Okay, my goal is to get my hair back.  Am I succeeding?  I, think so.  The number one culprit is the shampoo one is using.  After all, it goes right on your scalp!

There are so many shampoos on the market that claim to help with hair loss and to regrow one’s hair.  Well, I certainly was fooled by some!  As a cautionary measure, one needs to make sure to do one’s homework.  Read the label carefully and research all ingredients one is not familiar with and, of course, this may take some time. 

Recently, I found out that some products I thought I was safe using, turned out not to be what I had expected.  Beware of certain ingredients found in various shampoos and the following are on my watch list: Ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, parabens, sodium chloride, polyethylene glycols (PEG), diethanolamine (DEA), triethanolamine (TEA), formaldehyde, alcohol, synthetic fragrances (irritate the scalp causing hair loss), synthetic colors, diimethicone (can clog pores causing hair loss), cocamidopropyl betaine, triclosan, and retinyl palmitate.

Now, finding a shampoo that was free of any of these culprits was impossible. 
Now, an alternative to trying to purchase an over-the-counter bottle of shampoo was to make one’s own shampoo.  I did find this recipe:
 
Homemade Coconut Milk Shampoo.
1/4 cup liquid castile soap, like Dr. Bronners. 20 drops of essential oils of choice (Peppermint, lavender, rosemary and orange, or a combination of those). For dry hair, add ½ tsp olive or almond oil (optional).

I did try using this mixture with rosemary drops, but I just didn’t feel like my hair was truly washed.  Now, I thought about using a bar of unscented soap like my mother had done, and her hair did grow back, but I remember her having a hard time getting her hair rinsed to her satisfaction.

So, I kept on buying certain shampoos believing I had found the right one, only to discover there was at least one ingredient that could cause hair loss.  I was just about to give up when I came across a shampoo that was truly pure from any harsh chemicals.
I came across a shampoo from Organic Excellence along with a conditioner at http://www.iherb.com. (Use this coupon code: BER298, to save money during checkout.)  It is sulfate-free and toxin-free.  It is formulated with certified organic ingredients, vitamins and botanicals. This shampoo can be used on all hair types.  Now, iherb.com had the wild mint version of the shampoo.  Now, I don’t know if I am allergic to wild mint or not.  But, still I wanted a shampoo with no fragrance, what-so-ever!  As it turned out, Organic Excellence does offer a shampoo without the wild mint added, but it is not available at iherb.com.  I had to purchase the shampoo and conditioner directly on their website: https://lddy.no/uwqa

 There is no code for a product discount, but they do offer a free sample pack of their products when purchasing a product off their website, which is rather nice.
Now, I don’t wash my hair every day.  I only wash my hair when it feels dirty.  That’s how it was when I was growing up.  So, one could say I’ve gone back to my childhood ways.  In addition, I will rinse my hair in slightly cold water, so that my scalp gets the tingly feeling, which helps the blood to circulate.

Getting my hair back is not an easy task, but one I am working on and will continue to work on.  As I continue to keep up with the necessary supplements and washing my hair with a toxic-free shampoo, I have noticed an improvement, and that to me, means the world!
​
Of course, I plan to add more to my hair story, as I learn more ways to get my hair back!
 

​Ever, Faithful Biotin and Folate
 
If you're experiencing hair thinning or hair loss, biotin may assist in regrowth. There's some research to suggest that increased biotin intake can improve overall hair quality, including thickness and shine.
 
I know for a fact that after my older daughter had her first child, she had kept her hair.  In fact, it was thick and looked wonderful!  I asked what she took to maintain the health of her hair and she mentioned ‘biotin.’  So, I thought just taking biotin would help me or getting it in a shampoo would help my hair loss problem.  Well, it didn’t!  Age has so much to do with it and being that I went through menopause, I needed more than just taking biotin.
 
Along with taking the herbs for menopause (pre-menopause for younger women), mentioned in a previous article, as well as the bee pollen, I heard about folate.  Now, I had been taking a supplement of folic acid, but when I learned it was a synthetic form of folate, that’s not the same as taking the real stuff!
 
A diet with sufficient folate can help support healthier hair growth.  This B Vitamin is important for one’s hair because it has a hand in keeping so many functions of one’s body running smoothly.  Regarding the foundations of healthy hair, folate plays an important role in DNA synthesis and how we replicate our cells, which truly is the groundwork of how our body gets and keeps us going.
 
