Archive for the ‘Vitamins’ Category
Sunday, August 2nd, 2009
During the Holocaust, those fortunate enough to be incarcerated immediately had their heads shaven. The reason – robbing a person of their hair immediately reduces self-esteem. All too often, regardless of culture, hair defines our identity.
Throughout history, hair has been the subject of many musings, pontifications and quotes that range from the silly and hilarious to the most sublime and somber. These quotes cover every hair issue from beauty to baldness.
Beauty & Adoration
“Hair brings one’s self-image into focus; it is vanity’s proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices.” – Shana Alexander
“Hair is vitally personal to children. They weep vigorously when it is cut for the first time; no matter how it grows, bushy, straight or curly, they feel they are being shorn of a part of their personality.” – Charles Chaplin
“The hair is the richest ornament of women.” – Martin Luther
“I’m a big woman. I need big hair.” – Aretha Franklin
“I’m undaunted in my quest to amuse myself by constantly changing my hair.” – Hillary Clinton
“Long on hair, short on brains” – French Proverb
“I’m not offended by all the dumb-blonde jokes because I know that I’m not dumb. I also know I’m not blonde.” – Dolly Parton
Gray Hair
“Gray hair is a sign of age, not of wisdom.” – Greek proverb
“Gray hair is God’s graffiti” – Bill Cosby
“Gray hair is a blessing - ask any bald man.” – Unknown
“By common consent gray hairs are a crown of glory; the only object of respect that can never excite envy.” – George Bancroft
“There is only one cure for gray hair. It was invented by a Frenchman. It is called the guillotine.” – P. G. Wodehouse
Baldness
“A hair in the head is worth two in the brush.” – Oliver Herford
“I am not the archetypal leading man. This is mainly for one reason: as you may have noticed, I have no hair.” – Patrick Stewart
“It is foolish to tear one’s hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.” – Cicero
“I don’t care if they call me “baldie” or “chrome dome.” God took an eraser and brushed my head clean. I’d rather be bald on top than bald inside.” – Joe Garagiola
” >Babies haven’t any hair:
Old men’s heads are just as bare;
From the cradle to the grave
Lies a haircut and a shave.”
– Samuel Goodman Hoffenstein
Tags: baldness, beauty, gray hair, hair, hair loss, hair quotes, history, identity, inspirations, quotes, self-esteem
Posted in Natural Hair Growth, Vitamins | 5 Comments »
Wednesday, April 1st, 2009
After taking time off from her movie career for her pregnancy, Halle Berry is getting ready to go back to work. She didn’t have pregnancy–related hair loss that affects many women. Apparently, she isn’t suffering from undue stress of being a new parent. During her pregnancy and after, she’s been just as gorgeous as ever.
So why is Halle going bald? The truth is, she voluntarily decided to cut her hair for her next movie role. The film won’t be released until 2010. This movie is currently called “Nappily Ever After,” according to the Internet Movie Database. The title and the movie are based on a Trisha Thomas’ novel by that name.
Berry’s character is a young single female, Venus Johnston, who has hair problems and relationship issues. Which came first isn’t clear. However, in the movie, Venus is so frustrated by her hair falling out that she preempts Mother Nature and shaves her head.
The rest of the movie explores themes about hair, perceptions of beauty, and cultural norms. This is done by chronicling people’s reactions to Venus and her quest to establish a different foundation for her self-esteem. These themes look directly at the subject that many people politely avoid when confronted with another person’s permanent or temporary hair loss.
The special emphasis that many cultures put on hair make hair loss a painful, traumatic experience. The fact that most people move on or “get over it” doesn’t change the fact that baldness is a blow to your self-esteem. In addition, it does alter other people’s perceptions of your virility, fertility, and more. In polite society, no politically correct person would ever mock or insult a differently abled person who is deaf or physically deformed. Yet baldness, voluntary or involuntary, is still quite a spectator sport. Any slang dictionary has numerous popular expressions that are used without forethought in our culture.
