It’s not only our skin that needs exfoliation, you know. Even our scalp requires a bit of help sometimes. And you’d be surprised at the benefits you can reap just by doing simple scalp exfoliation every now and then.

In today’s article, we’ll show you why you should exfoliate your scalp and how to do it!

zala-why-you-should-exfoliate-your-scalp

What is scalp exfoliation?

Scalp exfoliation is the process of using exfoliants, whether physical or chemical, in order to aid clogged pores, remove excess skin and sebum, and reduce dandruff.

Why you should exfoliate your scalp

There are many reasons why you should exfoliate your scalp.

First off, exfoliating your scalp occasionally can help make your strands grow healthier and more beautifully.

That’s because scalp exfoliation removes buildup on our scalp, which lets our strands grow freely without being bogged down by oil, dead skin, and dandruff.

Too much oil, or sebum, on our scalp can cause a lot of trouble. First of all, it can cause greasy strands, which makes your hair look limp and dull. It can also cause yeast to develop on your scalp, which leads to dandruff. The worst part is that too much sebum can also cause thinning hair, due to clogged hair follicles.

Without exfoliation, clogged hair follicles also don’t have much of a way out, which can hinder the growth of healthy hair. Over time, these follicles will shrink, which effectively reduces the number of hairs that can grow from them.

Lastly, exfoliating your scalp can make be a relaxing session for many people. In fact, it can be considered an effective stress-reliever since it’s quite soothing.

How to exfoliate your scalp

Considering how easy it is to do, there’s really no reason not to do it.

There are two ways on how to exfoliate your scalp. One is by using a physical exfoliator, like a massage brush. Two is by using a chemical exfoliator, like a cream or gel that will do all the job for you. You can also do both, though be careful not to do it!

Start with wet, just-shampooed hair in the shower. If using a scrub, apply some on your hair and gently massage with your fingertips. If using a physical exfoliator, simply rub the exfoliator gently on your scalp in a nice circular motion.

Exfoliation can sometimes cause sensitive scalp, so be sure to use a protective spray afterwards if you experience this kind of sensitivity.
And that’s it for scalp exfoliation! For more hair-related articles, don’t forget to check out our ZALA blog!

PUBLISHED 2ND MARCH 2020

Secrets To Fast Hair Growth

In the last few articles, we’ve discussed all these is to know about hair growth. The stages of hair growth, the factors that affect hair growth, the best foods for hair growth. And finally, today, we’ll talk about our favorite part.

Are you ready? Here are our best-kept secrets to fast hair growth!

Don’t wash every day

Washing your hair every day is a surefire way to get dehydrated strands. Let your hair rest too! Unless it’s particularly dirty, only wash your strands a couple of times a week. Even every other day is better than every single day.

Use clarifying shampoo

Clarifying shampoo is much lighter than regular shampoo, and it cleans more thoroughly too. Make sure to pick one that doesn’t have any paraben or sulphate. Also, if you can get one that matches your hair type perfectly, that would be the best option.

Always use a conditioner

Conditioners do a great job of moisturizing your hair and keeping that moisture in. You know how your hair always looks dry whenever you skip the conditioner? That’s why you shouldn’t forget to always use a conditioner every time you shower.

Drink plenty of water

Since we’re already talking about moisture, here’s the most important thing: Drink water. Lots. Water is not only good for your hair, it’s extremely beneficial to the rest of your body too. You know what they say, “stay hydrated”!

Learn how to exfoliate your scalp

Your scalp, just like your skin, needs proper TLC too. Learning how to exfoliate your scalp properly can help you tons when it comes to hair care. After all, the healthier your scalp, the healthier your strands.

Reduce your heat-styling

Heat-styling can damage your hair in more ways than you can imagine. Even if you can’t always immediately see the negative effects, using heat tools on your hair often can lead to fragile and weakened strands that are more prone to breakages and damages.

