Hair Things

A lot of hair loss is caused by hormone fluctuations. This is called hormonal hair loss. Both males and females are susceptible to this form of hair loss. The major difference is that while this type of hair loss is often temporary in females it may be permanent in males.

In males, hormonal hair loss is caused by a malfunctioning prostate gland. The prostate begins to produce large amounts of a hormone called DHT. This hormone is an aggressive form of the testosterone and in large amounts causes the follicles of the hair to shrink, thus preventing new hair from growing. At the same time this hormone acts to weaken existing hair so that if falls out. The result of this is often total baldness. While this type of hair loss can be treated it can not be cured.

Fortunately, women with hormonal hair loss are in a better position. For females this is rarely if ever a permanent problem. Hormonal hair loss in women usually occurs after the birth of a child, but may also occur during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. This is due to a drop or increase in the amount of estrogen in the woman’s body. For example, after the birth of a child, a woman’s estrogen level drops. This leaves her more vulnerable to the side effects of the testosterone in her body. This can cause the hair follicles to shrink and hair loss to begin. The hair loss will normally end as soon as the woman’s hormones return to normal.

Because hormonal hair loss is often temporary in women, it can be treated with over the counter shampoos meant to revert the loss of hair. However, men with hormonal hair loss may have to resort to other hair restoration techniques such as hair replacement surgery and hair plugs. The reason for such extreme measures, is that this condition is typically permanent in men.

Men are likely to have complete bald spots from hormonal hair loss, and need a way to fill these patches in. For a man, this is a very serious problem indeed, and one that needs attention because it will not go away on its own. No male or female should have to suffer balding with the treatments available today.

Jen Carter is staff writer for Inhairit - creator of a series of products for hair loss. You may publish our articles on your website only if you do not edit the article in any way, and include all html as direct links to our site.

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Whether you have loose curls or tight coily locks you will definately be the talk of the town this spring!

We can see the evidence of the popularity of curls at the recent Golden Globe Awards. There were many celebrities sporting curls at this years gala event.

Halle Berry wore a loose French twist lightly curled in an updo. A very simple, yet elegant style. The list went on of celebs taking their straight hair and adding a little flare with curls. Best supporting film actress Natalie Portman’s shoulder-length, naturally beautiful curls with bangs made her a star that night.

Our lovely “Desperate Housewives” Teri Hatcher, Eva Longoria, Felicity Huffman, Marcia Cross and Nicolette Sheridan of Desperate Housewives looked lavishing in their loosely tousled waves. 2005 is said to be the Year of the Curl! No straight styles were seen at this years star studded event. Curls are back with a vengeance!

If you need some assistance maintaining the shiny glow of your curly ques, here are some tips:

Using the right hair cutting technique is extremely important when cutting curly hair. It’s important to cut the hair in a way that creates the right amount of volume without the frizzies. It is also very important to go to the right salon and to a stylist who is experienced in working with curly hair.

To create a sassy hairstyle, simply wash hair and towel dry or use a diffuser. Once the hair is almost dry use a moisturizing product that is not too heavy and run fingers through hair to add more volume. Let hair air dry and style as desired with your fingers. If you use a brush or comb you may add too much frizz.

Add a touch of essential oils like avocado, coconut, jojoba or olive oil to your hair. This can be a great conditioning regimen to do prior to shampooing the hair. Place any of the above mentioned oils into the hair and place the hair in a bun for about 20 minutes. You can even wrap your hair under a plastic cap covered by a heat cap for added conditioning. You’ll find that your curls will be more revived and manageable.

Love your curls and they’ll love you back!

Janice Johnson is the founder of the http://www.CurlyHairSalon.com website. An online multi-ethnic curly hair magazine that offers information, tips and advice to care for curly hair.

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I’ve got great news for any woman who ever considered getting a thermal reconditioning permanent straightening treatment done, but didn’t want to have stick-straight hair all of the time. You can now have your cake and eat it too with cold smoothing! I just got mine done, and I’m so excited I can barely even type these words…

That’s right, I just got a cold smoothing treatment done, for the first time, on my mid-back long hair (it’s pretty
long, and always has been, which makes for more expensive hair services). The treatment cost a total of $300 where I went to get it done, here in Ohio where I live. It took a mere 2 hours, as compared to the six hours the thermal reconditioning used to take.

I had gotten the Japanese straightening done twice before, about one year apart when they grew out, and was very happy with the results, with one drawback. I missed having bouncy curly waves, or even just hair that had some body and volume to it.

However, due to the extremely frizzy nature of my hair, I could never wear it “full” with waves and curls, because that always
equalled frizz for me. That’s all appeared to have changed now. With this cold smoothing service, my hair is shiny, bouncy, and yes, it actually holds a curl - and it has held it all day. My hair looks healthy and has volume, and yet I’ve noticed that, as promised, the cold smoothing took away about 85% of the frizz which used to accompany the curls.

Cold Smoothing : The Process

OK, I’m going to tell you my cold smoothing experience start to finish, which won’t take too long, because the procedure only
took about two hours in its entirety. Cold smoothing is a hair relaxing and de-frizzing solution that was created by the
professionals at Matrix hair products. There is no heat involved in the treatment, unless you choose to make it a thermal reconditioning treatment, which in that case involves high heat treatment with flat irons and lamps, and you then also have bone straight hair. Cold smoothing, on the other hand, is exactly as the name implies. There is no heat involved in the process, except for the very last part where they run a flat iron over the hair briefly, to seal the hair’s cuticle.

First, my hair was washed with a special shampoo, then my head was brushed with a chemical solution - the active ingredient in the process which helps to relax the hair and de-frizz by relaxing the bonds between the hairs permanently, or at least until it grows out. The solution was a very thick, creamy one that did not drip off of my head. I only sat with this solution on my head for about 20 minutes.

My stylist said that she didn’t want to over process my hair since it has been colored and lightened, and if she went too strong or too long, it could fry my hair. After I sat with the cream on my head, I was “neutralized”. It reminded me a lot of the process of a perm, but only without the rollers in your hair. And that was it, I was done. Just a quick once over with a special flat iron to seal the cuticle and I was off with my new do.

Right After Cold Smoothing Treatment : The “Skull Cap Effect”

Now, the one thing I do have to say I didn’t like was that I could not shampoo my hair for 48-72 hours after the treatment, or else I may undo the whole thing, so I basically had what you call the “skull cap effect”. Because of the relaxing nature of the treatment, your hair at the roots is greatly softened,
giving you almost zero root lift. This leads to ultra-limp hair which seems to cling to your head. But the first hair washing took care of all of that.

All I did was wash, blow out until about halfway dry, add a shining product, and voila, I had pretty, wavy, frizz free and shiny hair that bounced all over the place.

How Long Does Cold Smoothing Last?

I asked my stylist this question, to which she replied “It depends on the person”. The treatment may last anywhere from 4 months to 8 months, depending on the rate at which the individual’s hair grows. She did advise that the treatment should be repeated after about two inches of growth, so for me that might just be at the 4 month mark, since my hair tends to grow like wildfire.

My Final Review of Cold Smoothing

If I had to grade how much I like and would recommend the cold smoothing process for anyone’s hair that is looking
for smoother hair, but does not want it completely straight, I’d give it a “10″. If versatility without frizz is what you’re looking for in a hair treatment, then this is probably your best bet.

Visit MyBeautySpace.com: Beauty Product Updates for daily info, discussion and reviews on the latest in beauty products and tips. Danna Schneider is the founder of Cosmetics Galore: Hair Care and Skin Care Reviews.

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