Coconut Oil for Out of Control Curls and Lack-Lustre Locks!

Perhaps you have noticed the mane of thick shiny hair owned by people living in tropical coastal regions? Their secret is Coconut Oil. People everywhere are switching on to its natural benefits. We’ll tell you what they have been discovering.
Unfairly demonized by the FDA for years because of its high saturated fat content, coconut oil is finding new proponents daily, with internet doctors such as Dr Oz and Dr Mercola singing its praises to the masses.
Used for thousands of years, it just happens to be one of the most effective conditioners for all hair types, the hidden reason it’s in so many hair care products.

How Does Coconut Oil Care for Your Hair?

Regular conditioners tend to soften hair and smooth the cuticles, adding shine and giving the appearance of healthiness. Coconut Oil works at a deeper level, and actually does boost hair and scalp health and repairs your damaged hair. As an added bonus it’s also an antimicrobial which controls the fungus causing dandruff, so you can skip the dandruff shampoo.
Coconut Oil is thick, white and semi-solid at room temperature and should be warmed to melting point prior to use on hair. Unrefined (100% Virgin) coconut oil is ideal for your hair and less expensive than commercial cosmetic products.

	Penetrates, Thickens and Protects Virgin Coconut Oil is completely absorbed by the hair, filling up the hollow shafts, adding body and making hair appear thicker, whilst also protecting it from damage (by reducing fiber swelling).
	Prevents Protein Loss and Boosts Shine Coconut Oil helps hair retain proteins – normally lost through weak, damaged hair. It also seals in moisture, making hair stronger and silkier.
	Prevents Dandruff and Hair Fall-Out Coconut Oil’s antibacterial properties protect the scalp against infections resulting in itching, dandruff and weak dry hair. They also protect hair follicles, strengthening hair – meaning less breakage and less hair falling out!
	Promotes Hair and Scalp Health Vitamins E and K found in coconut oil nourish hair and boost health and shine. Massaging it into the scalp makes it easier for hair follicles to absorb nutrients, whilst stimulating blood circulation to the area, moisturising and preventing build-up of dry skin (another cause of dandruff).

How to Use Coconut Oil for Hair

I use a ‘super moisturizing conditioner’ as my regular conditioner, thoroughly mixing Honey, Aloe Vera juice and a standard conditioner for dry hair (a tablespoon of each).
You just use it in the same way as you would any normal conditioner, massaging into wet hair. I run my fingers through my hair rather than combing it through. To avoid greasy roots, I don’t massage into the scalp, but rinse thoroughly. Getting shiny nourished hair is nice and easy. I have fairly straight hair and still use shampoo to clean my hair and prevent greasiness.

Smooth and Shine Spray

To maximize results I use a spray comprising of both Aloe Vera gel and Aloe Vera juice (a tablespoon of each), a teaspoon of Jojoba Oil and enough water to ensure the mixture isn’t too viscous. Some people add Glycerin because it is a humectant (makes water stick to the hair), but I don’t like it as I found it too sticky.
Give the bottle a good shake and then spray evenly to clean the damp hair. If, like me, you’re prone to slightly oily roots, then start lower down working towards the ends. This spray is great for smoothing split ends!
And if you want to go the whole distance, when the hair has dried, lightly smooth on small amounts of ‘jojoba jelly’ – Jojoba Oil and Glycerin (a tablespoon of each), mixed with a 1/3 of a cup of Aloe Vera gel.

Deep Conditioning Coconut Oil Treatment

For hair that is dry/damaged I perform a regular deep conditioning treatment. A mixture of 4 tablespoons of conditioner and 3 tablespoons of cold pressed virgin coconut oil works wonders for me. My hair feels so much healthier afterwards, and since using it, it’s almost dandruff-free.
I simply work it into my hair when damp, towel wrap, and leave to work its magic for around 2 hours, before rinsing. I treat my hair to this ‘healing session’ every other week, although it would be even more beneficial to do so weekly. Depending on the extent of damage, you might even want to skip the conditioner, applying only coconut oil.

Is Saw Palmetto For Hair Loss Really Effective?

