Find Out Causes and Stop Hair Loss In Women

We often tend to associate hair loss and baldness to men, but women are not spared of this either. There seems to be an increasing trend of women losing their hair and getting bald. As of to date, there are believed to be more than 20 million women in US alone that are suffering from this disorder. This can be very distressing to many women as they have always deemed their hair as their crowning glory.

In men, the main cause of hair loss is due to the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to its derivative i.e. dihydrotestosterone by the dihydrotestrone enzymes or DHT in short. However in women, the reasons are somehow different from that in men.

Here's a list of the possible causes of alopecia in women:

1. Genetic

As in men, women can loss their hair due to genetic causes. This is similar to that of men and it's called androgenic alopecia. It happens to about 50% of all women and it normally occurs between the age of 50-60 yrs old. Women suffering from this genetic disorder tend to have hair follicles shrinking up to a point where they cease to grow hair anymore.

2. Hormonal changes within the body.

Hair loss in women during menopause and perimenopause is very common as their estrogen levels are dropping during this phase of their life cycle. The imbalance in the levels of both estrogen and testosterone results in thinning hair on certain areas of the head that are sensitive to androgens. This is known as female pattern hair loss.

3. Iron Deficiency

Women losses blood monthly through their menstruation cycle and unless they eat sufficient iron-rich food to replace those that were lost, they tend to suffer from iron deficient anemia and this may lead to unwanted hair loss.

4. Excessive use of chemical hair products and styling

Women tend to fuss over their hair, and many would dye their hair often or do all sorts of styling to look good. Little do they know that these may weaken hair and causes them to break or fall out easily.

5. Stress

Hair loss may be an indication of the level of stress that is taking a toll on your body. Elevated stress hormones can cause hair to enter into a stage of dormancy and stop growing for months before dropping off completely.

6. Polycystic Ovary syndrome

Polycystic ovary syndrome (or PCOS) occurs commonly in women, and it can affect as many as 1 out of 15 women. The hormonal changes that come with this disorder often lead to a series of health problems including excessive hair loss

7. Use of Medication

Many drugs used to treat an underlying illness may also causes some side effects and alopecia may be one of them.

8. Childbirth

Hair loss usually follows after childbirth because of the drop in estrogen hormones. However, this is often a reversible change whereby hair will start to grow back before the child's first birthday.

Pubococcygeus Muscle Exercises for Women

Pubococcygeus muscle exercises for women have been recommended by doctors for years as they have been greatly effective for women who have had children and notice a loosening in their vagina. In this article we will talk more about exercising the Pubococcygeus muscle and how it can benefit you.

Before You Begin

Before you begin trying to exercise your pubococcygeus muscle you need to make sure that you have identified the correct muscle. Most women can easily identify the muscle, but it is better to be certain that you are doing the right exercise to ensure the best results. There is a simple technique used to check for the proper muscle.

Go into the bathroom, position yourself on the toilet and begin to urinate. Once you have done this it is time for you to stop the flow of urine. You will feel the muscle that you use to stop the flow of urine. That is the muscle on which you are focusing your efforts.

The Actual Exercise

The actual exercise is just as simple as what you did whenever on the toilet. That means all you have to do is clench your pubococcygeus muscle and you are doing the exercise. That seems simple enough, right? If you want to get the best results however you need to have a routine.

Here is a routine that will help you ensure that you are off to a good start:

Whenever you begin exercising this muscle is not going to be as strong as it will be after a couple of weeks. Begin with a few reps so that you do not wear yourself out. You could do ten reps, rest and then ten reps again. Doing this a few times a day whenever you get started could get you well on your way to the results that you desire.

As you keep exercising your pubococcygeus muscle you will be able to add weights inside your vagina if you so choose. There are many different products that can be used to help intensify pubococcygeus exercises for women. This will help you tighten your vagina so you can enjoy sex more and it will enable you to keep better control of your urine. Just make sure you do not continue to stop the flow of urine whenever using the bathroom due to the fact that this can cause problems whenever you continue to do this.

