December 22, 2006

Help For Alopecia: The Locks Of Love Story

There are many companies who make custom fitted real hair cranial prosthesis. Locks of Love (LOL) was first started in Dec. 1997 in connection with a for profit wig making company. The organization then obtained its 501c certification from the IRS. The charity began operating separately from the for profit retailer. This was spearheaded by Madonna Coffman a retired cardiac nurse who had a great deal of volunteer experience working for not for profits in the surrounding Palm Beach area.

In her 20’s Mrs. Coffman developed Alopecia after receiving a hepatitis vaccination. With medication and a doctors care, she recovered 15 years later. Then her 4-year old daughter developed alopecia and lost all her hair. Madonna said “her hair loss was difficult to deal with but her daughter’s was ten times harder”. It was at this time that she quit all the other charity work and took on LOL as a full time volunteer.

Her humble beginnings. Mrs. Coffman’s garage contained bins of mail and hair donations. By securing donated office space from a local hospital and working with a manufacturer of the highest quality prosthetics that she could find, LOL was off and running. Since the beginning the charity has received a great deal of support by both the media and its volunteers throughout the country. LOL has been featured or mentioned on television shows like Oprah, 20/20, The View, Jay Leno, Maury Povich, Good Morning America, CBS Good Morning, CNN Espanol and Inside Edition and in national publications including USA Today, The NY Times, People, Seventeen, Glamour, CosmoGirl, Self, Redbook, Woman’s Day, ElleGirl, Child Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. Over 2,000 hair donations are received through the mail each week. 80% of our hair donors are good hearted children.

The number of hairpieces produced has increased significantly since its inception, from 21 the first year to over 1,000. LOL has recipients in all 50 states and Canada and is working towards its goal to help every financially disadvantaged child suffering from long-term hair loss.

About The Author: Richard Amburn http://www.alopecia-treatment.com

December 19, 2006

Important Facts You Must Know About Dandruff

Do you know that dandruff affects about 70% of the American population? Do you know that they spend $300,000,000 trying to get rid of it?

Dandruff is the most widespread problem of the scalp! But you must understand that it is not contagious and it is not a disease! Dandruff can not threaten your life, but it often threatens your mental peace.

Shedding of skin is a natural phenomenon. The skin of your scalp replenishes every month. The dead cells that previously formed your scalp now make up the dandruff.

The presence of negligible dandruff is inevitable. The problem arises only when the presence of dead cells in the form of flakes suddenly increases.

Physicians still debate what causes dandruff. Many researchers believe that it results from excessive growth of the yeast Pityrosporum Ovale that normally resides on everyone’s scalp.

Pityrosporum constitutes the major part of skin flora. You suffer from dandruff when the normal limit of 46% of Pityrosporum increases up to the 74% mark.

Factors like emotional and physical stress are no less important in triggering dandruff growth. Stress management also improves the scalp condition. Dandruff growth increases during winter compared to summer for most people.

Because you can find tons of products and medicated lotions, you do not need to worry about the dandruff problem. You just need to find the remedy that works for you.

If you suffer from mild dandruff, wash your scalp regularly to remove the excess flakes. If you suffer from stubborn flakes, treatment through a medicated shampoo is the answer.

You can use many natural remedies to treat dandruff. You need to try some to see what works for you.

You can even treat dandruff by using essential oils and herbs. If you do not mind long-term treatments, you can opt for the various home remedies. A mixture of coconut oil and lemon juice is equally effective as treatment with apple cider vinegar.

Natural remedies take time to show any visible results and need consistent use but they are effective in addressing the cause. If you want a speedy control, use shampoos containing ketaconazole.

Avoid using shampoos with harsh chemicals if you have a bruised scalp. Applying shampoos containing such chemicals on broken skin may cause irritation. If a particular product shows no results, try another with a different ingredient base.

Washing your hair regularly is important. If you find that washing your hair gives you frizzy or dry ends, the little secret to handle that is to take some conditioner and add it to the ends of your hair before washing it normally. Then condition it after shampooing, if you like to use conditioner.

One way to stop over-conditioning your hair and save you money is to put a little of your favorite brand of conditioner in a spritz bottle, with about 4 times more water. After shampooing, rinse. Towel dry, then spritz the conditioner in.

