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When you are left with dry hair you need the right ingredients to bring health back to your hair. Damage to the hair is usually caused by heat (irons, blow drying, curlers, heat lamps, etc.), U.V. rays (sun, lights, tanning beds), mechanical devices (combs, brushes, curling irons, etc.), chemicals (color, perms, relaxers, pool chemicals, the air, etc), disease or poor diet (specifically -lack of proteins and essential fatty acids).
With the right knowledge you can discover the right ingredients your dry hair needs to bring it back to beautiful health, shine and strength. Dry hair lacks sufficient moisture to maintain a healthy, normal sheen and texture. Its appearance takes on a dry, brittle - ready to snap - look and may include the frizzies and plenty of split ends.
EXTERNAL FACTORS INCLUDE: *Harsh shampoo *Shampooing too often *Hair dye *Hair perms *Chlorine in swimming pools and hot tubs *Overuse of the blow dryer or curling iron *Too much exposure to sun and wind *High mineral content in local water supplies
INTERNAL FACTORS INCLUDE: *Nutritional deficiency *Certain medications *Cancer treatment
Here are some ways to prevent and help damage to your hair:
1) Use a natural and organic herbal filled shampoo formulated specifically to "moisturize" the hair.
2) Do not blow dry the hair completely dry. Leave a little moisture in.
3) Cover your head when you're outside in the sun for prolonged periods.
4) Use a low or no ammonia hair color.
5) Air oxidize perms instead of using the neutralizer.
6) Never brush wet or damp hair. Use a wide toothed comb.
7) On dry hair use a boars hair brush and start at the ends and work up.
8) Wear a cap when swimming or rinse the salt or chlorine out of your hair after you swim.
9) Blow dry on the "cool" setting.
10) Eat protein rich foods (chicken, fish, nuts) - hair is composed of 88% protein and these foods are rich not only in quality protein but in essential fatty acids.
A little known secret that most shampoo companies don’t want you to know is that when you wash your hair with one of their nutrient-rich shampoos, most of the nutrients and active ingredients in the product don’t actually end up in your hair but rather they wind up down the drain. You see, the reason for this is that the shampoo molecules they contain are too large to penetrate the cells of hair (and more importantly the tiny hair follicles where our hair actually grows). Therefore, they just sit on top of the follicle until washed away.
Further, although there is a vast range of commercial products on the market advertised for the treatment of dry hair - BEWARE - these can cause more harm than good! Not only do they cause dry hair, damage your hair shafts and follicles and negatively affect your physical appearance (not to mention the emotional affect this can have) but they undermine your precious health as well.
Here are the top ingredients that can cause dry hair in addition to having a negative effect on your health: (click here to read about them in more detail)
1) MINERAL OIL.
2) DEA (diethanolamine), MEA (monoethanolamine) and TEA (triethanolamine)
3) Imidazolidinyl DMDM Hydantoin .
4) FRAGRANCE
5) ALCOHOL
6) PHTHLATES
7) SODIUM LAURYL SULFATE
8) PARABENS
Many people ask, "Why should these ingredients be of concern? These chemicals go only skin deep, right?" In fact, they can be absorbed into the human body either through inhalation or through the skin.
Parabens are also extremely well absorbed via the skin. Leave-on products, such as hair sprays, gels and other hair products are of greatest concern because of the long exposure time and opportunity for migration via the skin into the bloodstream.
Their use in skin and hair care is particularly troubling because their absorption into the bloodstream bypasses the gastrointestinal tract where they might be broken down.
Studies have indicated that sodium lauryl sulfate enters and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain from skin contact and poses a serious potential health threat from its use in shampoos and cleansers.
Still other research has indicated sodium lauryl sulfate may be damaging to the immune system, especially within the skin. Skin layers may separate and inflame due to its protein denaturing properties as well as cause damage to the hair follicle resulting in hair loss.
In fact, shampoos rank among the hair products most often reported to the Food and Drug Administration in association with dry hair and scalp, irritation and outbreaks, stinging eyes, and tangled, split, and fuzzy hair.
As an advocate of natural remedies, I believe in the immediate and long term benefits of using only natural shampoos and hair products for your hair.
They should contain the right combination of natural herbal extracts, vitamins C and E, tea tree oil and more. You see, these are highly reparative ingredients that can be used for even the most severely dry hair! And the body responds quickly to "natural" as you will see.
A great moisturizing shampoo will keep the pH of the hair at about its natural level, around 5.0 or so. When the pH of the hair gets too high, the hair becomes too alkaline, and the cuticles open, the hair becomes dry and brittle, and the shine disappears. If the pH of the hair gets too low it will become hard and rough. The aim of a proper moisturizing shampoo is to keep the hair in a balance between the cuticles opening too much, and the hair becoming too hard.
Three highly effective ingredients in an herbal shampoo should include tea tree oil, shea butter and urea . These three ingredients provide a powerful formula to relieving dry hair symptoms.
Here's why:
Tea Tree Oil: Tea Tree Oil has been used for many, many years by people around the world for its' extraordinary medicinal qualities. It has a very helpful restorative and healing effect.
Shea Butter: This thick, rich butter has soothing, moisturizing and protecting properties. Shea butter also helps cell regeneration and circulation necessary for healthy, shiny hair.
Urea: Has been medically proven in various clinical studies to have superior anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties that helps promote fast healing of dry, cracked, split hair by adding much needed moisture to each and every hair shaft and hair follicle.
A natural shampoo doesn't disturb the natural PH of the hair & scalp like most commercial shampoos do. It soothes and hydrates the hair and scalp for long lasting relief and health.
Remember, this is your valuable life, your wonderful body, your rightful health......choose wisely and please stay informed.
Letter to Nanette:
I just had to write you because of the huge change I have seen in my hair. I hate to admit it but I have dyed my hair for years and years and for the last 3 years I have used a 400 degree hot iron to straighten my hair....I really feel rather silly confessing this. Well, I ended up with such dry, broken and damaged hair that I didn't know what to do!! I looked at so many products on the market but they all had so many chemicals in them...I was really frustrated and depressed! Then I found your site and right then and there decided that I wanted to feed my hair healthy ingredients and let me tell you....my hair just soaked up the moisture your products provided. My hair is still recovering but oh...it keeps looking better and better! Much appreciation from Janine Kepler, PA
Hello,
I don't usually write but I had a friend recommend your products to me because I just felt like my hair looked dull and lifeless. I wash it everyday and blow dry it so I guess that didn't help in addition to the fact that I have just entered menopause. Well, after using your shampoo my hair looks soft and shiny and even my coworkers are asking me what I am doing to make my hair look this healthy....thank you. Kate M., New Jersey
Please Note: Disclaimer - These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. The information, products, answers to viewer questions as well as comments and testimonials from viewers are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Special Note: Some of our customers who have provided a testimonial have received a free product for their kind contribution.