling their hair and want to achieve maximum styling so they opt for blow drying their hair. On the other hand, there are some who think blow-drying is a total waste of electricity and is a quick way to damage the hair, so they are all about air drying their hair.

Which is better? Both ways of drying the hair have their advantages and disadvantages. And, there proper ways of doing both.

Air drying. This is usually done by people who have short, low maintenance hairstyles or those with curly hair. There are also some people who have long hair yet have their hair air dry as air drying does not subject the hair to excessive heat. Therefore their hair is not as susceptible to damage as hair which is blow dried.

If you are going to air dry your hair, you must remember that the hair is at it’s weakest when it is wet. So, be very cautious not to rub your hair dry with the use of a towel. The friction caused by rubbing the hair with a towel with make the hair brittle and eventually break. Rather than rubbing it, you should instead blot the moisture out of your hair with a towel. As I’ve mentioned several times, at Fantasia we sell a chamois like towel with will help gently remove most of the moisture from your hair when washed. Be careful not to tug or pull at your hair much when it is still wet. Once the water is blotted out of the hair, you can fluff it with your fingers.

Blow drying the hair is the most convenient way of getting it dry and; because most people today live fast-paced lives, blow drying is typically the way it’s done. Also, blow drying adds volume to the hair. While it’s the most convenient method to dry the hair, it can also be dangerous to the hair, especially if it is over done. Blow drying can actually make the hair very brittle.

If you blow dry your hair, make sure that it is not soaking wet when you start. Blot the water out well first. Don’t hold the dryer too close to your head; keep it at least six inches away from the hair and move the dryer constantly around your head. Protect the outer strands of your hair from being over-dried by bending over and blow drying your hair with your head hanging upside down. Also, try not to dry your hair completely with the blow dryer, stop while the hair is ever so slightly damp.

Whether you air dry or blow dry your hair is your choice and should be based on lifestyle and preferences. Whatever method you chose, remember your hair is fragile. Handle it with care.