Another mistake that many people make is to put gel in their hair. It’s okay to put gel in your hair if that is your styling preference. But, it builds up and causes flakes, which many think is dandruff.

Get into the habit of washing your hair more often. It’s only the start of getting rid of dandruff. Think about it. If all that was required was just washing your hair more often, there would be no dandruff.

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December 15, 2006

How To Deal With Hair Growth?

There is nothing more irritating and disgusting than having hair protruding out of your face, neck, arms, legs and other places. The problem of unwanted hair growth has increasingly become a cause of worry for men and women.

Today our society has somewhat become phobic about body hair. People today also opt for shaving their pubic hair. This loathe of hair is not merely restricted to women only, the metrosexual men want the hair on their chest and back to be removed. So the scenario can be summarized as increased dislike for hair growth.

Isn’t it ironic that we are so cautious about hair loss from our head and, on the other side, we deliberately want our body hair be removed? If you are a man or a woman, unwanted hair on your face especially becomes a matter of disgust as the hair become harder to conceal.

The growth of unwanted hair can be controlled and removed. There are various treatments and techniques of getting rid of unwanted hair. You can get rid of those unwanted hair even at home.

Waxing

Waxing is used all over the world as the best home solution for unwanted hair growth. However waxing should be done by the beauty experts, but you can do it at home with waxing kits available in the market. Waxing is considered to be an effective method as it pulls the hair out form the roots, providing you with long lasting freedom against hair growth. There is one disadvantage of waxing, the procedure is very painful. Generally waxing is used on underarms, legs, arms, eyebrows and bikini lines.

Depilatory Creams

These creams are again a good alternative as a hair removal method. These creams contain a special and unique ingredient which dissolves the visible hair as well as the hair beneath surface. This ensures a long lasting freedom from unwanted hair on your different body parts. This process is just needed to be repeated once a week for the good results.

On the contrary, this process is very messy as you need to apply the cream on your skin for a certain time period. It also requires caution as prolonged or heavy application can cause your skin to burn or become spotty. But these creams when applied with care leave your skin smooth and hair free.

Electrolysis

Electrolysis hair removal technique is the only method which provides you with the permanent hair removal. During the process, the follicles of your hair are destroyed. The process involves usage of a needle through which electric current is delivered. Besides the benefits of permanent and effective hair removal, this process has many disadvantages also. It is time consuming, costly and painful. This treatment should only be performed by a licensed electrologist.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is much faster and painless alternative for hair removal. Though its results are permanent, but it is an effective treatment for long term freedom from unwanted hair growth. Laser hair removal destroys the follicles of hair by heating them up. Laser hair removal is not much successful in removing, white, light or gray hair. Moreover it is not suited for dark skinned people.

Matt Garrett, http://www.Hair-Growth.co.uk and http://www.Pop5.net

December 12, 2006

Facts About Hair Loss

Alopecia. A dreaded word for any man, or woman, who know it’s true meaning and who have experienced it first hand. I’m talking about hair loss. Although alopecia, or hair loss, can occur anywhere on the body, it is most upsetting when it happens on the scalp where the loss can be embarrassing and difficult to cover up.

Any number of factors can be attributed to excessive hair loss such as an illness or major surgery, or the stress related to these. Some medications can contribute to hair loss. For women, hormone fluctuations, such as pregnancy can cause hair loss. Hair loss attributed to any of these causes is generally only temporary.

Most female hair loss occurs over the entire scalp. Women’s hair loss generally begins at any age through 50, or later, and may not have any hereditary association. If you are a woman experiencing hair loss it is best to seek advice from a professional in hair restoration. Be aware that sometimes hair loss can be a sign of illness.

For some women, improper care, or being “hard” on the hair can cause hair loss. This would be most common for women who wear their hair in pigtails or tight cornrows. The pulling and tugging can cause hair loss and can promote scarring of the scalp. If the pulling and tugging are stopped hair will usually grow back normally. Years of this type of abuse can cause permanent scarring which can prevent regrowth of hair.

It is believed that approximately 35 million men in the United States suffer from hair loss that is called male pattern hair loss. This hair loss usually starts at an early age and develops into more extensive baldness. This is an inherited trait. This hair loss in men is caused by what is called DHT, which is a hormone in men that causes the hair follicle to shrink.

