Vitamin D? Check. Jello? Check. Soy? Check. Henna? Check.

Well, I've been neglecting the blog for these past few weeks, which have been very busy. But as you can see... It's growing! I have been trying a number of hair-growth remedies over the past few months, but I am starting to think the following things are the true gems: henna dye, Vitamin D (vitamins in general, really), Jello and soy. Why? Because those are the main things I'm keeping up on a daily basis! ;-)

It's a little tough to remember allllllll the remedies every day... I do remember the apple cider vinegar and rosemary oil often, and sure, I'm consuming plenty of protein, but I really think the things I listed above are the major hair growth solutions.

It makes sense -- the soy milk has a form of estrogen, which encourages growth, plus it has loads of vitamins and protein. Jello is gelatin, which is a building block of hair and nails. (Bummer... My nails were getting really long, too, but I caked on too much nail polish and it made a couple of them break.) Vitamin D was recommended by my cousin, and I am still taking the hair formula vitamins from Walmart; it just makes sense that vitamins would be beneficial.

The henna dye is just awesome; it's healthy and nutritious for hair, and to be quite honest, it's pretty fun to apply. If you ever enjoyed playing in the mud as a child, you'd like henna. It's basically like taking warm mud and applying it all over your head like a mask. The color is great and looks natural... One observation, though: True henna is reddish, so when henna companies say a dye is blonde, brunette, etc. (anything other than red), other plants have been added to the henna, so your hair is going to have a bit of a red tint. I used the medium brown henna about a week before the above photo was taken, and it's a reddish brown color. I love it, though. It's getting really shiny and thick, and it feels healthy.

A nice, glossy coating of... protein?

Hair and nails grow in much the same way, so I am considering yet another hair growth experiment... OK, here goes: I am using the Sally Hansen "Maximum Growth" treatment on my fingernails several times a week. I've been using it for a couple of months. It's amazing stuff -- my fingernails haven't broken in several weeks, and they are all consistently long and healthy. I looked at the fine print and it says the treatment contains silk protein. You apply it just like a clear coating of nail polish, and it gives the nails a nice little sheen while also packing them full of protein goodness.

I wonder if the same protein principle would work on hair? What would the equivalent be? Raw egg? Mayonnaise? Soy? Ground beef? Peanut butter? Beans? But wait just a minute. It did say SILK protein, right? Maybe I could wrap my hair in silk. Wonder if that would work... (Sorry, this is the kind of nuttiness I come up with at 11:53 pm). Nah, I'll stick with the proteins. I have actually heard that raw egg and mayo can be used as hair treatments. I've seen them listed with home remedies. But here's the hitch: The nail treatment stays on; it doesn't get rinsed off. I would eventually have to rinse the egg/mayo... I guess I could try leaving it on for an hour or two and then rinse it. Hopefully a beneficial amount of protein would be absorbed in that time.

Hmm...

photo update

April 2010 photo update: Yes, that's a ponytail. Yippee! And I'm so thankful to be able to do a ponytail, just in time for summer.

What a difference three millimeters can make

I had to trim my hair this week... But I only trimmed about three millimeters. And amazingly, it did the trick. The last time I had my hair cut was around Thanksgiving, so the style is long gone and the ends have been looking a little rough. So I decided to trim juuuusssst the ends and see the results. I'm happy now. I took off just enough of the ends that my hair looks healthier and has a little more bounce. It doesn't look any shorter; it looks better.

The worst part about growing hair out is the in-between stage... You've decided not to cut it but then it starts looking rough, and part of you wants to just throw it in a ponytail every day, and the other part of you wants to chop off a couple of inches. But wearing a ponytail every day is not such a good option. It can pull your hair out and, if pulled too tightly, can cause headaches. And chopping off an inch wastes about two months' worth of growth (hair typically grows about half an inch a month). So I've settled on the three-millimeters-as-needed routine. Besides, it saves money on trims... Have you ever met a hair stylist who was willing to just trim three millimeters??

P.S. Just a note about henna: My husband commented last week that he likes the henna look a lot better than the box/chemical dye look. He said the henna looks more natural. Just FYI!

Split ends and thinning are not 'in'

I was afraid this might happen.

