Hair and Water - A Love Affair for the Ages

Water is the most abundant substance in the human body.

Just about all of us learned that way back in school didn't we? Then it was 'drink 'x' amount of water 'x' times a day to stay healthy and hydrated. These facts were drilled into us as far as how water affects our bodies but what about our hair?

Things I wish someone had told me when I was starting my hair care journey...

Internally, water is a very good natural moisturizer for your hair... that being said, it does make a difference on whether the water is hard or soft. Not only does softer water work on the outside of the hair shaft keeping it from becoming dry, brittle, clean and helping it to resist dullness, it also works on the inside providing moisture and keeping the individual strands hydrated and easier to manage. Water helps feed the cells of our body in general and our scalp specifically. The scalp contains a multitude of cells which nourish the strands through their hair bulbs (the tiny clear bubble on the tip of each shed hair strand). Any and all nutrients our hair needs comes from a healthy, well nourished scalp. Without water, our scalp would dry up and our hair would eventually become dry and break off.

You should always drink plenty of water for overall health if nothing else. If you are concerned about your hair's health, it is nothing short of a requirement especially if you are adding vitamins (for your hair's health and growth) to your daily routine. Drinking eight full ounces of water will take those little pills, capsules or powders right where they need to be to start on their hair-helping way. Also, I've found that it is a good idea to drink a more tepid temperature of water when taking vitamins instead of very cold water. The vitamins will start to dissolve faster... the quicker they dissolve, the sooner they'll start to work.

When it comes to washing the hair, I've heard some people say they like to use water alone instead of shampoo, I suppose this is okay if your hair strands are coated in nothing but sebum (your scalp's natural oil). This is a personal choice I'm sure, but whether you choose to clean your hair using that method of your favorite shampoo, make sure you don't have the water set too hot. Water too hot can damage the hair cuticle and without a cooler rinse, it'll leave the cuticle open and prone to more damage from manipulation and the elements. Plus, really hot water can burn the scalp... damaged scalp means non-growing/unhealthy hair. Though there are times when you have to use hotter water like when you are rinsing hair relaxer or curly perm cream from your hair. The water MUST be hot to COMPLETELY remove the cream or else the residue may wind up damaging your hair or scalp. This kind of damage can sometimes be irreversible.

So you see, water is good for you overall and in my opinion, when it comes to nourishing and hydrating the hair and scalp, you just can't have enough and water just can't do enough.

Happy drinking.

Nina Hobson is currently a trichology student (the study of the hair and scalp) and has been personally studying hair for over 25 years.
She invites you to visit her affiliate Hairbrosia® Hair Solutions (beta version-take a tour) where they offer you the only hair growth aids you will ever need.
http://www.hairbrosia.com

Hello, Pleased to Meet You - This Is Black Hair

Black hair grows in a special way. Its follicles start their curl pattern underneath the scalp and continue it once they break the surface. Our curl pattern helps to determine our hair texture (thus known as 'kinkness' to some). And when our hair is unhappy, it lets us know big time.

Consider these factors of Black Hair that not everyone may know:

Since our hair normally curls, it is hard for the sebrum (hair's natural oil) to reach from one end of our hair strand to the other. Our hair tends to become dry and sometimes brittle and may end up breaking off once combed or brushed.

Because of that same curliness though, our hair can stand up to the elements better because at one point or another, a part of the strand is not directly subject to said elements.

Those of us with really thick hair sometimes can be a little 'heavy handed' when we try to 'tame' it. So we may cause our hair to be stressed by combing or brushing it harder than appropriate.

Hot oil treatments are excellent for our hair type (unless one is allergeric or just can't stand the feel of oil on their hair). Since sebrum hardly gets a chance to be distributed along our strands on a regular basis, our hair drinks that hot oil up like it is its life blood and you can see and feel the difference almost immediately.

Our hair can grow just as quickly as anybody else's, but if it is made up of tight curls, the length won't show as prominently as some one with less curly hair. But the length will still be there.

We tend to not get lice as much as other races because of the hair oils, promades, grease, hair foods, etc. we occasionally use on our hair (sometimes on a regular basis). This is not to say Blacks can't get lice because we can... I've seen it myself. But lice can't survive nor can their eggs in that environment.

We don't have to wash our hair all the time because our hair doesn't tend to get weighed down with oils as much (unless we put it there ourselves).

Our hair is very dynamic. If we get a relaxer (to straighten our hair) and don't leave it on too long, we can still take our locks anywhere from tightly curled to bone straight at our choosing. Versatility on a whim.

When we have a relaxer and our hair gets wet from the rain or swimming, it doesn't 'get nappy' it reverts back to its original, beautiful state. All we have to do wash it and set it to get it straight again. Voilá.

So you see, black hair is just that... hair. It is a site to behold whether straightened and flowing or bobbing around free and fierce in an afro. It can be a bear to deal with and still be our crowning glory both at the same time. It is Beautiful.

Welcome to Black hair.

Nina Hobson is currently a trichology student (the study of the hair and scalp) and has been personally studying hair for over 25 years.
She invites you to visit her affiliate Hairbrosia® Hair Solutions (beta version-take a tour) where they offer you the only hair growth aids you will ever need.
http://www.hairbrosia.com