What Would You Do If Money Were Not an Object?

IMAGINE THIS...

One day you suddenly woke up with an unlimited supply of money at your fingertips. How would you feel about it? What would you spend it on? A new chapter begins: It is hard to imagine all of the possibilities suddenly available to you!

Most men I know would hurry to buy luxury cars, maybe even the most expensive car in the world like this one below from Mercedes Benz set in diamonds. The Lamborghini Veneno, a super-fast sports car goes for a cool $3.9 million dollars and only three are made each year! If driving isn't your style, you could buy a private yacht to cruise around on the ocean, the ultimate fisherman's dream! I personally prefer a private jet to avoid all the airport crowds and stress associated with travel. It comes handy once I complete my pilot license and become a pilot!

Some of us dream of something different. Most of us women would love to be able to afford the ultimate, high-end designer wardrobe with shoes, handbags, and jewelry to match. If money was no option, would you buy a Hermes Berkin bag in every color? or exotic alligator skin with diamond setting that's reserved only for special few who shop there. Or maybe Mouawad's 1001 Nights Diamond Purse, the most expensive handbag in the world priced at $3.8 million dollars. It would certainly be amazing to walk into Bergdorf Goodman, and buy whatever you would like! Just like a celebrity, you could be dripping with diamonds, and covered from head to toe in clothing straight from the runway!

Once you got your fill of diamonds and cars, you could go and eat at all of the most expensive restaurants in the world. I would definitely want to try the Haute Chocolate Ice cream from Serendipity priced at $25,000, topped with edible gold, and eaten with a golden spoon decorated with diamonds. Or you could stop for breakfast at Norma's in New York and get a $1,000 frittata, which is filled with lobster and very expensive caviar. You could even travel the world, trying different cuisines and learning from famous chefs! But I think after all of this food you would definitely have to hire a personal trainer to keep you in shape!

Think about this: How much stuff would you need to buy to truly be happy? Do you think that having an endless supply of money makes a person content? Comment and let us know! I think that no amount of money will ever be a replacement for happiness. Even when our economy was excelling in prosperity just few years ago, most people were found unhappy. That's a proven fact!

It sounds corny to say, but the best and the richest things in our lives are the things that are free, like our family, friends and pets. And I promise you, if you are ever down, instead of wishing to win the lottery, try volunteering to help someone in need and you might be surprised at how rich it makes you feel!

10 Totally Weird and Effective Tricks for Beautification

Just like when you start a diet and everyone around you suddenly becomes a weight-loss expert, when you need a beauty fix, bizarre advice is surely on its way. Amidst all the suggestions, the ones that don't require spending a lot of money are always the weirdest and always the most alluring. Here are my favorites.

Hair

Dry hair

There's a bunch of different products that claim to combat dry hair, but look no further than the confines of your kitchen. Coating your roots in olive oil can drastically hydrate your hair and give it an incredible shine. Mayonnaise too contains helpful oils to tame even the driest hair. Keep it on for at least 30 minutes and wear a shower cap to keep from making a complete mess.

Dull Hair

To restore shine and clarify hair, grab a bottle of beer. If you choose to go the non-alcoholic route, opt for vinegar instead. Don't worry the smell will wash out when you shampoo.

Highlights

Skip the salon or even box dyes at the supermarket. You can lighten your hair with a little homemade concoction of chamomile tea and lemon juice. Apply, then sit out in the sun for a while to achieve highlighted perfection.

Dry Shampoo

There are inexpensive dry shampoos everywhere now, but if you happen to have baby powder at home, why spend your precious money? Baby powder absorbs oil making your hair look refreshed while also adding volume. A common complaint of baby powder is that it doesn't entirely disappear on brunettes. Cocoa powder is your answer to white powdery roots.

