HEALTH REPORT
Hair shaft – your luscious locks The section of the hair that emerges from the follicle and is visible outside your scalp
is called the hair shaft. It consists of three layers:
More tips for healthy hair
Medulla (inner layer): Holds the hair’s pigment (colour). Cortex (middle layer): Also holds the hair’s pigment, plus when healthy, gives hair its strength and volume (bounciness).
ISSUE 53 • 2019 Eat a nutritious diet: Your body gets the building blocks it needs to produce hair from the nutrients you consume, and in some circumstances, poor hair growth or condition may be due to unhealthy eating habits. For example, are you getting enough zinc? Inadequate dietary intake may be associated with mild hair loss. Avoid tight hairstyles: Tight hair styles (especially those that are left in for long periods of time like cornrows and braids) can pull on both the hair follicle and the hair shaft, damaging the hair. Slap on a hat: Hair is susceptible to the effects of UV rays, so wear a hat when you’re outdoors. Wear a swimming cap: If you spend time in the pool, wear a swimming cap to minimise your hair’s exposure to chlorine. Keep your hair clean: Washing your hair removes excess oil (sebum) and debris from your scalp, which prevents it from hardening in and around the hair follicles. Use a conditioner: Conditioning your hair helps keep the cuticle smooth, which in turn helps your hair appear shiny, reduces frizziness and prevents the friction that results in tangles. Be gentle with your hair – especially when it’s wet: Wet hair is more fragile and prone to breakage than dry hair, so take care of it! For instance, avoid vigorous towel drying, yanking at knots and tangles, and pulling at your hair while fidgeting. Use heat sparingly, if it all: For the same reason, avoid exposing your hair to the heat of blow dryers and straightening irons. Get a trim regularly: Trimming minimises split ends (again reducing tangles and frizziness) and helps reduce the signs of wear and tear that hair becomes increasingly prone to as it gets longer. Avoid harsh chemical treatments: Chemical treatments such as bleaching and permanent straightening alter the structure of the hair cortex; the damage becomes more significant when these treatments are performed over and over again.
Cuticle (outer layer): A healthy cuticle has a smooth surface that reflects light (making hair look shiny) and minimises friction between individual hair strands (making it less likely to become tangled). Issues affecting the healthy functioning of the follicles have consequences for the hair’s growth, the rate at which it’s shed from the scalp, and the underlying structure and integrity of the hair shaft. In addition, the hair shaft can be impacted by factors that it’s exposed to after emerging from the scalp – including chemical, mechanical and environmental damage. Herbal hair remedies from traditional Chinese medicine In traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the healthy growth and condition of the hair is seen as dependent on the health of the Kidney and Liver organ- meridian sys tems , wi th Kidney Essence (also known as Jing ) and Liver Blood working together to moisten the
hair and help keep it shiny and healthy. A combination of fallopia (also known as He shou wu ) and dong quai is often used to support hair health in TCM, where these herbs are traditionally taken to help manage mild hair loss (including male- and female-pattern hair loss, menopausal hair loss and general thinning of the hair) and to help keep hair shiny and growing well. From a scientific perspective, experi mental studies suggest that fallopia may work by promoting the growth phase of the hair life cycle and/or inhibiting the production of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and activity of the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, both of which can be involved in hair loss. Erika Morvay is Technical Support team leader at Fusion Health. She has over a decade of experience in the natural health industry, and a particular passion for helping women look and feel their best.
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