What Is Alopecia Areata?

Alopecia areata is considered an autoimmune disease, in which the immune system, which is designed to protect the body from foreign invaders such as viruses and bacteria, mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, the tiny cup-shaped structures from which hairs grow. This can lead to hair loss on the scalp and elsewhere.

In most cases, hair falls out in small, round patches about the size of a quarter. In many cases, the disease does not extend beyond a few bare patches. In some people, hair loss is more extensive. Although uncommon, the disease can progress to cause total loss of hair on the head (referred to as alopecia areata totalis) or complete loss of hair on the head, face, and body (alopecia areata universalis).

What Causes It?

In alopecia areata, immune system cells called white blood cells attack the rapidly growing cells in the hair follicles that make the hair. The affected hair follicles become small and drastically slow down hair production. Fortunately, the stem cells that continually supply the follicle with new cells do not seem to be targeted. So the follicle always has the potential to regrow hair.

Scientists do not know exactly why the hair follicles undergo these changes, but they suspect that a combination of genes may predispose some people to the disease. In those who are genetically predisposed, some type of trigger--perhaps a virus or something in the person's environment--brings on the attack against the hair follicles.

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Review of the Best Organic Hair Care Products

The Exclusive Ojon® Collection

From the remote tropical rainforests of Central America, an ancient native's secret to naturally beautiful hair has been discovered. Since well before recorded history the Miskito Indians, also known as Tawira or "the people of beautiful hair"™ have extracted a rich palm nut oil from the tropical Ojon™ tree to make a remarkably nourishing hair conditioner and shine enhancer.

Ojon® Rare Harvest Tawaka Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cleanser
The ultimate cleansing-treatment for dry, damaged, aging hair and skin, but ideal for all hair and skin types.
• Not tested on animals Manufactured in Italy

Personal Review from: degrosz in upstate NY 7/2/09
Love it!
Pros: Adds Shine, Cleans Thoroughly, Gentle, Great Smell, Improves Hair Health, Lathers Well
Describe Yourself: Beauty Conscious
Best Uses: Curly Hair, Daily Use, Thicker Hair
Hair Type: Very Curly Hair
Bottom Line: recommended
“The best hair care product I have ever used. My hair looks & feels amazing.”

A rare, 98% natural, intensively moisturizing antioxidant-rich, sulfate-free cleansing treatment for the hair.

• Unique, gentle, daily hair cleansing treatment that moisturizes hair and body while protecting from harmful environmental damage
• Quickly and thoroughly absorbs onto the skin and hair
• Leaves skin and hair feeling velvety-smooth with no oily feeling
• Rare, natural blend replenishes precious oils that skin and hair lose over time
• Contains a potent blend of wild crafted antioxidants
• Won't strip essential oils from hair and skin
• Formulated without chemical fillers or sulfates
• Enriched with wild crafted Ojon oil

Concealed deep within the tropical rainforests of Central America for centuries, two ancient tribal traditions come together to create a rare, anti-oxidant-rich, rejuvenating hair, face and body moisturizing cleansing treatment. Until now, the rare ingredients have been used exclusively by the native Tawaka and Tawira tribes. Both groups continue to harvest and process their precious crops by hand for use exclusively in Ojon™ products using ancient tribal methods.

Tawaka™ Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cleanser from the Ojon™ Rare Harvest Collection. The ultimate sulfate free cleansing treatment for hair, face and body combines two ancient tribal rainforest remedies to deliver the rich, nourishing benefits of pure Ojon™ oil, with the intensively moisturizing and potent anti-oxidant-rich properties of our exclusive, rare wild crafted Tawaka™ skincare blend.

This unique blend leaves damaged hair restored, very soft and shiny as it gently cleanses and thoroughly nourishes skin. Restores the precious oils hair and skin lose over time with no oily feeling. This no-tear formula gently removes makeup without leaving a greasy feeling, and won't strip hair color or natural oils from hair or skin.
A beautiful fact:
The savage cacao in Tawaka Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cleanser contains the same antioxidant amount as 125 lbs of blueberries!

