Tag Archives: health

beauty, Causes of Hair Loss, Hair Care

Tips for Chemically Relaxed Hair Beauty

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AaaH ..best hair relaxer ever!

Many women prefer the convenience of chemically relaxed hair.   What can we do when those chemicals cause other types of scalp problems? How do we avoid suffering from hair loss caused by chemicals in the future?  Here’s good piece of advice that I found searching the Internet.

It’s best to consult with a professional to determine what your particular needs are when it comes to relaxers. And no, you cannot apply a lye relaxer over hair that’s been processed with a no-lye relaxer (and vice versa)! However, you can apply a different relaxer to new growth if your current straightener isn’t giving you the results you want. It’s not recommended to constantly switch relaxer types or brands. Once you find the relaxer that works for you, it’s best to stick with it until or unless it stops. via Lye and No-Lye Hair Relaxers.

It turns out that many hair care blogs have articles commenting on just this topic.  I searched for some of the key points  highlighted, which may help to reduce any problems that you are  having due to chemically induced dry scalp with your relaxed hair.  Read on and don’t forget to click the link at the end for a more detailed discussion about these topics.

♦ After your hair has been chemically straightened, wait 48 hours before you wash your hair. The chemicals need time to set.

♦ Once a week for the first month, apply a deep conditioning mask and cover your head with a shower cap to lock in heat.

♦ When you sleep, use a satin pillow case, this will help protect your hair by preventing it from tangling.

♦ When it comes to styling your hair, avoid using high heat blow dryers or curling irons. If you must use them then reduce the heat.

♦ Try to avoid using hair spray or gel as they can dry out your hair.

♦ If you want to colour chemically straightened hair, then wait 14 days before you do.  via How to Take Care of Chemically Straightened Hair.

♣ Daily application of a moisturizing cream also helps. Avoid products that contain petroleum and silicones as these are often too heavy for relaxed hair. Instead, look for products that use oils like aloe vera, jojoba, olive oil and other natural oils. These are much lighter than the petroleums and silicones, and they moisturize your hair without weighing it down. via How to Take Care of Relaxed Hair | eHow.com.

HairBlues Recommendation: Check out the Just Natural website to find products for relaxed hair that will help you to moisturize your hair and scalp with organic natural products.  Click the link below.

http://www.justnaturalskincare.com/hair-black/relaxed/-ALL-relaxed-black-african-american-hair-products.html

I hope this is helpful 🙂

Beauty Change, Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy Hair: Caring for & Repairing

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This post is in response to an inquiry about how to care for “natural (kinky)  hair” after chemotherapy treatment… After searching for “chemo hair remedies’ on the Internet, there did not seem to be a website, which had ‘distinguished‘ natural (kinky) hair from any other types of hair after chemotherapy.  As I thought about Chemotherapy, and why people must go through this formidable health challenge, I concluded that Cancer does not  ‘distinguish‘ whose body it chooses to visit.  It is an unexpected, intense, and distressing experience that has a sudden and powerful effect on somebody’s emotions and physical well-being. Having said that,  I want to share with you “natural” remedies for your new growth.  I urge those of you out there who have had chemotherapy to share your ideas by making comments at the end of this post.

Getting your hair ready for Chemotherapy is probably one of the most difficult challenges a person can be confronted with.  I have heard that spiritual guidance and sheer will are some of the options those who have to deal with this test choose to help them.  Of course,  family and friends are some of the other support systems one relies on. But how do you get your hair ready for this ordeal?  The Mayo Clinic website had suggestings for pre/after-treatments, which are listed below. Don’t forget to click the link provided at the end for more details.

Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit medical practice and medical research group based in Rochester, Minnesota, specializing in treating difficult cases (tertiary care). Patients are referred to Mayo Clinic from across the U.S. and the world, and it is known for innovative and effective treatments.via Mayo Clinic – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Before (Chemotherapy) treatment
Be gentle to your hair. Get in the habit of being kind to your hair. Don’t bleach, color or perm your hair — this can weaken it. Air-dry your hair as much as possible and avoid heating devices such as curling irons and hot rollers. Strengthening your hair now might make it more likely to stay in your head a little longer during treatment.

During treatment
Baby your remaining hair. Continue your gentle hair strategies throughout your chemotherapy treatment. Use a soft brush. Wash your hair only as often as necessary. Consider using a gentle shampoo.