There are many, many treatments that claim to help with hair loss. Natural shampoos with natural algae and botanicals, shampoo with natural DHT inhibitors and nutrients, and some treatments that combine essential oils with a pulsed electromagnetic field. Minoxidil is a cream that is applied directly to the scalp several times a day. Propecia is a pill taken once daily which is advertised to be safe and effective for male pattern hair loss. This is one of the hair loss remedies that claims to halt the effects of DHT - dihydrotestosterone – the reason men have thinning and hair loss. Another of these products is Avodart.

When looking through the treatments and remedies available it is important to remember that hair loss in men and women are caused by different factors and to choose accordingly.

This article courtesy of www.hair-loss-answers.net.

December 9, 2006

Top 3 Most Popular Hair Removal Methods

Hair removal nowadays is becoming popular. It’s quickly becoming a must do in the fashion world. Today there are lots of hair removal methods that exist and lots of new methods being developed. In this article we will discuss the top 3 most popular hair removal methods. In this way you can decide which method is best for you that fits on your budget, pain tolerance and desired results.

Waxing

Waxing is a method that using wax adhesives to remove large amounts of hair in an area.
Waxing may be done in cold or hot method. Because waxing removes hair from the roots, result may last around three to eight weeks. Waxing is also fairly economical.

Hot waxing involves applying a thin layer hot wax in an area, after its cooled its quickly torn off. Cold waxing involves a strip with pre-heated wax and rubbed into skin and also removed in one quick pull. Most people favor hot waxing for they say its more effective than the cold one.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal has all the rave nowadays. Although the method is an expensive one, but the results are close to permanent. People say its economical than waxing and other methods in the long run. The procedure is fairly painful. However, it’s very important that you undergo such procedures with a trained professional. Because some disaster stories have been heard.

The method uses wavelengths that penetrate through the skin. But the main target is the hair follicles, effectively disabling them, thus achieving a near permanent hair removal.

Epilators

Epilators are having a comeback in the hair removal industry. Its becoming better as technology advances. They are very economical and have a longer results than shaving. Today’s epilators are almost painless.

Generally epilators really on set of rotating tweezers that pull the hair from its roots. Results could last as long as six to eight weeks.

This article is written by Jed Baguio - Please visit the site www.hair-removal-infocenter.com for more hair removal tips.

December 6, 2006

Laser Hair Treatment – 10 Things You Must Know About Getting A Good Laser Hair Removal Service

Laser hair removal is supposed to be a safe process, yet dubious claims and inappropriate equipment still lead to scams and injuries. Consumers themselves must know the ins and outs of laser hair removal to prevent themselves from getting cheated. The following points will aid you in making a proper decision to get yourself ready at the clinic.

  1. The sensitivity of your skin. A skin can be too delicate to be damaged instead of getting treated. A technology called CoolGlide can treat all known skin types. Consult a professional to examine and discuss over your skin and infection issues prior to treatment.
  2. The degree of discomfort. Do not believe in a “no-pain” process. All treatment are bound to make you uncomfortable. However, it’s not anywhere near the whip-lash pain of waxing.
  3. The possibility of regrowth. Laser hair removal cannot possibly stop hair growth, though it can reduce growth rate permanently after hair cells are killed. If a practitioner claims to eradicate hair growth completely, you should ask for testimonials and get their proof upfront; it’s in their benefit to tell you their achievement.
  4. The cost. Depending on the area size treated, it could amount from US$25 to US$250. You may compare the price ranges of several services to get a good gauge. Ask for outstanding reasons that could factor into the overall cost, particular the overheads for their equipment.
  5. Aging equipment. Ask for the type of laser used, whether it is effective, how long the practitioners have used the equipment and if there are newer models. You have a right to know.
  6. Multiple treatment plans. It’s quite likely to return for several treatments within 2 weeks, and then another separate session if necessary within a year to eliminate regrowth, but asking you to come back regularly without the fullest and sincere explanation on your case is simply an indication of ineffectiveness. Beware of such tactics that forces you to pay a lump sum in full. You deserve a good laser treatment as it is.
  7. Safety measures. Laser, if abused, can cause damaging effects. Check what precautions are taken, like applying a layer of protective cream over the skin or wearing eye goggles.
  8. The practitioner. Who is actually doing the treatment? The experienced doctor or some ‘assistant’? Check that the practitioner is trained, qualified and certified to carry out treatments.
  9. Ask for a test treatment. This is a simple request which practitioners have no difficulties to fulfill. Cost will still be incurred, but your initial experience with laser hair removal gets you in the know of how a typical treatment works and in tune with the clinical environment.
  10. Get written information. Get a written agreement on all obligations, commitment and breakdown of cost from the practitioner to ensure that he stays true to the standard of service provided.

