new thread
Hey all!
I got back from a spiritual retreat of sorts at an intentional
community not too long ago, and just now am getting back on the
net!
What a great bunch of discussions there are on the board!
A couple of things for what it's worth -
While I was on leave, I met this really charming younger couple from
Eastern Europe, both with really long, beautiful, (and enviable) hair. We started talking about hair, and I told them about this board. They then told me something I knew I'd have to pass on -
They had a contest to see whose hair would grow fastest, and the
woman won bigtime. She said that her mother had handed her a couple of secrets for long hair - Garlic Water for one, and onion juice!
She told me that what you do is boil garlic, (she didn't give any specific amount, but it sounded like it would have to be at least a
few). Then you take the water after it's cooled, and rub it into your hair and scalp especially, and let it dry, then sit in the sun. I couldn't believe something that sounded so wive's tail-esque, but she swears by it, and her boyfriend swore it worked as he watched her hair outgrow his!
With the onions, you mash them up, (pureeing would probably work best, until their liquified), and rub the "juice" into your hair, then do as you did before. Although I'd be willing to try the first one, I thought this one would not only be too smelly, but also the acid from the juice would probably do horrors to your hair!
Also, something I couldn't help notice is that my hair really shot out after a couple of weeks on this farm. I think I've figured out what it was that may have contributed.
The whole time I was on retreat, I ate REALLY healthy - alot of brown rice, tofu, and granola kind of foods. The only dairy I took in was cream, not milk, straight from the cow. Also fresh veggies pulled right out of the ground.
Does anyone know the benefits of diet to hair growth? I don't know much about nutrition necessarily, but it was the only thing that changed in that period from my daily urban life. That and alot slower pace, and alot less stress! And when I got back, everyone remarked how much my hair had grown.
On another note, for those of you who remember my last post, there was a picture of a guy posted who I said I looked like. My co-workers thought it was me with a wig! (My hairs long, but not THAT long . . . yet!). Well, I'm sending a pic via snail mail to V, the webmaster, and hopefully soon you'll be seeing my mug and my hair here on the board!
So . . . how's everyone doing? What's new and exciting? Whose the 15 year old with the hair to the floor? I can't believe the story kid, sorry. Although children's hair naturally grows faster than adults, it's not that much faster!
Hope all are doing well!
((((((((((((((((Longhairs on the web)))))))))))))))))))
(cyberhug)
Tigg
Tigg and all, I think this is "garbage." Nothing applied to the hair is going to make it grow faster or affect its growth in any way. Once the hair leaves the follicle, it's just dead tissue--nothing there to "grow." Certainly, deficiencies of several vitamins, minerals and/or essential amino acids can result in slow or poor hair growth or even to hair loss--that's because they essential nutrients are not available from the blood stream supplying the hair follicles where the live portion of the hair is located. It is said, and I do not know this to be true, that supplementing the diet with the amino acid, L-cysteine, will encourage hair growth. It is true that hair has a lot of cysteine in it, and I suppose if a normal diet is relatively low in cysteine it is possible that this is a true statement. But rubbing stuff--any stuff--on already deal hair is going to do nothing except make it smell BAD!
For what it's worth, I thought it was pretty far out, but these guys
swear by it. Just thought I'd pass it on, since one of the ideas behind the board is to pass on tips, info, etcetera.
As for the diet thing, I can't imagine eating Ravioli out of a can and
Ben & Jerry's would do anything for your hair either, but it would seem if you're eating right, your body has a better chance of being healthy, and would be able to perform, (and grow, and change) at a better rate.
Tigg
Tigg,
I don't hate the messenger--or the message for that matter. It's just not true.
Hey guy!
Cool - hearing the way people went off on the kid with hair to the floor, and some of the other tall tales we think we've heard, I was afraid I'd been put on the hit list.
Personally, it really did sound like an old wives tale, and rather National Enquire-esque. But I figured if there's one place to have it debated, proved or dis, this was the place. I've learned more here than I've ever learned before, and it's great being part of this.
So . . .
on with the grow!
((((((((((((((Chaucer and his mane)))))))))))))))))))
(cyberhug)
Tigg
You'd better convey this breakthrough discovery to the Upjohn company before they make any more money off minoxidil.
I think the principle at work here is that the substance applied topically, whether it be minoxidil or garlic water, enters the follicles through the scalp. Unless the researchers in your lab have discovered otherwise.
I believe both garlic and onions have a high sulphur content, for whatever that's worth.
What I said stands. Minoxidil does nothing to the hair per se. What it does is increase the circulation of blood to the hair follicle. Monixidil first was used, taken orally, to treat high blood pressure. By dilating blood vessels in the body, the pressure of the blood flowing through them was decreased. An untoward side-effect of this blood pressure medicine was that a few people developed hair growth--in places where hair never grew before (like women's faces). Always looking for an opportunity to "turn a sow's ear into a silk purse" (or make big bucks), Upjohn looked at whether or not the drug could be formulated so as to pass through the skin and affect only local blood circulation on the top of the head--thinking that compromised blood flow might be a part of the problem in baldness (to a small degree, it is). Indeed, after much experimentation such a formulation was discovered and about a 1/3 of bald men will have a positive response to Minoxidil therapy. Again, though, it does not affect the hair itself; it passes through the scalp and has its effect on the small blood vessels supplying the hair follicles with nutrients.
OK. I will give my two cents.
It sounds like you're implying that the garlic/onion was responsible for her win. More than likely it was genetics. To bring the experiment to completion, they would have to switch roles.
I may have to try this out. Contrary to other schemes I've seen in a variety of places, I can't see how this could cause any damage.
On the contrary, hair loves to be acidic. I think the natural pH of the scalp is around 3.5 or so.
Diet is VERY important in regard to hair. Hallmarks of poor nutrition are red hair and poor hair growth. This is not to say that red hair implies poor nutrition. However, hair that would normally be black or dark brown becomes red when malnourished. Stress can also be harmful to hair, making it more likely to fall out. Have you ever noticed how a worried cat sheds like crazy?