After treatment
Continue gentle hair care. Your new hair growth will be especially fragile and vulnerable to the damage caused by styling products and heating devices. Hold off on coloring or bleaching your new hair until it grows stronger. Processing could damage your new hair and irritate your sensitive scalp.
Be patient. It’s likely that your hair will come back slowly and that it might not look normal right away. But growth takes time, and it also takes time to repair the damage caused by your cancer treatment.  via Chemotherapy and hair loss: What to expect during treatment

Maintaining a routine for your hair after chemotherapy:

Step 1 –Wash hair gently. The AHLC advises restricting shampooing to twice a week. Use a shampoo formulated for damaged or dry hair, followed up with a conditioner formulated for thin or fine hair. Massage your scalp gently while you’re in the shower to loosen up dead skin cells.

Step 2 – Avoid towel drying your hair. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, vigorous rubbing can damage healthy hair, as the hair is more vulnerable when it’s wet. Simply wrap a towel around your hair and let it absorb the water.

Step 3 – Let your hair air dry. The heat from a blow dryer can damage new hair growth, says the AHLC–and it can damage healthy hair as well. The AAD advises limiting use of blow dyers and other heated styling tools in general. If you eventually start to use a blow dryer again, wait until your hair is barely damp to use it. via How To Grow Hair Back After Chemotherapy | LIVESTRONG.COM.

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Gentle Products – The two websites listed below have natural products that might be gentle for your scalp and hair type after chemotherapy. Just click the link provided.

http://www.justnaturalskincare.com/hair-black/-ALL-black-hair.html

http://www.wenhaircare.com/whyitsunique.php

Glossary:
AHLC – American Hair Loss Council
AAD – American Academy of Dermatology

I hope this is helpful 🙂

Beauty Change, Hair Loss Tips, HairBlues POV, In the Know

Disguising Your True Beauty

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How many disguises have you created since you learned that you would be counted among the innumerable women undergoing hair loss? HairBlues has written about it before, and although hair loss by itself is not a life threatening process, it does indeed bring high concern, and anxiety to many.  The stories at the Women’s Hair Loss Project blog brings us further understanding of what it can be like to find yourself in this predicament. At the same time, there are also uplifting stories from women who have managed to get married, have productive lives, and moved on with this challenge in hand.  We hope you will too.

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At HairBlues we feel compassion for those many women who have not found their comfort level yet.  We can only hope they discover that with, or without, their disguises in reality their true beauty is within them.  Surely, others really looking for true beauty will find it in them too.

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The American Hair Loss Association has given some guidelines for attacking hair loss proactively.  Make sure to visit the blog when the opportunity is right for you.

♦ Oral Contraceptives are a common cause of hair loss for many women today. Women who use oral contraceptives need to be sure they are taking a low androgen index pill. Read More…via American Hair Loss Association – Womens Hair Loss.

♦ Women are in a “Catch-22” position when it comes to drug treatments for androgenetic alopecia. While many drugs may work to some degree for some women, doctors are reluctant to prescribe them, and drug companies aren’t exactly falling over themselves to test existing or new drugs specifically for their ability to prevent and treat female pattern baldness. via American Hair Loss Association – Women’s Hair Loss / Treatment.

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I hope this is helpful !

Beauty Change, HairBlues POV

Challenging Ageism & Ego: A Perspective

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Beauty.

When I find myself obsessing about hair loss, I remember that as we age, we are challenged in the process, and by the process itself.  Losing one’s hair is one of several challenges.  But, let’s concede that hair loss, on its own, is not a life threatening challenge.  Cancer.  Heart Disease, Diabetes.  The need for Bone Marrow. Mastectomy.  These are just a few challenges that can intrude into one’s life.  I would bet that you never thought of hair loss in a positive way!

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Well, today think again. Step up to the challenge to move forward by thinking in a  positive way.  See  yourself differently.  Reinvent.  Be grateful that all you have to do is make a beauty change. Or, think of yourself as  a beauty change.

Let’s get busy being grateful!

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Beauty Change, Hair Care, Hair Loss Tips, In the Know

ReCreating Your Look . . .

