All to often what we choose to do to our hair in terms of style and supposed "care" actually damages the hair. In addition, our life habits have a significant impact on the health and appearance of the hair.

Caffeine

The jury is still out on the effects of caffeine on the body and its associated systems like the hair. In most cultures, the mild stimulant caffeine, commonly distributed in coffee and soft drinks, is a matter of daily routine. Caffeine has the effect of stimulating the central nervous system, heart, and lungs and will stave off fatigue.

It is a general rule of thumb that anything used to excess in the body has a resulting effect on the hair but the most recent studies conducted in 2005 suggest that caffeine actually prevents hair loss. Used topically, caffeine creams sold in Germany have shown good effect on male pattern baldness.

Your daily coffee consumption may be good for your hair, but stress and fatigue are not. If you are dinking enough coffee that you experience withdrawal symptoms like headaches and trembling hands when you don't get your "fix," it's time to cut back not just for your hair but for your whole system.

If your primary caffeine consumption comes from sodas, these drinks carry a heavy sodium punch that can elevate your blood pressure. 

Poor Nutrition

A diet low in fruits and vegetables and high in fast food and additives will cause hair to grow more slowly. The growth of the a-keratin shafts that comprise hair depends on good blood circulation in the scalp and healthy, oxygenated blood. Our food consumption has a considerable effect on these factors.

The B vitamins are important in maintaining healthy hair, especially B6. Hair that is not getting enough B vitamins will be thin and fine. Foods rich in these vitamins include beans, peas, soybeans and  nuts. The E vitamins also play a significant role in hair health. Try to eat more avocados, nuts, seeds, and olive oil. Finally, be sure you are getting enough magnesium, sulfur and zinc.

Unfortunately, the poor quality of the modern diet, with its reliance on junk food and on-the-go meals, means most people are not getting the vitamins and minerals they need for optimum health. Most physicians today recommend a good quality multi-vitamin / mineral combination. If you are seeing problems with thinning hair, a B-complex tablet would be a good idea as well.

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Lack of Sleep

Studies of male pattern baldness suggest that lack of sleep plays a role in altering the hormone balance in the body that leads to hair loss. In men, hair loss is attributed to the conversion of testosterone to DHT in the body. Since sleep deprivation is a condition of our fast-paced, modern life, there is every reason to suggest that the stress and fatigue it causes will result in hair damage in women as well.

Research indicates that all adult men and women would function better if they got more sleep. Two big tips in this regard are not to fall asleep in front of the television set or with the lights on. The human brain at a low level will continue to process the information being broadcast by the television and our brains are pre-programmed to be more vigilant when it's light outside. We get our best sleep in a quiet, dark room.

Poor Hygiene

The root of many hair problems can be traced to poor hygiene. When most people hear that phrase they think of someone as being "dirty." In the case of hair care, however, poor hygiene can go both ways - not washing enough and washing too much.

Often hair that is shampooed every day will be dry and lifeless because too much of the natural oils produced by the sebaceous glands on the scalp have been stripped away by harsh detergents in the shampoo, in particular alcohols and sodium laurel (and laurite) sulfate. If you feel that you must shampoo daily, you may want to use a mild baby shampoo like Johnson & Johnson's.

  The flip side of this coin is people who do not shampoo often enough and allow oil to build up in their hair giving it a greasy, limp appearance that causes the strands to plaster themselves against the scalp. Contrary to popular belief, this oily state is actually the environment in which dandruff thrives. Once the scalp begins to itch, it is subject to more serious infections from scratching and from the growth of fungus and bacteria.

The recommended regimen for hair care is to shampoo every other day and to condition once to twice a week. You are striving to achieve the correct balance of oil on the hair shafts and the absence of artificial "product" build-up.

Sun Damage

The hair can sunburn just as easily as the skin. In the summer, heat, combined with humidity (and often as a result of chemicals found in swimming pools) will serve to dry the hair, making it subject to frizzing and breaking.

In the summer moisturizing your hair is important. You may find that you need to rotate your hair care products by season. Find a "replenishing" shampoo and consider using a "leave in" conditioner, if only in the short term, to prevent further drying of the hair. Avoid the use of blow dryers and curling irons. The last thing your hair needs is more heat. Allow it to air dry instead. Try to deep condition at least once a week, perhaps with a natural mixture of rosemary and olive oil under a warm towel for 45 minutes.

Straightened Hair Styles

Anything that applies heat to the hair will have the effect of drying the strands and of making them brittle and more susceptible to breaking. Anything that causes friction or physical stress to the hair can cause hair loss.

In addition, curly hair has a unique chemical structure. Sulfur atoms in hair proteins create disulfide bonds by joining together in pairs. The greater is the distance between the proteins at the time of bonding, the greater the bend in the hair when the bond is formed. Heating techniques to relax that bond literally attack the chemical structure of curly hair.

Any time straightening techniques are used, the hair should be routinely moisturized. Keep split ends under control, and build times into your week when your hair can "relax" and be its natural curly self.

Hair Products

Finally, it's a good idea for us all to decipher the labels on our hair care products. Shampoos often contain detergent agents that dry out the hair. Hair sprays and gels contain alcohol which dries the scalp, especially when used daily. Ingredients in shampoos to avoid include sodium laurite sulfate, benzophenone-3, benzyl alcohol, DMDM hydration, and sodium laurel sulfate.

In many of these products the perfumes and preservatives that are present will cause an allergic reaction known as contact dermatitis. Any time you have severe itching and red irritation on the scalp it is a good idea to discontinue the use of all hair care products and to use something mild and healing like pine tar soap until the irritation subsides. Then add your regular products back one at a time until you find the culprit and can switch to a less irritating agent.

Conclusions

The healthier your lifestyle is the healthier your hair will be. With a proper diet, the recommended amount of sleep, and by avoiding smoking and drinking your hair should be "normal" for you. Hair comes in a variety of textures and with a variety of issues relative to degree of moisture (oily v. dry) but all these can be addressed with a proper selection of hair care products and styles. Damage caused by straightening hair and hair damage from other external sources can usually be eliminated by a change in habits and routine.