Skin Care

Shaving Cream

Shaving Gel is cheap, but so unnecessary. Olive oil works as a great shaving gel and lotion, but if that's not your thing, hair conditioner does the trick even better.

Blemishes

So apparently Pepto Bismol contains acne-fighting ingredients like salicylic acid, which bothered me at first, but then I got over it and figured if rubbing bright pink anti-diarrheal medication on my face prevents breakouts, then what the hell do I care?

We've all heard of the toothpaste trick; use it as a spot treatment before you go to bed and wake up zit-free in the morning. I've never had complete success with this, but toothpaste does do an extraordinary job of making angry pimples calm and more manageable.

If you love Biore strips, then quit buying them and instead use Elmer's glue to get rid of those blackheads. Apply a thing layer over you t-zone and peel off after it's completely dry.

This tip shouldn't be used all the time, but trust me, it's a good one. Glide a deodorant stick over your face, covering any areas where you might perspire and remain shine-free all day long.

Makeup and Nails

Lashes

Before you curl your lashes, use a blow dryer to heat it up. The heat will help set the lashes and give you a more defined curl. To make them appear thicker, pat them down with powder before applying your mascara.

Brows

A little hairspray can go a long way, which is especially true if you use it on your eyebrow. Spray a clean mascara wand and brush your brows into place. It will dry and keep every hair in place until you decide otherwise.

Primer

Dimethicone is the ingredient used in most pore-minimizing face primers, but you can also find this in Monistat's Anti-Chafing Powder Gel. This works like any other department store brand primer I've used and is a fraction of the price.

Nails

Wipe your nails with acetone before applying nail polish to remove dirt and oil. Your manicure will last twice as long and won't chip as easily. Adding a base coat before color will keep you from getting yellow stained nails.

Choose Your Wedding Accessories

When it comes to wedding accessories, do you know which ones you have in mind or are you struggling to know where to begin? If you know you fall into the latter group, don't worry. Lots of people focus on the big things then realise nearer the time that they haven't thought about the accessories at all.

We're here to help though, so if you need some tips and advice, keep reading to find out more.

Favours

No bridal ceremony would be complete without these - the piece de resistance of all wedding accessories. The easiest way to begin here is to think about what kind of theme you are having for your event. If you want a classic style, you should carry this idea through to the favours as well. If you want something thoroughly modern, featuring a couple of bright colours to perk things up, take these colours as your cue instead. Seasonally themed events are also good for inspiration when it comes to choosing the most appropriate favours.

Table decorations

When it comes to planning the after party, so to speak, you'll need a good selection of table decorations to help complete the look. Remember, your table decorations should tie in with the overall look and theme, so bear this in mind when planning the look.

You'll need tablecloths, place cards and centrepieces at the bare minimum. Other than that you have things like tea light holders, trims, napkin rings and other additional items if you want to use them. Remember less can often be more, and with a budget to think about as well, you will probably need to consider carefully how many additional items you can actually afford.

Don't forget your own accessories

Of course, wedding accessories aren't just the items that make your reception perfect. The phrase also relates to those things you'll wear to complete your outfit on the day. You'll need to consider earrings, a necklace, and whether or not you want to top things off with a beautiful tiara. With so many choices available it couldn't be easier to get everything you need with no trouble at all.

As you can see, a bit of forward planning is all you need to keep in mind when it comes to the finer details of your big day. In fact, if you can give yourself a bit more time you'll find the whole process so much easier than it would otherwise be. It's amazing how much more stress you will feel when you know your wedding is just four weeks as opposed to four months away!

The Role of the Woman: A Biblical View

The Role of Women in the Church

Mary, a devoted Christian, wants to be involved in ministry at her church. Before she commits, she has a few questions about the role of women in the church. In light of the debate between egalitarianism and complementarianism, she and others like her need answers.

