The Inputs for Outputs- How Inputting Vitamins Can Output Results!

Hello Glams and Geeks! In the last 5 days, I have created and provided a series pertaining to various hair care concerns and topics. Today, I will be talking about the one subject I have not covered yet, concluding my hair-series, and that is essential vitamins and nourishment for your hair. I’m sure you too, received the lectures from your parents about how important it was for you to eat your fruits and veggies. And I’m also sure, that most of you were not huge fans of your meal times because of them. But today’s the day you’re going to wish you had listened to your parents, as you’re going to learn about which foods are rich in these vitamins, and provide the best results for healthy, shining hair. So, let’s get to it!

The first vitamin I will be discussing is the one that reaps the most benefits for your hair: Biotin! Biotin is a B-Complex vitamin, meaning that it is part of several vitamins combined that work together to provide essential nutrients for the body. Biotin in particular provides excellent results for hair, such as restoring shine to the hair cuticle, adding thickness to your strands, accelerating hair growth and promoting new growth to occur, and also work to reduce the hair follicle from losing its pigment (it delays grey hair growth!). So, now that we understand how amazingly important this vitamin is, now we will discuss which foods you can find it in: Legumes (lots of green veggies!), Eggs (their protein is a great source), Whole Grains, Avocados, Berries (Strawberries and Raspberries are rich in Biotin), Milk, Nuts (Such as Almonds and Walnuts), and Carrots. These are not the only sources for this vitamin, but are very rich in Biotin. There are many online sources that can provide a full list of foods that contain it, so you may want to do some research and figure out which foods you’d prefer to add to your diet to increase your intake of this nutrient.

For informational purposes, I have given you a list of the vitamins that are part of B-Complex to ensure that you do not take any separate forms of these vitamins: Biotin, Folic Acid, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic Acid, Pyridoxine, and Cobalamin.

Up next, we will take a look at another wonderful vitamin that gives you gorgeous hair: Vitamin D. Vitamin D plays such a big role for not just your hair, but for your entire body. It assists in the formation of new cell growth, bone development, immune functions and much, much more. But in regards to your hair, it helps your hair’s natural process of hair follicle cycling. This is a process in which your follicle releases old hair, and brings forth new strands of hair. This is a very ordinary, healthy process and occurs daily as it is normal for the average person to lose up to 100 strands a day. So don’t be worried if you notice some hair has fallen out. That just reassures you that your body is functioning properly. Other than the sun, you can get your nourishment of vitamin D from a large quantity of foods, including, but not limited to Fish, Eggs, Dairy, Mushrooms, Ham, and Soy Products. I recommend trying Fish Oil supplements as an alternative for people who do not like to eat fish. I am one who hates the taste and smell of seafood and fish dishes, so I take Fish Oil instead. It has been so great for my hair and nails, so I encourage even those who love to eat seafood to include these to your daily vitamin intake.

Let’s move forward, and take a look at another beneficial nutrient for your hair’s health: Iron. Today, more and more young girls have made the choice to become vegetarian. Now, there is nothing wrong with this decision, as everyone is entitled to making decisions like this one for their overall well-being. But, one risk factor that comes with this decision is iron-deficiency. This comes from a few different health concerns such as excessive blood loss, inability in your bodies iron absorption, and from lack of iron in your diet. Red meat in your diet gives you dense amounts of iron, helping your body in many ways. But for those of you who wish to go meat-free, let me recommend Irons supplements! Iron’s role in your hair’s health is that is carries oxygen to your hairs follicles and encourages growth to occur. Without it, hair becomes weak, fragile, and easily breakable. It assists in the normal processes for your hairs life-span and should be consumed in whichever way you prefer. For those who wish to include it in their diet, some foods are egg yolk, spinach, chicken, and lentils. For a full list of foods, search online and see which one agrees with your lifestyle and eating preferences.