When I decided around Thanksgiving to make one more attempt at growing out my hair, I also decided not to trim the ends at all until it gets to my shoulders. Anyone who has ever tried to grow hair knows what that means -- the potential for thinning of the hair shafts and split ends. And that's the point at which I usually get frustrated and chop my hair off... followed, of course, by regret.

We're there again. I believe that part of the problem is the cut I got in November -- short layers. So, of course, it's still layered, which means the ends have not only lost their shape, but they are somewhat thin already, thanks to the style. No, I'm not going to cut it all to one length and start over.

I'm hoping the henna will start to make a difference. I've done two of the monthly applications now, and am due for another application sometime this week. The directions say to use henna every four to six weeks. Henna reportedly texturizes hair and nourishes it, so I'm considering applying it more frequently than every four weeks. I wonder if that would have a negative effect... Hmm. Hope not!

I also was watching a medical show on TV this week -- I believe it was Dr. Oz. I've never watched it before, but I think that's the name of the show. Anyway, he was talking about hair age. We've seen the real-age tests that tell us our "real" age based on health and lifestyle factors. Well, this test specifically tells people the age of their hair. He then recommended a couple of things to help hair -- eating protein and applying a banana mask. Well, I have been trying to increase my intake of protein for a few weeks, including the soy milk that I consume as if it's oxygen. Next time I get to the grocery store, I'm going to pick up a couple of extra bananas, and I'll try a mask. And of course... I'll report back with details of the experiment.

Henna and soy are fabulous

Well, something's working. I'm not sure if it's the henna, the Jello, the supplments and vitamins, the vinegar or something else, but something's working! I can definitely put my hair in a decent ponytail now -- without any hairspray!

I did my second application of henna last week. I tried mixing red, light brown and medium brown to see if I could get a richer hue to cover my roots. It worked; it looks really good! Later that day, my husband and I filed our tax return, and the CPA asked if I was a natural redhead. Although I was going for more of a reddish warm brown, hey, I'll take the compliment! That means the henna does look natural -- not fake or harsh like a box dye. Plus, the henna is actually good for hair and makes it soooo shiny. The directions say that with every application of henna, the hair gets more texturized. That's certainly happening, too. It seems almost twice as thick now.

I also switched from dairy to soy milk this week. First of all, I have never been able to sit down and drink a glass of plain white cow's milk. If it's in something, that's fine, but I really don't care for it and I don't like to think about where it came from. Second, cows are pumped full of growth hormones and antibiotics. I really don't want to ingest those things. Third, I heard that soy milk contains a form of estrogen. I am a curious person, so I Googled estrogen. Guess what: It supposedly helps hair grow faster!! Woohoo! I know that soy milk can be a little pricey, so I visited my favorite low-cost grocery store -- Aldi. Sure enough, Aldi sells reasonably priced soy milk -- organic chocolate soy milk, to be exact. Yum. I love a tall glass of it, and it's also very good in coffee.

Back on the Jello Train/Loving the Cod Liver Oil

OK, I have to admit, I fell off the Jello train for a couple of weeks. I did. It's just so jiggly and kind of weird -- I don't dislike it, but it's not exactly something I crave. I made a huge batch of it last night, though. I think the key to tolerating that sugary gelatin snack is to add a little creativity. In this case, I added chopped apples to some strawberry Jello. I'm sure that sounds crazy, but in all honesty, it's not that bad.

Here's a tip: If you decide to grow your hair out, it might be best to start with a blunt haircut, like a bob. I started with an angled, layered style, and I've been regretting that. As you might be able to tell in earlier photos, it was angled down in the front -- a popular style for those who are planning to keep their hair short. As my haircut has grown out since Thanksgiving, though, it has looked a little crazy in the front. The angles started sticking out and looked really thin. So... It took me a few days, but last week I worked up enough courage to trim them myself. I ONLY trimmed the front angles, and the result is good. I'm happy with the even ends now, and didn't have to go to a hairdresser (besides -- a hairdresser probably would have trimmed everything). Can't trim the hair too much! Every millimeter counts at this stage. Must get it to my shoulders.

