Hair is made of the protein kerotin, the same substance found in nails and skin. Each hair rises out of a bulb-like follicle and goes through a cycle of growth for up to five years. It then stops growing and goes into a period of rest, after which it falls out and a new hair starts to grow.

Hair loss can be caused by a number of factors, some of which are circulation, stress, hormonal changes and nutrition. Of course the toughest factor to overcome is genetics.

People experiencing genetic hair loss are believed to have more hormone receptors in the area where balding occurs. One male hormone that is converted from testosterone is called dihydrotestosterone, (DHT). This damages hair follicles, gradually causing the hair to become finer and growth cycles to become shorter. Conversion of healthy male hormones to the unwanted DHT also plays a role in prostate enlargement, so the two conditions are linked.

At least half of all American men experience some hair loss by age 45. Pattern baldness occurs in women, but women have much lower levels of DHT so they are more likely to experience thinning hair. Female hair loss is linked to the adrenal glands. Once hair follicles die and a person has been bald for a while it becomes impossible to revive the follicles and reverse the process. Lesson here is don't wait until it is too late!

Naturopathic physicians use Saw Palmetto, horsetail, corn silk, rosemary and nettle to help slow down hormone effects. Rosemary, nettle and horsetail encourage hair growth by promoting blood circulation to the scalp and unclogging the pores so the nutrients from the herbs can get to the hair follicle easily. These herbs are food for the hair.

Women with thinning hair can benefit from using herbs that work on the adrenal glands such as Siberian ginseng, astragalas and licorice. If you decide to take any of these herbs in capsule form, please consult with your physician first.

CAUTION : Licorice - should not be taken by pregrant women, overweight people with edema, high blood pressure or heart problems, women with, or those with a family history of estrogenic dependent breast cancer. Too much licorice can cause headaches and can have serious potential side effects. Astragulas has no known side effects and has been studied by The Cancer Society. It is known to boost the immune system and help restore energy. Siberian ginseng also has no known side effects. Moderation is key. So check with your physician first.

Vitamins, minerals and amino acids are a critical part of healthy hair and keeping that hair. REMEMBER, hair growth is slow and the process takes time. Some improvement can be seen in 4 to 6 weeks or can take as long as 6 months, depending on the person. So be patient and keep your expectations reasonable.

HERBS

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) rich in antitoxiants, an age old herbal remendy for healthy hair and encourages hair growth. Essential oil is used. Horsetail (Equisetum arvense) has high silica content, cystine (amino acid) and sulfur Nettle (Urtica dioica) rich in minerals that promote good blood circulation to the scalp. It acts as a stimulant to hair growth.

The herbs nettle, horsetail, and coltsfoot being food for the hair are the base herbs for my shampoo. They are infused in distilled water for 8 hours and then strained. Castille soap made with olive oil is added. The main 2 oils I use are jojoba oil and meadowfoam oil. A variety of pure essential oils are used for scent as well as for conditions that need treatment. There are some other herbs that can be added. Comfrey leaves that contain allontoin which helps control itching, Linden flowers which help shine etc. Certain herbs are added to enhance hair color. This shampoo must be shaken before using. No chemicals are added to thicken or blend. All natural ingredients are much more expensive than chemical ingredients.

Final Summary :

1 - shampoo regularly

2 - limit damage to hair from blow drying, over exposure to the sun, harsh hair care products and treatments. Coloring or bleaching.

3 - Use a natural bristle brush, wide toothed comb, to save wear and tear.

4 - Eat a healthy diet

5 - Take a good multivitamin

6 - Massage your scalp regularly

Be patient, keep expectations reasonable.

I can make a scalp massage oil that will help circulation which helps stimulate hair growth. It is jojoba oil, essential oils: rosemary, clary, sage, lavender, rose, geranium, lemon, grapefruit, ylang-ylang and tinture of saw palmetto. A 1 oz bottle would cost $12.00 and last one to one and half months. You would apply small amount of oil to finger tips and massage scalp before retiring, wash hair with a natural shampoo the next morning. It should be left at least 1 hour for it to be absorbed by scalp. If people are interested I will sell it. Let me know please.