With baldness becoming such a common problem, more and more people are now turning to natural solutions for it. Of these natural solutions, Saw Palmetto is a prominent one. Let's find out if taking Saw Palmetto for hair loss is really going to help you or not.

To be able to evaluate the effectiveness of Saw Palmetto for hair loss, we first need to understand the root cause behind this loss of hair.

Apart from hormonal surges in some conditions and treatments for severe illnesses, the major cause of hair loss in both men and women is Androgenic Alopecia.

In this condition, the androgen hormone in the body produces a derivative known as Dihydrotestostrone (DHT). This DHT attaches itself to the hair follicles and prevents them from producing thick, healthy hair.

First, the new hairs begin to become a bit thinner than normal. Then the follicle gets completely shrunk and is not able to produce new hair at all. This lack of supply of new hair to replace the old ones, results in thinning hair and baldness on the scalp.

Now, let's see what Saw Palmetto can do in this situation.

This herb has traditionally been used by Native Americans as a tonic. It is also very beneficial in case of urinary infections.

But recent research has shown that this herb is very effective at preventing hair loss too. It prevents the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme from converting the testosterone in the blood into DHT.

The blockade of DHT is just what is needed by the follicles to start producing new hair and reverse the baldness effectively. The added advantage is - as this is a natural ingredient; Saw Palmetto doesn't have any side effects too.

However, just relying on this herb may limit the results you get. If you add other nutrients like Vitamin B complex and minerals such as Zinc and Magnesium to your diet, then the quality and the rate of your hair re-growth will be even better.

You can even consider using the FDA approved ingredient Minoxidil. Similar to the effect of using Saw Palmetto for hair loss, this ingredient also inhibits the DHT in your blood and prevents it from harming the hair follicles in your scalp.

Using Saw Palmetto for hair loss can be a smart move if you want to get a full head of hair back. Just supplement it with other effective ingredients and you will get even faster results.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2776980

How to Stop Hair Loss Using Herbs and Vitamins For Hair Health

There are several herbs that have been shown to reduce hair loss, and even help you regrow hair naturally. Typically, you will want to use a combination of treatments to prevent hair loss and regrow your hair, especially if you have experienced severe hair loss and want to regrow a large section of your hair.

Saw Palmetto

Saw palmetto is an herb that has been used for decades for medical purposes, and recent science has also shown that the herb inhibits DHT, the main culprit in male pattern baldness. While saw palmetto should not be used by women, especially those who may become pregnant, it is an excellent option for men who want to regrow hair naturally.

As with all herbs and dietary supplements, you should consult your doctor before using saw palmetto to treat your hair loss, since its use can effect some medical conditions and interfere with some medications.

B-Vitamins

B-vitamins are also important to maintaining your natural hair, and are a good source of vitamins for regrowing hair naturally. You should be able to get plenty of B vitamins in your diet by simply adding a few items, such as oats, brown rice, fish and low fat red meats.

In addition to B vitamins, you will also want to make sure that you are getting enough Biotin in your diet. Biotin is a vital source of food for new hair, and will work wonders for hair loss. The key to stopping hair loss is to begin changing your diet as soon as you notice the loss, and stick with the changes to regrow hair naturally.

Vitamin C and Folic Acid

Vitamin C and folic acid are also very important parts of your diet. You can find vitamin C in oranges, lemons and broccoli while folic acid is found in leafy green vegetables, nuts and chicken, just to name a few. Both vitamin C and folic acid work to boost your immune system, and can help you stay healthy.

Both vitamin C and folic acid are also needed to prevent hair loss and help regrow hair naturally. These vitamins work with your body to produce healthy hair, and prevent deficiencies of iron in your body.

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is also important for healthy hair, and for a healthy scalp. Hair loss from a vitamin A deficiency is typically caused by poor scalp health, which can cause hair loss without any other factors contributing to the hair loss.

You will be able to tell if you have a vitamin A deficiency if you have a dry, scaly scalp or an extremely dry scalp. You can find vitamin A in many different foods, including milk, liver and kelp.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/2114348