Cut and Grow

Ends that need to be trimmed.

The other day I was working in the salon. My colleague, Malika came over and showed me an article about the importance having a hair cut. In the beginning, I was very impressed. I was even more impressed that it was written by a licensed cosmetologist. But then. Yep, there is always a but! As I read further into the article, there it was a big fat prevarication (you know; a statement that deviates from or perverts the truth)...LOL! The article read, "cutting hair makes your hair grow." It encouraged readers to schedule their hair cutting appointments so that the magical hair growth could begin. "Malarchy," I say!

Again, the purpose of my Blog Ndogo is to keep things short and sweet. I am not quite sure how often this type of prevarication is in print or spoken, but let me be the first or the second licensed professional to tell you the truth. Cutting your hair makes your hair grow about as much as cutting your fingernails or your grass. It ain't happenin G (in my Flava Flav voice).

Or, hair that needs to be cut (hint: both means the same).

I have no idea of how anyone, especially a licensed cosmetologist, can fathom, justify, explain or even correlate hair growth with cutting. Jenny Bally and Alessandra Foresto of Oprah.com has done some extensive research on the top 5 myths about hair care. They wrote this about the "hair cutting, getting your ends trimmed myth;" "Cutting the ends of your hair DOES NOT affect the follicles in your scalp, which determines how fast and how much your hair grows, says Paradi Mirmirani, MD, assistant professor of dermatology at the University of California, San Francisco. Hair grows an average of a quarter-inch every month -- whether or not you cut it. Regular trims might make your hair look a little longer, though. Getting rid of split ends reduces hair breakage, and breakage is what makes hair look thinner at the ends (and shorter), says Matt Fugate, a hairstylist at Sally Hershberger Downtown in New York City. Every eight to 12 weeks, ask your stylist to take off the minimum necessary to eliminate split ends." Now I do not how many of you know who Sally Hershberger is, but I suggest you google her. If one of her hair designers as well as myself can honestly admit that cutting hair does not make it grow; what makes those other stylist who says it does right?

Trimming and Cutting ends are synonymous!

For the record dermatology trumps cosmetology on any given Sunday as well as any given anatomical and biological day. While dermatologists may know very little about hair styling; the same can be said about a cosmetologists knowing much about dermatology. In other words, do not confuse the two. Any cosmetologist playing dermatologists in the areas of scalp/skin disorders, scalp/skin diseases, hair growth, hair loss and the likes should not be taken seriously. I mean would you let your dermatologist color your hair, cut it, relax it, braid it, sew or glue in your weave? Of course you would not. And the dermatologist would never offer such a service in their practice. 

Philip Pelusi teaches, "It's now how much you take off that counts..,"

There is no state anywhere in the world that license any hair stylist in the areas of "making hair grow." The FDA has approved very few drugs who can make that claim or their bottles. It is true that vitamin supplements, a well balanced diet, increased circulation by way of scalp massages, far infrared technology and so on can improve the blood supply that is truly responsible for providing the nourishment to promote growth; honestly, that my readers is about the just of it. 

"But how much you leave on." end quote.

Funny thing, if you want your nails or lawn to look nice; what do you do? Get them manicured (trimmed, cut and beautified). The same can be said about a hair cut. Again, while the cut or trim will make either grow both will make your nails, lawn and hair look very nice. Understand there are many consumers who complain that some hair stylists do not know the difference between trimming or cutting a lot or a little; well that is a different blog.

But for now, how is this for cut and grow?

But, I Am Still Thirsty

Ahhh, so refreshing!

I can recall growing up as a kid having moments when I absolutely loved water and I recall moments when I absolutely hated water. For example, as a kid I loved water straight from the faucet. You remember when you use to jump on on the kitchen sink and drink it straight from the faucet and your mother came up and smacked you in the back of the head? Oh, or what about when your cousin or grandma would hold the long green water hose and let you drink it until you almost burst and of course, they would spray you with the hose! Now, there were times when I absoluted hated water as a kid? Drum roll please. The top 3 times I hated water as a kid; bath time. I loathed the street lights too because it meant, “come run your water to take a bath.” I did not like water when I had to take it with a pill. “Really mom, what were you thinkin’?” And, the number one time when I absolutely hated water? You guessed it, when we had no Kool Aid!

“My how you’ve grown!” My Aunt Mary would say. Gone are the days of hated water. Today, I can proudly say I love water. Though I never thought I wold live to see the day I’d pay for it; I love it none the less. In my career as a cosemtologist, I seriously can not think of another leading cause to unwanted hair shedding, hair breakage, limp hair and hair that lacks luster other than water.

While it is true that water provides a great source of hydration to our organs; water offers other benefits and aids to our body’s functions. Water has many benefits to our body and overall health. I did some research to highlight a few benefits of water aids in our health which of course improves hair. Shanna Freeman, a contributing writer for the Mayo Clinic’s brochure on water informs us that water can also do the following: reduce the burden on our kidneys, bladder, liver and spleen by flushing out waste. She also writes that water helps dissolve vital minerals and other nutrients; thus making them accessible to our vital organs. Lastly, she writes that water actually carries nutrients and oxygen to cells in our bodies.

In my line of work, I see dehydration in it’s most interesting form. I see it in the skin and hair. I always teach that hair is actually an appendage of your skin in the form of a fiber called hair. With that fact; lack of water is sure to affect the hair. I have saved my customers hundreds of dollars in unnecessary moisture/protein treatments, medications, haircuts, make-up and more just by encouraging them to drink more water. I even offer my clients discounts when I see that they are drinking more water! When you think of drinking water, think of how those tiny molecules in water really do help those other tiny cells go to the right places in your body to do what they need to do  make you and your hair healthy. When you reduce your water intake or replace it with increased consumption of sugary beverages, alcoholic beverages or none at all; you are doing great harm to yourself.

While there are many theories on how much water to drink, I suggest to double what your normally do if you are not a great fan of drinking water. So for example, I have read many reports that suggest drinking half your weight in ounces. Let’s say you weight 210 pounds; then you should be drinking 105 oz of water. That is the equivalent to a little more than a gallon and a half per day. While many may never drink half their weight in ounces; it is very well worth the deliberate practice to drink more water each day.

To get more water in, I suggest you carry a bottle with you, accept offers on a cup of water, take a bottle of water to the gym and put a bottle or cup of water by your night stand at night. Remember the many benefits of water such as improved health, weight management, lubed joints, cleaner organs, clearer skin and my favorite; strong, shed free and shiny hair.

Bottoms up!