You Can Protect
Aging Hair and Nails

Hair and nails are both made of a protein called keratin, have no nerves and the parts that are visible are dead cells. As we age the most noticeable change in our hair is that it lightens and eventually turns white. Many of the changes that occur are genetically determined but environment and health play an important role, too.

Other common changes due to aging are:

• Hair growth slows down
• Facial and body hair loss increases
• Hair strands become thinner
• Hair can lose density all over the head and the scalp may become visible (female-pattern baldness)
• Facial hair can become coarse
• Nail growth slows down
• Vertical ridging (from cuticle to top of nail)
• Nails may become brittle
• Toenails may harden and thicken
• Nails may dull and yellow
• Ingrown toenails may become more common
• Nail splitting may develop or increase

Taking care of your hair

If you don't suffer from such conditions, the best way to hold on to the hair you have is to treat it gently. Avoid handling your hair too much and doing anything that pulls it such as tight buns, ponytails, braids, rollers, etc.

Eat well, exercise and get plenty of rest. Healthy hair is part of a healthy lifestyle.

Get a good hair cut. Go to a good hair stylist, one that knows how to work with the hair you've got to make it look it's healthiest as well as making you look your best. The right cut can make you feel and look younger.

Hair color can make you look younger or older. Gray can be hard to color. It will not cover well or fade very quickly if it's not done by a well trained colorist. If you prefer to do it yourself and save some money get lots of advice before you attempt it. It could end up costing you even more not to mention the stress, if you botch it up. Choosing the right color is critical. Many women go blond to camouflage the roots that are growing in, but it can make them look washed out and drab. Going with a dark color can accentuate wrinkles and pale complexion. In either case, highlights (or low lights in the case of blond) can give you the right look.

Cover your head when you go out in the sun. UV rays dry hair and destroy its shine and fade color. Use a sun protecting spray or lotion.

Shampoo less often. Oil production decreases as we age, so you might not need to shampoo as frequently. When shampooing concentrate on cleaning the scalp.

Use conditioners and masks after shampooing to add moisture and shine.

Don't over–style your hair, but when using a dryer or straightener protect your hair, especially the tips with a heat protectant product.

Add a few drops of pure natural jojoba oil to your shampoo or conditioner to give your hair the ultimate treatment.

Jojoba oil (pronounced ho-ho-ba) is actually a liquid wax and not an oil. It closely resembles human sebum and is absorbed easily not leaving skin or scalp feeling greasy. Regarded as an effective conditioner and moisturizer, jojoba oil is antibacterial and an excellent cleanser which can be beneficial for a dry, itchy or sore scalp. It contains vitamins E and B-Complex, as well as silicon, chromium, copper, zinc and iodine.

Taking care of your nails

As with hair, nails become weaker with age for most women. They have a tendency to ridge and discolor, but there are a number of things we can do to keep them looking their best.

Decrease vertical ridges by using a coarse file to smooth surface, continue with a finer grate file and finish off with a buffing file to give nails a polished look. Be careful not to overdo it as nails can become very thin. Another option is to use a brush on nail ridge filler.

Wear gloves whenever your hands are in water, dirt or dust. There are different types of gloves for different chores: cloth gloves, rubber gloves, extra thick ones for heavy duty cleaning, regular dish washing gloves and throw-away latex gloves for all sorts of other chores.

Stop using your nails as tools. Don't pick, scrape, or pull with your nails.

Push back cuticles don't cut them. Nails grow from the matrix, the hidden area under the cuticles. Cutting cuticles can leave new nails susceptible to bacteria and infection. Cuticles should be softened in warm water and pushed back very gently with a cuticle pusher being careful not to tear the skin.

Moisturize. Nails need moisture. Rub lotion or oil on hands and nails every time you wash them. Pure jojoba oil is an excellent moisturizer.

Good nutrition. Vitamin deficiency can be reflected in your nails. In such cases, improving nutrition can improve their health. On the other hand taking vitamin supplements won't strengthen your nails unless your diet is lacking in those nutrients.

Biotin (Vitamin B7) is often recommended for brittle nails and hair but a deficiency in biotin is rare. It is found in yeast, cauliflower, chocolate, egg yolks, fish, kidney, legumes, liver, meat, molasses, dairy products, nuts, oatmeal, salmon, oysters, peanut butter, poultry, wheat germ, and whole grains. A high consumption of raw egg whites can cause a deficiency in biotin.

Use nail hardeners. If you have always had thin soft nails, it is probably hereditary and it won't get any better with age. Nail strengtheners can work, but if you stop using them, your nails will return to their former shape.

Don't use nail polish remover too often. Nail polish removers are very drying and can cause nails to split and flake. Keep their use to a minimum by retouching nail polish as much as possible.

Use tea tree oil if you suffer from nail fungus infections. It is a safe effective cure for fungus if used correctly.

Tea tree oil is extracted from the leaves of the tea tree that grows in Australia. It has anti fungal and antibacterial properties which work fantastically well in the treatment of nail fungus. Apply a few drops on the affected nail 2 or 3 times a day until the nail is completely grown out, about 3 to 6 months, even longer depending on the severity of the fungus.

Changes in nail appearance can indicate health problems. Many diseases and serious health problems can be detected by looking at the nails. Your dermatologists specializes in treating skin, hair and nails and should be contacted if you notice nail changes, swelling or pain.

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