The Key To A Perfect Head Of Hair

By Dr Deborah Spector, PhD
Reprinted From
The Body Forum Magazine

Beautiful skin, clear eyes and thick, luxurious hair are the penultimate benefits of good health. Nothing bespeaks more highly of an individual's commitment to self than a total glow that radiates from within. It has often been noted that healthy hair reflects good health, whereas dull, lifeless hair speaks of the opposite. Yet some of us still churn upon the age-old conundrum - what will truly stop excessive hair-loss and how can less than perfect hair become your crowning glory?

Since the beginning of culture, mankind has pondered the variances of hair. The early Egyptians expended quite a lot of ingenuous thought and energy on the question, as indicated by the proliferation of cures devised, most of which included minerals and herbs. The Ebers Papyrus, an extensive cosmological text, provided voluminous writings on hair-care, hair thickening and coloration, as well as theories about and cures for excessive hair-loss. It's often been wondered whether the shearing of Samson's tresses and his pursuant loss of physical power was apocryphal, or if it was just the psychological effect which proved debilitating.

Aristotle, a Grecian philosopher, began Western civilization's investigation of baldness with his observation of the apparent proneness of men rather than women, children or eunuchs to lose their hair. More sophisticated observation led to the first major text devoted to hair, hair quality and growth by the Frenchman Sabourard in the early 1900's, and Gustav Eckstein provided a combination of physiological information and philosophical inquiry on the relationship of hair to the whole body in The Body Has A Head.

According to Eckstein, hair has a multitude of functions, integrative of biology and psychology. Found on every square inch of the body except the palms of the hands and soles of the feet, hair serves to regulate temperature through the trapping and releasing of air while at the same time reflecting and affecting an animal's self-expression. And although humans have "intentionally" reassigned hair to function mainly as decorative, the hair is still affected by and affects sex, defensive postures and bodily temperatures. Eckstein concluded his comments with a brief query as to how mankind lost most of its bodily hair while evolving it to its present decorative status atop the head.

Whatever reasons precipitated the development of a decorative function for hair, we have an inveterate concern for keeping that which we have and keeping it healthy. An especially sensitive area is hair-loss; this is true for both men and women. Regardless of the role that heredity plays, excessive hair-loss (more than a few dozen hairs a day) is often considered avoidable. When hair-loss is active and not seen as related to heredity, it is important to consider other potential etiologies, such as febrile states, postpartum endocrine imbalance, chronic illness and vitamin or protein deprivation.

Not surprisingly, other factors seen as contributing to hair-loss are the same that contribute to dull, brittle and lackluster hair. These include: stress; hormone changes; sexual stress and frustration; improper diet; lack of exercise; the advent of puberty; and harsh hair-care products.

Stress is the major contributor to poor, unhealthy appearing hair, which in itself is quite upsetting considering how endemic stress is to our lives. Stress can be caused by either external factors or internal physical or psychological changes. Even the modern conveniences of central heating and air conditioning can act as stressors on the body and play havoc with your hair. It is also believed that sunshine actually affects the physical and chemical properties of hair per se, from the root to the tip.

Even minimal hair-care (washing, combing, brushing and undoing tangles) can cause damage to the hair. These activities can lift the cell cuticle up, snap the fibers or cause splitting. Most cosmetic treatments, such as bleaching and perming, turn the natural surface architecture of the hair (which is a smooth scale structure) into a variety of negative configurations such as jagged scale edges, scale erosion and fiber splitting (Swift and Brown); and according to Robbins and Kelly, hair that is bleached contains less cystine, an all-important amino acid protein for healthy, vibrant hair, as well as less tyrosine and methionine, two more essential amino acid proteins for your hair.

In sum, all hair, no matter how well cared for, is exposed to detrimental elements. As such, hair needs particular care to stay healthy. Diet and exercise are the building blocks for healthy hair. This includes the elimination of white flour products, sugar and salt, and the ingestion of vitamins, minerals and proteins that feed the hair, including: Vitamin B-Complex and other B vitamins; Pantothenic Acid, Biotin, Choline and Inositol, Niacin; Folic Acid; PABA; good protein and sulfur amino acids; and minerals such as zinc, iodine, iron, manganese and copper. In other words, your food source nutrition and nutritional supplements should provide a balanced amount of the key dietary nutrients known to support healthy hair growth.

As for exercise, it provides a multitude of values for your hair. Strenuous exercise aids your digestive system and its utilization of vitamins, minerals and proteins; increases your circulation, thus keeping the glands in your scalp functioning properly; helps reduce stress and tension; and most importantly, helps you feel good.

The information provided by us on our website and in our product literature is of a general nature only and is not meant to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Please contact your physician, pharmacist or healthcare provider for advice regarding your specific health or medical needs. We cannot dispense medical advice or serve as a substitute for any health care professional. No drugs or stimulants are used in our products, and we make no drug claim for any of the generalized nutritional or cosmetic benefits you may derive from use of our products.