Image by lovers v haters via FlickrThe Dangers of Hair Straighteners, Pt. 2
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The main reason hair is curly is because the keratin proteins contain amino acids called cysteines. These cysteines link to each other by disulfide bonds (two sulfur atoms connected to each other). The more disulfide bonds, the curlier the hair. All hair has disulfide bonds but it is the shape of the hair strand itself which determines both how many and in what way the disulfide bonds are put together.
Hair strands that are round have fewer disulfide bonds and the bonds are more aligned with one another thus the hair is straight. Hair strands that are flattened and look more oval like have a greater number of disulfide bonds, which are also connected askew, there fore the hair is more curly. The shape of these hair strands are dependent on the person and are there fore difficult to permanently change but we can change whether or not hair is curly or straight by changing the disulfide bonds. Relaxers simply break these disulfide bonds and cap them so that they cannot chemically reform. Classically, hair relaxers use a reducer or a base (the opposite of an acid) such as lye (sodium hydroxide) to break and cap these bonds
Information provided by
Jason Dorvee
Graduate Student Researcher Science & Engineering
Pregnant women have to make many sacrifices with regards to what they eat, wear, do, use, etc. so that their unborn baby does not get affected in any way. After all, a woman is responsible for her and her child's health and safety during pregnancy. Certain people believe that using hair relaxers during pregnancy is very harmful for the unborn child and should be completely avoided. It is believed that when a pregnant woman applies hair relaxers, there is a possibility that the chemicals in it might enter the blood stream from the scalp. However, there is no concrete evidence or research conducted to support these claims.
Essential oils have many beneficial effects on hair,
Various studies and research have proved that essential oils are able to stimulate hair growth
There are many essential oils that can be used. A few of them are mentioned below:
• Arnica: It is considered to be among the best essential oils that are available for preventing hair loss. It is mostly used in homeopathy as a cure for various problems related to hair.
• Lavender: It possesses many regenerative properties and is also an anti-bacterial agent. This makes it suitable for treating skin and scalp problems like hair loss and dandruff.
• Peppermint: It accelerates the blood circulation of the scalp and hence allows the roots of the hair to get proper nourishment which in the end results in better hair growth.
• Jojoba: The best feature about this oil is that it is easily absorbed by our skin as its composition is similar to our skins own oil composition. It can also be combined with almost any other essential oil.
• Basil: The essential oils obtained from basil are also highly beneficial for hair treatment and growth. It improves the circulation of blood to the hair tissue and hence it promotes hair growth.
There are many more essential oils that exist in nature. Though all of these oils have many therapeutic benefits, some of them may also cause some side-effects. So it is advisable to consult your doctor before moving forward with a treatment.
Best Essential Oils for Hair
Use these essential oil blends for your hair type. Simply add them to any unscented shampoo, conditioner or other natural hair recipes.Note: The number of drops is formulated for 4 to 8 ounces (125 - 250ml) of hair product. Reduce or increase the number of drops according to the recipe.
Hair Color
Blonde Hair 12 drops lemon, 6 drops rosemary OR lavender, 2 drops chamomile
Red Hair 18 drops orange, 1 drop cinnamon, 1 drop ylang ylang
Dark Hair 15 drops sandalwood, 4 drops patchouli, 1 drop clove
Gray Hair 14 drops lavender, 3 drops sage, 3 drops rosemary
Problem Hair
Dry Hair 10 drops lavender, 1 drop each chamomile, clary sage, rose geranium, ylang ylang
Oily Hair 10 drops rosemary, 4 drops juniper OR lavender, 1 drop cedarwood
Thinning Hair 14 drops rosemary, 3 drops bay, 3 drops peppermint
Dandruff 10 drops tea tree, 5 drops lavender, 5 drops rosemary
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