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Beauty Secrets: Hair

Hair has been a source of fascination and romantic attraction throughout the ages. Our ancient sisters spent hours arranging and setting their hair, using elaborate combs and pins to perfect the designs. All wore long hair and many set it in curls. Even Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, was held captive by the fascination of his beloved’s hair: “Your hair is like royal tapestry; the king is held captive by its tresses. How beautiful you are and how pleasing, O love, with your delights!” (Song of Sol. 7:5–6 NIV)

God pays special attention to our hair as well. Did you know that it is a symbol of His loving protection and provision? Listen as He compares our value to a little bird:

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows. (Matt.10:29–31)

Has anyone ever been so in love with you that he would attempt to count every hair on your head? Who has ever watched vigilantly over you in your sleep, in your work, noticing the most minute detail such as one fallen hair? Your hair is a constant reminder that God is involved in every daily detail of your life.Nothing about you escapes His attention.

How Choose a Shampoo

My basic rule for choosing a good shampoo is this: you should understand the label when you read it. Look for a list of ingredients you know and recognize, such as almond oil and rosemary extract. Because these “all natural” shampoos usually don’t contain harsh ingredients like sodium laurel sulfate, they probably won’t irritate your scalp and leave it itchy like some commercial shampoos.

COMMON HAIR CONCERNS AND CURES

If your tresses are suffering from distresses, there are some wonderful—and wonderfully simple—remedies to restore the natural luster and good health of your hair. Dandruff, dry hair, and the frizzies all are problems that can be tamed with a few smart solutions.

DANDRUFF

If you fear wearing black because of unsightly flakes, you may be surprised to hear what causes dandruff. Although most people assume dandruff comes from a dry scalp, the opposite is true:people with oily scalps tend to suffer most from dandruff.1

What natural remedies are available that can combat dandruff?

1. Lower your stress level. Stress has been linked with rising levels of androgen, a hormone produced by the adrenal glands.Androgen has a link to dandruff because it is believed to increase scalp oil, and therefore increase dandruff flakes. By reducing stressors and incorporating prayer and reflection into your life, you can take a positive step toward eliminating dandruff naturally.

2. Eat more biblical foods for essential fatty acids. Many experts recommend adding flaxseed to your diet to treat dandruff from the “inside out.” Because flaxseed is high in essential fatty acids (EFAs) that help promote healthy skin, adding flaxseed to your diet can improve the condition of your scalp. Remember, many of the biblical foods we’ve talked about are high in EFAs. You can also supplement your diet with flax oil, fish oil, or black currant oil as you change your diet.

Another addition to your diet to help combat dandruff (as well as acne) is zinc, a mineral that is found in almonds and beans.

3. Use vinegar as a topical treatment. In addition to making sure you get enough essential fatty acids, try using vinegar as a topical treatment to kill another suspected cause of dandruff. The alpha hydroxy acids in apple cider vinegar kill the fungus and bacteria that may help cause dandruff.2 A spritz bottle in the shower can be used to apply it directly to the scalp. Vinegar is as old as the Bible itself and part of the common culture. Different flavored vinegars were made and sold in biblical times, and vinegar was commonplace in cooking and preserving foods. For beauty treatments, I use organic apple cider vinegar with “mother” in it.It’s inexpensive, and contains healthy enzymes that are destroyed during the commercial bottling process other manufacturers use.You may see a little cloud floating in it—that’s called the “mother,” a naturally occurring part of the process that converts alcohol into acetic acid, the key ingredient in vinegar.

Do Babies Get Dandruff, Too?

One of the more common frustrations of a new mom is seeing her beautiful baby develop ugly yellow clumps of oily, patchy skin on the scalp. It looks like giant flakes of dandruff, but there is a simple, safe way to treat it, according to the FDA: The scaly scalp inflammation is common in newborn babies, although it can occur anytime in infancy. Rubbing warm olive oil . . . into the baby’s scalp and leaving it on overnight can loosen and soften scales, which can be washed off the next day with a mild shampoo.3

DULL HAIR

Rosemary’s fragrance is found in many high-end hair care products because of its rejuvenating scent and its purported ability to stimulate hair growth and relieve itchy scalps. Rosemary is also said to give your hair a lovely sheen.

Rosemary is one of the easiest herbs to grow. I keep two rosemary bushes in containers on my porch. They are evergreen, low maintenance, hard to kill, and when my guests brush past them to enter my home, they release a lovely scent. I can also clip a few fresh leaves whenever I am cooking, or when I need an extra bit of shine in my hair on a special occasion.

To use rosemary to give your hair extra shine, boil several stems of rosemary in natural spring water (if available) and use the cooled water as a final rinse. After using rosemary, I find that I can skip conditioner, which is an added benefit since my hair is fine and easily weighed down.

Another option, and a faster one, is to use rosemary essential oil in a deep conditioning hair masque, which we’ll reveal later in the chapter.

DRY HAIR AND FLY-AWAYS

Once again, olive oil comes to our rescue, replenishing hair in several ways:

0785221786_ePDF_0111_005N Use a few drops of olive oil as a light conditioner in the shower by rubbing it between your palms and running your hands through your hair before rinsing.

