Healthy Hair & Scalp…..tips to nourish your tresses

A Beautiful Mane

Thick, beautiful, shiny healthy hair is something that many people desire to have. However, we have whatever type of hair we were born with – thick, thin, blonde, red, brunette, curly, dark, coarse, fine, wavy or straight. Whatever type of hair we have, it is important to take care of it, and that starts with not only taking care of our scalp, but our entire being as well.

There are so many factors that influence and affect your hair and hair growth including stress, hormones, genetics, age, health, lifestyle, diet, nutrition and your environment. The health of our hair can, at times, mirror what’s going on inside of us internally, reflecting what kind of state both our mind and body is in. Many times after I start coming down with a cold, I realize that those few days prior to the onset of that cold, my hair was not behaving the same – it was not shiny and was very flat and lifeless. This has been the case most times so now when my hair reacts in this way I usually take it as a sign and start preventive measures such as taking certain supplements and herbal tinctures to strengthen my immune system.

First A Little About the Hair Strand

Hair is mainly comprised of protein (keratin) and water. Each hair strand is made up of 3 main components – the cuticle, cortex and medulla.

Cuticle: This is the outer layer of the hair shaft or strand. It looks like layered shingles on a roof. It is a barrier that helps protects each hair from environmental stressors as well as all the abuse it takes from us including blow drying, flat ironing, chemical processes and more. When your hair is healthy and shiny, these shingles will be laying down nice and tight and flat. The more damaged your hair is, the more these shingles will lift up and away from the hair shaft, giving a less shiny appearance and thus, less protection.

Cortex: The cortex makes up most of the weight of the hair strand. This is where the hair’s strength, color and elasticity are contained. Hair’s pigment, which is called melanin, is contained in the cortex and this determines your hair color – both natural and when you change it with hair coloring products. This is a very important area of the hair strand and it contains many fibers that are held together by many bonds. When these bonds are broken and not reformed, the hair strand will become weak. This is why it is so important to have a healthy scalp and hair care routine.

Medulla: The medulla is located in the very center of the hair strand and is comprised of protein. In fine hair, there is no medulla in the hair strand. However there usually is one in thick and coarse hair. The function of the medulla is not really known. If I were to guess, since fine hair is usually more fragile than thick or coarse hair, it would make sense to guess that if you have a medulla, your hair is naturally a little stronger – but that’s just my opinion.

Some Hair Growth and Scalp Facts

Hair is actually considered dead. The live portion exists underneath your skin – in your scalp where hair receives (or not), all its vital nutrients from your blood. Also, we are constantly shedding dead skin cells so if we do not regularly remove those cells, as well as sweat, from our scalp by cleansing and massaging the scalp, then this will affect hair growth.

Hair grows out of our scalp through the hair follicle. Did you know that the shape of the hair is what determines whether your hair is straight, wavy or curly? If you had a cross section of the hair strand, straight hair is round in shape, wavy hair has an oval shape and curly hair has a flat shape – kind of wild, isn’t it?

At the base of your follicle is the root of your hair – it is called the papilla. This is where each hair strand gets nourished through your blood. This is why it is so important to be aware of what you put into your body, such as food, drugs/medication and alcohol, because they go into your blood and can affect hair growth. But also be aware that your mind can also affect your hair growth in such cases as how we react to stress as well as negative thought patterns because these can affect the blood flow which nourishes our hair.

The hair bulb contains the papilla and this is what you see at the end of a hair strand when you pull one out.

Hair & Scalp Care Tips:

• · Do a gentle scalp massage prior to shampooing your hair. Use a little plant oil such as sesame, olive or jojoba to massage scalp.

• · Wear a hat in the sun to protect hair and scalp from sunlight.

• · Keep hair combs, brushes and tools clean.

• Avoid wearing hair tightly clipped back in barrettes or hair ties so to avoid damaging the hair.

• Avoid excessive use of chemical sprays and drying shampoo.

• Do not use very hot or very cold water to shampoo hair.

• Give your hair a rest by not shampooing and blow-drying every day.

• ·Do a warm hair oil treatment weekly to condition your hair and soothe and nourish your scalp. Depending on your hair length, use ½ teaspoon or up to 2 teaspoons of carrier oil such as coconut, sesame or jojoba. You can warm the oil by putting it in a heatproof measuring cup and then place it in a hot-water bath until it gets warm. Massage carrier oil onto your scalp and brush it through your hair. Wrap your hair in a plastic shower cap and cover with a wool hat. Leave on for about an hour and then shampoo your hair using a gentle, non-drying shampoo.

• Use essential oils to add additional benefits of cleansing and conditioning hair and scalp. (Stay tuned for future post on this topic).

• Do consult your professional hairstylist for tips and products that would be best for your hair type and condition.

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