Justin Koh is a freelance writer whose articles have appear in most major ezines. You can find his latest news and articles at: www.laserhairremovalcentral.info

December 4, 2006

The Benefits of Professional Laser Hair Removal

Unwanted hair is a problem for both women and men. While historically women have primarily sought out professional assistance for hair removal, more and more men are seeking such services in the 21st century. The preferred method of professional hair removal at this point in time for both men and women rapidly is becoming laser hair removal.

There are a number of definite benefits to obtaining professional laser hair removal as opposed to some of the other common methods of dealing with unwanted hair. The only major drawback to professional laser hair removal really appears to the cost associated with the process. However, as technology has improved, the costs associated with the laser procedure have become to drop over time.

The most basic, primary benefit of laser hair removal is found in the fact that for most people only one treatment is required. Once a person submits to the laser hair removal process, unwanted hair normally is removed permanently. In a few isolated cases a person does have to come back for a follow up treatment. With advances in laser technology in the past decade, repeat appearances for additional sessions is becoming rarer all of the time.

The fact that unwanted hair can be removed permanently in most cases through laser hair removal contrasts starkly with other treatment regimens. As an example, waxing to remove hair continues to be used by a considerable number of women and men who want to banish undesired growth. For many people, waxing is at least a monthly if not more frequent process.

Another of the benefits associated with laser hair removal is found in the fact that it is largely pain free. In some instances, a person who has undergone this procedure will experience some skin irritation following the procedure. Certainly, there will be some mild yet temporary redness of the skin following laser hair removal. However, the procedure itself is painless.

Again, you can contrast the pain free removal of unwanted hair with waxing. Depending on what part of your body is being waxed, the process of hair removal in that fashion can be downright painful. Other forms of hair removal, such as shaving, can irritate the skin for a significant period of time. Rashes and other types of unsightly skin blemishes are common following the shaving off of unwanted hair at certain locations on body.

Laser hair removal is also a convenient and time saving method for dealing with unwanted growth. As mentioned previously, more often than not one treatment will work to permanently rid a person of unwanted hair. While a single session under the laser will take longer than one waxing treatment, when all is said and done you will end up saving a great deal of time by undertaking laser hair removal as opposed to other forms of hair removal. You will not need to make continual appointments and interrupt your already full schedule to deal with unwanted hair growth.

In the final analysis, more and more people are turning to laser hair removal as the most reliable, convenient and reasonably priced alternative for the removal of unwanted hair. Indeed, most experts in the field of cosmetics and related services believe that in the very near future, laser hair removal will be the primary means through which both women and men deal with the permanent removal of unwanted hair growth.

More information on Laser Hair Removal

December 2, 2006

How Your Hair Loss Product Works: Hair Growth 101

Once you know the basics of how your hair grows, you can make better choices about using a hair loss product or herbal hair loss remedy. If you can choose the right herbal hair loss product, you can keep your hair growing longer and stronger for years to come.

Hair Follicles: Your cellular powerhouse.

The first two outer layers of your skin are called the epidermis and the dermis. The dermis contains a rich lode of blood vessels, nerve endings, fat reserves, and your hair follicles.

The follicle is depression that penetrates into your dermis, the second layer of skin. This is where all the hair-growing action takes place. Once you understand this, you can see the basic flaw in many hair loss remedies. A hair loss product that you apply directly to your scalp has little chance of penetrating down to your dermis, where all the new hair growth takes place. Some chemical hair loss remedies can do this, but these hair loss products have other drawbacks that we’ll get to later.

At the bottom of the follicle there’s a bundle of cells called the papilla. The papilla contains all the blood vessels that feed the hair, and also produces new hair cells. The ideal hair loss product feeds and nourishes the cells of the papilla. These cells are highly active in a healthy, hair-producing follicle. The cells constantly divide and create new hair cells. As the new hair cells are formed, older cells are pushed up and out of the follicle, creating the hair shaft.

