Thursday, July 06, 2006

Vitamins for hair growth

Hair loss or baldness is caused mainly due to the lack of Vitamin B supplements. Vitamin B5 contains pantothenic acid and B3 (niacin that is vital for hair growth). B6 is equally important to the body, as it contains the nutrients of zinc, sulfur, magnesium and biotin.

An interesting fact about Vitamin B: Certain experiments were conducted with rats and they were fed with food that lacked magnesium supplements. It was found that they lost their hair in bunches and when they were provided with a low biotin diet they turned hairless. But to the surprise of all, their hair returned when they were fed with food rich in Vitamin B. Similar studies were conducted on men and it was found that Vitamin B enriches the quality of hair.The body also requires Vitamin A. Fatty acids such as primrose oil, flaxseed oil or salmon oil need to be consumed for enhancing hair growth.

Vitamin E is meant for stimulating the oxygen intake in the body and improves the blood circulation. If there is proper blood circulation, hair growth is enhanced. Vitamin C assists the normal functioning of capillaries that carries the blood to the scalp. Even zinc is an important supplement, which should be consumed as it assists hair growth.

Biotin is necessary for hair growth. There are many sources of biotin such as brewer's yeast, brown rice, bulgur, green peas, lentils, oats, soybeans, sunflower seeds, and walnuts. It is present in some shampoos, so you can use shampoos, which contain biotin. It is advised to consult a physician before taking any vitamins or medications for hair growth.

Reduce Hair Loss With A Thorough Head Massage

A thorough massage is necessary to improve the blood circulation of the scalp. By massaging the scalp the hair follicles are stimulated and the texture of the hair is also enhanced. Massaging activates the nerves and a sense of calmness in the mind ensues. This therapy is useful for people who have routine stress.

Everyday spend about 5-10 minutes massaging your hair with your fingers. Move your fingers circularly all over the head starting from the temporal parts to the occipital area. Apply the necessary pressure to the areas. Even Yoga exercises such as the headstand are recommended for proper circulation to all the parts, especially the hair follicles to stimulate growth.

There are various types of massaging techniques, which can be followed. Indonesian style is best suited for relieving mental tension and improving the quality of the hair. The massaging steps are given below in detail:

1) Stand with your feet apart and start breathing in and out
2) Bend from the waist till the level of your head falls below the waist area.
3) Bring your feet close to each other and start rubbing your scalp with your knuckles all over your head for about half a minute.
4) Slowly start bringing your body to the normal level and continue rubbing on the scalp.

Be careful that when you are massaging your scalp, do not massage roughly. The hair fibers may split causing you pain and damage to the hair. So massage gently and thoroughly.