Are you one of them who are affected by the city life? Is city lifestyle ruining your hair? We are living in an arena where westernization has taken a toll over our lives. Whether we are going to party, event, outing or any other corporate gathering, we almost use hair styling products every day. We do a lot of straightening, blow drying, hair coloring or bleaching without knowing the after results. Don’t forget the hair products including hair spray, gel or wax, that coats a layer on your tresses leaving them dry, brittle after some time. We think that we have set a healthy and easy lifestyle for us by consuming our natural resources and turning them into ultra-modern technologies but the moment we step out of our house, climatic conditions starts showing its power. The air pollutants including harmful gases from our vehicles, industries, excessive UV rays from the sun due to global warming are wreaking a havoc on our hair.

Know what are the actual causes of hair damage by environment?

With the continuous arousing human actions towards urbanization, no doubt these technologies have made our lives easier but there are always pros and cons for everything we do. This leading technology has resulted in the production of ‘ Oxidative stress – one of the major causes of hair damage. This oxidative stress produces ‘ Free Radicals’ in the body which causes hair loss and damage to your beautiful tresses. The increased production of these free radicals causes the damage to your hair and results in an imbalance in the body causing the inability of the body to counteract or eliminate the harmful effects from the body.
We are sure that everyone wants a perfect picture with a perfect smile with the perfect hairstyle. Want to know how can you keep your hair strong, healthy and want to prevent the causes of oxidative stress? You might be thinking of a magical wand that can do wonder for your hair and can make a protective shield on your locks to prevent the damage of oxidative stress than ‘ANTIOXIDANTS’ will do this for you!!!

Oxidative Stress takes toll over your scalp

Body becomes deficient of nutrients causes hair shedding

Free radicals & other hair loss factors causes hair loss

Free radicals generating substances that cause hair loss:

• Fried Foods: Fats & oils present in food after deep frying become oxidized which in turn generates the free radicals. When we reuse the cooked fats again, they even become more oxidized and generates more free radicals. However, the saturated fats are less likely to become more oxidized than unsaturated fats.
• Alcohol: Alcohol enhances the production of ROS in the body and alters the immune system by altering the body’s natural defense mechanism. Alcohol also stimulates the enzymatic activity of cytochrome P450s which is also a main contributor to ROS production.
• Smoke & Tobacco: Tobacco contains the components which produces reactive oxygen species when we burn it. Smoke in gas phase contains the largest amount of free radicals which are produced due to the presence of oxidative stress in the body.
• Pesticides & Air Pollutants: Pesticides releases the components in the air which induces the oxidative stress further leading to generation of free radicals. These free radicals when combines with other air pollutants damages your hair to the greater extent.

What happens when free radicals attack your hair?

When we step out in the polluted environment, your hair gets bombarded by the reactive oxygen species (ROS) that slash the very complex structure of each strand of your hair. And if you don’t take any protection to protect hair from free radicals attack, then this damage continues to grow and it becomes evident. your hair color starts to fade at a pace and texture of your hair becomes rough and porous. Your hair becomes more prone to damage and frizz leading to more tangled hair and hair loss.

How free radicals causes hair damage?

There are 2 types of triggers that affect the natural hair cycle. These triggers are internal & external triggers. Internal triggers include the natural aging process, DHT (dihydrotestosterone), cortisol hormone (stress hormone), poor diet and the external factors includes excessive styling of hair, UV exposure, pollution or excessive workout. These triggers form free radicals in the body and create an imbalance in the body which disrupts the body’s natural metabolic pathways and hair cycle. They disrupt the signaling molecules  which are responsible for the regulation of hair growth cycle and better hair growth.

these free radicals which causes the inflammation and disruption of the hair cycle which results in an elongated anagen phase leading to hair re-growth.

What are Antioxidants?

Antioxidant word is among those buzzwords that almost gets thrown around a lot. But most of people don’t know what antioxidants are and how they work? Antioxidants are the substances that work to neutralize the harmful effects of the oxidation caused by free radicals in the body and helps to prevent the formation of oxidative stress. Some of the best antioxidants for hair that protect our hair from falling out are;

• Superoxide Dismutase
• High Catalase
• Glutathione Peroxidase
• Methionine Sulfoxide Reductase

Role of antioxidants in hair growth:

Let us answer to the question of many that ‘Are antioxidants good for hair growth?’ Yes. Antioxidants are like secret savior of your hair. There are various antioxidants benefits and after that you will not need to give a second thought of using the best antioxidants supplements, products or foods for hair growth. Antioxidant helps to improve the hair growth by maintaining the collagen in the body or the connective tissues of hair follicles’. It also protects the scalp cells in the blood vessels to promote the healthy hair growth. Antioxidant also prevents the destruction of melanin in the cortex of our hair strand, thus improving the color retention and integrity of hair making them strong & healthy.

Benefits of antioxidants for hair: The use of antioxidants for hair gives you the multiple benefits. It will increase your immune system and also fights the sign of hair fall.

• Antioxidants fight the sun damage by protecting the cuticles
• It helps to improve the hair growth in case of alopecia (a form of hair fall)
• It also prevents the premature graying of your hair
• Antioxidants boost the blood circulation and nutrient supply to the scalp cells which encourages the hair growth
• It also helps to reduce the frizz and calm the split ends

Some of the common antioxidants for hair growth are;

• Vitamin E (α-Tocopherol)
• Beta Carotene
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin A
• Phytochemicals
• Selenium
• Trace minerals

Foods rich in antioxidants are;

Along with the application of products containing antioxidants, you can also intake food containing vitamins for faster hair growth. Some of the vitamins are rich in antioxidants and along with the faster hair growth, your hair will become thick and strong too.

Berries:

Berries contains the highest amount of antioxidants which promotes the hair growth. Berries like acai, blueberries, strawberries or raspberries helps to increase the hair growth and hair texture. Berries are the one of the best antioxidant foods for hair growth.

Pomegranate:

Pomegranates are also rich sources of antioxidants. These tiny seed-bearing fruit is a powerhouse of vitamin C, B5, potassium & polyphenols which soothes the scalp and promotes hair growth.

Red wine:

Red wine is made from the red grapes which are rich in resveratrol, a powerful antioxidant. This help to fight the free radicals causing hair fall and even prevents premature graying of hair.

Pecans:

Pecans are tremendous source of L-arginine, amino acids or antioxidants which allows a vibrant blood flow to the hair roots and scalp which makes scalp healthy and promotes hair growth. It is one of the top foods high in antioxidants.

Tomatoes:

Tomatoes are rich in lycopene and lycopene is the best source of antioxidants. Tomatoes are also rich in vitamin C which also helps to scavenge the free radicals and thus fight sings of hair fall and promotes hair growth.

Now, it’s time to fend off your split ends, thin hair or hair breakage. Rely on these antioxidants for hair growth and quench the thirst of your tresses. As long as these antioxidants are doing their action, you can also follow some of the tips for healthy hair which will help to get long, lustrous & healthy locks for sure.