Now, we’ve looked at some pretty important nutrients that play huge roles for your hair, but here’s another that really does all of the labor in your hair’s lifespan: vitamin A. Vitamin A does all the muscle work as it serves multiple purposes for your strands. Most importantly, it fights free radicals that attempt to weaken your hair. It resists pollutants from being absorbed into your hair shaft and causing damage to your strands, resulting in bouncy, flowing hair. Next, it provides strength and thickness to your hair, preventing the strands from snapping and ripping easily during our daily styling processes such as combing and drying, etc. Due to this strength, your hair is able to grow longer and faster, so next time you notice just how long your hair has gotten, thank Vitamin A! The last, but essential purpose that vitamin A has for your hair, is that it contains antioxidants that help in conditioning and moisturizing the sebum in your scalp. This is the leading cause behind your soft, shiny hair, of course with the help of the other vitamins and minerals you are taking. Some foods that you can eat to include Vitamin A into your diet are cantaloupe, dark leafy greens, spices such as paprika, cayenne pepper, and chili powder, sweet potatoes are loaded with this vitamin, and so are carrots!

Last, but definitely not least: Vitamin E. Vitamin E is an essential necessity for you as it does wonderful things for your hair, your skin, your nails, and inner body functions. For your hair, Vitamin E increases the blood flow and circulation in your scalp, causing less split ends, healthier hair cuticles, no flakes, frizz-free hair, and overall moisture and shine. It really is a wonder-nutrient for your hairs health, so try to eat foods like spinach, nuts, avocados, and fish to increase your vitamin E intake, and get that blood flow going!

Now that you have a better understanding of the benefits each and every vitamin offer you, let’s talk a bit about a brand that I personally use and definitely love, Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin, and Nails. I started taking these about 5 years ago and have never allowed myself to run out of these as they have really helped improve the overall health of my thin hair. These vitamins not only offer you the nourishment of the ones mentioned above, but bunch of others that work to improve your hair as well. I have provided a photo, and have listed the ingredients beneath it with all of the vitamins that are in these tablets.

 This product contains Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Vitamin E, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B-6, Pantothenic Acid, Calcium, Phosphorus, Magnesium, Zinc, Manganese, PABA (Para-Aminobenzoic Acid), Choline Bitartrate, Inositol, Citrus Bioflavonoid, Horsetail powder, and Collagen.

This concludes my 5-post hair series! I’d like to thank you so much for reading and I hope this week has given you some newfound knowledge in regards to caring for your hair. I encourage you to try some of the DIY remedies I listed in my second post, to try some of the tips I provided in all of my posts, and to please feel free to provide any feedback you may have. Did my tips work for you? Is there something you would have liked me to have included? Whatever it is, let me know! I hope you have enjoyed my 5-post hair series and I am glad if this was beneficial to you!

Color Maintenance and Other Alternatives to Achieving Gorgeous Color

Hello Glams and Geeks! For today’s post, I will be talking all about hair color- from dying, to glossing, to maintaining, I will go over some great information to help you find safer products, and alternatives to achieve your best color yet!

Dying your hair is such a delicate matter- from searching for the perfect shade, to finding the best hair color specialist to apply it, or finding a brand that carries it, it’s quite a process, and one that should be handled with care. Your color represents you, as it reflects your personality, as well as pulls together your entire look and identity. Color is quite a powerful thing when it comes to your hair, and if not considered properly, you may have a beauty crisis on your hands. We are all familiar with the pricey visit to the salon to revamp our look, or the more affordable option of going out to buy a box of hair dye in hopes your hair will appear just like the color on the front. But why not consider other alternatives? Options that may be healthier to your well-being and your pockets? I’d like to introduce you to 3 color-friendly options, ranging from permanent, to semi-permanent, to temporary. These may just change the way you view and choose to dye your hair!