Ojon® Shine & Protect Conditioner
~~~~~~~
Personal review from: Curl Girl
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!
Pros: Adds Shine, Gentle, Great Smell, Improves Hair Health, Improves Texture, Smoothes & Softens
Describe Yourself: Beauty Conscious
Best Uses: Curly Hair, Daily Use, Dry Hair, Thick Hair
Hair Type: Wavy Hair
Bottom Line: recommended
“Seriously, my WHOLE life (I just turned 50) I've been trying a gazillion conditioners. This one is it. I still use Kiehl's Silk and Groom in my wet hair before I blow-dry, but it's this Ojon that makes my hair feel like...well, hair! It's really wonderful. Don't know how it would do on thinner, straight hair, but for my thick, wavy/curly, dry hair it's really amazing. Was using Ojon Hydrating Conditioner, which was good, but then I tried this Shine and Protect and "yes!" Or as they say in France, "et voila!" Please, don't ever stop making it!”
Ojon™ Shine & Protect Conditioner, a creamy rich, lightweight conditioner that moisturizes and detangles while enhancing and protecting hair color and restoring a brilliant shine.

Ideal for color-treated, dull, damaged or dry hair. Recommended for all hair types.

Benefits: Adds brilliant shine and conditioning to color-treated hair while enhancing color vibrancy and endurance. Moisturizes, detangles and improves manageability without weighing hair down. Features natural Algae extract which has a similar molecular structure as silicone enhanced with Jojoba, Vitamin E, Mandarin Orange extract, Papaya extract, Lime peel extract, Sweet Almond oil and Broccoli seed oil to intensify color brilliance and vitality and help maximize color retention while repairing, strengthening and sealing in moisture.

• Helps reduces breakage caused by thermal styling, sun damage and combing.
• Natural UV-inhibiting antioxidant complex helps protect hair from sun and environmental damage.
• Formulated with 100% pure Ojon™ palm nut oil, supported by clinical studies to fortify, restore and nourish damaged, color-treated or processed hair. Formulated to be color safe.
• Maximizes the vitality of color-treated hair
• Adds brilliant shine and conditioning
• Protects from UV and heat damage
Manufactured in Italy exclusively for Ojon Corp.

Ojon® Revitalizing Mist
Nourish, strengthen and protect hair before styling with this weightless leave-in conditioner. Also adds shine, gently detangles, and seals in color.

Personal Review from: Keisha in Iraq on 11/02/09
I Am Buying This Again!
Pros: Easy To Use, Lightweight, Moisturizes, Smells Great
Cons: bottle too small
Describe Yourself: Product Junkie
Best Uses: Natural curly hair
Hair Type: Very Curly Hair
Bottom Line: recommended
“I used this product on my naturally curly hair which is normally very difficult to comb out and it left my hair feeling soft and I was able to comb it out with ease.”

Ojon™ Revitalizing Mist, a weightless pre-styling leave-in conditioner that rehydrates, nourishes, strengthens and protects the hair as it prepares it for styling.

Ideal for dry, damaged or chemically-treated hair. Recommended for all hair types.

Benefits: This exceptional "shake to activate" formula rehydrates restructures and smoothes away tangles with one simple movement.
• pH balanced vitamin-enriched formula seals the cuticle to help prolong hair color and help styling products adhere more effectively and evenly
• Reduces breakage caused by thermal styling, sun damage and combing
• Enhanced with Bamboo extract and Vitamin H to help strengthen the hair and ensure that follicles are firmly anchored
• Adds shine and helps combat humidity to eliminate frizz
• Formulated with 100% pure Ojon™ palm nut oil, supported by clinical studies to fortify, rebuild and nourish damaged, color-treated or processed hair.
No animal testing. No animal-derived ingredients.
Manufactured in Italy
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Any one of these Exclusive Ojon hair products is highly recommended by me. They work marvelous on naturally curly kinky hair. Black hair thrives in a moisture rich environment. Ojon is especially formulated to 'feed' our hair cells. Hair products such as these, make hair care enjoyable again. See for yourself how many hairstyles you can come up with, as your hair 'heals' from all the abuse and neglect its been under. Ojon is the best!

Hair Care Tips for Men

Okay guys, be honest, how much do you really care about your hair? It is typical to think that guys don’t spend much time caring about their appearance let alone their hair.

These days you see more men of color wearing locs—glorious locs. I think today more than ever before men are starting to care about more than just their hair. They are heading over to nail salons and putting their feet up for a pedicure and handing over their hands for a manicure.

Don’t be surprised though. Women love a manicured, clean man. For women, cleanliness in your outer appearance represents cleanliness in the bedroom.

