Beau Accessories

Necklace from Beau Accessories

Just when you think your jewellery collection can't get any better, Beau Accessories an exquisite online jewellery store were so kind to let me wear the first piece from their new AW14 Collection, just in time for my friends wedding! I got this gorgeous Game Of Thrones necklace which evidently adds such a statement to any outfit. It is absolutely beautiful in complete ah wee from the number of compliments I received on the night. Paired this beauty with a cream lace dress which works so well with the necklace. 

HEALTHY HAIR

Hey girls! Healthy hair is a must its the key to everything, literally! To look shiny and strong, hair needs to be healthy, both on the surface and deep inside. The outermost layer of the hair shaft is the cuticle, a protective envelope of overlapping cells arranged like tiles on a roof, held together by a “cement” of lipids and proteins. If the cuticle scales (they look like fish scales) are in good condition and perfectly attached to the hair shaft, the hair appears soft and shiny. Inside the hair, the cortex is made up of fibres held together by a lipid–protein mixture. The cortex ensures that hair is strong. If your wondering how I know the technical business to hair I studied the hair shaft at college, and I'm glad I paid attention it has certainly come into use now. Moving on... how to actually maintain healthy hair I have wrote a little detail below for you guys!


What to do:

Generally speaking, avoid repeated exposure to aggressive treatments such as colouring, straightening, blow-drying that can damage the cuticle and the cortex fibres. I would mainly say colouring as this damages the cuticle right to the core, hair straightening damages the outer layer, after constant high heat, the heat eventually damages each layer of the cuticle and causes the hair to break and become frail. So overall the above high heats can make hair fragile and subject to breakage, causing it to lose its shine and softness. Wash with a gentle cleansing shampoo and gently dry your hair (avoid rubbing, gently pat) with a towel before using a dryer for as little time as possible and low heat as possible. You can also make regular use of conditioning treatments to smooth out the cuticle and strengthen your hair. Conditioning treatment methods are available on my blog, the search engine is on the right of this page.

Any protein sources that are rich in sulphur amino acids such as seafood, cruciferous vegetables, legumes, meat, milk and egg yolks, along with B-group vitamins and zinc, will help hair grow and look healthy. Conditions like iron deficiency or poor intestinal absorption can result in hair loss, however. If you suffer from these conditions, you’ll need to allow 4 to 6 months for your locks to recover.  The best thing you can do to take care of your hair is to eat a well balanced diet. Don’t avoid red meat, because its sulphur amino acids play a role in producing keratin. Supplement your diet with brewer’s yeast, which is rich in vitamins B and E. Eat plenty of fish, vegetables and fruit to benefit from their vitamins and minerals. And drink at least 1.5 litres of water every day.

ALOPECIA

 

 

I've been meaning to post a topic on Alopecia for a while and today I have finally sat down to share advice and recommend treatments to help Alopecia, I'm far from a doctor or dermatologist but I will try my best to share my knowledge on this condition! I have received a couple of messages from girls regarding Alopecia and this will be my best opportunity to answer all questions, I hope I'm helpful. (ps: if you have any remedies do comment below or email me so I can them share with my followers). Majority of you may not be familiar with this topic however I'm sure some of you girls will be thankful to see this post on my blog. Even if you haven't a clue on Alopecia I'd advise to gain enough knowledge as this hair loss condition can hit anyone at any stage of life.

So what is Alopecia? Alopecia is a hair loss condition that causes hair to fall out in a short period of time. This disease affects both genders both male and female also any age from children to elderly. With hair such an important part of ones confidence and appearance, a diagnosis of alopecia can be devastating. It is quite common for people suffering from alopecia to easily feel alone, depressed and avoid any conversation regarding their hair. If you want to talk about this topic to me privately you can message me via the Contact page, all conversations are never shared with third parties, just for the records.  Below I have split Alopecia into two category's Temporary and Permanent, it might sound a load of gibberish, but those of you suffering or know of a loved one suffering will understand.

Temporary hair loss:

Alopecia areata tends to occur in small, round bald spots. Hair loss or bald patches usually occur on the scalp but it may also affect other areas with hair such as eyebrows, eyelashes or beard. If hair loss occurs in one spot only, usually on the head, it is known as alopeciaareata monolocularis. If hair is lost on the entire scalp, it is known alopecia totalis. If hair loss occurs on the entire body, including pubic hair, then this condition is known as alopecia universalis.

Telogen effluvium is a condition characterized by a sudden loss of hair as a result of an interruption in the normal hair growth cycle. The hair generally starts thinning and falls out of the scalp which is more noticeable when you wash or comb your hair.

Traction alopecia occurs as a result of certain hairstyles such as braids, tight ponytails, cornrows, chignons, buns or twists that are worn regularly. It is caused by pulling (chronic traction) on the hair follicle and signs of this type of hair loss involve tension headaches, itchy, red scalp, random bald patches and hair breakage around the scalp.

Permanent hair loss may be classified by the following:

Female-pattern baldness is also known as Androgenetic Alopecia. It isn't often that women experience complete hair loss, they may lose hair in patches and it usually only starts to thin at the front, sides or crown.

Male-pattern baldness is also known as Androgenetic Alopecia and usually affects men in their teens or early 20s. Androgenetic Alopecia is distinguished by hair on the sides of the head (at the temples) and balding on the sides of the head.

Cicatricial (scarring) alopecia is also known as scarring alopecia. This type of hair loss destroys the hair follicle and replaces the follicle with a scar tissue, it causes permanent hair loss. Sometimes, no symptoms are obvious and hair loss is gradual. In other cases, itching, burning or pain may occur. If the scalp is affected, some scaling and redness may be evident.


What causes Alopecia?

Factors that may contribute to alopecia include poor nutrition, certain medications, diseases such as diabetes and lupus as well as medical treatments such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Hormonal changes such as pregnancy, menopause, an overactive or underactive thyroid and scalp infections like ringworms can cause hair loss.

Although there is no exact cure for alopecia, it is estimated that 50% of patient’s hair will grow back in one year without treatment. Approximately 90% of people with hair loss, hair will eventually grow back while in the other 10% of cases, only some or no hair will grow back. There are several treatment options available for alopecia ranging from corticosteroids, steroid injections, phototherapy, hair transplantation or scalp reduction. I know above I have stated no exact cure however I can recommend tips on to encourage hair growth.
- Change your diet by eating plenty of iron found in meat and liver as well as green, leafy vegetables and fresh fruit.

- Drink plenty of water to flush out toxins in the body’s system.

- Increase your intake of vitamin supplements such as zinc and magnesium to stimulate hair growth.

- Wear sunglasses and sunscreen to protect the eyes and skin from the sun and environment.

- Allow your family and friends to support you – remember that they love you just the way you are.

- Be gentle with yourself, learn to value the person on the inside rather than the outside.

- Reduce stress and anxiety by practicing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga or meditation.

- Mix 50/50 of castor oil and almond oil on thinning areas before washing, preferably an hour or two before.

- Take the white of one egg and mix in a teaspoon of olive oil. Beat to give a paste-like consistency and apply to the entire scalp and hair. Keep it on for about 15 to 20 minutes and then rinse with cool water and a mild shampoo.

- See your GP as soon as possible and talk about: Topical corticosteroids (creams and ointments) are widely prescribed for treating alopecia areata, but their long-term benefits are not known. Also Dithranol cream.

- Aromatherapy, acupuncture and massage are often used for alopecia, but there is not enough evidence to support their use as effective treatments.