Add regular trims to your schedule

If you want to grow your hair long, you should add regular trims to your schedule. There’s no sense trying to grow long hair if your strands just break off at certain lengths due to damage. Trimming regularly helps avoid that.

Eat foods for fast hair growth

Your diet greatly affects your hair growth. If you want fast hair growth, you need to make sure that you’re getting enough nutrition with plenty of vitamins and minerals.

Switch your pillowcases to silk

Silk pillowcases are superior compared to other kinds of pillowcases. For one, they don’t cause friction, which can damage your strands while you’re sleeping. We’ve got some of the best silk pillowcases here at ZALA so be sure to check them out!

Use the right type of brush

Using the wrong type of brush on your hair can cause damage to your strands. For instance, if you have curly hair, you should never ever use a comb on your strands because combs simply aren’t suited for curly hair. Check this guide for more information.

Weekly hair masks is key

Regular conditioners can never compare to deep conditioners whose goal is to deeply nourish and moisturize your strands. For best results, use a hair mask at least once a week.

Always wear sunscreen outside

Your skin isn’t the only thing that needs protection from the sun. Your hair also needs to be protected, especially if you’re trying to grow it out. The heat, as well as the UV rays, can cause your hair to become dehydrated and brittle, which cancels out any efforts to grow your hair long.

Braid your hair on windy days

Wanna know a real secret? Braid your hair on windy days! Wind can actually cause minute damages to your hair, if not just making it visibly frizzy. Braiding it helps keep your hair tidy and prevents it from tangling, which could lead to breakages.

Don’t stress yourself too much

Too much stress can cause irrevocable problems for your hair. Did you know that stress is linked to hair fall and even hair loss. That’s why no matter how hard life may seem sometimes, let’s all hope we can learn to just smile and face it head-on. Easier said than done, we know.

For more hair tips and tricks, don’t forget to check out the rest of our ZALA blog!

PUBLISHED 27TH FEBRUARY 2020

Best Foods For Fast Hair Growth

You are what you eat, and if you eat healthy food, you’ll certainly be healthy in no time at all! Truly, the benefits of good food extend to your entire body, including your hair.

In this article, we’ve included the best foods for fast hair growth. So if you want a full head of shiny, smooth, and gorgeous locks, you should make sure to add these superfoods to your diet.

Can food really affect hair growth?

First and foremost, we’re here to see if our choice of foods really can affect our hair.

According to a study conducted in 2017, nutritional deficiency does have some kind of effect on our hair growth and hair structure. If you’re always lacking in proper nutrition, it’s only natural that your hair will follow suit as well.

Hair growth is even affected by diets, since calorie and protein malnutrition can cause negative effects to your health and subsequently, your hair. People who go on crash diets often may experience more hair loss and hair fall than people who just eat regularly.

What minerals or vitamins do I need for fast hair growth?

While the jury is still out on artificial supplements, there’s no denying the effectiveness of natural foods.

Here are some of the minerals and vitamins that are associated with healthy hair.

vitamin A – Helps the scalp produce a healthy amount of sebum.
vitamin B – This cluster of vitamins, the most popular of which is biotin, is said to help strengthen your strands and improve its overall condition.
vitamin C – Increases collagen production.
vitamin D – Studies have linked alopecia areata with a lack of vitamin D.
vitamin E – Known for positive effects on hair, skin, and nails.
vitamin K – Boosts immune system.
selenium – Encourages hair growth if taken in moderation.
iron – Iron deficiency is linked to hair loss and hair fall.
zinc – Helps in the repair of hair tissue.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that you shouldn’t just pick one of these and then expect to get great hair. Many different foods contain many of these at the same time. You should aim for different sources to make the most out of it.

Best foods for fast hair growth

Ready to achieve your dream hair with the help of those vitamins and minerals? Here are the best foods for fast hair growth!

Nuts

Nuts are a great source of vitamins and minerals, including zinc and selenium. Do take note that too much selenium intake can cause brittle hair, so be sure to eat them in moderation. Also, nuts are very high in calorie content, something to keep in mind if you don’t want to gain too much weight.

