IF YOUR A WOMAN, NO NEED TO READ THIS ONE! Attention all men young and old, this will happen to you if it hasn't started already..........frequent noticeable hair growth out of you ears, nose, and eyebrows. As a barber, I'm constantly cutting hair out my clients ears, nose and/or trimming out of control eyebrow hairs. After being asked many times what causes such rapid growth in these ares I decided to do a little research. Here's what I found:
Hair growth is very susceptible to the so-called sex steroid hormones: principally oestrogen's and androgen's. The dominant hormone for males is in the androgen category, particularly testosterone. Surprisingly the levels of testosterone continue to increase with age up until the age of 70. Since most of male hair is responsive to androgen's with age and with increasing hormone levels you tend to get more and more vigorous hair growth particularly in the areas that were perhaps not as robust as when the individual was younger. For example, on the nose, ears and on their eyebrows. The nose and the ears have got thousands and thousands of hairs. They’re so small you can’t see – in fact the tip of the nose is the hairiest part of the body in terms of density of hairs per unit area. With time these can be stimulated with these male hormones which go up with age and therefore can become more cosmetically visible with age. The same applies for the eyebrows and for the ears. In women their oestrogen levels drop after menopause and their lower levels of testosterone become more engaged with the process of hair growth because they stimulate whereas oestrogen's tend to inhibit. You’re just releasing more stimulatory power from the androgen's we have.
Another source says, It was once believed that ear hair is an inherited trait that was passed along on the father’s side (in the Y chromosome). However, the research for this has been inconclusive. According to a study conducted in Mineola, New York, in 1984, 74% of the men surveyed had ear hair. Unfortunately, the study did not delve into the changes through age groups, ethnicities, or any other factors. What we do know about ear hair is that very tiny ear hairs in all of us act as a screen to protect your body from unwanted airborne pollutants (i.e. dirt). As men age, their hormone levels fluctuate. This change affects hair growth. Scientists believe that the hormone that causes baldness known as dihydrotestosterone (or DHT, for short) may also be responsible for those annoying ear (and nasal) hairs. However, very little research has been done on the relationship between the two.
Well fellas, for now we just have to keep cutting!
Showing posts with label Haircare. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Haircare. Show all posts
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Sunday, July 25, 2010
Are You Choosing The Right Shampoos For Your Hair?
Finding the right shampoo can be overwhelming with so many options to choose from, and it really gets complicated when you realize you should be picking a shampoo based on your hair type and texture. As you read this post hopefully it will resolve some of your woes.
Shampoo, no matter how exotic the ingredients, has the simple role of removing excess oils and build up of everyday pollutants and residue left over from hair care products. Because most of the oil is concentrated in the first few inches of the hair adjacent to the scalp, shampoo should be concentrated in this area with a lighter application applied further down the hair shaft.Conditioner plays the role of replenishing oils that have been removed from excessive styling and heat exposure and also serves as a protective barrier to future damage. It should be applied lightly in most cases in order to prevent build up which may cause the hair to be limp and lifeless.
The first step in choosing a shampoo or conditioner should be determining your hair type. Is your hair predominantly oily or dry? If your hair is excessively dry, you'll want to select a shampoo designed specifically for dry hair. These shampoos contain a higher level of essential fatty acids which bond to the hair shaft helping to retain moisture. It's also important to choose a shampoo that has a low pH, making it more acidic. Higher pH shampoos tend to open the hair cuticle allowing essential moisture to evaporate. A good conditioner will be important for the health of dry hair. Choose a moisturizing conditioner and use it religiously after every shampoo. Be sure to use a cool setting on your blow dryer if you have dry hair.
If you have oily hair, you'll want to select a shampoo with deep cleansing properties to remove the buildup of oils from your scalp which can cause hair to be limp and lacking in body. It's importnt that your shampoo not be excessively harsh since stripping the scalp completely of oils can result in the sebaceous glands overcompensating by producing even more oil. When choosing a conditioner, select one that is specifically designed for oily hair and apply conditioner only to the ends and dryer areas of your hair.
Is your hair excessively curly, kinky, or color treated? Curly hair responds best to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner designed for dry hair, while kinky hair is best treated with a shampoo and conditioner that's high in protein. How can you tell if a shampoo is high in protein? Protein should be listed as one of the first ingredients on the bottle. There are specific shampoos and conditioners designed for color treated hair that help to prevent the color from changing or fading due to exposure to light or heat. These shampoos can be found in most salon stores at a reasonable price.
One warning, sometimes using the same shampoo, conditioner and other hair care products over a long period of time can result in excessive build up which causes the hair to be limp. This is where a clarifying shampoo can make a difference in your hair's appearance. A clarifying shampoo removes the buildup of hair care products that can weigh down your hair and causing it to be dull and greasy in appearance. Try using a clarifying shampoo once every 10 days to revive dull hair.
Finally, enlist the services of a good hair stylist to keep your locks looking their very best. He or she be glad to make recommendations on shampoos and conditioners that would work well with your particular hair and will help put you on the path to beautiful hair.
Shampoo, no matter how exotic the ingredients, has the simple role of removing excess oils and build up of everyday pollutants and residue left over from hair care products. Because most of the oil is concentrated in the first few inches of the hair adjacent to the scalp, shampoo should be concentrated in this area with a lighter application applied further down the hair shaft.Conditioner plays the role of replenishing oils that have been removed from excessive styling and heat exposure and also serves as a protective barrier to future damage. It should be applied lightly in most cases in order to prevent build up which may cause the hair to be limp and lifeless.
