FitSugar

Switch Up Your Color: Look Fabulous With a Radiant New Shade

Sponsor — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:00:01 -0700

Stuck in a hair-color rut? Thinking of trying a fresh shade on for size? Here are some great reasons to treat your locks to an exciting new hue.

Transform your image. New hair color lets you explore an alter ego, whether you’re looking for a dramatic change or just want to rev up your current hue. Always wanted to go platinum blond? Longing for fiery auburn locks? Think you should have been born a brunette? Now’s the time to try your dream shade.

Look 10 years younger. A hot new hair color can banish gray and take years off your looks. Make sure to pick a product that’s specifically formulated to cover gray. Superior Preference® offers fade-defying color that covers gray beautifully.

Update your style. You may keep an eye out for the latest fashion trends, but no stylish wardrobe is complete without the ultimate accessory - gorgeous hair color that flatters your looks and expresses your personality.

Go for the gloss. Nothing restores shine to lackluster locks like fresh hair color. Regularly coloring smooths hair’s surface, keeping it glossy, healthy looking, and vibrant.

Unleash your inner diva. Why settle for mousy, plain, or understated when you can be bold, vibrant, and outrageously stunning? Express your spotlight-stealing side with shades like luminous blond, rich brunette, radiant red, or warm cinnamon.

Redheads Feel More Pain?

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 03:00:41 -0700

Blondes may stereotypically have more fun, but some studies show those born with red locks might feel more pain. So we all need to treat our ginger-headed friends more gingerly since research shows they're more sensitive to hot and cold, and strangely, redheads also require more anesthesia to become numb.

For those with brown, black, and blond hair, the Melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene produces melanin, which gives our hair and skin color. In redheads, this gene is mutated and produces pheomelanin instead, causing pale skin, freckles, and strawberry tresses. MC1R mutations also affect carrot tops' perception of pain and the effectiveness of drugs that are used to block the sensation of pain.

Not only is this research interesting (and may explain why your friend screamed her red head off when she got her ears pierced), but it may also help scientists design drugs that are more person-specific based on an individual's genetic profile.

If you're a redhead, please share your thoughts on this hairy subject.

Hair Dye and Health Safety

FitSugar — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 11:06:21 -0700

Coloring your hair is really common, whether it be to add mahogany highlights or hide strands of gray. In fact, nearly 70 percent of American women religiously visit the salon to alter their look, but, as I'm sure many of you have asked, is the beauty practice safe? Quite a few studies have found no connection between coloring your hair and cancer, and multiple studies have looked specifically at breast, bladder, and brain cancer finding no connection to these specific types either. Hair dye can, however, cause skin reactions like rashes, swelling, burning, and blisters, since many formulations contain chemicals such as p-Phenylenediamine (PPD). The good news is that hair dyes nowadays contain much less ammonia than they did 30 to 40 years ago.

Nervous about putting toxic chemicals on your hair and scalp? Then continue reading

8 Foods That Strengthen Your Hair

FitSugar — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 14:30:00 -0700

Aside from cleaning, conditioning, and using products to make your hair silky and shiny, your diet also plays a huge role in its health. Here are some essential vitamins and minerals you'll need for strong tresses.

Iron-rich foods such as lentils, potatoes with skin, peanuts, sunflower seeds, tofu, molasses, flaxseed, oysters, beef, chicken, shrimp, and trout are necessary for strong hair.
Foods rich in zinc such as walnuts, salmon, cashews, pecans, almonds, and oysters can help prevent hair loss.
Foods that contain biotin such as beans and eggs can prevent brittle hair.
Foods rich in selenium like nuts are necessary for a healthy scalp.

To see the other four foods read more.

Foods rich in vitamin B12 promote healthy hair, so get at least 2.4 micrograms a day by including foods such as chicken, shellfish, yogurt, cottage cheese, and eggs.
Carbs such as whole grains and fruit are necessary every day. Low-carb diets can contribute to thinning hair.
Foods rich in vitamin A such as cheese, eggs, carrots, spinach, and foods rich in vitamin C such as citrus fruits and tomatoes are needed to produce sebum, your body's natural conditioner.
Calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt, cheese, broccoli, sesame seeds and spinach are needed for hair growth. They also contain protein which prevents brittle hair.

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You Asked: My Hair's Falling Out?

FitSugar — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 05:30:00 -0700

You're asking and I'm answering . . .

Dear Fit,
I'm really worried. Every time I wash my hair, I notice gobs of strands in the drain. I'm also noticing a lot in my brush. When I look at my hair, it doesn't seem like it's thinning, so is this normal or something to worry about?
- Possibly Balding Brandy

Many women are concerned about their hair falling out. Just so you know, losing between 40 and 120 strands a day is totally normal. It may seem like a ton of hair when you see it on the floor of your shower, but it's not in comparison to the hundreds of thousands of hairs on your scalp. Since your hair grows in cycles, about 90 percent of your hair is growing, and 10 percent is resting. After two or three months, the dormant hair falls out to make room for new hair to grow in its place. Washing and brushing your hair can help speed up the shedding of old strands, which is why it seems like you're losing more hair than you should.