The director, Patricia Cardoso, didn’t ask Berry to shave her head. She could have opted for a bald cap and kept her own tresses untouched. Halle wants to have the complete experience so that she can give moviegoers a better performance. She expects her hair to grow back, at least she hopes it will. If it doesn’t, she will already be prepared for a starring role in a new life without hair. Imagine that!
Tags: bald, baldness, cultural norms, fertility, hair loss, Halle Berry, movie, Nappily Ever After, novel, Patricia Cardoso, pregnancy–related hair loss, self-esteem, temporary hair loss, tresses, Trisha Thomas, undue stress, Venus Johnston, virility
Posted in Female Hair Loss, Hair Loss Products, Natural Hair Growth, Vitamins | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, February 24th, 2009
The bald brotherhood just keeps gaining ground and getting new members. Actually, this brotherhood includes some women; so perhaps, the politically correct term is bald nation. Many historical figures were bald by the time they took their dirt nap. Some suspect that the wig obsession in Europe might have been less of a fashion statement than a defense against the public humiliation that notables associate with their hair loss. Europe’s poor just sucked it up and went bald with no way to hide.
Fast forward to the twenty first century and you will find that there is a real website named the bald brotherhood. Its members offer support and encouragement to hair loss victims. They may make suggestions about coping with the trauma. Mostly they choose to cope with hair loss by celebrating baldness. This is one way to cope with something that people believe is beyond their control. Surprisingly, some of this website’s members are voluntarily bald! No hair loss involved. At least that’s their story and they are sticking to it.
The popular comedian, Steve Harvey, recently caused a stir when he shaved his head. He has declined to explain if this was a proactive strategy, his defense against what he believed to be inevitable, or just a phase. Rumor has it that Steve had a hair weave for many years. Gossipers also claimed that he dyed his hair, to boot. Oh my!
Baldness, voluntary or otherwise, CAN help a man’s career. Some people are sexier with bald heads. People who hate musicals watched The King and I because of Yul Brynner. Of course, the hottest man on the planet also had a package of triceps, biceps, and plexes that made his chrome dome work for him. Telly Savalas, Lou Gossett, and Mahatma Gandhi all joined the brotherhood and never missed a beat.
Thinking about giving up on hair restoration? If you decide to join the bald brotherhood, you’ll have to pray that your head is suitable for a transition to zero hair. What if your mom didn’t get the memo about massaging your head into a smooth round shape while your bones were still soft?
More people than not want to keep their hair as long as possible. Celebrating baldness is okay, if that’s your only option. Take a page from history, hair is always fashionable, especially when it’s your own!
Tags: bald, bald brotherhood, baldness, hair loss, hair restoration, hair weave, Lou Gossett, Mahatma Gandhi, Steve Harvey, Telly Savalas, wig obsession, Yul Brynner
Posted in Female Hair Loss, Hair Loss Products, Natural Hair Growth, Vitamins | Comments Off
Wednesday, February 11th, 2009
In addition to genetic hair loss, African Americans are more likely to suffer hair loss caused by traction alopecia, traction folliculitis and sebhorrheic dermatitis. Many also have difficulty getting their hair loss diagnosed properly. Traction alopecia and traction folliculitis occur more frequently in African Americans due to hair styling practices.
Hair Styles
African Americans are also more likely to style their hair with braids, especially popular for children. Many people use excessive pressure to coax curly hairs into a smooth braid. Hair extensions have become very popular among women of African descent. The natural hair and extensions are woven together very tightly, in order to achieve a neat finish.
As a result, many women (and some men) who frequently wear braids now suffer from traction folliculitis, especially around the hairline. Folliculitis is obvious when bumps and pustules form at the base of the hair shaft. They are often accompanied by redness of the skin, making this condition resemble common acne.