The first step in choosing a shampoo or conditioner should be determining your hair type. Is your hair predominantly oily or dry? If your hair is excessively dry, you'll want to select a shampoo designed specifically for dry hair. These shampoos contain a higher level of essential fatty acids which bond to the hair shaft helping to retain moisture. It's also important to choose a shampoo that has a low pH, making it more acidic. Higher pH shampoos tend to open the hair cuticle allowing essential moisture to evaporate. A good conditioner will be important for the health of dry hair. Choose a moisturizing conditioner and use it religiously after every shampoo. Be sure to use a cool setting on your blow dryer if you have dry hair.
If you have oily hair, you'll want to select a shampoo with deep cleansing properties to remove the buildup of oils from your scalp which can cause hair to be limp and lacking in body. It's importnt that your shampoo not be excessively harsh since stripping the scalp completely of oils can result in the sebaceous glands overcompensating by producing even more oil. When choosing a conditioner, select one that is specifically designed for oily hair and apply conditioner only to the ends and dryer areas of your hair.
Is your hair excessively curly, kinky, or color treated? Curly hair responds best to a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner designed for dry hair, while kinky hair is best treated with a shampoo and conditioner that's high in protein. How can you tell if a shampoo is high in protein? Protein should be listed as one of the first ingredients on the bottle. There are specific shampoos and conditioners designed for color treated hair that help to prevent the color from changing or fading due to exposure to light or heat. These shampoos can be found in most salon stores at a reasonable price.
One warning, sometimes using the same shampoo, conditioner and other hair care products over a long period of time can result in excessive build up which causes the hair to be limp. This is where a clarifying shampoo can make a difference in your hair's appearance. A clarifying shampoo removes the buildup of hair care products that can weigh down your hair and causing it to be dull and greasy in appearance. Try using a clarifying shampoo once every 10 days to revive dull hair.
Finally, enlist the services of a good hair stylist to keep your locks looking their very best. He or she be glad to make recommendations on shampoos and conditioners that would work well with your particular hair and will help put you on the path to beautiful hair.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Common Causes of Dandruff
Dandruff can have several causes, including:
■Dry skin. Simple dry skin — the kind you get during winter when the air is cold and rooms are overheated — is the most common cause of itchy, flaking skin. Flakes from dry skin are generally smaller and less oily than those from other causes of dandruff.
■Irritated, oily skin (seborrheic dermatitis). This condition, a frequent cause of dandruff, is marked by red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales. Seborrheic dermatitis affects not only your scalp but also other areas rich in oil glands, such as your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and the backs of your ears, your breastbone, your groin area, and sometimes your armpits.
■Not shampooing often enough. If you don't regularly wash your hair, oils and skin cells from your scalp can build up, causing dandruff.
■Psoriasis. This skin disorder causes an accumulation of dead skin cells that form thick silvery scales. Psoriasis commonly occurs on your knees, elbows and trunk, but it can also affect your scalp.
■Eczema. If you have eczema on your scalp, it's possible you could develop dandruff.
■Sensitivity to hair care products (contact dermatitis). Sometimes sensitivities to certain hair care products or hair dyes can cause a red, itchy, scaling scalp. Shampooing too often or using too many styling products also may irritate your scalp, causing dandruff.
■A yeast-like fungus (malassezia). Malassezia lives on the scalps of most healthy adults without causing problems. But sometimes it grows out of control, feeding on the oils secreted by your hair follicles. This can irritate the skin on your scalp and cause more skin cells to grow. The extra skin cells die and fall off, clumping together with oil from your hair and scalp, making them appear white, flaky and visible in your hair or on your clothes.
Exactly what causes an overgrowth of malassezia isn't known, although having too much oil on your scalp; changes in your hormones; stress; illness; neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease; a suppressed immune system; not shampooing often enough; and extra sensitivity to the malassezia fungus may contribute to the development of dandruff.
■Dry skin. Simple dry skin — the kind you get during winter when the air is cold and rooms are overheated — is the most common cause of itchy, flaking skin. Flakes from dry skin are generally smaller and less oily than those from other causes of dandruff.
■Irritated, oily skin (seborrheic dermatitis). This condition, a frequent cause of dandruff, is marked by red, greasy skin covered with flaky white or yellow scales. Seborrheic dermatitis affects not only your scalp but also other areas rich in oil glands, such as your eyebrows, the sides of your nose and the backs of your ears, your breastbone, your groin area, and sometimes your armpits.
■Not shampooing often enough. If you don't regularly wash your hair, oils and skin cells from your scalp can build up, causing dandruff.
■Psoriasis. This skin disorder causes an accumulation of dead skin cells that form thick silvery scales. Psoriasis commonly occurs on your knees, elbows and trunk, but it can also affect your scalp.
■Eczema. If you have eczema on your scalp, it's possible you could develop dandruff.
■Sensitivity to hair care products (contact dermatitis). Sometimes sensitivities to certain hair care products or hair dyes can cause a red, itchy, scaling scalp. Shampooing too often or using too many styling products also may irritate your scalp, causing dandruff.
■A yeast-like fungus (malassezia). Malassezia lives on the scalps of most healthy adults without causing problems. But sometimes it grows out of control, feeding on the oils secreted by your hair follicles. This can irritate the skin on your scalp and cause more skin cells to grow. The extra skin cells die and fall off, clumping together with oil from your hair and scalp, making them appear white, flaky and visible in your hair or on your clothes.
Exactly what causes an overgrowth of malassezia isn't known, although having too much oil on your scalp; changes in your hormones; stress; illness; neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease; a suppressed immune system; not shampooing often enough; and extra sensitivity to the malassezia fungus may contribute to the development of dandruff.
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