Hair Health Tips

With so many hair oils on the market, it is reasonable to wonder if natural hair oil actually works at improving our hair health. At Thrive Hair Bar, our 100% plant-based OG Hair Oil features a mix of rosemary essential oil and fenugreek oil, ingredients with long standing reputations for promoting scalp health and encouraging hair growth. But how do these ingredients actually work? And can they make a visible difference in your journey to healthy and thriving hair?

Weight loss medications like Ozempic and Wegovy are becoming hope for individuals managing obesity and striving toward long-term health goals. While the physical transformation brought by these drugs is worth celebrating, it is reasonable to wonder if these medications have any effect on our hair health. In order to explore the connection between weight-loss medication and hair, it is crucial to understand what those medications are, how they work, and what effect they have on the body. 

Hair is often viewed as reflection of a personal style and/or health, but its condition may also be an indicator of internal nutritional balance and diet. While external care remains important, the foundation for healthy and thriving hair begins with what the body absorbs and processes daily. This then raises an important question, can what we eat be directly affecting our hair health?

Over the years, people have sworn by porosity, trims, and trendy hair treatments as the keys to a healthy, thriving year. However, we often tend to overlook one foundational factor that governs the strength, shine, and integrity of our strands–pH. The pH scale–short for potential hydrogen–measures the concentration of hydrogen ions in a substance ranging from 0 to 14. Anything below 7 is considered acidic, 7 is neutral, and anything above is basic. 

Among the most popular extension styles, braids are by far the most widely used. They require minimal maintenance, can last for weeks, and are often a more affordable option compared to sew-ins, wig installations, and other alternatives. However, this style is not without its drawbacks, some of which include traction alopecia, dry scalp, hair breakage from improper takedown/installation, and inflammation of hair follicles (folliculitis). Now, studies have come out speaking on the toxic chemical components found in many synthetic hair extensions. This article will explore two studies that delve into the materials used in braiding hair, shedding light on the potential health risks they pose.

Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA) is a form of scarring hair loss that disproportionately affects black women. It is characterized by hair loss and scarring that begins at the crown of the head and gradually migrates outwards, resulting in permanent hair loss and visible scarring. It is also associated with symptoms such as itching, burning, and tenderness.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) have conducted a study that reveals that women who frequently use chemical hair straightening products may be at a higher risk of uterine cancer, especially African American women who tend to use these products more frequently and from an earlier age.

There are very limited studies done using hair samples from diverse racial groups, particularly those of African or Black descent. The extreme lack of diversity in hair-related studies can lead to misinformation and misdiagnosis for underrepresented communities. This meta-analysis aims to address the average hair growth, density, and breakage rates amongst different ethnicities.