To get more specific, folate is the key in keeping our red blood cells circulating in healthy numbers, which ensures a steady flow of the nutrients and oxygen our hard-at-work hair follicles need.  Hair growth, being an energy-dependent process, leans on folate and other B vitamins to help us break down our food and generate energy.  Folate also helps to maintain our hair growth cycle. For example, folate helps support optima blood sugar regulation, which helps us side step the unwanted impacts of insulin resistance.
 
Excellent sources of folate in found in green, leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, avocados, asparagus, beans, beets, and broccoli. Despite, consuming some of these foods that are known for containing folate, had not helped this aging woman!  I prefer a supplement to make sure I am getting the right amount.
 
Fortunately, I have found one which contains both biotin and folate from Nature’s Plus.  I purchase this supplement at http://www.iherb.com.  Use this coupon code to save money during checkout (BER298)

​My story continues as I try to find a way to stop hair loss and to restore what I've lost.  In this segment, bees come to my rescue.
 
Bee pollen contains the amino acid L‑Cysteine, which contains sulfur and is said to help reverse hair loss and can strengthen the hair strand. You can achieve timeless skin by regular consumption of bee pollen! ... Bee pollen has a LOT of health benefits but it also has remarkable beauty benefits as well!
It is used as a basic dietary supplement for hair and is considered a preventive treatment for its fall due to illness or fatigue.  It also helps to stimulate hair in cases of baldness.  So, of course, I started using it!
 
How to Use

• Food supplement to stimulate hair growth:  Mix half a teaspoon of honey with half teaspoon of pollen in a glass of water.  Drink the mixture twice a day, one hour before meals.
• Hair growth mask:  A mask made of bee pollen with hot water helps stimulate hair growth.
• Prevention of hair loss:  Eating about a tablespoon of bee pollen every day by adding it to juices or milk shake helps to strengthen hair roots and prevents it from falling.  It gives it a great shine!
• Improve the appearance of hair:  dissolving a teaspoon of bee pollen in a tablespoon of shampoo contributes to get beautiful hair!

 
Fortunately, I have found a bee pollen product from Y.S. Eco Bee Farms sold at http://www.iherb.com, and have been taking this supplement in the morning with a teaspoon of organic honey, just before I have my morning brew.  It has become quite popular, since I had to wait to reorder, due to this product being sold out.  Use this coupon code to save money during checkout (BER298)
 
 
****And what was one of the things I had to do, switch to a hard-to-find shampoo (a shampoo without sneaky chemicals and fragrance-free) which I could only find at
https://lddy.no/uwqa

Did you know that a simple hair test can give you a straight answer about the condition o your hair?  And, it's another way to let you know about your health!  

Quick Hair Test
What condition is one’s hair in?  In other words, a simple hair test can determine if one has a health problem associated with hair loss or not.  This simple hair test can be performed as follows:
Start with a small area of clean, dry hair, and run one’s fingers through it, tugging gently once one gets to the ends of the hair strands.  If more than two or three hairs are left in one’s hand after each tug, one may be experiencing telogen or anagen effluvium.  No more than 10 hairs per 100 strands being tugged should be coming out.  It has been always recommended to see a doctor to determine the cause.   However, it’s a personal choice whether to determine if the cause might be related to diet, hair care products, medications, hereditary, or even stress. 
****And what was one of the things I did, was to find a shampoo not having any sneaky chemicals and also fragrance-free.  I only found one and here it is...
https://lddy.no/uwqa

Now, one may ask what’s so special about herbal supplements.  Well, knowledge is power!  Getting familiar with different herbs and how beneficial they are is truly important for the older woman.  Let’s begin with Dong Quai.  This herb is native to China, Japan and Korea.  It is a member of the celery family and has been used in traditional Chinese medicine.  Since Dong Quai , especially the root, it is rich in compounds with anti-inflammatory and immune-stimulating effects, it is said to aid in treating a host of issues, from allergies and constipation to high blood pressure and much more.  However, the National Institutes of Health has advised there is insufficient scientific evidence to support this, but from personal experience in taking it, I believe it does!