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Occasionally you may want to ‘recreate‘ your look.  Weaves give you a way to change your ‘outward personality‘, and maybe, the attitude that goes with it! 🙂 In addition, weaves  give you an opportunity to take care of your ‘natural hair’ when it needs some time to repair or refresh from the experiments  you put it through.  🙂

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  HairBlues tries to find the best solutions and suggestions at the various websites, which cover the topics featured on this page.   Check out the tips found for protecting your hair underneath your weave. There were any number of  sites that provided many and fascinating suggestions on what to do during this beauty transition period.  Some of the suggestions I liked are listed below.  As always, for the detailed information provided by each site, click on the link at the end of each topic.

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Del Sandeen  Black Hair Guide had four (4) main suggestions:

(1) Shampoo and Condition, (2) Apply Oils to Your Scalp, (3) Don’t Neglect the Weave (4) Remove it After Six to Eight Weeks.

Read the details why at this link – Take Care of Your Hair Under the Weave.

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Taking Care of Your Hair: Weave Edition

Ladies, we all view our hair as precious. But if you’ve noticed that your hair is damaged, you have two options. 1. To cut it or 2. To save it. A lot of ladies are able to save the damaged hair through weaves or wigs, but remember if you choose this option you MUST take care of your hair underneath it all. via Hair De La Crème: Taking Care of Your Hair: Weave Edition.

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I hope this is helpful 🙂

Beauty Change, Hair Loss Tips

Using Vinegar for Healthy Locks

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Like the Seasons… … … … … We Change

Each of us is having a personal experience with our Locks. At times it’s exasperating, let alone, scary. 😦   For those of you struggling to handle your hair loss, I urge you not to give up. Use this as a time of beauty exploration. Treat yourself to a new look. Experiment. Use a new shampoo, or new hair gel, or new hair comb :).  Change is good!  We are the seasons of the universe.  That’s a beautiful thing.

recreate_yourself

How many of you knew that Vinegar can be used to help you with various hair issues?  Do you know that Vinegar has been used to treat hair loss? Below are some of the things I learned about Vinegar use for your hair and what it can do:

  • Restore shine
  • Clean and improve scalp health
  • Reduce dandruff

Check out for yourself what I found at other websites, and what they had to say about Vinegar. Just click on the link at the end of the summary.

Mix up other natural beauty products with vinegar for healthy hair. Use 1 ounce of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar and 1 egg for your next shampoo. Put the ingredients in the blender and then use as a shampoo. Rinse it with a complimentary mixture made from herbs and vinegar. Use 1/4 cup fresh lavender (or other herb you favor) with a quart of boiling water poured over it. When the mixture cools, strain out the lavender and add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Use a cup as a final rinse. Store it in the refrigerator in a closed container.via Is Vinegar Good for Your Hair? | eHow.com.

Vinegar for Hair

Most naturalistas are well versed in the benefits of ACV on natural hair, but if you’re not – allow me to fill you in. Vinegar is a great clarifier, and it makes for clean, shiny hair. This simple recipe from Natural Review lets you know what to do, and this vintage BGLH post breaks down exactly why. I usually just rinse my hair at the end with a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (Braggs is a popular brand for that), and also using vinegar on my scalp once a month has helped me deal with flakes in the past.via The Beauty Benefits of Vinegar for Hair and Skin | Afrobella.

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HairBlues  Suggestion:

If you don’t want to mix up a potion all on your own, below is a link to an already prepared product I used. The directions were easy to follow. It left my scalp feeling refreshed, and my hair squeaky clean.  The instructions on the bottle recommend that you use it twice a month.  If you have concerns that your hair will smell like vinegar after giving yourself a treatment,  use a nice smelling conditioner of your choice. 🙂

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Our organic apple cider vinegar rinse slows hair loss and promotes new growth by dissolving excess DHT, unblocking hair follicles and stimulating scalp circulation. The acids and enzymes in this treatment may kill the pathogens associated with Alopecia hair loss. via Natural Herbal Hair Rinse for Hair Loss Remedy,Vinegar Hair Loss.

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I hope this is helpful.  🙂


Bald Head Care, Beauty Change

Un-Lock Your Look with Simply Beautiful Heads

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canstockphoto8521311

I am truly mystified about how it came to be that men who are bald are considered attractive, powerful, virile, etc.   I wondered as I was about to post this week’s suggestions on caring for heads that are bald, whether bald women are considered to be  attractive by the same population who think bald men are attractive.

When I see women who have decided to ‘Un-Lock’  their look by being bald, what comes across to me is that beauty comes in various styles.

This post is for those women who have decided to ‘Un-Lock your look’ by simply going bald & beautiful with shaved heads. I wanted to share with you some of the tips I found that may help you when caring for your ‘Lock-less‘  look.  Make sure to click the link at the end to get a full description on bald head care.