It’s high time that men take heed and care for their health, bodies and appearance as they like to see their women do. There is absolutely nothing effeminate about this…it’s the manly thing to do.

The following are a couple of tips for caring for your natural hair.

1. Shampoo & Conditioner

A good shampoo has four basic characteristics

• It cleanses the hair of oil and debris
• It works up a good lather in hard and soft water
• It does not irritate the skin
• and it leaves the hair and scalp feeling cleansed and looking healthy

Just because you are a guy doesn’t mean you shouldn’t condition your hair. Many conditioners contain lanolin, vegetable oil, proteins, and herbs, which are designed to restore your natural oils and moisturize your hair for optimal hair health and growth potential.

 Leave-in conditioners are a great alternative to pomades, sprays, gels and other styling products. Your hair will be more manageable and style able as a result.

2. Homemade Remedies To Add Shine And Protein To Your Mane Of Locs

Eggs provide protein to your diet, and they can also work as a protein for your hair when you add the yolk (not the whites) to your shampoo.

As a deep conditioning regimen, I recommend this being done perhaps once a week or once a month.

Simply beat the egg yolk (1 yolk) in a bowl, and apply to wet hair in the shampoo lather. Let it sit on your hair for about 5 minutes while you hang over the wash tub or sink. Follow this with a luke warm or cold water rinse. Do not use hot water, unless you want scrambled eggs on your head!

Lemon Rinse

Use a lemon rinse to clear out the hair.  Squeeze about half a lemon into a big cup (strain out the  seeds and pulp) add about 1 cup of cool water and let lemon water trickle through your hair.

Follow this with a warm olive oil treatment. Work in an ounce of olive oil to shampooed hair and wrap a steaming hot towel on your head. Leave in for 10 or 15 minutes and rinse lightly; towel dry gently.

3. Styling

I always believe less is more when it comes to men’s hair styling. The end result, when you

have finished styling should never look overdone. Men’s hair looks better if it looks and smells clean.  If you have put some effort into your appearance, and used a small amount of product in  your hair to give it that natural glow.

Depending on the length and texture of your hair--if you have curly hair you may want to use

a mousse to help you manage your style. For straight hair, try a gel. Pomades work well to keep your hair in place if you have a close crop cut and you brush your hair to keep the waves in place.

Natural oils and moisturizing sprays work well for dredlocs and coarse afros.

Whatever hairstyle you choose to wear gentlemen remember, cleanliness is a big plus to the opposite sex.

Hair ShampooThat Nourishes Your Roots

A favorite of all the natural and organic shampoos.
From the remote tropical rainforests of Central America, an ancient native secret to naturally beautiful hair has been discovered. Since well before recorded history the Miskito Indians, also known as Tawdra or "the people of beautiful hair"™, have extracted a rich palm nut oil from the tropical Ojon™ tree to make a remarkably nourishing hair conditioner and shine enhancer.

Ideal for natural or chemically-treated, curly, coarse or unruly hair.

Ojon™ Ultra Hydrating Shampoo is a rich, gently cleansing daily conditioning shampoo ideal for ultra-dry or unruly hair, natural or chemically-treated, thin to thick. All-natural plant-based cleansing agents, including coconut and wheat protein, are combined with the hydrating and smoothing benefits of 100% pure Ojon™ palm nut oil, babassu, shea butter and sweet almond protein. Hair is left shiny, smooth and manageable.

No animal testing. No animal-derived ingredients.

Pure and simple organic shampoo
Ultra-mild, pure and healthy cleanser for all hair types. Safe for color treated hair.

100% Nontoxic Plant Chemistry

Ingredient Notes:

1. Certified Organic
2. Antioxidant Intellimune™ Seed Oil Complex
3. Naturally Occuring Component of Organic Essential Oil Blend

Black Hair And All Those Products

Many people of color spend a large amount of money on black hair care products each month. If you are

spending a great deal on these products, you may be shocked to learn that you can get many of the

same quality hair care products for less, taking into consideration what you actually need to

use. Keep in mind that using too many products can damage your hair.

So the question is:

What is the solution to having beautiful healthy natural hair without breaking the bank?

One option to consider is simply purchasing only what you need. Don’t be a ‘product junkie’ and

stock up on products that you will not use up in a life time.

Don’t purchase the most expensive name brand, because nine times out of ten, the generic

company and the popular ‘name brand’ company is using the same manufacturer, but

with a less expensive price tag.

 You may feel you need waxes, gels and other hair styling products, but in fact

