Month: June 2015

Cantaloupe. The Beauty Fruit.

Best eaten in the months between April and August, the Cantaloupe is considered a summer fruit. As you sink your teeth into the beautiful rich, velvety orange flesh of the cantaloupe, let me inform you of all of its’ luxurious benefits. This beauty fruit is rich in Folic Acid, Inositol (Vitamin B), Vitamin B Complex, Vitamins A and C, Omega 3’s, and contains much more potassium than bananas. The orange flesh is packed with beta-carotene which converts to vitamin A in the body and promotes healthy, clear skin.  Vitamins A and C also fight free radicals that cause cell damage, thus fighting against wrinkles and aging of the skin. The main structure in Cantaloupe, however, that aids in the stimulation of hair growth is Inositol, which is a derivative of Vitamin B. Inositol also prevents hair loss. With all of its wonderful benefits, please make sure to include the wonderful Cantaloupe in your diet this summer, and enjoy its hydration, sweet taste, and health and beauty benefits! Note: Please consult your physician when trying new foods …

Exercise, Yoga and Accelerated Hair Growth

  The take home message is:  your body is your temple. Treat your body like   royalty and be thankful for it, and I promise you, it will reward you. So far in this blog I have discussed the importance of drinking lots of fresh water (adding lemon juice to create an alkaline environment for the body is a bonus) paying attention to what you put into your body by consuming fresh (and never processed) fruits, vegetables and proteins, and minimizing the stress in your life the best way you can. (Going for a walk, relaxing with friends, reading, drinking green tea, or engaging in any positive, healthy hobby that you may have). I wish to discuss the importance of physical activity as well as stretching   and its effects on hair growth. You must realize, our bodies were meant and created to move, the act of   staying idle or sedentary is the worst possible thing that you can do to yourself and to your body. We live in an unimaginably rapid paced world …

Scalp Massage for Stimulation of Hair Growth

Think of the last time you had a good scalp massage, you probably remember it as being extremely relaxing. Well another great benefit of scalp massage is that it has also been proven to stimulate hair growth. Gently massaging the scalp with the pads of your fingertips helps to increase circulation, which increases blood flow, ultimately distributing oxygen and nutrients directly to the localized area that is being massaged. I used to love it when someone massaged my scalp for me at the salon, but nowadays I massage my scalp myself. I use the essential oils:  ylang ylang or peppermint oil, I mix with a carrier oil and massage the potent root stimulating oils directly into my scalp.   Ylang Ylang Oil – Peppermint Oil – https://m.facebook.com/royalrooted   Ylang Ylang oil – Native to Molucca, Madagascar and the Philippines, this oil is steam distilled from the flowers of its tree and means “flower of flower” This oil has been used for many years, particularly in Asia, to promote and stimulate hair growth. Peppermint oil – …

Get Active and De-stress

  We are all aware of the detrimental effects of stress, and how it can wreak havoc on the body.  We could have witnessed this from friends and/or family members, or even ourselves. Life can get tough, as there will be ups and downs throughout life, but the key is how you handle what is thrown at you. What makes you healthy and happy? Discover what makes you healthy and happy, and incorporate that activity in your life at least once a week. I  enjoy the outdoors, exercise and photography. The picture above is actually a photo I took back in May, here in Houston Texas. De-stressing your life encourages health. Health is beneficial for the overall body as well as for your skin, nails and hair. Stress can cause the hair to become brittle, dull, and can even cause the hair to shed. Treat your body well by staying active with exercise, consuming plenty of water and definitely reduce stress. The reason why I focus so much on nutrition, exercise and lifestyle is because you …

Power foods for Scalp Health and Hair Growth

    Pumpkin seeds and eggs are just a few of the many natural power foods that promote hair growth and scalp health. Others include: Salmon, almonds, blackberries, raspberries and dark green leafy vegetables, such as kale and collards. Invest in a good quality juicer or blender to help incorporate these beneficial foods into your diet, for everyday or when your on the go.