I've added cod liver oil to my growing list of supplements. It's an additional source of Vitamin D and other beneficial nutrients for general health. Thankfully, Vitamin Shoppe sells it in capsule form, so I don't have to swallow teaspoons of, well, oil from a fish liver. Eww. However, I know the greatest concentration of fish oil nutrients is found in the liver, so I made the purchase. Trust me... The capsules are the way to go. But even the capsules smell a little, if you're dumb enough to actually hold the bottle up to your nose and take a whiff (apparently I'm dumb enough, because out of curiosity, I did exactly that). Cod liver oil is said to have other benefits, too -- it helps with joint pain (good for my shoulder issue) and relieves migraines. So in a nutshell, I now love cod liver oil.

Coconut oil -- great for cooking, not great for oily hair

Coconut oil is a wonderful product -- I recently discovered it, and have heard that it has wonderful health benefits. I have started using it for cooking. I also read that it can be used as a scalp treatment for healthier hair... So I decided one day last week to give it whirl.

I scooped up what I thought would be a good amount -- about a teaspoon -- and let it melt, then massaged it into my scalp. I sat for an hour, as instructed. I shampooed it out... And then shampooed again. My hair was very oily for two days! I probably should not have tried this treatment, as I have somewhat oily hair to begin with. As I applied the oil, in the back of my mind I remembered a time in school when a classmate attended a youth group event one weekend -- a "yuck night" event. Someone poured baby oil in her hair, and I remember hearing the complaints about how she couldn't get all the oil out for days.

To make a long story short -- it took two days to get all the coconut oil out, and another day after that before I could style my hair. (Not that it has much of a style anymore, though... My cut is growing out, and it has lost all of its shape. I refuse to cut it, though, because the length is what I need, and I can finally pull it into a ponytail!!)

If you're going to use oil on your hair, my advice is to use a CONSERVATIVE amount. For example, I use the Weleda rosemary oil, but I only use three drops at a time for my entire head, and it works well. Weleda truly makes a great product. So... I think I will stick to the rosemary oil for my hair, and save the coconut oil for the kitchen.

I have discovered Rainbow Henna hair color, and I love it.

I have been a hair dye fanatic for 12 years. Unfortunately, once you start coloring your hair, it's pretty hard to stop unless you miraculously find a box or salon dye that matches your natural shade. I have never been able to match mine, so every couple of months -- for 12 years -- I've had to touch up my roots, try a different shade or cut my hair short to let the damaged dyed hair grow out.

I was at that point again this week. Actually, with my goal of growing my hair out as quickly as possible, the roots are a good sign, because they sure keep reappearing quickly! I just touched up my roots three weeks ago and this week noticed half an inch of roots.

I decided to switch to henna hair color, which supposedly helps hair grow more quickly. It is definitely healthier for the hair -- all organic, no chemicals, doesn't strip the hair shaft. This is not the first time I've been drawn to henna; I considered buying it about six months ago, at my favorite local co-op. However, the salesperson was apparently listening more to her conscience than to the cha-ching of the cash register that day, because she talked me out of the henna, saying it was too messy and difficult to apply. I appreciate a salesperson who tries to be honest with me... BUT...

... I have been reading "The Maker's Diet," by Jordan Rubin, to learn about healthier foods, lifestyle and personal care. I HIGHLY recommend the book to anyone and everyone seeking better health. One section discusses herbs that are especially helpful, and guess what's on that list... That's right, it's henna! The book explains that henna is antibacterial/antifungal; therefore, it's very healthy for the scalp. I have heard that antifungal treatments can encourage hair growth, so it sounds good.

I discovered a lovely little health-foods store just miles from my home, and moseyed over to the store to buy some Rainbow Henna yesterday. I applied it this morning. I LOVE IT. First of all, I know it's much healthier for my hair and just might encourage some growth. That's fantastic. Second, it doesn't smell like a chemical plant; it smells earthy and looks like mud. It was EASY to mix up -- the container recommended using 4 oz (the whole container), but my hair is still short so I just used 2 oz. It was more than enough for short hair. Just boil some water (or coffee, for an extra boost of brunette) and stir, stir, stir. I grabbed an old paint brush and applied it to my hair. It was as easy as applying dye from a box, and although it dripped a little onto my forehead, it did not stain my skin. Then I just bundled it up in some plastic wrap and sat for an hour. It was easy to rinse out (warm rinse, cool rinse, shampoo and you're done).