Underlying causes such as diabetes, existing dermatoses (sebhorrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, eczema), and obesity make some people a predisposed to folliculitis. In many cases, the onset of folliculitis is a warning. Untreated symptoms often result in alopecia.
Styling Practices
Common cultural practices for hair care among African Americans include applying pomades and heavy oil products to the hair shaft and scalp. This practice relieves dry, itchy scalp, but it also clogs hair follicles. The hair follicles become inflamed. The inflammation produces more discomfort that many treat by applying more oil. Without proper diagnosis and medical attention, this minor irritation can result in significant hair loss.
Sebhorrheic Dermatitis
Many African Americans experiencing hair loss are improperly diagnosed with alopecia. The reality is that sebhorrheic dermatitis is more likely the culprit. Dandruff or seborrhea affects all races of people. The white flakes that fall from the scalp are telltale signs of dandruff.
A closer examination of the scalp is necessary to diagnose sebhorrheic dermatitis. In addition to the flakes common to dandruff, scaly patches and inflammation are visible on the scalp. Sometimes the skin on the scalp is tender and painful.
The medical community has not determined the cause of this condition. There is some evidence that the buildup of sebum (oily secretions) on the scalp and in the hair follicles may play a significant role. Hair loss is common if the dermatitis is not treated. Hair regrowth treatments may be needed after the condition is cured.
Tags: African descent, braids, children, curly hair, dandruff, diabetes, genetic, hair extensions, hair follicles, hair loss, inflammation, itchy scalp, sebhorrheic dermatitis, seborrhea, sebum, stress, traction alopecia, traction folliculitis
Posted in Female Hair Loss, Hair Loss Products, Natural Hair Growth, Vitamins | 2 Comments »
Friday, November 14th, 2008
Over thirty million women in the United States are experiencing hair loss. It affects some women by the time they reach their teens. Heredity is the main cause of hair loss for women. The degree of hair loss and the pattern is different. Most women suffer from thinning hair instead of complete baldness.
Androgenic alopecia, female-pattern baldness, is inherited from either parent. It affects more than thirty percent of women. The woman’s hair becomes thinner with age because some hair follicles stop producing new hair to replace those that fall out naturally. Sometimes, new hairs are shorter and finer than previous ones. This condition affects the entire scalp, not just the crown of the head. It usually does not affect a woman’s hairline.
Women are much more likely than men to use chemical hair treatments, heat, and hairstyles that pull the hair tightly. Properly used chemicals do not cause hair loss. Many women who use hair dyes, hair straighteners, and perms at home damage their hair and scalp.
Hormones and Hair Loss
Hair loss after pregnancy is also common among women. This condition is usually temporary. It stops naturally about six months after delivery. It occurs because the woman’s estrogen level increases dramatically during pregnancy. When it drops after her delivery, this disrupts the normal growth and rest pattern for her hair follicles. As the hair follicles return to their normal alternating cycles of rest and growth, the postpartum hair loss stops.
The onset of menopause increases a woman’s risk of hair loss by as much as fifty percent. It will continue to increase as she ages. Peri menopause and menopause affect the balance between testosterone and estrogen in women. These hormonal changes are responsible for triggering the onset of thinning hair, even for women who have no genetic predisposition. At the same time, many women report that they notice changes in the texture of their hair after menopause. Unfortunately, while the scalp hair becomes thinner, facial and body hair can become more profuse and coarser.
Two-thirds of all women experience hair loss at some time during their lives. From adolescence through menopause, women’s hormones, lifestyle choices, heredity, and even childbirth put them at risk of hair loss. Treatments for female hair loss are available for women who don’t want to resign themselves to wearing wigs and scarves to hide their thinning hair. These treatments not only help women regrow hair, they also boost self-esteem.
Tags: Female Hair Loss, girl hair growth, hormones, thinning hair, women hair, womens hair loss
Posted in Female Hair Loss, Health & Wellness, Vitamins | 5 Comments »
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