Three Oils That Penetrate the Hair Shaft

These three oils have been scientifically proven to penetrate the hair shaft:   Avocado oil Coconut oil and Olive oil.   This is very important information because not all oils are created alike. Different oils serve different purposes. We must remember, one of the most common culprits of reduced hair growth is hair breakage. Most of the time, the key to longer, stronger hair is preventing this breakage of the hair shaft.   The hair shaft is comprised of the Medulla, Cortex and Cuticle. As you can tell by the picture here, the Cuticle is essentially the outer most portion of the hair shaft. The function of the cuticle is protection. You can think of the hairs’ cuticle as its’ armour. This is a vital component of the hair shaft.  If the hair’s cuticle is damaged, you are in danger of compromising the entire hair shaft, which ultimately can lead to breakage. Breakage then leads to less hair retention which will make it seem as though your hair is not growing, when in actuality it …

The Importance of Sleep for Hair Growth and Health

  Why is sleep so vital for the healthy growth of our hair and overall body functionality? Sleep is a basic need that is crucial to the quality of our livelihood and can often be taken for granted. Adequate sleep is needed to fight off infection, maintain the body’s metabolism and it keeps our mind healthy and alert. The body actually needs sleep in order for survival and the lack of sleep can have many detrimental effects such as depression, weight gain, irritability, lack-luster skin and impaired judgement.The required hours for sleep vary per individual, with the average falling between 7 to 9. With plenty of quality rest, the process of renewal, rejuvenation and healing can occur successfully. Remember, the body’s goal is to keep us alive and functioning, if there is a lack of sleep, this causes poor health, and the body will then divert its attention to the most important issue at hand, our vital organs that are necessary for life. This simply means that hair growth and health will become secondary.So it …

Provide an Attractive Environment for Hair Growth

    Health is truly your wealth. These are powerful words not just on the topic of hair. You are only as healthy as your diet and what you choose to eat, as well as how you choose to take care of your body which is your temple, right? This question leads us to what it takes to grow healthy, strong, thriving natural hair. I am a firm believer that diet, exercise, use or lack of heat, hair manipulation levels and stress levels play an integral part in hair health. I have personally witnessed the difference in my hair growth rate and hair health as my diet improved from when I was in my early freshman college days. To fill you in, I was always on the go, stressed, working several jobs and eating take-out on a regular basis. My hair at the time was relaxed, and was always in a slick bun, edges laid flat with hair gel. My hair seemed relatively healthy, because it was always in the protective style of a bun, …

Hydrate Your Roots

The average human body is made up of approximately 60% of the life sustaining liquid that we call water. Our bodies crave it, and so does our hair. I try to drink as much water as possible, as I find it energizes and rejuvenates me throughout my day. Water is beneficial in that it flushes out toxins, allows internal hydration, aids in skin, nail and hair cell renewal and energizes our muscles.I remember the days when I didn’t consume an adequate amount of water, I felt lethargic and sluggish. However I noticed a positive change in the growth, strength and overall health of my hair as I started to drink more water. Not only did I start drinking water more often (about 1.5 Liters a day) I also began to incorporate it into my haircare regimen as I would lightly spritz the ends of my hair with water daily and then apply a sealing oil to retain the added moisture. The amount of water you drink on a daily basis is up to your discretion, …

The Benefits of Coconut Oil for Hair

Oh how I love coconut oil for my natural hair! I discovered the wonderful benefits of coconut oil later on in my transition to natural, chemical-free hair. I was looking for something to keep my hair moisturized, shiny, and soft, but without the feeling of weighing down my hair like some of the beneficial, yet heavier oils. Check out the benefits of this beautiful oil which gives freshly washed hair a light but clean tropical smell. Coconut oil is rich in vitamin E as well as vitamin K and also contains antifungal and antibacterial properties to improve scalp health, which ultimately improves the follicles and hair shaft. Coconut oil also acts as a sort of protein shield as it penetrates our hair shaft, preventing breakage. This is very important as the key to longer hair (if this is your goal) is to prevent breakage. I have included a link for coconut oil at the end of this post for those who would like to begin incorporating this healing, effective and nutrient rich oil in their …