New research suggests women’s reproductive health could be at risk. It begs the question: What are we sacrificing for our hair?

Step in just about any salon and you’ll smell the chemicals.

“More than 70 percent of our business comes from getting relaxers,” said Chasity Christian, co-owner of the Beauty Bar.

It’s where Audrey Smith gets her hair treated.

“We all feel great when we have our hair done,” Smith said.

For decades, Smith has been getting what’s known as a relaxer to straighten her hair. She’s never given much thought to possible risks.

  “Not much and if I did, I figured it was minimal,” said Smith.

“We’ve never had any client come in and say, ‘My doctor says I need to stop getting relaxers’,” said Christian.

Sure there have been warnings about hair products, even from comedian Chris Rock. His documentary “Good Hair” shows a soda can that      disintegrates after being submerged in chemicals for several hours.

But now, a new study from Boston University finds evidence linking hair relaxer to uterine fibroid tumors and early puberty.

“There used to be a joke: beauty suffers but not to the point of death,” said Tamika Fletcher, co-owner of Natural Resources, a salon in Rice Village catering to women embracing the trend of natural hair. Fletcher says her scalp used to be filled with chemical burns and bald spots when she used relaxers.

“You know, this is one of the few industries that’s not regulated by the FDA, and so if you have the wild wild west of hair care products, everyone is claiming what they want to claim without having to prove efficacy, it makes a big difference. No one is really held to any type of real standard,” said Fletcher.
She and the Beauty Bar can agree on one thing: more research is needed. ”Now all of a sudden it’s supposed to be bad for you? Well by now if something was going to happen, it would have happened,” said Smith.

“ There is now new evidence to support what we have been saying for years- avoid harsh chemicals in hair products.” says Ravi Bhanot of Coolherbals.

Karen Wray

www.coolherbals.com

Read more: http://www.myfoxhouston.com/dpp/news/local/120216-hair-today-tumors-tomorrow#ixzz1meAYy000

Our reply:

Research shows that some people benefit from using a combination of different shampoos for dandruff – that way different ingredients are working on the dandruff. If you then find one works better than another use that more often. Use Head and Shoulders(containing zinc pyrithione) one time, Coolherbals Anti- dandruff Shampoo ( containing tea tree oil, lavender and fenugreek) on next occasion – perhaps next day and then another make such as Nizoral (containing ketokonazole) on the following occasion.

In dandruff the migration of cells to the surface layer is faster than normal. There is sometimes an increase in yeast growth on the scalp. The        increased cell division or mitosis results in more than normal shedding of the skin on the scalp. In normal stratum corneum (outermost layer of the  skin) there are about 30 layers of well-structured keratinised (containing keratin- the material hair is made of) cells. In people suffering from  dandruff there are only about 10 poorly formed irregular layers. The secret is to reduce the rate at which this migration occurs, reduce possible  yeast growth and other possible causes of dandruff in the individual.

Sometimes the scalp is not being cleansed thoroughly enough. This results in scales building up into flakes – that then fall off. Dandruff gets worse due  to harsh chemical shampoos. In dandruff suffering scalps the head tends to be more oily rather than dry.Cold dry air often makes dandruff worse.

To counter act this you may also benefit from using a hair spa mask to thoroughly clean the scalp on a weekly basis. This will help clean the scalp and nourish both the scalp and hair with vital minerals. I recommend a mask I formulated with Gopichand clay( rich Indian clay), Coolherbals Hair Masque, but there are other hair masques on the market.

Dandruff can sometimes be caused by overactive oil glands, food allergies, stress, excessive perspiration and harsh chemical shampoos. Keep a look out to see you are not suffering from these.

Ravi Bhanot
www.coolherbals.com

If you have any problems related to hair or scalp please email ravi@coolherbals.com

1. Choose non harsh shampoo. Look at the ingredients on your shampoo bottle and try to avoid products containing the chemicals sodium lauryl sulphate, petroleum and silicone. These chemicals are commonly used in many shampoos to “foam up” but they can irritate your scalp.

