Jumpstart Your Fitness: Learn how to read your hair
Posted on Feb 11th 2008 6:00AM by Rigel CelesteFiled Under: Alternative & Green Health
The relationship we all have with our own hair is the ultimate in love/hate for most of us, and although you may be blaming those bad hair days on harsh winter weather, humidity, or styling products gone wrong, have you considered that it may be your health that's really the problem? You can't have healthy hair if you don't have a healthy body, so if you're dealing with hair that's dull, dry, frizzy, flaky, or falling out, it's worth a closer look to make sure it's not due to something bigger than just using the wrong shampoo. From genetics to your current nutritional state, learning to read your hair can tell you a lot about your overall health.Here are some common hair issues and what they could possibly mean:
Going gray
Going gray is a genetic issue, so you're pretty much stuck with whatever you get in that department. Some people start noticing stray grays as early as their 20s while other lucky ducks keep all their color until retirement.
Going white seemingly overnight
This is largely myth, as there's no physical way for the hair on your head to instantly turn from brown/black/red/blonde to white overnight. What can happen, however, is stress-induced hair loss that causes mostly the colored hair to fall out leaving a majority of the white or gray hairs behind (resulting in much whiter looking hair).
Shedding
The average head has over 100,000 hair follicles on it, all of which are in different growth stages, so it's really no big deal to find a good amount of shedded hair in your hairbrush or shower drain on a daily basis. There's no reason to worry unless you notice visible thinning or bald spots.
Thinning or Balding
Thinning and balding hair can have many causes so if you have concerns it's important to see your doctor. Some of the potential explanations are genetics (male pattern baldness affects about 1/3 of men), hairstyles that pull or stress the hair (too-tight ponytails), thyroid disorders, autoimmune disorders, and nutritional deficiencies (eating disorders, malnutrition, etc).
Dandruff
The most commonly misunderstood of all hair issues, flakes are most likely not caused by dryness. True dandruff is an inflammation of the scalp that results in redness and flaking, and the best fix is not moisturizer but medication. Find a good medicated shampoo or scalp treatment.
Dry, brittle, and breaking
The most likely cause of hair that looks dull and "fried" is that it actually is. Hair can easily be damaged by styling tools like hot irons, chemicals from perms and coloring procedures, or severe hairstyles (tight ponytails). It's also important to note your diet, though, as not enough protein will cause hair strands to be weak and not getting enough fatty acids will cause hair to lack resilience and shine.