Dong Quai is thought to have a balancing effect on the female hormonal system and is sometimes referred to as “female ginseng.”  So, does this herb help with hair loss?  Well, it is traditionally used to stop hair loss and is said to stimulate regrowth.  Dong Quai contains phytoestrogens which inhibit the formation of DHT, a major cause of hair loss.  
American Ginseng is a member of the ivy family and is used in traditional Chinese medicine and by Native American healers.  The root of the ginseng plant is said to boost energy, prevents infections, and even treat diabetes and cancer.  Indeed, research suggests that compounds found in American ginseng called ginsenosides may stimulate the immune system, inhibit the growth of cancer cells, lower blood sugar, and treat dementia.

American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius), a member of the ivy family, is an herb used in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and by Native American healers. The root of the ginseng plant is said to boost energy, prevent infections, and even treat diabetes and cancer.

Indeed, research suggests that compounds found in American ginseng called ginsenosides may stimulate the immune system, inhibit the growth of cancer cells, lower blood sugar, and treat dementia.
 
Now, I didn’t find anything about hair loss and regrowth, but for an aging individual I like simply taking a supplement that can help build my immune system and if I can improve my immune system surely this will help in preventing hair loss.
 
Sarsaparillo is a herb that contains an important male hormone known as testosterone, which is an important hair-growing hormone.  It also contains progesterone, another valuable hormone, which is normally produced by the ovaries in the female.  It contains phytoestrogens, plant compounds that resemble estrogen. Sarsaparilla has properties that enable it to function as a precursor in the adrenal glands production of DHEA, one of our anti-aging hormones.

Well, since sarsaparilla has valuable hormones that my aging body needs, surely it would help in helping me to get my hair back.
 
Licorice Root is a mainstay home remedy for women with menstrual cramps and is also believed to help alleviate many of the adverse symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes.  Licorice contains phytoestrogens, plant-based compounds that mimic the effects of estrogen in the body. 
 
I didn’t find any information about licorice root taken orally would help with hair loss.  However, I did find information about this herb helping hair loss if used on the scalp.  One can make a paste by adding a tablespoon of ground licorice root and a quarter teaspoon of saffron to one cup of milk.  The paste is applied to one’s scalp and hair length and then left on overnight.
 
Wild Yam is a plant that people have used for centuries in alternative medicine.  Potential medicinal uses for wild yam include the treatment of menopause symptoms, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, and muscular cramps.
 
The bulb and roots of wild yams contain a chemical called diosgenin, which can influence the production of several useful hormones in humans, such as estrogen or dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA).  Consuming wild yam may be a natural way of promoting these hormones in the body, which could have certain medical benefits.
 
However, at present, there is little evidence to support any medical applications of wild yam.  The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have yet to evaluate wild yam for its safety or effectiveness.
 
When it comes to one’s hair, wild yam is rich in vitamin B6 which aids in the production of melanin and thus prevents premature greying.  Yams also help keep the scalp healthy by promoting blood circulation.  Low levels of iron are linked to hair loss in men and women, so regular use of yams can yield hair growth.

Black Cohosh was first used for medicinal purposes by Native American Indians, who introduced it to European colonists.  Black cohosh became a popular treatment for women’s health issues in Europe in the mid-1950s.  Since that time, black cohosh has commonly been used to treat symptoms of menopause, and also conditions such as premenstrual syndrome (PMS), painful menstruation, weak and brittle bones, and many others.  However, there is no good scientific evidence to support these uses.
Black Cohosh provides natural hormonal support which has been known for safely replaces the “estrogen buffer” to protect hair follicles from DHT.  This slows down and stops the thinning process.

Saw Palmetto is a shrublike palm native to the southeastern United States.  Historically, it was used for a variety of conditions, including disorders of the male and female reproductive organs and coughs due to various diseases.  Currently saw palmetto is promotes as a dietary supplement for urinary symptoms associated with an enlarged prostate gland, as well as chronic pelvic pain, migraine, hair loss, and other conditions.
Oregon Grape Root has shown antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and hepatoprotective properties.  It may have effects like---relieving internal heat, eliminating dampness, removing toxins, suppressing pain, promoting blood circulation, inhibiting cough, and alleviating inflammation.

It has been used to treat tuberculosis, periodontitis, dysentery, pharyngolaryngitis, eczema, wounds, and liver issues.  Oregon Grape can also be used to support and attenuate liver injury. The health of one’s liver can cause hair loss.
 