2. Does your scalp need some tender loving care? You should try to massage your scalp at least twice a week with a few drops of serums such as Nutrigro serum. A scalp massage releases tension in your forehead and scalp to aid blood. Using your fingertips, massage in small circular motions near your temples, and then move your fingers out over the rest of your scalp. For more details email us at info@nutrigro.com.

3. Use less of your appliances. Overuse of hair dyes, hair gel, hair dryers and curling irons can aggravate the problem of hair loss. If you have to use a hair dryer, switch it to the lowest and coldest setting. Also avoid using hair straighteners or curlers on very wet hair.

4. Make your hair healthy by eating the “right” foods. Hair is essentially protein, so make sure you eat high-quality meat, oily fish, poultry or eggs. Your diet should also include lots of fresh fruit and vegetables, olive oil, live yogurt, nuts and seeds. Reduce dairy foods, caffeine, sugar and salt. If you live on a “fast” food diet you may be missing out on some or all of the 22 amino acids to make the protein for hair. In this case take a food supplement which contains all the amino acids, vitamins and minerals required for healthy hair.

5. Consider some Iron. Iron is a key in maintaining healthy locks. If you are a vegetarian, try an iron supplement.

6. Ask for some advice! Though some hair loss is normal – we can shed up to 100 hairs a day – it can be a sign of stress, poor diet and lifestyle factors. If the problem of hair loss continues for an extended period of time, see your doctor as there might be a more serious underlying cause.

By Ravi Bhanot

www.nutrigro.com

The Bookies say that WAYNE ROONEY’S hair transplant will help him score at least four headers next season.

Scientifically there is no evidence that bald men are worse than full headed men in scoring goals. Perhaps a fuller set of hair can give one more confidence. Looking and feeling like a younger person rather than one approaching middle age can make you feel better within yourself. This may help you feel like you were when you were younger – a time when you had more energy and youthfullness.

Hair transplants are not for everyone. They are expensive and for the majority, hair loss and hair thinning is not so extensive or such a grave problem. Use the NUTRIGRO system- N for nutrition, have plenty of salads and complete protein(after all hair is 97% protein), Use natural non-harsh chemical hair products, Train to be trim to encourage more blood reaching the scalp, Routinely lose toxins through ways such as head massage and Imagine the hair of your dreams- you have to ask the universe what you want to increase the chances of getting it, for GROwth of hair.

Ravi Bhanot

ravi@nutrigro.co.uk

Does having healthy full looking hair give a better self image, self-confidence or self esteem?  Can there possibly be any truth in the legend of Samson- whose strength lay in his hair?

It is more universally seen that men suffer more than women in hair thinning, falling hair and baldness compared to women. So does this

mean that men’s psyche and morale is more affected than women?

Ravi Bhanot, an expert in hair loss, does not believe it is that easy to come to this conclusion. “There are various reasons why men and women could have a lower morale. This could be due to stress perhaps from losing a job or a loved one. A lot of women who do not have hair loss or hair thinning may time to time have a decreased self worth or self confidence.”  In Ravi Bhanot’s book, Hair Today…Hair Tomorrow he says everything happens twice –first in the mind than in reality.” Increased confidence and happiness has more to do with how the individual is thinking and acting than with hair loss or hair thinning. Having said this for a large number of people having their hair and it looking healthy has a lot to do with confidence.”

Sue from North London says, “My hair started becoming thinner a few years back and they had become so fragile and thin that it did not resemble the hair I had a few years previously. I looked older. My friends would ask me whether I was enjoying good health after seeing my hair!

Can anything be done to slow the tide of increasing hair loss and hair thinning?

The causes and treatment in men and women is different. Ravi Bhanot says, “Hair loss in women can be due to different reasons to that for men. A different approach in treatment needs to be considered.”