Bald Head Care Tips

Protecting Your Scalp

Your scalp is a part of your skin, but just many times more sensitive. Why? If you are shaving your head for the first time, then it’s the first time your scalp will have to face with pollutants and UV rays that your hair used to block off. It will also dry and burn faster compare to your face because your scalp is not used to our harsh environments. So the best way is to moisturize it.

Use a moisturizer daily that can help protect your shaved head from dryness. There is no specific moisturizer but get one that does not contain alcohol. You can use the same moisturizer that you use for your face.

Block It

One of the most harmful elements to your scalp is UV rays exposure, which can damage your delicate scalp. Considering that your scalp will be the most exposed part to UV rays, getting a good sunscreen is essential.

I hope this is helpful.  See you at the next Post 🙂

HairBlues POV

Word: An open reply to a comment or two

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I want to take a  moment to speak about the focus of HairBlues. Some of you may not  have had the opportunity to read the About page, so what better place than “right up front“ to take a moment and respond to your opinion.

HairBlues is fortunate to receive comments from its visitors, some even complimentary – and I want to openly say ” Thank You!” 🙂

When you visit the Blog you will  learn that it’s a friendly page, designed to make you feel relaxed, and less stressed by the current condition of your hair: thinning, balding maybe, or just generally perplexed by the very uncomfortable feeling that you cannot control what is happening to your locks.

When I discovered that something was “eating my locks” I had NO clue what to do. I pretty much “wished” it would go away, all on its own. This I came to learn is what many women feel at the first sign of hair thinning, or hair loss – all the while continuing to lose hair.

HairBlues believes women come in all sorts of beautiful variations, and so, we will share our  various reflections to give you ideas for coming to accept the change you’re experiencing with your hair –  whatever that may be.

That’s pretty much it in a nutshell. No miracles. No claims of  knowing the best medications, or other remedies. We are not doctors. We are not offering medical advice,  just honest opinions, and pointers to places that may have answers for you..  We do the on-line “legwork” … then we share what we’ve found with you.

If you come here often, I assure you there will always be food for thought and something interesting to read and learn where your haircare needs are concerned.

We hope you will visit frequently. HairBlues is a “Help Blog”.  Stay tuned 🙂

Hair Loss Tips

Hair Tip: Peppermint for Volume

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I love peppermint tea, candy, and the smell can also be calming to help you de-stress.  Here’s a piece of information that  I found at a great site that has lots of tips for hair, among other things.

Peppermint

If you want to achieve volume with lift at the roots, opt for a volumizing shampoo that contains peppermint, recommends Daily Beauty, a blog produced by NewBeauty magazine. Because peppermint has a stimulating effect on your scalp, it makes your hair follicles stick straight up, creating volume. via Volumizing Shampoo Ingredients | LIVESTRONG.COM.

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Hair Loss Tips, In the Know

The Latest & Greatest Promise: Invati !

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AVEDA is promising  it has found a solution for thinning hair. This apparent solution reduces hair loss by 33%!  It cannot bring back the hair you have lost; however using their product can substantially help you to keep the hair you have. AVEDA products are mostly plant-based.  You may want to check out what they think about their products.  Here’s a little summary of what they have to say: “Ever since a hairdresser founded Aveda in 1978, our products have been harvested with respect for the earth, in harmony with the web of life.” via Discover Aveda

Below is an interesting comment I found on-line about the product (Make sure to click the Tumblr link for more comments).

About Invati

Aveda’s Invati line is for Hair Regrowth. It is not for people who simply wish to have thicker hair, use Pure Abundance for that.

The Shampoo and Conditioner are designed to do is keep the scalp from building up too much oil, so balding people can go back to only washing it every other day, like you should be doing (Washing it every day dries out your scalp and hair). What the Spray is designed to do is invigorate (hence the name) the scalp of those who are balding, forcing the hair follicles to start producing hair again. I don’t know why they’re using that Kim Kardishian (?) lookalike for the ads. Invati is just a better Rogaine. via invati | Tumblr.

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Hair Blues  suggestion: You may want to stop by the Aveda store and ask for a sample.  That’s what I did.  I used the shampoo and conditioner, and liked the result.  Of course it’s too early to report long range results 🙂

I hope this is helpful.  See you at the next Post 🙂

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