First, it is necessary to define the opposing positions. Egalitarianism is a belief in human equality especially with respect to social, political, and economic affairs. It asserts that there should be no gender-based role distinctions or limitations placed on women in the home, church, or society. [1] According to this view, women can serve as pastors in light of passages like Galatians 3:28 which says, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither bond nor free, there is neither male nor female: for ye are all one in Christ Jesus".

Complementarianism "is the theological view that although men and women are created equal in their being and personhood, they are created to complement each other via different roles and responsibilities as manifested in marriage, family life, religious leadership and elsewhere. It is rooted in more literal interpretations of the creation account and the roles of men and women presented in Scripture". [2] Bible passages like I Timothy 2:11-15 are used by many to support this view. It says, "Let the woman learn in silence with all subjection. But I suffer not a woman to teach nor to usurp authority over the man, but to learn in silence. For Adam was first formed, then Eve. And Adam was not deceived, but the woman being deceived was in the transgression. Notwithstanding, she shall be saved in childbearing, if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety".

Now, attention will be given to two more passages of Scripture. I Corinthians 14:34-35 says, "Let your women keep silence in the churches for it is not permitted unto them to speak, but they are commanded to be under obedience as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home for it is a shame for women to speak in the church". I Timothy 3:2 says, "A bishop then must be blameless, the husband of one wife, vigilant, sober, of good behavior, given to hospitality, apt to teach". In light of these two passages, it is understandable that complementarians believe themselves to be correct in their position. These passages clearly distinguish gender and seem to impose restrictions based on such.

To properly interpret these passages, careful exegesis must be done in order to understand what the Bible writers really meant. It is unsafe and unwise to isolate a passage of Scripture concerning any given subject. All passages related to the subject must be thoroughly studied to avoid taking any passage out of its originally intended context. It is important that readers refrain from assigning their own cultural biases. It is equally important that readers recognize how, in some cases, their own lack of education can hinder their ability to accurately interpret Scripture. A certain foundation of knowledge upon which to build understanding is essential.

For example, one must know the meaning of words in order to understand the thoughts expressed by those words. Similarly, one cannot follow the instruction to walk two blocks and turn left if he does not know how many blocks equal two or the difference between left and right. Reading comprehension skills and the illumination of the Holy Spirit are imperative.

In three of the aforementioned passages of Scripture, there appears to be a gender-based restriction placed on women in the church. However, Paul wrote these passages during a time of great Hellenistic influence. Many of the surrounding pagan religions featured priestesses who made loud, seemingly meaningless utterances. The church wanted to distinguish itself from such. Christian leaders worked to show an affinity to Greek social and philosophical life due to the constant threat of persecution and scandal, but at the same time similarities to fertility cults and Gnostic groups was downplayed. [3]

This accounts for Paul's apparent contradiction to Galatians 3:28, Romans 16:1,7 which support egalitarianism. Acts 10:34 says, "God is no respecter of persons". The Bible is inspired and inerrant and, therefore, cannot contradict itself.

"The contradictory nature of Paul's statements is explored and distinction made between those that are universally normative and those that are culturally relative. Just as certain statements regarding slavery are no longer applicable today so certain statement regarding women better served another age". [4]

God has and will always use women as He sees fit to advance the gospel and unite the Body of Christ. The giftedness of women in ministry and their fruitful effectiveness even as elders and deacons testify of His blessing. The whole of Scripture clearly reveals God's egalitarian attitude toward women.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Prince, Matthew and Zatlyn, Michelle, http://www.theopedia.com/complementarianism, CloudFare, Inc. (accessed December 2, 2013)

[2] Ibid.

[3] Elwell, Walter A., Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Second Ed., Ordination of Women, (Article) p. 1286, Grand Rapids, MI Baker Book House Company 1984, 2001

[4] Elwell, Walter A., Evangelical Dictionary of Theology, Second Ed., Women in the Church, (Article) p. 1291, Grand Rapids, MI Baker Book House Company 1984, 2001

Competition Between Women - Does Beauty Cause Jealousy?

