Mature Fashion: Rocking hair

Hair-Still working on it

Hello Stylinistas;

Healthy hair is a beauty trademark but also a sign of good health; hair is the fastest growing tissue in the human body,; growing at the rate of 1 centimeter per month (4/10th of an inch).  Unfortunately, our crowning  glory begins its hair loss at about age 40.

Diabetes, thyroid disease and other medical disorders contribute or cause hair loss as well as a major trauma such as an operation, stressful divorce or a death in the family.  If the body's defense mechanisms are threatened all the soldiers within our bloodstream and organs use the body's resources to repel the attack and our hair is the last to receive attention.

The wonderful thing is the solution to healthy, strong, and vibrant hair is the same as it is for good heart health, blood sugar control, weight regulation, etc., etc, etc. A diet primarily composed of high quality animal (eggs and poultry; (make that free range)) and mostly plant based proteins (especially whole beans and other legumes), whole grains, dark green vegetables,nuts, oysters, wild caught salmon, and high quality dairy with sufficiency of B vitamins,and sufficient water.  If this diet sounds familiar, it should; it recurs over and over for a healthy diet. A lifestyle that abuses alcohol and eating a poor diet, especially bad fats and sugar affect the growth of hair.  Crash diets are deadly; smoking is also not good for hair growth, yada, yada, yada.  Really, we all know what we have to do; healthy hair, just like all over good physical health requires the same disciplines.

Very predictably, physical exercise is necessary to move blood carrying all these nutrients to the scalp. Appropriate amounts of exercise encourage the growth of strong, healthy hair, and contribute to hair growth, especially for type II diabetics who often suffer hair loss because of high blood sugar levels.  A note of warning however, extreme exercise (aerobic or weight) over any continued period of time may cause hair loss; the body sees this condition as body breakdown and sends its resources to the the muscles and nutrition to the hair is diminished.

Proper cleansing of the scalp is also necessary to allow new hair follicles to emerge rather than be smothered by layers of skin oil and hair product. Just like any other patch of skin on the body, the scalp needs gentle care and light stimulation to allow it to be in its best shape. Using the proper combs and brushes is also vitally important in keeping the scalp intact and properly stimulated in its removal of surface cells, etc.

Although not a condition of healthy hair, removing dull split ends by keeping the ends trimmed properly add to the beauty of our hair. (a personal challenge-I all too often let my hair go too long before a trim and really need to update my knowledge of home based hair products to improve texture, etc).  As always, the role of physical health and care of all our body is absolutely necessary to present our best self to the world in general and to "Rock our Ages". 

................Geneva..................Rockmyages@aol.com...............