Fish

Fish are some of the best foods for fast hair growth. They contain large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, in addition to vitamin B, protein, and iron. Adding a healthy portion of fish in your diet can help make your hair shinier and softer.

Green leafy vegetables

Green leafy vegetables are great for your overall health. They contain lots of different vitamins, including vitamin A and C. Some examples of these vegetables are spinach, kale, cabbage, and lettuce.

Dairy

Dairy products, like milk, yogurt, and cheese, are very high in calcium. Calcium is good for your overall health, not just your hair. Opt for the low-fat version since too much dairy can make you bloat.

Meat

Meat is a good source of protein, the very thing your hair strands are made of. By adding meat, specifically the lean type, to your diet, you can help keep your strands strong.

Did you like our list? For the next part of this series, don’t forget to check out the ZALA blog!

PUBLISHED 25TH FEBRUARY 2020

Hair Growth Factors: The Basics

In the previous article, we discussed how different internal and external factors could influence your hair growth to be stunted. So, now you already know why your hair seems to have stopped growing. But here’s another question: what determines how fast it grows, anyway?

Today, we’ll discuss the basic hair growth factors that dictate how fast–or how slow–your hair grows.

Season

It’s hard to imagine that the seasons could have anything to do with our hair, right? But some studies are suggesting that it may be possible. According to researchers, hair actually grows faster during the summer months. The effect isn’t that huge, but the average increase is roughly 10% for most months and as high as 70% for the peak period.

Age

Age is one of the most important hair growth factors. People who are between the ages of 15 and 30 tend to experience the fastest hair growth, since this is the time when the anagen phase of your strands is at its longest.

The anagen phase usually lasts for about 5-7 years, but for some people over 30, their anagen phase is much shorter, with their strands entering the telogen phase before reaching their optimum length.This phenomenon explains why people over 30 have trouble growing their hair as long as it was when they were younger. This also explains receding hairlines and hair loss in older people, something that’s particularly common in men.

Sex

Although bald spots are more common in men, did you know that male hair actually grows faster than female hair? We always joke about how often our guy friends or guy relatives have to go to barber shops to get a haircut, but it turns out that it’s actually rooted in science.

The reason for this is testosterone, one of the different classes of hormones that make up the androgens, or male hormones. Testosterone affects the hair follicles, which is why men have generally more hair than women. This hormone is basically what allows them to have facial hair and body hair. As a side effect, it also causes them to grow their scalp hair much faster than women.

Race

You know how we said sex affects hair growth because of testosterone levels in males? Well, it’s not the only thing that affects hair growth. Race also comes into play too.

Ever noticed how Asian men, particularly East Asians like Chinese, Japanese, and Koreans, don’t get a lot of facial and body hair? That’s because although their testosterone affects their hair follicles, they work differently for Asians. There are two common findings for this. One, Asian men tend to have less androgen receptors on their faces and bodies. Two, Asian male bodies don’t have much of the enzyme that converts testosterone to its androgenic form, the main thing that stimulates hair follicles.

Other than that, Asians actually experience the fastest hair growth, since they have the longest anagen phase. The average Asian also has thicker, coarser hair when compared to the average African or the average Caucasian. This is due to the shape of the hair follicles, which is also determined by race.

Genetics

A good way to see how fast or slow your hair is growing is to take a look around your own family. How often does your father or your brother go for a haircut? Do they need to shave often or else they’ll look scruffy? Does your mother still keep her hair long despite her age?

If your family is blessed with lush, thick hair then it’s highly likely that your hair grows the same way. Sadly, if most of the older people in your family already have receding hairlines and grey hair starting from the age of 35, then there’s really not much you can do. There’s no way to combat your own genes. At the very least, knowing your family’s hair quality is a good way to gauge your own.

Health

How healthy you are greatly dictates how fast your hair will grow. People who eat plenty of junk foods, lead bad lifestyles, get stressed on a regular basis, and are always sick tend to have more hair growth issues than someone in good health. That’s why it’s very important to take care of yourself if you want your hair to grow long and beautiful.