0785221786_ePDF_0111_007N For deep conditioning, use a more generous amount of olive oil and wrap hair in a warm towel. (To quickly warm a towel, pop one in the dryer on high for a few minutes.) Leave oil treatment on for at least 10 minutes before shampooing out.

0785221786_ePDF_0111_009N Two to three drops of olive oil rubbed between your palms can be used to smooth out fly-away hairs and frizzies.

HAIR LOSS

If you’re experiencing hair loss, the first step is to get a check-up with your doctor. Hair loss can signal underlying disorders, especially with your thyroid. After your doctor has given you a thumbs up on your health, you can investigate some natural remedies.

While there are many commercial products that claim to restore a healthy hairline, examining your diet is a smart first step.There are several biblical foods that may help boost your body’s ability to nourish hair. First is the B vitamin biotin, a vitamin found in almonds. In a study of patients who were severely diet-deficient in biotin and experiencing hair loss, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that “Supplementation . . . 200 micrograms biotin per day resulted in gradual regrowth of healthy hair.” 4

Biotin works by helping our bodies produce keratin. Keratin is a protein that nourishes our skin and nails. If your diet is poor, and you are not consuming healthy amounts of biotin, your hair and nails may suffer. Biotin is produced in our bodies and is in many natural foods, but we can become deficient in it in several ways. A study found that “while deficiency in biotin is somewhat rare, it sometimes occurs in individuals taking a long-term regimen of antibiotics, or those on a calorie-restricted diet for a considerable length of time.”5

So if you incorporate almonds into your diet, you may help prevent hair loss. And you can ask your doctor about adding in additional biotin supplements as needed.

Adding foods high in essential fatty acids can also help. Flaxseed in particular adds a powerful punch of lignans, fiber, and fatty acids and has a rich, nutty taste. Best of all, adding it into your diet can be as simple as taking a supplement or sprinkling a bit on your cereal or yogurt: “Adding two tablespoons of ground flaxseed to your daily diet . . . will slow down the fallout by helping to balance the high levels of hormones behind hair loss.”6

Flaxseed is best when fresh. Buy a coffee grinder and use it for flaxseeds—keep it near your cereal bowls for a gentle daily reminder.

I urge you to consider using fresh flax over the supplements, because freshly ground flaxseeds contain a healthy dose of fiber.

DAMAGED HAIR

A study was conducted to compare three of the hair care industry’s more popular oils. Which oil would protect the hair from protein damage? Which oil would be able to penetrate the hair shaft more effectively? The conclusion: coconut oil. Among three oils, coconut oil was the only oil found to reduce the protein loss remarkably for both undamaged and damaged hair when used as a pre-wash and post-wash grooming product.7

African-American women can especially benefit from coconut oil’s ability to help “heal” damaged hair. Women of color complain frequently that certain products, especially relaxers, damage their hair. But coconut oil is an easy remedy to try, and best of all, it’s inexpensive and a great body moisturizer, too. In the later biblical days, coconuts were a luxury item, available only to the powerful and wealthy. Think of it as the “plasma TV” of the biblical world. Today, you can find it in the health foods section at your local grocer.

Keep a jar of coconut oil in the bathroom and use it to precondition your hair by rubbing through the damaged ends before shampooing, or for a special treat, use our deep conditioning and shine masque recipe found below. Because coconut oil so thoroughly penetrates the hair, you may need to shampoo twice afterwards. Use the gentlest shampoo you can find (skip the sodium laurel sulfate we mentioned earlier), and be prepared to fall in love with your hair.

BSB DEEP SHINE AND REPAIR HAIR MASQUE

1/4 cup coconut oil

2 drops rosemary essential oil or 2 drops lavender essential oil

Combine and store in refrigerator. Use 2–4 tablespoons per treatment. Work into damp hair and cover with a warm towel, fresh from the dryer. Let set for ten minutes before shampooing.

This masque is especially wonderful after a day at the beach or pool, when your hair feels coarse and dry from the surf and chlorine.

Cost per year:

Commercial repair masque: $140 per year ($35 per 4-ounce treatment, 4 jars per year) BSB Deep Shine and Repair Hair Masque: $20 per year ($10 for one 14-ounce jar coconut oil, $10 for one bottle essential oil)

TOTAL SAVINGS: $120 per year

GRAY HAIR

What woman isn’t a little annoyed to find a few gray hairs sneaking up on her? After all, most of us feel like we’re not really aging—we’re simply teenagers with a lot of life experience! Going gray isn’t only about accepting our age; it’s about changing our identity. We identify ourselves with and by our hair color: the blondes have more fun, the dark-haired girls are so mysterious and smart, and the redheads have fiery natures. But women with beautiful white hair, or silvery shimmers of gray, give us a different glimpse of beauty that is powerfully affirming. The Bible, too, offers some affirming words on gray hair:

Gray hair is a mark of distinction. . . . (Prov. 16:31 MSG)

Gray hair is a crown of splendor. . . . (Prov. 16:31 NIV)

That’s a beautiful sentiment, and a good note to end this chapter on. May we all live well and long to achieve a crown of splendor.

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