Experts all agree that inadequate diet (particularly in vitamins and minerals and increased intake of processed foods), hereditary, hormonal imbalance, increased stress levels and depression have resulted in increased hair loss.

So what can you do? In the last few years there has been an increased rise in younger men opting for hair transplant. But this can be expensive and painful and may not be the preferred route for the majority of people.  So what is the best way approach to keeping your hair for longer?

“We believe the answer lies in an acronym, NUTRI. Nutrition, Using non-harsh chemical hair products, Training or exercising to improve blood flow and hence nutrients to the scalp, Routine of removing toxins through massaging, hair styling and way of washing your hair and Imaging the hair you want.”, says Ravi Bhanot

“Hair should be gently washed with a non-harsh chemical shampoo which volumizes hair. This alone can make the hair look thicker. A water based Scalp serum should be used to clean the hair daily to minimize bacterial or fungal crustation and to give nutrients to the scalp and hair roots.”

Ravi Bhanot, Nutrigro Hair Products

www.nutrigro.co.uk

Best way to shampoo hair

1. Brush hair before washing- to lose dead skin build up
2. Use a natural non-harsh chemical shampoo- to minimize stripping too much oil from the hair
3. Wet the hair with warm water- to open up the pores and increase blood circulation
4. Rub a small amount of shampoo in with your hands and cover the head with shampoo 2-3 times. Start from the front working to the nape of the head with finger tips
5. Wash off foam with warm water- removing dirt and grease
6. Wash off hair with cold water – helps shrink pores back to normal size
7. Massage head- to improve blood circulation
8. Dry the hair by blotting  with a towel- to minimize rubbing of already weakened hair
9. Comb or brush hair after it has been dried     10. Style hair but do not overstretch            11.  Brush hair at least twice daily

OBJECTIVES

To measure any change in volume of individual hair fibres after a single application of Nutrigro Shampoo and Serum formulation.

SAMPLES

The samples comprised 10 lots of hair fibres from 10 different individuals. Shampoo and Nutrigro serum was also supplied. 10 hairs from five individuals were measured dry, washed and then treated with Nutrigro. The fibres were then re-measured and the volume change calculated.

METHODS

10 hairs were randomly selected from five different people. Three measurements were then made (approximately in the middle region of the hair), around 1 mm apart. The hairs were then washed and the serum applied. The fibres were left to dry overnight (ambient temperature) and then re-measured in (approximately) the same region in order to calculate any volume increase. Finally, an SEM micrograph of the same fibre with treated and untreated regions was imaged in order to show visual comparison of the volume increase.

RESULTS

Table 1

The change in volume of hair before and after treatment is shown above – each figure is the mean average of three areas on each hair. Where negative values exist, this was attributed to natural variation in the thickness of the hair fibres, i.e. because the exact same area was not measured on the hair ‘after’ treatment, it was likely that this region was naturally thinner that the area measured ‘before’ treatment, hence the apparent reduction.

Figure 1 below shows a specific untreated region (covered with tape when the serum was applied) – the diameter measures approximately 65 microns. Figure 2 is an area of the same fibre that has been subjected to the Shampoo and Serum – the diameter is approximately 90 microns (25 microns thicker).

Figure 1: Region from an untreated region. Diameter ca. 65 microns

Treated region from the same hair. Diameter ca. 90 microns

Result is the diameter increases from about 65 to 90microns.

If you cannot see the SEM microscope picture email me at ravi@nutrigro.co.uk and I can email it to you.

Ravi Bhanot

For more information please email me ravi@nutrigro.co.uk

For a weekly tip of the day to have the best hair possible email info@nutrigro.co.uk

This blog is from my free e-book Hair Today …Hair Tomorrow for healthy hair and for growth of existing hair register at www.nutrigro.co.uk

For Nutrigro products go to www.nutrigro.co.uk

A study was designed to test the effectiveness of topical crude onion juice in the treatment of patchy alopecia areata in comparison with tap water.