In the next part of this series, we’ll discuss the best foods that you can eat if you want to speed up your hair growth. Don’t forget to stay tuned to the ZALA blog for more!

PUBLISHED 23RD FEBRUARY 2020

Why Your Hair Won’t Grow

You’ve been growing your hair out since forever, but it still doesn’t seem like you’ll reach your target length soon. Why is it that it seems like your hair simply won’t grow? Could you be doing something wrong, or are you just cursed with having this length of hair for all eternity?

Don’t worry, we can bet that you’re not cursed with anything at all! In this article, we’ve included the top the reasons why your hair won’t grow, or at least, why it appears not to.

1. Poor diet

One of the most common reasons for stunted hair growth is poor diet. If you’re always eating processed foods, salty chips, and carbonated drinks, your hair, as well as your body, won’t be very healthy either. You have to make sure that your diet is nutritious enough if you really want to see the effects on your strands.

2. Bad lifestyle habits

We won’t judge you for your lifestyle choices, but if you’re out partying every night, drinking like a fish and smoking as many sticks as you can, then don’t be surprised if your hair is looking pretty lackluster. Like it or not, your lifestyle, whether it’s the healthy kind or the not-so-healthy kind, is reflected in how shiny and beautiful your hair is.

3. Wrong products

Some products are a match made in heaven–others, not really. Ideally, you should find products that perfectly match your hair type and hair condition. For instance, if you’re using shampoo and conditioner for normal hair, but your hair has been rebonded or permed more times than you can count, then you probably won’t be able to see the best possible effects on your strands. Make sure to always use a product that’s formulated for your hair type. Doing this allows you to reap as many benefits as possible.

4. Too much heat styling

Heat styling tools may be an amazing way to get salon-perfect hair from home, but don’t overdo it. Using these tools day in and day out is a surefire way to get stunted hair growth. Heat is your hair’s biggest enemy, since it’s that easy for our strands to become dehydrated. The more you use these tools, the weaker your hair becomes, which makes it much more prone to breakages and damages.

5. Medical issues

Sometimes, the reason why your hair won’t grow is not due to your own doing at all, but due to medical issues. This includes medical conditions, symptoms of diseases, hormonal imbalance, and even medication side effects.

Medical conditions

Alopecia areata

The most common and most well-known medical condition that causes stunted hair growth and even hair loss is probably alopecia areata, also known as simply alopecia.

While there are a few different kinds of alopecia, in general, people who suffer from this condition experience some sort of hair loss, especially on their head. This condition still has no cure as of the moment, sadly. But a lot of people have also experienced it clearing up without warning after weeks, months, or even years. There are also many methods to combat the hair loss brought upon by alopecia, both natural and artificial.

Telogen effluvium

Telogen effluvium is not as commonly known as alopecia, but it’s another medical condition that causes hair to literally stop growing.

In a previous article, we discussed the different stages of hair and how the anagen phase, the active growing phase, lasts for years, right? Well, with telogen effluvium, strands in the anagen phase will suddenly be forced to go to the telogen phase, or the phase where hair stops growing. Due to this, as many as 70% of hairs could fall out in as little as two months.

Hormonal imbalance

Some conditions cause hormonal imbalances, which can also cause stunted hair growth or hair loss. Pregnancy, menstruation, menopause, and childbirth in women are some of the most common reasons for this change in hormones.

Medication

Stunted hair growth could also sometimes be caused by medication used to treat unrelated disease or condition.

For example, it’s not uncommon to see people suffering from arthritis, hypertension, and heart problems to experience hair loss. This is because the medication used to treat those often have that side effect. Many cancer patients also lose their hair because chemotherapy drugs and radiation therapy can greatly affect the hair follicles.

In the next article, we’ll discuss the factors that determine how fast your hair grows. Don’t forget to check out the ZALA blog!

PUBLISHED 21ST FEBRUARY 2020

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