The first option I want to talk about is one that can be purchased online as it is a professional-quality product. It’s a new brand called INOA by L’Oreal. What it is, is a new formula, free of Ammonia (which causes that super harsh scent and feel in your hair), and is a cream-based dye to prevent any irritation to your scalp. The formula is designed to give hair intense shine and softness, unlike most hair dyes that tend to give hair a dry, coarse feel after applications. The brand promises 6 weeks of luxurious, hydrated hair, as well as a gorgeous vibrant color, even after several washes. The dye is said to “Respect the essential amino acids and lipid balance of natural hair”. They offer a wide range of gorgeous colors to choose from and they also feature products to help maintain your color with such as Protective Shampoo and Conditioner and a Protective Hair Masque. All of this information can be found online on their website, Inoa-Us.com and can be purchased online at Drugstore.com for $17 or on Amazon.com for varying prices. Before purchasing, I recommend researching your color online, as well as ensuring you purchase the right mix to go with your color. Information regarding what to mix can be found on their website.

The second option is one that I find best for people who are conscious of what they use on their bodies, and wish to use the most natural and organic option available to achieve the best color results. Henna hair dye comes in various forms, such as a powder or a pressed brick that can be dissolved and melted with water, and it colors your hair, delivering a healthy tint that gives hair a brilliant shine. Now, with this option, there are some pros and cons. The pros are that you won’t be inhaling and applying harmful chemicals and fumes to your body. Instead, this alternative will be free of harsh scents, as the dye comes from a plant called Lawsonia inermis, so you will smell more of a fresh, leafy aroma. Another awesome pro is that henna will not leave your hair feeling coarse or dry like hair dye does. It will actually soften your hair and give it shine, while it gives you color. Now, for the cons. This alternative can get very messy, so be sure to use gloves when you apply this, wear old clothes to prevent good ones from being damaged, and lay out a towel beneath you in case it drips onto your floor. A second con, is that like normal hair dye, henna may stain your skin, so consider using baby oil or Vaseline around your hairline to prevent color from staining. Another con, henna is a semi-permanent option for dying hair as it lasts just a few washes before you may need to redo the process. Lastly, this dye is only available in very limited colors, such as black, red, medium to deep blonde, and deep brown, so if you do not achieve the color you desired, you cannot go over it with permanent hair dye, as the mixture of the henna with the permanent dye will create a streaky mess of color, as the henna will prevent the permanent color from taking. So, I encourage you to do your research prior to choosing this option to guarantee you will know what to expect. The brand that I love due to its fresh, handmade products is Lush. They offer all four shades I mentioned before, and each Henna brick retails for $26 and lasts for quite some time. You can purchase this product online at LushUsa.com or at your local Lush retailer. Also, for more information on this alternative, I have provided a link to a page that gives very thorough information on henna:

http://www.hennaforhair.com/faq/

 

My last, and personal favorite option for coloring your hair, is color glazing. Color glazing is a great option for those of you who have your natural hair color, and wish to make it shine and pop! It can also be a great option for anyone looking to balance and tone their hair color or highlights. What a glaze does is, it coats the hair shafts with subtle color, giving your hair a freshly-dyed look, and adding immense amounts of shine in the process. It is temporary, as it lasts only a few washes, and must be redone every so often to maintain color and shine. This is great also for anyone who is between hair colorings, and just wants to boost their color prior to an event or just to hold you over in the meantime. The brand that I prefer most for this option is John Frieda’s Color Glaze. It retails for about $10 and is available in drugstores or wherever John Frieda is carried. There are 4 color options to choose from: Blonde, Red, Brunette, or Clear Glaze. I use the Brunette glaze on my hair every other week, and while the directions recommend to apply in the shower, you can also apply to dry hair as you would a regular hair dye. I apply from root to tip, put on a shower cap, and let the glaze work its magic for 20 minutes, followed by shampoo and condition as normal. I then use the glaze as intended to maintain my shine, applying it while in the shower every 2 to 3 days, leaving it for about 3 to 5 minutes, then rinsing. This is great to have on hand, as you can always use a little boost for your color and shine.