The patients were divided into two groups. The first group [onion juice treated] consisted of 23 patients, 16 males (69.5%) and 7 females (30.5%). Their ages ranged between 5-42 years with a mean of 22 years. The second group [control; tap-water-treated] consisted of 15 patients, 8 males (53%) and 7 females (46%). Their ages ranged between 3-35 years with a mean of 18.3 years.

The two groups were advised to apply the treatment twice daily for two months.

Re-growth of terminal coarse hairs started after two weeks of treatment with crude onion juice. At four weeks, hair re-growth was seen in 17 patients (73%), and, at six weeks, the hair re-growth was observed in 20 patients (86.9%) and was significantly higher among males (93%) compared to females (71%). In the tap-water treated-control group, hair re-growth was apparent in only 2 patients (13%) at 8 weeks of treatment with no sex difference.

The present study showed that the use of crude onion juice gave significantly higher results with regard to hair re-growth than did tap water, and that it can be an effective topical therapy for patchy alopecia areata.

J Dermatol. 2002 Jun;29(6):343-6.Sharquie KE, Al-Obaidi HK. Department of Dermatology and Venereology, Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Iraq.

Lesson to take away; Apply a little bit of onion juice in the affected alopecia areata areas twice daily for 8 weeks.

Ravi Bhanot

We do know that hair follicles from the occipital or back of the head can grow hair but hair from the balding areas transplanted elsewhere do not grow as well.

This could be because people who have hair transplants quite often do so after experiencing huge hair loss. At this stage the skull may have fully developed in terms of size and so skull expansion does not cause a problem.

Skulls grow for so long- depends on the shape of the skull. This is why some people lose in some areas for example, temples and others at the front of the head.

At this stage balding areas have a right environment for hair growth- be it that the follicles are from this very area or have been transplanted from elsewhere.

It is easier to fight the enlargement of the skull rather than go through the trauma of surgery.

Using serums such as the Nutrigro serum, used in conjunction with using the Nutrigro Hair Food capsules and ancient based Nutrigro theory on nutrition and life style could help strength the hair follicle to the scalp to keep the hair healthier for longer.

Also do not forget that follicles transplanted do not have blood vessels. Follicles taken from healthy growth areas to balding areas can successfully grow because they are healthy normal sized hair with a small layer of fat tissue protecting them. This fat is called brown adipose tissue or BAT and this has been linked to better hair growth. Follicles in balding areas do not have BAT, are weaker and small and so are more easily ‘lost’ from the scalp.

For more information please email me ravi@nutrigro.co.uk

Ravi Bhanot

www.nutrigro.co.uk

Such is the despair at the lack of a modern-day cure that the news sent desperate coots flocking to fruit and veg counters to stock up on the edible bulbs.

However, late last night, leading experts from around the world held an emergency press conference, at which they made clear that the cure was fake.

They also called on bald people not to deprive families of onions for their stews and soups. The unprecedented scale of the panic highlights the anguish caused by the remarkable spread of baldness in the last few decades.

In the Edwardian era, it was possible to spend one”s entire life without seeing a bald person, except in the circus.

Today, nearly all men are bald, and it”s even suggested that Britain could have her first bald prime minister before 2070.

Read more: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/opinion/columnists/robert-mcneill/robert-mcneill-itrsquos-hair-today-gone-tomorrow-14969907.html#idc-container#ixzz11l7A8lyi

According to ancient Indian research heated onions reduce energy in the body called Pitta. An imbalance Pitta results in hair thinning and hair loss. Heated onions are therefore regarded as helpful and it is quite right that onions in stews and soups are good. However raw onions increase Pitta energy and are not thought to be helpful for people losing hair. To balance this energy in raw onions you could add spices such as black pepper or eat foods that reduce this energy such as apples and pears. To get a full list email me at ravi@nutrigro.co.uk.

Ravi Bhanot is author of book: Hair Today Hair Tomorrow

For more information please email me ravi@nutrigro.co.uk

www.nutrigro.co.uk