Women can be so beastly to one another. Women can also be the perpetrators of hate towards other women. Women can instigate and continue a trail of destruction towards another woman.

It can be very uncomfortable to acknowledge that women can act just as aggressively as men and cause the emotional breakdown in others especially towards other women.

There are many diverse and oddly strange reasons for women behaving badly and jealousy is one of those reasons.

When the green eye of envy glares from the pulpit of internal vision in a woman, the results can range from mild verbal contact to being downright unbelievably heinous. Due to jealousy, a woman could temporarily appear insane. Some behaviours include verbal rages appearing irrational and incessant; her stiffened body taut from the venom squeezing from every pore. Jealousy is potent and can destroy both the holder and the receiver.

I covered my perspective on the Beauty Myth in another article but wanted to pay particular attention to jealousy in a woman because of beauty noting the Beauty Myth.

The Beauty Myth looks at the overall impact on women and I will be examining the psychological impact on women. To surmise the concept and explain the Beauty Myth, here is a quick précis.

The Beauty Myth is an allegorical ideology about what a woman should look like to be readily accepted in society. Men, for control over women construct this ideology. The ideology of beauty as in the Beauty Myth is not defined, therefore there are no clear guidelines or demarcation.

There are many ways in which a woman gravitates towards making herself appealing and to appease men and the resulting language, spoken or not, determines how women view themselves. Women then systematically enshrine the essence of the Beauty Myth by plundering themselves to a regime of incessant grooming including the use of surgery, cosmetics and diets. A woman does not have to be aware of the Beauty Myth to be complicit in its language. The control over women by men renders women out of control in mind and body as she strives for attainment of acceptance. Remember, what the actual concept of beauty should look like is not defined! Whilst this is happening locally for women, the woman then sees other women as potential rivals. Women compete with other women vying for the attention from men creating a war on each other that may appear comical to some but is in no doubt very debilitating for women reciprocally.

Women readily accept striving to achieve the 'ideal' weight and maintain this notion even at the risk of their own health. In some contexts, this ideal is nothing short of experimenting with their life. In an attempt to mask over her own lack of self-esteem, a woman may originate a furtive competition with her colleagues, peers and even friends to appear to be the better looking therefore more acceptable to men. Is the archetypal jealous woman real or fictitious? Just take a look around you.

Women eyeing up other women whilst measuring their own selves and sometimes leaving others feeling as though they are below standard. If a particular woman measures against another woman and feels she is more attractive than she perceives her 'rival' to be, just watch her physiology prolifically change in an instant. If she perceives this same 'rival' to be featuring an attribute she is keen to personally gain this same change in her physiology is evident but this time, she retreats within herself. The Omni-presence of the Beauty Myth is indeed powerful even if not understood by its participants. The concept of the Beauty Myth makes women jealous towards other women a certainty.

Throughout my working experiences in some companies, I have sometimes felt it was better to have a man as a manager than a woman. I work passionately to improve women's lives so how can I possibly justify the previous statement? Well, if your female manager is managing her own set of negative self-perceptions and gracelessly views you as having something that she does not, well, put it this way, your working day can be hell. This information should not be taken out of context. Women are able to manage effectively managerial roles, I am speaking about the female manager who may allow her position to denigrate another female based on the idea of perceived threat. I am also admitting, however uncomfortable that women in 'powerful' positions can use this to feather their own pride by reducing another women's intent. The inception of jealousy not just in thought but put into practice has some very untenable traits for the recipient, the acts done against her is nothing short of bullying. Even in an informal group of friends, there is always some kind of rivalry going on, some form of argument stemming from the lack of something, the underbelly being self-esteem. Yet, if we took a look back into the lives of much younger females (ages 4 - 8 years old), you can see a characteristic in them that might explain the neuroticism that follows later on.

