10 ENEMIES OF HAIR

Excessive Cleansing
Shampooing hair is essential to remove all the dirt, grime, and excessive oil. But if you are using strong shampoos with high levels of chemicals and cleaning agents, then they wash away hair protective moisturizers along with them.

A too strong shampoo can even affect the hair
growth level as they damage the internal cortex. So, make sure you use a mild shampoo and don’t overdo it.
Treating Hair as a Tin Glass

Don’t consider your hair like a piece of metal, or a tin glass. Brushing your hair infinite times a day, playing with your hairs. Using a hard brush, back-combing now and then, all are actions of rough handling. This can weaken the hair from the root, and hence, result in damaging of the hair cuticle, and eventually hair fall.

Even this can lead to hair splits, snaps, or frays. So, avoid rough handling your hair and pamper them a little.

Using Heat Styling Tools
You can confirm this with your dermatologist, and he will inform you that using heat styling products is actually a way to damage your hair with your own wish. Hot hair styling products damage the natural moisturizer of the hair. They damage the cuticle layer, block the surface of the scalp, and cause fraying, split ends, breaking of the hair. So, to make sure that you have a healthy growth hair, make less use of heat styling products.

Blow-dry or use styling tools only when it is of utmost requirement, otherwise avoid using such products. The best way is to allow your hair to air dry.

Smoking
Smoking is not good for the body and hence not for the hair as well. If you want healthy, long, and shiny hair that grow well and are not prone to fall, then it is better to quit smoking.
Excessive Intake of Caffeine
A highly followed tradition in India, one cannot think of beginning their day without a cup of tea. Consuming tea is a common activity among individuals of all ages, but think twice that is it really healthy for your skin. If you are consuming tea, then you are not just drinking it, but you are also consuming a big cup of caffeine. Tea results in high acidic content in the body. If your body cells are highly acidic, then they will lack minerals essential for healthy hair and skin growth. The great idea is to combat drinking tea completely from your diet, or otherwise, limit intake of tea to 1 – 2 cups a day. Also, keep it a point that you don’t drink tea empty stomach.

Consuming Processed or Packaged Foods
Chocolates, cakes, donuts, cookies, pizzas, burgers, are food products with high levels of calories. They are tempting to the taste buds but hardly provide any nutrients.
If you consume too much of processed foods, then this will lead to slow performing mind and will revolt by your body in terms of dull skin and falling hair.

Stress
Working too hard or taking any kind of mental, physical, or emotional stress disturbs the natural balance of our hormones. This affects the proper functioning of cells and tissues, which are responsible for the healthy growth of hair. So, if you want really good hair, then it is important to stay stress-free. Also, you can include a minimum of 10 minutes de-stress activity in your daily exercise regimen to keep your body away from such hazards.

Lack of Exercise
Our body secretes oil, which is removed from our pores and scalp during the time of exercising. When your hair and skin are sebum free, then this will provide nutrients to flow through them. Exercising for even 30 minutes can make a huge difference.

Improper Sleep Habits
Proper sleep is really very important for healthy skin and hair. It is because our body cells and tissues tend to rejuvenate and repair when we sleep. If we are not sleeping enough, then we are not providing adequate time to our body to heal. So this can lead to unhealthy skin and stop hair growth. It is important to sleep tight as only then you can stay healthy.

Not Oiling
Oiling moisturizes and conditions hair, and makes sure that the hair is provided with strength and support needed for their healthy growth. So, develop a habit of oiling your hair every time before you shampoo them. This will retain the natural moisture in the hair needed for their healthy growth and sustainability.
Other than these 10 enemies of hair growth, even environmental factors play a pivotal role in affecting the hair growth. But, you can overcome all these enemies by adopting a healthy, balanced diet and taking proper care of your hair. So, prepare yourself for the battle of these hair enemies, and with the support of nutritious food and healthy lifestyle you will definitely come out as a winner.