All of these herbs mentioned can be obtained in one great product labeled, “Wild Yam-Black Cohosh,” from Planetary Herbals.  But, if one took a look at the label, all the herbs mentioned in this chapter, are included in this sensational product.  This item can be purchased http://www.iherb.com.  Use this coupon code, BER298, to save money during checkout.  
****And what was one of the things I am glad I did was switch to a hard-to-find shampoo (a shampoo without sneaky chemicals and fragrance-free) which I found at
https://lddy.no/uwqa
​UPDATE: So far, so good...

What to do…what to do…what to do…
As it turned out, my youngest, Kelley, was into hair products and had read about certain chemicals found in shampoo.  She made a list of these chemicals to avoid when buying a shampoo.  This list is found in the back of this primer.

Unfortunately, the list did not include some very sneaky culprits when it comes to blocking the growth of new hair.  Believe me, I tried a number of shampoos and scalp conditioners describing how great they were to use in restoring one’s loss of hair.  Some of them had wonderful reviews, but it never dawned on me that these reviews might have been paid for.

So, as I was trying out a so-called wonderful product containing biotin, which is known for hair growth, I kept researching just what I might be missing when it came to my diet.  Since I had gone through menopause, I knew I needed menopausal support, but didn’t want to take any drugs.  I wanted a herbal product.

I remember my mother experiencing a horrible time in going through menopause.  She experienced horrible cramps, night sweats, headaches, and mood swings.  Mother did start taking a drug for her menopausal symptoms.  Now, I can honestly state it didn’t help her with hair loss, nor with her bone loss. As Mother aged, her overall conditioned worsened and eventually she would need a hip replacement.

Now, what does her bone loss have to do with hair loss…everything!!!!  The condition of one’s hair does determined one’s overall health. As we age, of course, our health changes and one would expect bone loss and some hair loss, at least, that’s what we have been told.

Imagine my surprise when I began to research herbs that help women during and after menopause.  The ones most noted and worth getting familiar with are Dong Quai Root, American Ginseng Root, Sarsaparilla Root, Licorice Root, Wild Yam Root, Black Cohosh Root, Wild Yam Root, Ginger Root, Saw Palmetto Berry, and Oregon Grape Root.
​
****And what was one of the things she did, switch to a hard-to-find shampoo (a shampoo without sneaky chemicals and fragrance-free) which she found at
https://lddy.no/uwqa
 
DISCLAIMER:  I am not a medical professional.  Only an avid reader.  Check with your healthcare provider before starting something new.

