Learn The Basics of Healthy Hair

Shannon Pittman

Does your health really affect your hair? 

 

YES! It absolutely does. You can tell a lot about a person’s health or even lifestyle just by examining the slender threadlike outgrowth of the scalp and skin called hair.  When talking about the importance of healthy hair, we normally think of the hair on the head, of which the chief purposes are for adornment and protection.   But hair is distributed all over the body except the palms of hands, soles of feet, lips, and eyelids.  It is important to have healthy hair throughout the body.  Scalp hair grows about ¼ to ½ inch a month and usually sheds an estimated 40 to 100 strands daily.  The basic prerequisite for a healthy scalp and growing hair is simply cleanliness and follicle stimulation.

 

Typically, the average head of healthy hair is full and lustrous with no flakes, frizz, or any other visible damage. In some cases physical damage to the hair and scalp is a result of our own actions. Whether it is by chemically over-processing, using too much heat such as blow dryers and curlers, or just using the wrong products, your hair care regimen can impact the health of your hair.  However, the “best” shampoo and conditioners alone won’t help you achieve the perfect head of hair.

 

If you have poor eating habits, this too will be reflected in your hair and scalp. Many of you have heard the phrase, “you are what you eat”.  Similarly, “everything you put in your body comes out through your hair”.  For instance, a diet rich in fried foods and little water can cause pityriasis, commonly known as dandruff.  A good food to add to your diet would be salmon.  It’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which help to support the scalp and combat dandruff. Poultry in the diet is an excellent source of protein.   If your diet is devoid of protein, you can have weak or brittle hair, and in extreme cases a loss of hair color.  Also, dark green vegetables are rich in vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum. This oily substance secreted by your hair follicles is the body’s natural hair conditioner.

 

The condition of your scalp and hair can reveal a lot about your lifestyle. Through hair analysis, drug use can even be detected several years after the last use depending on the length of your hair, as in the case of marijuana.  In cigarette smokers, the habit is often evident because the hair has a characteristic lifelessness, and coarseness as a result of the nicotine.

 

Your hair can be a reflection of your overall health.  Many chronic medical conditions can cause your hair to be dull, lifeless, or shed.  Additionally, some prescription medications can have a profound impact on the hair and scalp.  Many of them can cause shedding or promote dryness as a side effect.  Remember, your hair is like an alarm.  It can often alert you of an undiagnosed medical problem before other symptoms appear. If you are otherwise taking the proper care of your hair and have no reason to experience hair loss, dryness, or extreme breakage, always consult a physician.  This may be the first sign of an underlying medical condition.

 

Your hair is an essential part of your body and healthy hair is a reflection of a healthy body. Healthy hair begins with you!!!

 

Shannon Pittman is a Master Stylist at Majestic Look Styling Salon  in Charlotte, North Carolina.  She welcomes any questions you may have.  Please feel free to email her at majesticlook26@yahoo.com.