Homemade Shampoos

Homemade Shampoos

You don't necessarily need fancy, modern shampoos in their funky packaging to get your hair clean and healthy. You can make it yourself and still get a thorough cleaning. How else did they do it 100 years ago? Here are a couple simple recipes and tehniques to get your hair looking great the old fashioned way.

Economical Shampoo

Supplies:

mild bar soap

distilled water

grater

weigh scale

* Boil 8 ounces of distilled water

* Grate 1 ounce of mild bar soap (use weigh scale to measure)

* Add it to the boiling water

* Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally

If you want your shampoo to smell, you can add a few drops of essential oils such as lemon, wintergreen, or cloves.

Should you have fine hair or damaged hair, you may need to lower the pH to make the shampoo softer and milder. You can do this by adding acidic joice from either a lemon or a lime. If you're really particular about the pH level, you can buy Nitrazine paper from a drug store to test your shampoo to see if it falls in the 4.5 - 6.0 pH level.

Egg Shampoo

Supplies:

1 egg

bowl

beater

* Thoroughly wash the egg (especially if it's farm fresh) and crack it into a bowl

* Beat it until frothy and bring the bowl to where you will wash your hair

* Thoroughly wet your hair and scalp with warm water

* Pour 1/2 the egg into your hand and apply it to your hair as if it were shampoo

* Rinse the egg out of your hair with lukewarm water. If you use hot water, the egg could start to "cook" and get clumpy just like scrambled eggs.

* Repeat the process with the seond half of the egg, washing and rinsing very thoroughly

Baking Soda Shampoo

1 Tbsp baking soda

2 cups warm water

* Pour 2 cups of very warm water into a large bowl.

* Add 1 Tbsp of baking soda.

* Gently mix it until the warm water dissolves the baking soda and the water looks murky throughout.

* Pour the baking soda mixture over your hair. Let the large bowl catch the excess and then use the extra to repeat.

* Gently work the baking soda shampoo through your hair to thoroughly clean it.

* Let the mixture sit in your hair for about a minute for good cleaning action.

* Rinse out the mixture well.

This shampoo is great for getting rid of buildup because the baking soda cleans it up very nicely. If you have very thick or long hair and 2 cups of this mixture is not enough, just double the recipe.

It's a good idea to follow this type of shampoo treatment with a special hair rinse or a conditioner. Your hair will thank you for it.

Shampooing Your Hair

Shampooing Your Hair

Shampooing is necessary to keep your hair healthy and looking great. A daily shampooing (with a low pH shampoo) is ideal. A refreshing way to start your day is with a shower and shampoo. Towel dry your hair to remove most of the moisture and within half an hour, it should be mostly dry. If you prefer to shampoo every other day, you can still wet down your hair in the shower daily. The warm water will soften your hair to get it to lie where it should (it helps avoid the "bed head" look).

The reason you need to shampoo daily, or at least every other day is to get it thoroughly clean. You want to get rid of all dirt, dead skin, and natural oils. Dirty hair does not look nice or smell nice and it is not healthy. You need to get it "squeaky clean". By this, I mean that when your finger rubs against a section of freshly shampooed hair, you should hear a squeaking sound. This means it's clean. How do you get your hair this clean?

First, thoroughly wet your hair and scalp with warm water. Put a small amount of shampoo in your hands.

Rub your hands gently together to spread the shampoo evenly over both hands. Use both hands to spread the shampoo evenly over all your hair. Once that is done, use circular movements all over your head to work the shampoo down to your scalp. Really work it in with your finger tips, but be gentle. When your hair is warm and wet, it is softer than usual and can break more easily.

Thoroughly rinse out the shampoo, making sure not to leave any behind. Slide your fingers over the surface of your freshly shampooed hair. If you hear a squeaking sound, it is clean. If not, you'll have to repeat the process.

Towel dry your hair once it is squeaky clean. Again, remember that warm wet hair is fragile, so be gentle. Shorter hair can be rubbed dry, whereas longer hair and finer hair are more prone to breakage. They should be blotted dry or wrapped up in a towel until the excess moisture is soaked up.

Permanent Hair Loss

Permanent Hair Loss

Permanent hair loss is something that none of us wants to experience. Unfortunately, if you are genetically predetermined to experience it, there is little you can do, but there are things you can do to prevent it as long as possible.