Young girls are tenacious; they are determined and self-assured. They can appear bossy and knows how to get their wishes completed. They can manipulate others for their gains without blinking. The young female knows who she is and will fight for control in her circle. (This description is architypically of young females before society teaches them that their voices are not to be heard, another discussion!) Many times, the young female who views herself as mentally and emotionally strong will seek friends who appear to her to be the opposite of her traits. This way, she will continue to reign. When she does befriend another young female who then goes on to outwardly presenting with the same strong traits, they may remain friends but will experience bouts of rivalry towards each other. However, why they would remain as friends needs further explaining. The need to reign is secondary in spiritual terms to the more important aspect of having, nurturing and maintaining friends. This means that whilst the need to reign is strong, this is borne from the pressures put on them from their outside world. The need for friends is borne from their inner world (subconscious) and is much stronger than the need to reign. Young females, growing females and grown females will find a comfortable place with each other that accommodates their rivalry as long as they are friends. So does this mean that the Beauty Myth perpetuates the traits already found in females and uses it against them? In my opinion, most definitely a YES.

The competition between women to beautify self to surpass their 'rival' is not done explicitly. There are no words that are used that determine such acts of rivalry; the competition is clandestine. There are times when a female will depict her sense of being at war when she negatively calls on the 'flaw' of her rival, teasing her about her perceived 'afflictions.' Or when a female has been perceived to have 'achieved' the mythological beauty, the backlash from her peers is all too evident. The sniping, the backbiting or even the silent treatments towards to the poor female are tools that are used to demonstrate the discomfort women feel towards their 'rival' but borne from their own lack of a positive self identity. The need to reign (starting in early age) is ever-present but made more complex when they become older and now also vying for acceptance from men.

Young girls in the playground demonstrably sending some other poor girl 'out to Coventry' merely for having a super pair of shiny shoes that the reigning girl does not. The teenage female who turns on her friend because that boy she likes is not reciprocal with her attention-seeking activities. The new woman at work who makes the standardised corporate uniform look incredibly perceptively sexy even without trying. Supermodels are dicing with their health in an attempt to be the thinnest therefore prettiest amongst her peers. She has learnt that this ensures continuous work for her. Media depict background scenes of the clichéd females behaving beastly towards each other in the same attempt to reign and be accepted. Movie celebrities all seeking the reduced weight as the camera 'puts on pounds' and media shouts out any imperfections on a woman in a public way. Not all publicity is good publicity! Feuds are started by women with other women just because of perceptions based on looks. Especially worsened if the female celebrity is newsworthy and over-exposed. So all women are somehow affected by beauty and can become, coupled with a typically feminine trait, extend into jealousy. The levels to which jealously can extend to, is dependent upon what the attacking female feels she has to gain to extinguish her rival or equally how she much she has to lose.

Here are a few explanations of jealousy:

Fearful or wary of being supplanted; apprehensive of losing affection or position; resentment or bitter in rivalry; having to do with or arising from feelings of envy, apprehension or bitterness; vigilant in guarding something; intolerant of disloyalty or infidelity, autocratic.

The need to feel beautiful therefore accepted by self and others is inextricably linked to having better self-esteem. This increases the competition in and for women. The 'rewards' are both self-serving to women and for men. However, with the Omni-presence of the Beauty Myth makes jealously a sure fire win for men, whoever wins the competition, they cannot lose. Until women build their self-esteem on feelings on individualism, compassion for other women and acceptance of other women and their equally beautiful features, the war with jealousy will continue. The Beauty Myth continues to reign over the female who thinks she reigns. Until women understand that they are men's half-witted sense of delusions and will never aspire to true equality, they remain incarcerated spiritually. The creation of 'the woman' needs to happen and how this is done is by understanding who they are and remove self from men's expectation. Women then need to build up spiritually by becoming aware of their inner resources to begin the trade off with men for equality because at the moment, men do not have to trade with women on equal grounds.