​The Girl with the Pretty Hair
Throughout my school years, I was always proud of my golden-blonde hair.  Now, I didn’t have a thick head of hair and was always green with envy for those girls that did.  Since my hair wasn’t thick, I’d either wear it up in a ponytail or wear it loose with a hairband.  In other words, I kept it simple in styling it. 
Usually, I’d wash my hair every week using Prell shampoo.  Sometimes, I’d wash my hair in the bathtub, but usually on a bright sunny day in Florida, I’d wash my hair using the hose outside and let it dry naturally.  It wasn’t until after I had started college was when I decided I’d didn’t like the way my hair looked.  Instead, of it being a golden-blonde, my hair was described as being a dirty-blonde color.  Now, I certainly didn’t like that description!
So, I went to a childhood friend of mine, named Anthony.  He had opened up a beauty salon and many of his clients were contestants entering various beauty pageants in the local area.  Anthony definitely knew how to style hair and it wasn’t easy to get an appointment with him over the phone.  But I was determined to get my hair done by Anthony and one day I just showed up in his salon.  Of course, he remembered me.  He had been a childhood friend of mine and when I had asked him to be my date to the junior prom, he didn’t hesitate. 
As I stood standing in the door of his salon, I knew I was not supposed to go pass the receptionist desk, but I did anyway.  I saw Anthony and walked right up to him as he was conferencing with a client about her hair.  Anthony’s eyes lit up, followed by a smile.  He asked me to sit in the waiting area and he’d be right with me.
We spoke for a few minutes and Anthony gave me an early morning appointment on the following Saturday.  It was the weekend before college began.  I would be attending the local city college and live at home.  So, that made it quite easy to keep this appointment.
Anthony trimmed my hair before giving me a perm and then followed it up with a Farah hairstyle (Farah Fawcett.)  I absolutely loved this hair cut!  Two weeks later, I would return to have my hair colored lightened.  I felt beautiful!  I managed to snag my first love, Richard, on the first day of Freshman English.  I know I’d never had attracted him if it hadn’t been for my hair and the fact, I was rather slim back then.  I had worked at a restaurant over the summer to earn some spending money which required a lot of running around.  Once when college started, I had to quit.  I wanted a job where I didn’t have to work in the late evenings and I found a part-time job serving pizza, which wouldn’t interfere with my college schedule.
I was truly smitten with Richard.  He treated me with a lot of respect. Richard would take me places in the afternoons, like to lunch and show me scenic routes around the area.  However, he never tried to kiss me.  He was the perfect gentleman.  After the first semester, I never heard from him, but I wanted to, so badly.  I knew he worked at a disco lounge as a bartender and talked one of my girlfriends in going with me to pay him a surprise visit.  As it turned out, there was a girl working behind the counter and she was quite pregnant.  It was Richard’s baby she carried.
I was devastated!  My first real experience of losing some hair happened right after that day.  It had been quite a shock!  I began parting my hair down the middle, instead of wearing it the usual way.  Once when it was time to see Anthony again, I didn’t.  I took a pair of hair scissors and cut my own hair.  Eventually the style grew out and I just wore it long or tied back like I had in high school.
I didn’t recover from my first-love, until after I graduated from college and had my first teaching job.  I taught in Hardee County, Florida.  Back then, it was a very small county having only three elementary schools, one middle school and one high school.  Since I needed to look the part as a teacher, I decided to get my hair-styled.  I didn’t need to schedule an appointment at a local beauty parlor.  A math teacher, who lived below my small apartment, offered to do it for a nominal cost.  She had been a beautician before becoming a teacher.  She cut my hair, gave me a perm and used a lightener on my hair. 
For three years, it had been easy in getting my hair styled, until the day I met Ron and got married.  I met him at a dance club where he was showing off his John Travolta dance moves.  Watching him, I never thought in a million years he would want to date me.  It was my hair that caught his attention.  He mentioned I had pretty hair.
So, despite the perms and lightener, my hair still had some kind of glow to it.  Up to this day, I don’t know what caused it to shine the way it did.  Noticed, I stated the way it did.
After having three children and having to move numerous due to Ron being the military, I went back to wearing my hair long and kept in a pony tail.  I started to notice my hair thinning when I began menopause.  Unlike most women, I started having signs of menopause when I hit forty.  I began to have irregular periods with less and less blood, until the day came when there was hardly any blood shown on my feminine napkin. 
Over that time period, I was quite busy being in charge of the household, raising three children and working as a full-time teacher and that was because Ron was always on deployment.  So, I never really had to time to think about my hair.  It was only when I began to see a few gray hairs, I decided to start dying it myself. 
It wasn’t until my last few years of teaching leading up to my formal retirement was when I noticed how thin my hair had become.  I know I had lost at least half of the amount I normally had in my twenties.  To make matters worse, I dreamed about going bald, and before starting to write this primer, it looked like I would have a large bald patch on the side of my head.
****And what was one of the things she did, switch to a hard-to-find shampoo (a shampoo without sneaky chemicals and fragrance-free) which she found at
https://lddy.no/uwqa
 
DISCLAIMER:  I am not a medical professional.  Only an avid reader.  Check with your healthcare provider before starting something new.

I never thought I’d ever say those words!  After all, I am a female and what does hair loss have to do with me?  Or so, I’d thought!

I had been raised with three brothers.  I saw all three of them begin to lose their hair in their late teens.  It never occurred to me that I would, too, begin to lose my hair, just at a later stage in my life.  My own mother’s head of hair began to show the signs of aging after she began going through menopause.

Silly me, I’d thought her hair loss had to do in not getting the proper nutrients.  Mother did not believe in taking a vitamin and mineral supplement.  She had heard they were a waste of money, since they simply went through one’s body and provided no benefit.  Well, I knew for a fact that was wrong! 

I was determined I wasn’t going to end up like Mother!  Now, fortunately, Mother did not lose all of her hair, despite her age and the hair products she used.

Mother figured out that dying her hair cause some of her hair to fall out along with buying an over-the-counter shampoo.  Once when she stopped dying her hair and stopped using store-bought shampoo, Mother began to regain some of what she had lost. (More to come in this series)

****What helped me was switching to a hard-to-find shampoo (a shampoo without sneaky chemicals and fragrance-free) which I found at
https://lddy.no/uwqa
 
DISCLAIMER:  I am not a medical professional.  Only an avid reader.  Check with your healthcare provider before starting something new.