Hormones

Once you reach the age that your hormones decide it's the time for the papillae (the part of the hair that creates new hair cells) to retire, there is nothing you can do about it. What actually happens is the male hormone, testosterone, builds up in the blood vessel going to the papilla (the factory for new hair cells) and blocks it. This makes it impossible for the necessary blood to reach the papilla and nourish it so it can produce more hair cells. How can this be avoided? By discontinuing the production of testosterone (via castration) or by administering a lot of estrogen (the female hormone). Neither option would be a consideration since estrogen will cause a man to develop breasts and to grow in the hip area - simply put - he will start to look like a woman.

Men vs. Women

The situation is a bit different for women than it is for men. Women naturally do not produce as much testosterone as men (only 25% of what men produce) and therefore it does not plague women as early as men. However, when women reach the age of menopause, their estrogen leverls go down, but their testosterone levels stay the same. This leads to some hair loss. Women can receive extra estrogen via hormone therapy, but there is the danger of cancer or blood clots that goes with it.

Those people who are genetically designed to lose their hair at a certain age can do nothing about their permanent hair loss, but there are some people who experience permanent hair loss due to constant abuse. They actually do it to themselves.

Abuse

The first type of abuse and the easiest to avoid is a filthy scalp. If you do not shampoo often enough, you will begin to get a buildup of dandruff, dirt, and oil. If left long enough and often enough on your scalp, this layer will actually create an airtight cap that will strangle your hair follicles. Your hair on your scalp needs to breathe, so if you choke it with an airtight layer, you will kill your hair cells. It's very easy to avoid this - just shampoo your hair regularly to keep it clean and healthy.

The second type of abuse is continuously bending your hair right at the follicle, going against the natural growth pattern of your hair. Think of the mystical Japanese geisha who always wore their hair pulled up and back. After several years, they would have to camouflage bald spots on their heads. Some women who wear ponytails for many years have experienced this too. Even though hair loss with this type of abuse is usually temporary, it can end up being permanent. By wearing your hair pulled straight back on a regular basis, you are putting constant pressure right at the root of the hair and you are making it difficult for the papillae (the factory for new hair cells) to do their job.

The third type of abuse to your hair that can cause permanent hair loss is the lack of nutrients that your hair needs to thrive. Protein is essential for hair growth. If you see pictures of malnourished people, you'll notice their thin, sickly looking hair. Although a lack of protein can be the cause of just temporary hair loss, it can lead to being a permanent loss.

Iron is also important for hair growth because it increases the amount of oxygen in your blood. Since your hair needs oxygen to live and grow, iron is important for healthy hair. Vitamin E is a great help for your circulatory system, vitamin C for the skin on your scalp, and vitamin B for hair growth. Now I'm not suggesting that you take specific supplements or else your hair won't grow, but eat a healthy diet and shampoo regulartly to make your hair the best it can be.

Temporary Hair Loss

Temporary Hair Loss

Hair loss is something that worries a lot of people. The average person should lose between 50 and 200 hairs per day. If you are losing a lot more, you should check into it. It could be temporary hair loss, hair breakage, or permanent hair loss.

Breakage

Let's take a look at hair breakage which can be confused with hair loss. If you have very fine har, it will break easily. Chemicals (such as perms) can wreak havoc on your fine hair and so can swimming in chlorinated water. After you've brushed or shampooed your hair, pick up some hairs and look closely at both ends for a bump/"root". If you can't find the "root", the hair did not full out but broke off. If you have more than 200 hairs falling out daily and they all have bumps at the end, then your hair is falling out much faster than the daily average and it bears checking into.

Shampooing

Another reason you might get more hair loss than 200 hairs per day is if you shampoo your hair only once a week. When you are scrubbing and washing your hair, you are dislodging all the hairs that are ready to be replaced. If you washed your hair every day, you would dislodge a few hairs daily, but will end up with the same total of hairs by the end of the week. It just looks like more when you shampoo your hair once a week because it all comes at once.

Temporary Hair Loss

Temporary hair loss is a different matter all together. This is when you lose so much in such a short amount of time that it feels like you are going to go bald. Don't worry - if it's temporary, it will grow again and go through the 3 stages of hair growth, but it takes time. Why would your hair fall out so quickly? There are at least 6 possible reasons -

* Physical stress - such as major surgery, or high fever

* Emotional stress - from traumatic events such as rape, war, or the loss of loved ones

* Child birth - hormonal upheavals that follow child birth usually cause hair loss

* Drugs - from cortisones and amphetamines

* Hormonal disorders - especially having to do with the thyroid or sex glands

* Diet - protein is necessary for hair growth

If you are experiencing hair loss, look whether there are bumps on the ends of the hairs you are losing. If there aren't any, the hairs are just breaking off. If there are bumps and you can relate to one of the 6 reasons for temporary hair loss that are mentioned, be patient and the hair will slowly come back in again.