natural healthy hair doesn’t require nearly as much product. Good examples of this are products that add

too much shine to your hair. The simpler the better.

When natural hair is well cared for, it does not need to be over washed. Using a clarifying shampoo is

An excellent way to give your hair a deep cleanse. Simply replenish the natural oils back into your scalp and hair with Jojoba oil known as ‘liquid gold’-- any natural oil that is blended with pure essential oils is great too; they are soothing and healing to your scalp and hair.

In addition to all these considerations, keep in mind what you’re actually putting on your hair.

Adding toxic chemicals like hair color, perms and sprays to your hair is worse still, especially when you spend hours a month blow drying and flat ironing your hair. The best solution here is to simply reduce or eliminate altogether the amount of chemicals added.

You may even want to consider finding a few organic products. These are simply the best for your natural

Tresses and they do not hurt your hair in the process.

Here are a few more tips to keep in mind:

·         Do not wash your hair every day. You don’t need to, besides, excessive washing strips away many

of the nutrients your hair needs to stay moisturized for optimal growth opportunity.

·         Use minimal amounts of any hair care product you use. Being careful to follow directions for that particular product.

·          Switch out conditioners and shampoos every few months. Some hair products leave residue in your hair and after

a while it builds up and weighs the hair (locs) down and some loc wearers experience hair breakage, which is largely

due to the weight and dryness of the locs. Switching to another brand or product every few months will help your

hair stays alive and experiences a great clean feeling.

·         Minimize the use of your hair dryer, excessive usage aids in the breakdown of your hair.

·         Do not wear your hair up in a pony tail too often because this is a sure way to put tension and stress on the parameter (edges)

Of your hair and you will begin to see breakage and may experience baldness and permanent damage.

Most importantly, taking care of your natural hair is easy and fun especially when you fall in love with it.

Your visit to the hair salon will begin to decrease and you will experience very minimal hair loss.

You will eventually have no need for weaves, braids or extensions as your creative juices begin to flow and you start experimenting with hairstyles that are complementary and excepted in the workplace.

Who knows, you may even get the courage to embrace your total self and through away the hair color too!

5 Ways to Reduce Dandruff

Dandruff is detected by the itchy and flakiness of the scalp. You can always check with your

dermatologist to identify the problem and for remedies that help cure it. You may not even have

dandruff; your current hair product including shampoo and conditioner could be irritating your

scalp. So, try switching your product first to a non-dandruff fighting shampoo and conditioner.

See if the flakiness goes away. Stress can be a main cause for dandruff, so make sure that you

try relaxing techniques daily to reduce your stress level.

1. Shampoo

Wash your hair with warm to cool water. Try a mild shampoo for a few weeks, and if you do not

see any results, use an anti-dandruff shampoo. You should notice improvement in 4-6 weeks.

Avoid alcohol based products, or any other styling products until the dandruff subsides. Instead

use a leave-in conditioner to maintain shape.

2. Aloe Vera

You need to soothe your scalp because it is red and irritated, so try Aloe Vera. Rub the gel onto

the scalp and keep it on overnight. Be sure to replace your pillowcase.

3. Apple Cider Vinegar

Try pouring two tablespoons of Apple Cider Vinegar onto your scalp, or lemon juice, or even try

a mixture of both. Leave it on for as long as you like about 20 minutes to an hour should work

and then shampoo.

4. Coconut Oil, Lavender Oil Soothing to the Scalp

Coconut Oil and Lavender Oil with a base of Olive and essential oils

is a mild and soothing choice in relieving dandruff. You can chill it and work it

through your hair. After a few days the dandruff should be gone.

5. Herbal

You can use various herbs including ginger, rosemary, tea or thyme. You can combine ginger

and rosemary with olive oil, separately and rub onto the scalp. Tea can be made and then

rubbed into the hair and shampooed. The oil from Thyme is an antiseptic and can be boiled and

left on your hair.

You can also try to eliminate dandruff from the inside out. Cut back on junk food, or eliminate it

completely from your diet. Try eating yogurt. Also, include more fruits and vegetables and

incorporate (soy) milk.

If the dandruff problem persists, or any of these remedies make the problem worse discontinue

and seek medical attention. You want to be sure it is in fact dandruff you are seeking. If it is

another skin condition, it will be treated using different remedies.