I am extremely pleased with the results. My hair does not look fake; it looks natural and healthy. I chose the Light Brown shade, very close to what I already had, so there wasn't a major color difference, but my hair glows now. There's a radiant, warm golden brown sheen to it. It's very shiny and feels quite a bit thicker (henna coats the hair, as opposed to chemical dye, which strips and then re-tints the hair). I am completely satisfied. I will never use chemical dye again. Also interesting: According to the directions, the more times you use the henna dye (it can be applied every four to six weeks), the healthier your hair will be. It it not just hair color; it's basically a scalp treatment with the added benefit of beautiful natural-looking color. It coats the hair and adds texture and thickness.

Asian food for longer hair? Yes, please!

In my quest to have long hair, I am researching a variety of treatments and remedies -- and not just supplements. Hair health is directly tied to diet, and as I've written in previous posts, I'm certainly trying the Jello. That's starting to become a little routine, though.

I love Asian food. Put a plate of sushi in front of me and I'm a happy girl. Hibachi? Yum! So, I was very happy to discover that certain Asian foods can help with hair health. They are: miso soup, salmon, rice, seaweed, soy and green tea. OK, OK, so salmon isn't just an Asian food. It is in a lot of sushi, though, so it counts, along with rice and seaweed. In fact, this is great news to any sushi lovers who are trying to grow their hair! And there's nothing like a simple bowl of miso soup to warm the tummy. So, this is all a great discovery.

Green tea is a superfood in my book. I love it. It tastes so natural and refreshing, and it's loaded with antioxidants, which are good for not only hair, but also skin, immunity and general well-being. It has just a wee bit of caffeine, too, so when I need a little caffeine kick in the afternoon, or when I'm suffering from writer's block, I make a big mug of green tea and keep going.

If you don't like sushi, that's OK. Try a kelp supplement instead of the seaweed, or grill up some salmon if you don't like it raw. Just make sure you're chowing down on a variety of healthy foods. Asian food is extremely healthy, so it gets a thumbs up from me.

"Let it grow" blog -- photo update

Here's the end-of-January update photo! As you can see, it's definitely growing. At Thanksgiving, right after my last haircut, the hair along the back of my neck was actually buzzed in order to sit flat. Look at it now -- about an inch and a half longer! Something's working.

It looks thin at the bottom. That's just the layered haircut, though. Argh. Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow... And just say "no" to haircuts!

I've decided that rewards are sometimes necessary in order to reach a goal. So... When it gets to my shoulders, I am going to add some highlights. I was born a brunette, yes, but I have always been partial to blonde... But just highlights! No more crazy late-night runs to Walmart to get a box of ultra-damaging "extra light blonde" like I did in college. It's thin enough... I don't want to damage my hair. I just want to enjoy once again the artificial kiss of the sun known as highlights.

My husband, my guinea pig

Well... It looks like I'm not the only one trying my hair growth experiments, now. My husband has agreed to be my "guinea pig" with some of the remedies! He absolutely can't stand Jello, but he's willing to try the scalp treatments and other herbal and dietary remedies. His wish is a bit different, though -- he wears his hair short, but his hairline is beginning to recede just a bit, and he's only in his 20s. So, we'll give it a month or two and see if these treatments also are effective at combating a receding hairline.

I'm also happy to report that my hair is growing really quickly! It's just sprouting right out of my scalp. This is quite possibly the fastest that my hair has ever grown. Something's working! I'm betting that, by April, I'll be able to put it up in a ponytail. It seems to be thicker, too.

I'm getting used to the taste of the hair/skin/nails multivitamins. They're bitter, which makes them difficult to swallow, but they're not so bad after a while. Every time I go to the kitchen to take a vitamin, I try to conjure up a mental picture of myself with long hair. Swallowing the vitamins is much easier with that in mind. :-) I'm still taking the Vitamin D, herbal and cayenne supplements, as well, but they're easier to swallow. The rosemary supplement actually tastes refreshing and smells good.

I know I don't "need" long hair in order to be happy... All I do know is that it would bring me some added joy. I'm at a place in my life where I'm making some changes in order to be happier and more content. Maybe it's a quarter-life crisis. Who knows? I am leaving my ultra-stressful day job and pursuing some opportunities that will give me more contentment and freedom to be a human being. Life is short. It's definitely too short to waste time being miserable. Life is all about making decisions, and I have decided to be kinder to myself and pursue things that will bring me joy, even if they seem a little "superficial." So many aspects of life are depressing and negative. Shouldn't we try that much harder, then, to find some things that make us happy?