If you're losing a considerable amount, it could be an indication that something is wrong. So read more.

Other issues can cause excessive hair loss such as hormonal changes, pregnancy, or an under or overactive thyroid problem. Certain medications such as blood thinners, antidepressants, and birth control pills can also cause hair loss. Diet plays a big role too. If your hair is thinning, it could be a sign that your iron levels are low. If that's not the problem, consider how much vitamin A you consume because too much can also result in loss of hair. Make an appointment with your doctor if you're really worried about the amount you're losing. They'll be able to figure out what's causing it to happen and how to prevent more hair from falling out in the future.

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Is Dandruff Hereditary?

FitSugar — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 03:00:00 -0700

While many hair issues such as graying, thinning, or balding can be caused by your genetic makeup and are out of our control, thankfully dandruff isn't one of them. This flaky skin on your scalp is the result of malassezia, a yeast-like fungus that happens to be found on the scalps of many healthy individuals. Dandruff happens when these yeasty beasties multiply out of control. They irritate your scalp and cause skin cells to die so they flake off your scalp, making your head itch, and making it impossible for you to wear your favorite black shirt.

Some people's scalps may be susceptible to dandruff from lack of washing, illness, stress, hormonal fluctuations, or extra sensitivity to this fungus. Whatever the cause, the good news is that this embarrassing problem isn't something you have to live with. To find out how to control dandruff read more.

Since the malassezia fungus feeds on the oils produced by your hair follicles, try washing your hair more often to decrease the oily build-up. If there isn't enough oil to eat, then the yeast can't multiply.
Shampoo with an over the counter anti-dandruff shampoo such as Head and Shoulders. Make sure to leave this shampoo on for at least five minutes so the active ingredient, zinc pyrithione, can do its job. Use this shampoo every day until your dandruff is controlled, and then you can cut back to a couple times a week.
Avoid using styling products, or cut down on your use. These just add to the oily build-up.
Your diet can affect your hair and scalp health too, so be sure to consume foods that contain zinc, omega-3s, and B vitamins.
Take advantage of the sunshine this Summer because a little exposure can help prevent dandruff. Of course, make sure to lube up with sunscreen to protect your skin.

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10 Foods For Healthy Hair

FitSugar — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:30:00 -0700

Eating a healthy diet enables you to grow stronger and healthier cells throughout your entire body - hair and nails included. A well-balanced diet full of protein, zinc, and iron can make a difference in how luscious your locks are. But when it comes to your hair, some foods are better than others, so check out the top 10 foods for healthy hair.

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You Asked: My Hair Is Falling Out

FitSugar — Fri, 21 Dec 2007 07:30:00 -0800

You're asking and I'm answering.
Dear Fit,
Every time I wash my hair or brush it, tons of strands come out. Is this normal or am I going bald? Is there anything I can do to prevent my hair from falling out?
-Thinning Tina

This is a great question that I'm sure many women are asking too. Let's chat a little bit about the hair on your head. It has a growth cycle, and since most of your individual hairs are on the same cycle, you'll lose a bunch at one time and it will feel like all your hair is falling out. It's totally normal to lose between 40 and 120 strands a day, and since people with thin, fine hair tend to have more strands, they'll lose more than a person who has thicker hair.

Intense stress can also cause your hair to fall out, as can certain medications. An unbalanced diet can also affect your hair, so make sure you're getting enough iron-rich foods such as oysters, beans and baked potatoes.

So unless you're losing more than you think you should, or you're noticing bald areas on your scalp, then I wouldn't worry.

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5 Things: Healthy Hair

FitSugar — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 03:00:00 -0700

We all want to have gorgeous, full, shiny locks of hair. Since we aren't all genetically blessed with strong and lustrous looking hair, here are some things you should know about hair, and some tips to making yours healthier.

Shedding hair is totally normal. Everyone loses between 40 and 120 strands of hair a day.

If you're worried that you're losing more than this, make sure that you are getting enough iron in your diet. The RDI of iron is 18 mg a day.
Also make sure to eat foods rich in Vitamin A (cheese, eggs, carrots, and spinach), Vitamin C (citrus fruits, potatoes, and tomatoes), Vitamin E (soy and leafy greens), and Vitamin B12 (chicken, fish, eggs, and milk) to promote healthy hair.
Brush your hair before you step into the shower to shampoo it. A few strokes of a brush will loosen up product buildup and gently detangle your hair. It also stimulates the scalp and promotes blood flow which helps to deliver nutrients to your hair follicles.
When hair becomes dry or damaged, the hair shaft splits at the end, causing what's called a split end (as I am sure you know from experience). If you notice one, cut it at least 1 inch above the split (resist splitting apart the hair with your fingers). A split end can split the hair all the way up to the scalp, so snip it as soon as you spot one. Getting regular haircuts to trim away dead ends will also keep your hair healthy.

Head Lice: Do You Know the Facts?

FitSugar — Fri, 31 Aug 2007 07:00:00 -0700

I'm sure we all have a horror story about lice, whether we've been through it ourselves, or saw someone else go through it.

Having lice is no fun, and knowing the facts about it can help prevent a horrendous outbreak. It is back-to-school season so let's test your knowledgeo of lice.

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