The mane event: healthy hair can be yours—from the inside out - natural beauty

Better Nutrition, Oct, 2001 by Karyn Siegel-Maier

Hair is most often the first thing noticed about your appearance. For those blessed with a vibrant full mane, it's also the most admired. But in spite of worldwide consumer spending in excess of $40 million a year on hair-care products, the bottom line is that what's in the bottle may not always be the best to use on your head.

There are a lot of hair-raising myths out there to dispel. For instance, do nutrient-packed products really "replenish" hair? Since a protective shaft surrounds each strand of hair, it's doubtful that any form of external nourishment occurs. The truth is that naturally beautiful hair stems from reaping the benefits of healthful ingredients provided by nature--from the inside and out.

THE ANATOMY OF HAIR

To understand sensible hair care, it's important to know what hair is and how it functions. Hair is composed of fibrous protein and, second only to bone marrow, is the fastest growing tissue in the human body. Each strand of hair is constructed of three components--the cuticle, cortex and medulla. The cuticle is the outermost layer of hair. This protective shaft is made up of tiny cells that overlap each other, much the way fish scales do. (In fact, if you run your fingers from the end of a single hair up to the scalp, you may be able to detect a slight "snag," caused by pushing up the smooth layers.) The cortex is the secondary layer of hair and the medulla is the central core of the hair.

Your hair has an intimate relationship with your scalp. It is in the scalp that natural oils are manufactured and distributed throughout your hair to give it shine and gloss. Tiny blood vessels in the scalp also supply needed nutrients to the hair. Harsh chemicals and potential toxins found in many commercial hair products will not only dull your hair, but can dry and irritate your scalp as well, possibly leading to dandruff and other skin problems.

THE NATURAL CHOICES

It is possible to find hair-care products made of natural and safe ingredients that are just as effective as their mainstream counterparts. Your health food store not only has a variety of organic shampoos and conditioners to choose from, but you may be surprised to find natural hair coloring and styling products there as well. For instance, there are botanical-based hair colorants rich in herbs such as nettle, sage, red sorrel, rosemary and burdock. Are there still synthetic chemicals in these so-called "natural" hair dyes? Yes, there may be. But the concentrations are often very low. Of course, henna (Lawsonia inermis) is another alternative that is completely chemical-free. It's generally used to achieve red tones but, when mixed with different botanicals, other colors can be obtained.

If dandruff is a concern, look for ingredients such as silicic acid (raw aspirin) or willow bark extract and selenium, which help control itching and flaking. Botanical extracts often used in combating dandruff include horsetail, nettles and rosemary. Natural conditioners usually take advantage of amino acids, the building blocks of protein. Amino acids are absorbed by the body to help build keratin, the main protein in hair. Other ingredients that are added to conditioners include panthenol, tocopherol (vitamin E) and herbs like aloe vera and lavender. Yucca, quince seed, balsam and yarrow are often added to natural styling gels, mousse and hair sprays for their thickening and emulsifying qualities.

Whatever type of hair you may have--dry or oily, thick or thin, curly or straight--there are a few basic guidelines to follow. First, choose the right type of shampoo for your hair and apply a small amount (usually about the size of a quarter) to wet hair. Many all-natural shampoos will lather less than their mass-market counterparts, but don't be concerned--you're still cleaning your hair, just without using a harsh chemical lathering agent. Secondly, condition your hair, no matter what type. Conditioning helps smooth out tangles, restores moisture to the hair and adds body and shine. Lastly, when styling, pick your products wisely. Many regular styling products are heavy in chemicals and plastic ingredients, which don't necessarily help your hair and certainly don't help your body. By combining a natural hair-care regimen with a diet based on good nutrition, you'll have an easier time keeping your hair looking lovely longer. In fact, if you're faithful about pairing good, whole foods with gentle, natural products that are right for your hair, you may never have a bad hair day again.

Surviving the Great Outdoors

You can take the best precautionary measures for your hair, using all natural hair products, nourishing your scalp, conditioning your locks and feeding your mane from the inside by eating healthy foods, but eventually, you're gonna have to take it outside.

The elements can put a lot of stress on your hair and if you live an active lifestyle, braving sun, wind and water frequently, it can be downright traumatizing.

Fortunately, there are simple, protective steps you can take. Remember that even in the winter, a sunny day can take moisture, vibrancy and even color right out of your hair. Although we've all seen products that use the sun to give hair shine and even "natural" highlights, overexposure to the elements can ultimately cause damage.