Hair Growth

Hair Growth

Many people agonize over the growth rate of their hair. Let's face it, nothing grows out slower than a bad haircut! What most people don't realize though, is that your hair is constantly going through 3 stages of growth. Once a hair falls out, it doesn't mean that that's it for that particular spot where that hair came from. Your hair is constantly going through the 3 steps - growing, shedding and fresh new growth. When you shed a hair, it's not the first step toward baldness, but it's just a continuation of an ongoing cycle.

Anagen Stage

We'll start with the anagen stage where hair is just growing, getting longer. For some people a hair will continue growing for about 2 years, but for others, it could be as long as 6 years. The length of time that hair grows depends on how old you are and your genetic makeup. The growing or anagen stage is a lot longer for a teenager than for someone who is middle-aged. Your genetics also have a lot to say about how long your hair continues growing.

Catagen Stage

The second stage of hair growth is called the catagen stage. This is when the papilla (the factory for producing hair cells for growth) shuts down. This process generally takes between 2 or 3 weeks. When that happens, the follicle (the skin surrounding the hair root) begins to shrink.

Telogen Stage

The last step in this cycle is the telogen stage. During this stage the papilla (the hair growth factory) takes a rest and the follicle hangs onto the hair for about 2 or 3 months. The hair could fall out during this stage during combing/brushing or during shampooing. It won't necessarily come out because it was dislodged, it could also be pushed out by the new hair that is starting to grow in the papilla.

In any given time, about 85% of your hair is in the longest stage, the anagen or growing stage. The other 15% is either in the catagen (shutting down) or telogen (shedding) stage. Because of that, you will loose between 50 and 200 hairs per day. It's perfectly normal to lose and shed hair.

If everyone goes through the same 3 stages of hair growth, why do some people seem to be able to grow hair much faster than others? This is because the papilla (the hair growth factory) produces hair cells a lot faster for some people than for others. Also, the anagen, or growing stage, lasts a lot longer for some than for others. So if one person has an average rate of producing hair cells, and the growing stage lasts 2 years, s/he will have a lot shorter hair than the individual who papilla produces hair cells very quickly and whose growing stage lasts 6 years. But don't be alarmed. When you lose your longer hairs, they are just finished growing and will very quickly be replaced by the other hairs that are longer and have been growing for some time.

Remember - 85% of your hair is in the growing stage and only 15% in the catagen (shutting down) or telogen (shedding) stage. It's not going to fall out all at once!

Why Do You Need Oil in Your Hair?

Why Do You Need Oil in Your Hair?

Your hair needs lipids to stay beautiful, healthy, and strong. Lipids are defined as fats, oils, and waxes that are insoluble in water. Some lipids in your hair form a necessary part of your hair shaft, while other lipids come from the nearby sebaceous glands.

Oils From Within

The oils within your hair shaft account for 3% of it. They are made within your bair bulb and are part of the "intercellular cement" in the cortex (the place where you hair produces its color) and the cuticle (the outside of your hair shaft that acts like a coat of armour). These oils are a protective coatingfor your hair to prevent it from absorbing too much water and they help "cement" the components of your hair together. Therefore you can see how the oil within your hair is very useful.

Oils From Without

Then there is the oil on the outside of your hair that is produced by the sebaceous glands. These sit right next to the hair follicle and form a film on the surface of your skin and they lubricate your hair. This allows your hair to be flexible (to bend) and to shine.

Hormones

The amount of lipids that you produce is determined by your hormones. If your hormones tell your hair bulbs and sebaceous glands to kick into high gear, your hair will become greasy faster - and there isn't a thing you can do about it. The grease in your hair will attract impurities from the surrounding air and make your hair dirty. On the other hand, if your hormones decide to produce only a samll amount of lipids, your hair will become damaged, dry, and dull.

You need the pilids (oils) in your hair for protection, flexibility, and shine. Even though it may be a pain to have to wash your hair as often as you do, the oils in your hair are a blessing in disguise. Imagine if you didn't have it - your hair would be a real mess.