Now that we’ve seen these alternatives (Ammonia-Free hair dye, Henna Dye, and Color Glazing), let’s talk about how you can maintain your colored tresses.

In my first post, I talked about shampooing and conditioning, and I’m about to touch on that subject again, only for a brief period to share with you some great tips to maintaining color while you wash. A shampoo and conditioner I recommend for Blondes, Brunettes, and Redheads is John Frieda’s line made just for these three color options. Each one contains a tinted shampoo according to which color option you need, depositing a bit of color with each wash, and ensuring your color doesn’t fade. Also, for any brassy-toned colors, make sure to use a purple-based shampoo to control the amount of brass in your color. The purple tends to neutralize the tone, evening out your color, and making it look more subtle and natural. For this, I will once again recommend John Frieda as this brand really is great for colored-haired beauties, use the Sheer Blonde Tone Restoring Shampoo and Conditioner.

Now, for a completely natural alternative to enhancing your hair color, I give you 3 DIY Color Intensifying Masks!

For Brunettes:

How It Works: Cocoa powder’s brown color will work to deepen and intensify your brown hair, giving you a fresh, rich color. The honey will moisturize your hair, softening it and adding shine. The yogurt and apple cider vinegars both contain acids. The acids will work to help the cocoa transfer its pigment to your hair, giving you a gorgeous, radiant brown color to your hair!

What you’ll need: ½ cup Cocoa Powder, ½ cup Plain Yogurt, 1 teaspoon of Honey, and 1 teaspoon of Apple Cider Vinegar.

What to Do: Start by combining and mixing your ingredients into a bowl. Apply this mask to freshly washed, towel-dried hair. Let this mask saturate your hair for 5 minutes, while keeping a towel around your neck to prevent any staining. After your time is up, rinse thoroughly and style as usual. The color should last a few washes and can be done once a week or as often as you see fit.

For Blondes:   

How It Works: Chamomile Tea, Lemon, and Potatoes have properties that have the potential to enhance blonde shades. Therefore, when combined, they act as the ultimate blonde-intensifying solution. Chamomile tea and lemon perform as whitening agents for your hair. The lemon juice helps the potato enzymes to penetrate the hair shaft, to further enhance your color.

What You’ll Need: Juice from 1 lemon, ½ raw grated potato, ½ cup of room temperature chamomile tea, and a shower cap.

What to Do: Blend the grated potato and lemon juice until it becomes pasty. Once you have your paste, pour in your ½ cup of room temp. Chamomile tea and stir until the ingredients are well blended. Apply mixture to freshly washed, towel-dried hair. Massage into roots and ends thoroughly. Apply a shower cap and heat your hair with a dryer on a warm setting for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and style as usual. The color should last a few washes and can be done once a week or as often as you see fit.

For Red Heads:

How It Works: Carrots and Cranberries contain red juices that boost the natural red tones in your hair. The lactic acid in the yogurt helps the red antioxidants penetrate the hair shaft and saturate hair with the fresh, red color. The honey acts as a moisturizer, and softens your strands.

What You’ll Need: 3 medium sized raw carrots, ½ cup of cranberries (if you wish to have copper undertones), 3 tablespoons of yogurt, 2 tablespoons of honey, and a blender.

What to Do: Add all 3 bananas to a blender and mix until a paste is made. Add in your cranberries to this mix, and continue to blend. Now, toss in your yogurt and honey, and blend, once again. Once you have your paste ready, apply to freshly washed and towel-dried hair. Massage into scalp and ends to spread mask throughout your hair. Keep it on for 3 to 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and style as usual. The color should last a few washes and can be done once a week or as often as you see fit.

That concludes my hair color post and I hope you’ve all enjoyed! Feel free to leave feedback or ask any questions you may have. Stay tuned for tomorrows post on Styling Tools and Products: Looking Gorgeous without Getting Fried!