Mixin' it up: A search for more scalp treatments

I've done some more reading on scalp treatments that are supposed to either help hair grow or simply make it healthier and stronger. Hair health is important always, but especially if you are growing out your hair, as I am. As the ends of the hair get older and older, they dry out and break or split, making the hair look thinner. That has always been part of the problem for me -- my hair ends get thin, and I end up getting a haircut.

Here's the list:
-- olive oil
-- mayonnaise
-- aspirin/coconut milk mixture (Would that also soak in and relieve headaches?)
-- avocado
-- aloe
-- raw egg (Eww, slimy!)
-- tea (rosemary, mint, chamomile, sage)
-- dish liquid/baking soda made into a paste
-- black pepper/lime seeds made into a paste
-- castor oil
-- lavender oil
-- onions

I'll do my best to try each of these treatments, but not all at once. As always, when I try a remedy, I'll report back with a summary of the experiment. Not sure about the raw egg... That's just kind of gross. Maybe I'll talk myself into it.

Has anyone else ever tried any of these treatments? Did you have any success with them? Let me know!

Apple cider vinegar is a sweet hair treatment. But lettuce? Not so much.

I have now tried the apple cider vinegar hair rinse and the banana/lettuce/citrus scalp treatment. Obviously, I have no idea yet if they'll contribute to hair growth, but I am pleased with the immediate results of the vinegar rinse! The fruits-and-veggies treatment was not so fun.

I diluted the vinegar to one part vinegar, one part water, and poured it all over my hair right after washing it, while it was still wet. I massaged it into my hair and scalp and did not rinse it out. I'll admit, my hair smelled a little funky while it was wet, but after I dried it, it smelled fine, almost like a fresh apple. My hair was very shiny and soft, as well! Styling it was easier, and it looked like silk. I'll keep this treatment up and see what happens!

The banana/lettuce/citrus treatment was a mess. I used about a fourth of a banana, a handful of lettuce and a lime wedge, and mashed everything together in a plastic bag. I probably should have used a blender, and if I get super-bored some Saturday in the future, maybe I'll try that. I wrapped a towel around my shoulders and proceeded to rub the mixture through my hair. About 90 percent of the mixture landed either on the floor or in the sink. I tried to scoop some of it back up from the sink, but didn't have much luck. I wrapped it all up in a towel and let it sit for 30 minutes. Besides smelling like a fruit salad, it wasn't unpleasant. I can't imagine how such a treatment would be beneficial, though! I rinsed it out... And rinsed it some more. It was quite challenging to extract all the tiny chunks of lime pulp, lettuce and banana. I gave up on water and did manage to brush the rest of it out. All in all, I give this treatment a thumbs down.

What's next on the list of treatments? Well, you might catch me hanging upside down like a bat, because I'm going to add the inversion table to my regimen. It sits in the exercise room (out of sight, out of mind), but I am going to try harder to remember to use it. Maybe I'll find a picture of a bat and tape it to my alarm clock so that I see it every morning. That would be a lovely thing to see first thing in the morning... Not.

Cayenne is Hot, Hot, Hot!

So, I was in Vitamin Shoppe yesterday stocking up on rosemary and Vitamin D (sunshine in pill form?!), and I came across cayenne. I've heard that cayenne applied topically can help increase hair growth, but I'm not sure how I feel about that. What if it got in my eyes? Ouch! So, I picked up some cayenne supplements -- even better, it's a cayenne/garlic blend, and garlic is supposed to be a wonderful supplement for general health. The cayenne is supposed to invigorate circulation and warm the blood -- sounds like a great answer to this cold winter weather, anyway! I'm starting out slowly -- apparently, cayenne in high dosages can upset the stomach. So, I'll be building up my tolerance to it.

The Vitamin D, recommended by my cousin, should help, too. In addition, I read in the paper this morning that for anyone living north of the Deep South (Georgia, Alabama, etc.), the winter sun is not strong enough to provide sufficient Vitamin D. Good to know! I prefer my sunshine in the great outdoors, but there's nothing great about 30-degree weather and gloomy January (blah), so I'm going to take my Vitamin D (sunshine vitamin) and cayenne (heat), and look forward to SPRING!