Showing posts with label SPF. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SPF. Show all posts

Thursday, March 14, 2013

Do You Need To Cut Damaged Hair Short And Start Regrowing It Longer Again?


The short answer is no. However, it can depend on the extent and type of damage and your patience. I had gone from longer hair to pixie short hair long ago, to deal with that. I know better now because of help I received from the cosmetic industry, my experience and research I have done.

 I consulted years later, also long ago, with the head cosmetic chemist of the Research and Development division of a fairly large cosmetic company regarding my own hair, which had become damaged by one of the company's products, by my over zealous use of it, not realizing how badly it could and did, dehydrate my hair. It was a clarifying product. The cosmetic chemist created a regimen for me with the company's products, that re-balanced the moisture level of my hair and strengthened it, while I trimmed off split ends and kept my overall hair length.

 The products I used then to help my hair are gone. The company was sold and the products I used were replaced with others I later tried, only to find they were not as effective for my hair. The point is that it can be done. The moisturizing product I used in the regimen contained mineral oil.

 Protein treatments along with moisturizing treatments can be a solution to well-balanced hair care. Protein treatments do not last though. They can wash out easily and should not be repeated too often on their own as that can be drying to hair. The balance of the two types of treatments can be tricky. I learned that firsthand with my own hair, during the regimen I used. My hair before starting the regimen had a lot of splits and breakage.

 It is important to not continue to abuse your hair when it is damaged by: rough handling, the overuse of product, heat styling at too high a temperature, or processing and more. I never used that clarifying product again. I could not even look at it, although I overused it. The reality is that many people do continue to abuse their hair while trying to deal with hair damage.

 When I first theorized about mineral oil, I did not know everything it alone can do for damaged and undamaged hair but as I said here, there is absolutely no reason why mineral oil should not help even severely damaged hair. Through subsequent research here, in other posts in this blog, plus my own experience as well as reports from friends and others, I realized just what it is capable of doing on its own and importantly to me, how and why it can work so well.

 The keys to damaged hair "recovery" are about protection and the hair's moisture level, which can help the hair not continue to break or split and be subjected to abrasion through tangling and any more abuse, while new growth is happening.

 The protection mineral oil can provide is fivefold and can also strengthen hair.

 1. It can take the place of lost cuticles by coating hair.

 2. It can reduce the amount of water vapour and water absorbed by hair, by coating hair.

 3. It has superb slip or detangling properties.

 4. It can supplement, or replace lost lipids within the cuticle structure of hair.

 5. It can protect hair from heat during thermal styling.

 The moisturizing mineral oil can provide is twofold.

 1. It can retain or reduce the loss by evaporation of added needed water in hair, by coating hair.

 2. It can retain or reduce the loss by evaporation of needed water present in hair, by coating hair.

 Regarding needed water, colour added by me, "Hair is composed of proteins, lipids, water, and small amounts of trace elements." Hair also typically contains "pigments", See "Result 1" or "Page 105".

 Mineral oil's long lasting moisturizing capabilities and its application, without timing, or needing to cover the hair, or needing to be washed out after use, or fuss in general, can make it a very user friendly, cost effective, easy way to deal with hair damage. It can simply be applied in a small amount, after your hair is washed, can work beautifully without causing build-up and not need reapplication until after your hair is next washed.  

Mineral oil can protect and moisturize damaged and undamaged hair without leaving either looking or feeling greasy, heavy, or sticky.

 See Also this blog post, for a research study included in the book Aging Hair here, in 2010. More information about the book can be found here, See "Result 2" or "Page xv".
Update March 25, 2013
This research study applies to hair, not skin. While mineral oil and sun or UV filters in cosmetic products may protect hair, with no SPF do not take UV exposure risks.

 When there is no or a low SPF on a hair sunscreen product, cover both hair and scalp to prevent sun exposure and wear a sunscreen with a high enough SPF on your skin. To me that is 30 or more.

 More information on SPF and protection can be found here.
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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

UV Protection For Skin And Hair


UV radiation damages hair as well as skin. The damage to hair can be treated the same way it can be for chemical processing but it cannot be reversed. There are many cosmetic formulations on the market claiming to help protect skin and hair from UV radiation. The best of these offer broad spectrum UV protection and on the label list an SPF. Sun protection products specifically for hair tend to offer and list UV filters and often to not have an SPF rating on the label. An SPF rating is regulated by government standards. The problem with an SPF skin product applied to hair is aesthetics. To get the proper amount of UV protection, one needs to use the product in the recommended required amount. That can make hair look less than desirable.

In 2011, the FDA instituted new SPF regulations. Health Canada has its own standards and is reviewing the FDA regulations. The European Union also has SPF regulations, as do other countries. What all of this means for the consumer is less confusion and better protection choices. Whether one chooses to buy all natural sun protection or conventional brands, regulations regarding SPF are now being improved.

I have read online that naturals oils, which include drying oils have been shown in research studies to have the equivalent of high SPF ratings. The research invariably concludes that these oils may prove to be valuable additions to sunscreen formulations. Natural products are subject to variations of potency because of factors that include: species; processing; crop year; handling, and storage. Unless such an oil has been tested and government approved and has an SPF rating on its label, there is no guarantee it offers such protection. Reputable vendors of such oils that I have seen that do not to have such labeling, are careful to point out that the oils "may" provide a sun protection factor, if  added to a recipe. Then there are specifics involved for a formulation incorporating natural products and its potency that include: the solvents used to dissolve the oils and other natural products, the emulsions used, and the concentration and combinations of other ingredients. Unless such a formulation is SPF tested and approved, it is only speculation as to its actual if any, sun protection factor for the final result.

Sun protection clothing is available and that is regulated and tested separately to sunscreen formulations. There is very good information online regarding all of this and I have listed some references below.

What do I prefer? I am partial to the Ombrelle brand of sunscreens for my skin, and for my hair, while I have sun hats, I tend not to wear them. Instead, I have taken to using an umbrella for extra sun protection and to protect my hair, and this year I bought a Leighton Umbrella, UV protection 50+.

References
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19138021
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22513303
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18408872
http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/ResourcesForYou/Consumers/BuyingUsingMedicineSafely/UnderstandingOver-the-CounterMedicines/ucm258468.htm
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