Japanese Hair Straightening-Would you try it?

Japanese Hair Straightening – Would you try it?

Japanese Hair Straightening, also known as Thermal Reconditioning, is one very popular hair straightening technique. It looks very good but you just might want to think twice about before having done.

This product came from Japan in the late 90’s the chemical products used in the process go by the names: Liscio, Yuko and U.S. made Bio Ionics.

The treatment can take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours and involves numerous steps with costs ranging from $300 to $1,500 depending on the salon.

A cheaper price should raise some red flags as to the quality of the chemicals used or the expertise of the stylist according to the experts.

The result is permanently straight hair but after 4 to 6 months any new hair growth will need to be treated as well. This usually costs close to the same amount as the original treatment because it is a more time-consuming process involving straightening hair closer to the roots.

Because of the chemicals and techniques used you will not be able to curl the treated hair so you definitely want to take that into consideration beforehand.

There is also a growing concern from some stylists that thermal reconditioning may not be the perfect hair straightening solution after all.

The experts estimate that at least 80 percent of people that are having the treatment are not really good reconditioning candidates for several reasons:

Any recent chemical processes done to your hair such as hair coloring, bleaching or hair relaxing can cause serious problems including hair loss and breakage if you elect to have the treatment done. A hair strand test must be done first to determine whether your hair can accept the chemicals. If the salon does not offer a strand test you might want to reconsider who you trust your hair to.

It does not work on African hair because it is too fragile and can’t take the heat required during the straightening process. It is not the same as a hair relaxer which is made especially for African hair.

In fact, a growing number of women are claiming serious hair breakage problems and it has been reported in the press that one of the top Hollywood celebrity hair stylists refuses to perform the treatment because she thinks it is too much of a risk to her client’s hair.

Many women are led to believe that the process is actually good for your hair but there have been no clinical studies to prove this and by definition anything that physically alters the hair structure at the molecular level is damaging.

Even though many women have had the Japanese Hair Straightening process done to their hair with great success you should know that there can be some risk involved and if you decide to have it done to your hair be sure you use a reputable salon with properly trained stylists that will test your hair first.

Tips for Scalp Eczema

Tips for Scalp Eczema

Scalp Eczema

I suffered from Eczema all my life. I often asked what is the best remedy for dry scaly scalp - or another question is what are scaly bumps on scalp?  If you too ask this question, you are likely suffering from Eczema of the scalp.Eczema is an itchy, prickly irritation of the skin that can be extremely annoying to those who are unfortunate enough to be affected with this problem. People can be affected with eczema all over the entire body, but one of the most common types of eczema is that which affects the scalp.

 Scalp Eczema: The beginning

When you have eczema of the scalp, the oil glands contained in the skin of your scalp are involved. These oil glands are connected to the follicles of the hair, and their job is to produce enough oil to keep the skin of the scalp smooth and supple as well as to keep the hair from being dry and rough to the touch. This involvement of the oil glands is why scalp eczema also goes by the name of either Seborrheic dermatitis, or Seborrheic eczema. This type of eczema affects the parts of the body that produce more skin oil than other areas are known to, such as the scalp, eyebrows, and sides of the nose.  You may have first noticed scaly scalp or bumps.  Many times, scalp eczema starts at puberty, when the oil glands in the scalp began to produce more oil than usual because of the influx of hormones that have begun to flood the body. But, this disorder can appear on a person of any age. It seems to be a bit more common in men than in women, although females certainly suffer from it as well. Scalp eczema is known to be a chronic condition in that it can flare up seemingly for no reason at all, and then retreat, not to be seen again for months or years. Or, it can be an ongoing condition where the time without any symptoms is quite rare.

What Causes Scalp Eczema?
No one is exactly sure what the cause of scalp eczema is, but there are several theories as to why it occurs, such as – Hormones, no matter what your age group A skin fungusToxins in the body which seem to overwhelm the immune system Stress, which in turn can further aggravate the condition.


Symptoms of Scalp Eczema:
Scalp eczema can start out with very mild symptoms. In fact, many people are totally unaware that they have this skin condition until it has gotten out of hand. The first telltale sign is a slight case of dandruff which can quickly escalate to an unusually oily scalp with extremely itchy, red and irritated skin. Scaly patches of skin with a yellowish crust from the excess oil are also quite common.  Itching of the scalp of course causes scratching, which eventually breaks the skin and can create open sores.

Treatment of Scalp Eczema:
There are a number of topical creams and ointments on the market which are manufactured to treat scalp eczema and help the itching, excess oiliness and flaky skin. Medicated shampoos are also helpful, and may be used on a regular basis to help control symptoms. Many times, doctors will prescribe hydrocortisone (also known as steroids) to treat scalp eczema, but studies have shown that this only masks the symptoms. The steroid treatment does nothing to get to the actual cause of the disorder, but merely helps to relieve the itching, which can allow the skin to begin to heal.
Scalp on the scalp eczema has the maddening habit of recurring once you think you have it conquered and cease treatment. But beginning a treatment routine at the first sign of a flare up is the only way to keep a bout with scalp eczema from getting out of hand.  I am often asked what is the best remedy for dry scaly scalp?

You can use a variety of natural treatment including slight diet adjustments for a while and also by using natural oils such as Hemp or Neem and lavender to soothe and heal. You can also do a lot to help your scalp by using products that are gentle on your skin instead of harsh cleansing ingredients found in most shampoos.  To find a good shampoo for scalp eczema look for one that doesn’t contain sulphates (a harsh foaming agent called a surfactant) and instead contains natural surfactants like yucca or coconut.  Scalp eczema and other scaly scalp conditions can be eliminated by understanding what to avoid and what you can use at home to nourish and heal your scalp.