Water and Hair - Not a Good Mix

Water and Hair - Not a Good Mix

Have you ever noticed that wet hair is hearvier than dry hair? Why is that? The outer layer of your hair, the cuticle, is made up of tightly over lapping scales for strength and resistance. And then there is the sebum, or the natural oil, that coats the scaly cuticle. Despite these 2 defenses, your hair still absorbs water. In fact healthy hair can absorb more than 30% of its own weight of water. Damaged hair is even more permeable - it can absorb up to 45% of its own weight of water. When the hair shaft is fully saturated, its diameter increases by 15 - 20% and it stretches or gets longer.

Effects of Water

What effect does water then have on hair? When the hair shaft is saturated, the cuticle's structure of the tightly over lapping scales is altered significantly. This causes the hair shaft to be fragile and more easily damaged. Add sunshine to this mix and you have very vulnerable hair. With the scales of the cuticle not offering enough protection, the sunshine can more easily damage the melanain - the part of your hair that is reponsible for color. Therefore, swimming on a hot summer day is refreshing for you, but it is very hard on your hair.

Hair Absorbs Water

You don't need to actually make your hair wet (by swimming, showering, or washing it) for it to absorb moisture; your hair can take in moisture from the air. People actually use human hair to make hygrometers (instruments used to measure humidity). Your hair changes in a very predictable way when you expose it to changes in humidity. It is very simple - hair stretches when it's wet and contracts (shortens) when it's dry. This happens at an exact rate and is proportional to the amount of water in the air. This is what makes your hair so predictably difficult to manage when the weather is humid.

Water is necessary to keep your hair clean, but it is hard on your hair by altering its structure and making it much more susceptible to damage.

Swimmers' Hair Problems

Swimmers' Hair Problems

Water is not necessarily your hair's best friend. It amplifies any weakness or damage that your hair may have. Combine these qualities with chlorine and you have a recipe for trouble. Swimming pools can have at least 3 effects on your hair - blonde hair can turn green, hair can become dull and dry, and hair can turn weak and brittle.

Blonde Hair Turning Green

I'm sure everyone has either seen or heard of blonde hair turning green after frequent swimming in chlorinated pools. I have had to buzz cut 2 of my boys' hair after only 3 trips to the swimming pool. Depending on the concentration of chlorine, the green can set in quite quickly. Sometimes darker hair can even develop a slight tinge of green.

What this is caused by is high concentrations of copper dissolved in the water. This copper chemically interacts with the chlorine, resulting in a chemical compound (combination) that very easily attaches itself to the outside layer of your hair shafts. If you have high levels of copper in your tap water, it can also make your hair green even without the chlorine.

You can try to treat blonde-hair-turned-green with hot vegetable oil or hydrogen peroxide. I find it easier to buzz cut my boys' hair and put a water proof swim cap on my little girl.

Dull and Dry Hair

Your hair naturally has an oil coating to give it a shiny look. This natural oil gets removed by the chlorine, giving it a dull look.

Your hair also has a hard outer layer, made up of overlapping scales to protect it. Chlorine can get between these scales, and push them up to give an otherwise smooth hair a very rough exterior. The combination of the oil being stripped off and the scales being roughed up results in hair that looks dull and dry and can feel rough to the touch.

Weak and Brittle Hair

As I've alsready mentioned, water is not your hair's best friend. Hair is much weaker when it is wet than when it is dry. Hair actually absorbs water and when it has soaked up as much as it can, wet hair is 20% weaker than dry hair. Because of this, handle your hair very gently when it is wet, avoiding tightly pulled back styles or vigorous combing.

Another thing to think about is that chlorine is a salt solution. When you are in the pool, the chlorine can actually get inside your hair fibers because they have holes in them and water can get inside. When your hair dries after you swim, the salt from the chlorine will crystallize inside your hair fibers. You might think that if you shower immediately after you swim, you can wash out the chloine. Yes and no. You can wash the chlorine that is sitting on the surface of your hair, but not the chloine that has gotten inside your hair fibers. The only way you can get rid of that chlorine is to soak your hair in clean water for about 10 minutes.

As your hair dries and the chlorine crystallizes inside your hair fibers, the salt crystals get larger and change the structure of your hair - it weakens your hair by separating the scales that overlap to protect and strengthen it. As the scales stand out (instead of lying flat), your hair is weak and very prone to break.

After you've read this article, you'll think twice about swimming in a chlorinated pool again! Do your hair a favour and cover it with a swim cap.