Both men and women can develop complaints of losing or thinning hair, especially as they grow older. Healthy, strong and thick hair is not only something that is pleasing to the person but also friends and relatives who appreciate it.
Many of the metabolic requirements which produce any single healthy hair must be met or optimal growth will not happen. A single hair follicle on the scalp will produce approximately 0.35 mm of hair per day. This equates to 10 1/2 millimeters of hair growth every month or approximately a little less than one half an inch of hair growth every month.
Many people are interested in how to get their hair to grow faster because of an upcoming events such as a wedding or the prom. Some are interested in even growing their hair from short to long in just a matter of weeks. Unfortunately, there is no instant way to grow hair no matter what anyone tells you. What you can do instead, is to improve the strength, quality and health of the hair so that it appears more healthy and is more beautiful as well.
The old adage that we are what we eat applies here. Our hair is nothing more than growing cells which feed on the nutrients we ingest every single day. When we live on fast food and processed foods that are skin and our hair show the results.
This means that the right vitamins and minerals will play a major role in keeping your hair and skin healthy. In some individuals nutritional deficiencies can lead to hair that is thinning and sometimes even total baldness. The bottom line is that your hair and skin ultimately reflect the overall condition of your internal body.
There are a variety of hair problems that affect both men and women which include thinning hair, dandruff, balding, premature graying and splitting. Some of these can be resolved by increasing your nutritional intake and taking vitamins which are specifically designed to assist the hair gain appropriate growth.
Some manufacturers have also included vitamin and mineral supplementation inside topically used products such as shampoos and conditioners. The theory is that by applying these products directly in the area in which they are needed, the hair follicle and hair shafts, they are more readily absorbed and used.
In some cases the shampoos and conditioners are helpful in maintaining a healthy shine over the exterior hair shaft while slowly feeding the hair follicles with proper nutrition. In other cases it is merely great advertising and good pictures which encourage you to purchase a product.
It is the individual\’s responsibility to purchase a product which works well for their specific case. Look for companies who have been in business for greater than five years, have research in order to back up their claims and, when purchased in a recurring membership, have a moneyback guarantee if the results are not to your satisfaction.
Protein is another factor that is important in the production of hair cells. A diet that is too low in protein can cause thinning hair or retardation of the growth cycle. Some experts believe that brewers yeast, wheat germ and a daily dose of granulated lecithin will improve hair growth, strength and beauty.
The opposite is also true. Individuals who are undergoing extremely stressful periods in their life or are taking medications which are known to have deleterious effects on an hair growth can results in decreased quality and thinning of the hair. Before taking any new medications discuss the side effects with your physician and any other drug interactions which may occur with other medications that you are already taking.
By eating right, getting enough exercise and reducing your stress you not only will help your hair growth but will also improve the overall health of your body. Other supplements which may be helpful are vitamin B complex, vitamin C, vitamin E and beta-carotene as well as flax seed. All of these specific vitamins and supplements are needed by the body in order to produce a healthy hair shaft. While many people may get enough of these vitamins and supplements from their food others may find that their lifestyle is not conducive to eating a healthy diet or are they choose not to and require extra supplementation in order to improve the quality of their hair.