" While you sleep, the skin is working its hardest to repair itself ," says Teresa Stenzel, the director of education for Bioelements.
* Tips on a Nighttime Routine for Healthy Hair *
Applying a Hair Serum
This is an alternative to the oiling process. Apply a hair serum before going to bed. Serums offer a protective layer to the hair and helps your hair to get strong. Serums are good for treating dry, frizzy hair. Don’t apply hair serum to your roots because it can make your hair look greasy.
Apply a Weekly Hair Mask
A weekly hair mask can do wonders for your hair. There are plenty available on the market or you can make one yourself using equal portions of coconut oil, yogurt, and fuller’s earth. Simply mix all of the ingredients together to form a paste and apply it to your hair. Leave it on for 1-2 hours then wash off with a hair cleanser. Alternately, you can even apply aloe vera gel on your hair once in a week. Right after the first application, your hair will look shiny, healthy, and feel soft to the touch.
Comb and Detangle Your Hair
If you wish to wake up with beautiful hair in the morning, comb your hair with a brush from roots to the tip and detangle every strand. This will not only relax your scalp but also make sure your hair is detangled, which might have occurred during the day. Even if you are seriously exhausted, this is an important step that you cannot afford to miss.
Prepare Your Bed for Healthy Hair
Your bed that can help promote healthy hair. It is essential that you have a clean, dirt free bed. Check for your pillow case and if possible, change your pillow covers every day. Silk pillow covers can reduce tangling and damaging your hair.
Tie Your Hair to a Loose Braid or Loose Bun
If possible, tie your hair into a loose bun or braid before going to bed. This will help reduce tangles. In addition it will reduce friction on your hair which can cause split ends and breakage.
Make sure the bun or braid is loose. You don’t want to make it too tight because it can be uncomfortable and make the roots sore.
Cover Your Head if You Have Long Hair
If you have long hair you might wan to consider covering your hair in a muslin or silk cloth that stays on your hair the entire night. This can help prevent hair damage and split ends when you sleep. It can also help your hair retain it’s volume.
Sleeping on Damp Hair can Result in Severe Damage
Don’t go to bed with damp or wet hair. It will cause your hair to get tangled and promote split ends and breakage.
Try to let your hair air dry fully before bed. If need be use a hair dryer to get rid of any additional dampness that might be left.
Apply Vitamin E Topically if required
Did you know that Vitamin E is essential for healthy hair and skin? If you don’t get enough Vitamin E in your diet you can take supplements (check with your doctor first). You can also purchase Vitamin E capsules to use on your hair topically. Simply squeeze the serum out of the capsule and apply it directly to your hair. Leave it on over night and then wash your hair in the morning.
Oiling
Whether you travel a lot or you are a stay at the home person, your hair goes through a lot during the day. As a result, your hair can lose moisture and get damage over time. Just like your skin, your hair needs a little pampering and care every day. Before you go to bed deep condition your hair with your favorite natural oil and wash it out with a gentle shampoo in the morning. Makes sure to massage your scalp, hair tips, and hair roots to provide maximum moisture.
*These are the natural ingredients for strong and healthy hair.*
1. Rosemary – It is an excellent herb for boosting hair growth. You can include it in your hair care routine for healthy and shiny hair. Besides being rich in antioxidants, its aromatic fragrance helps to fight against the free radicals.With its revitalizing properties, rosemary is also wonderful to enhance bounciness and soften the texture of hair. As per ancient experts, rosemary is also useful in boosting the memory.
2. Indian Gooseberry – This is one of the most popular herbs loaded with tons of nutrients. It is an exceptional source of Vitamin C and is packed with a high dosage of antioxidants that are perfect for rejuvenating and strengthening the
hair from deep within.Indian Gooseberry is also known to pacify the excess heat from the body, which is known to result in hair fall and to gray of hair. It is also known as Amla, and regular intake of Amla provides nourishment and conditioning to the hair.
3. Fenugreek Seeds or Methi Dana – Also known as Methi dana or simply Methi, these seeds is one of the major sources of Vitamin C. It holds all the nutrients essential for healthy hair and skin. Its high mucilage content ensures that you have soft, smooth, and tangle free hair. Regular intake of Fenugreek seeds can help you have healthy hair and skin. You can apply a fenugreek mask once a week to restore the natural moisture and increase manageability of your hair. Also, it is useful in treating scalp irritation, dandruff, eczema, and acne, as it contains high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.
4. Aloe Vera – Aloe vera has always been an excellent source of antioxidants, vitamins, and natural moisturizers to the hair. It deeply nourishes the hair follicles and boosts hair growth to a large extent. Applying an aloe vera mask once a week is a way to add texture and volume to the hair and make them thicker.
Aloe Vera is available as a herbal plant and its gel houses amazing soothing and cooling properties that can relieve irritation and redness to a great extent. Aloe vera is an excellent health tonic that is known to boost cell rejuvenation and can make you stay and appear young. You can blend aloe vera gel with olive or coconut oil and massage into your hair or can consume aloe vera juice as a supplement for overall body health.
5. Eclipta Alba – Also known as Bhringraj, this is a rich ayurvedic herb that is known to provide solutions for premature graying of hair and hair loss. This herb is even known as the king of all the herbs for hair health as it has the potential to nourish and rejuvenate the hair deeply. You can use this herb on a regular basis and can enhance your hair texture, volume, and color, to a greater extent. One great method is to mix bhringraj with Brahmi, amla powder, and coconut oil, and then massage it well.
6. Shikakai – This is another famous fruit for the hair that has been used not just in Asian countries but across the world to deep condition and cleanses agent. It is known to have 2 – in – 1 action of cleansing as well as moisturizing the hair to a great extent. This herb is gentle on the hair and increases the bounciness and even improves the texture to a great extent. It maintains the natural PH balance of hair and keeps the scalp healthy.
7. Nettle – Nettle is also known as bicchu buti, which is weed that is packed with important nutrients, like Vitamin A, K, C, iron, silica, and pantothenic acid. Nettle is also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids. It holds rich astringent properties and is great to reduce oiliness from the hair. Its regular use is great to add strength, bounce, and luster to the hair.
Getting gorgeous, healthy hair is not tough. All you have to do is shift to herbs and natural products instead of chemical based products, and you will experience the difference in just a