The follicles go through a regular 3-phase cycle. In the anagen phase, or growth period, the papilla is vigorously active, producing strong, thick hair. The catagen is like the yellow light, when the growth slows down. The telogen phase is the resting period. It’s like a red light, where cell production stops. If the follicle is healthy, this last phase is temporary. Soon the light turns green, and the papilla goes back into the anagen phase again, creating new hair.

The papilla is your key to treating and preventing hair loss. Although there are many different causes of hair loss, the effect is always the same: the papilla produces fewer and weaker hair cells, or stops producing altogether. If you can find an herbal hair loss product that nourishes the papilla and stimulates the production of healthy new hair cells, you’ll grow stronger, healthier hair.

Conventional Hair Loss Treatment

Conventional hair loss treatment tends to do one of two things. In the first case, chemicals are introduced to stimulate the papilla to more activity. The only FDA-approved chemicals that do this are Minoxidil and Finasteride.

Minoxidil works by making the anagen phase of hair growth last longer. Researchers don’t completely understand how it works. Once you take this hair loss product, you have to keep on taking it, because if you stop this hair loss remedy your hair will rapidly return to its old hair loss pattern.

Finasteride slows down the speed of hair loss, but the method isn’t completely understood. This hair loss remedy has been known to cause ambiguous genitalia in male fetuses, so it’s unhealthy for women to use this hair loss treatment.

Nobody really knows the long-term effects of continuously using these drugs.

Another conventional hair loss remedy is “transplants.” In this case, individual follicles are taken from a “donor patch” of healthy hair, and “planted” in the thin or bald areas. If you’ve listened to salesmen pitching traditional hair loss remedies, you’ve probably heard the analogy between your hair and a plant. But your scalp is not a patch of topsoil!

Many people have been pleased with the results of this method of hair loss treatment, but it still has some drawbacks. It is expensive, costing upwards of several thousand dollars to complete. It requires that you still have healthy hair on some part of your head, and that you’re willing to sacrifice some of it to create thicker hair elsewhere.

Finally, transplanting active follicles doesn’t treat the conditions that caused the follicles to become inactive in the first place. Only a hair loss product that nourishes the hair- producing cells can do that.

“Hair Food” vs. Hair Nutrition

A new approach that’s showing a lot of promise is that of “feeding” your hair follicles with an herbal hair loss product. Our fast-paced modern lifestyle makes it hard to have an ideal diet, and the food you eat doesn’t always pack the nutritional punch that it should.

When your body doesn’t get enough nutrients, it may “ration” them. The richest supply will go to your brain and other vital organs, while less important parts of the body, such as the hair follicles, get depleted.

Some herbal hair loss remedies try to “feed” your hair with a special shampoo or lotion for your scalp. The idea is that your hair is like a field of corn, and you can just dump some fertilizer and expect your crop to grow better.

But remember, your scalp is skin, and the main purpose of your skin is to keep things out. While outer skin cells may be able to absorb oil, and become more soft and pliable in the process (think of sunscreen or moisturizer, for example), most topical hair loss products aren’t likely to penetrate into the living cells of the papilla, deep in the second layer of the dermis.

If you want to nourish your hair, you need to do it through the blood. Many traditional herbs can do this, but you need the right combination of herbs to perform three crucial tasks:

  1. Direct. You need herbs that will boost circulation to the follicles, to make sure the other herbs and nutrients will reach them.
  2. Cleanse. Once the formulas reach the follicles, you need some agent that will help remove toxins and the buildup of dead cells and other obstructing substances, so that the papilla are free to absorb fresh nutrients to produce healthier hair cells.
  3. Nourish. Finally, the abundant compounds can get in, providing the papilla with the basic building blocks that are critical for growing new hair cells.

Samson’s Secret has the right herbal hair loss remedy for improving your hair and rejuvenating old follicles. Our secret is in addressing the root causes of hair loss, so that you can improve and rejuvenate your hair.

When choosing the herbal hair loss product that’s right for you, you need to get to the root of the problem. Only the hair loss remedy that feeds your papilla can promote the natural, long-term health of longer, stronger hair. Samsons’ Secret is the ideal hair loss product.

Samsons’ Secret is a company dedicated to hair loss treatment and creating natural hair loss products. The Samsons Secret hair growth formula is a blend of botanical supplements that has been under development for over 20 years. www.samsonssecret.com