While perennial favorite Christmas holiday decoration Poinsettias continued a decades long domination at florists, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to maintain a clear cut lead. As consumer tastes become more sophisticated, other flowers and decorative plants are making inroads over the holiday season, continually nibbling away at market share. While this battle takes place over preferred Christmas blooms, another product has begun to carve out a solid niche in the gift giving market; Christmas gift baskets, always a mainstay at the corporate level, have become increasingly popular with consumers as well.

There are any number of reasons that could explain why consumer tastes have been changing. While Poinsettias hold fond memories for many people, especially the baby boomers who grew up with these colorful plants serving as a focal point for decorating (and contrasting nicely with the green of the Christmas tree), homeowners of all ages are now more comfortable with trying out new things. So while the potted plant with the scarlet leaves retains its spot as the best selling Christmas flower, the lead it holds has been eroding. Arrangements of red and white roses make for ideal Christmas flowers according to some, with the beautiful colors providing a suitable alternative while the fragrance given off by the roses is difficult to match. For those who appreciate a subtler look, the option of pink or white Poinsettias was an option, but now there is an increased popularity in pastel arrangements and table centerpieces that can be created to complement any decor. Depending on the room they’ll be placed in, a range of flowers including Lilies, Roses, Mums, Daisies and Carnations have proved to be extremely popular year round. Will roses or the mixed floral arrangement eventually unseat the Poinsettia as the most popular Christmas flower? Only time will tell.

One area where trends are less difficult to forecast is Christmas gift baskets. These were always popular at the corporate level, where the sending of a gift basket let clients know you appreciate their business. Employees at companies always look forward to receiving a Christmas gift basket, knowing it will be stuffed full of treats to keep them all snacking for days. Given the success of the idea, it’s no wonder that someone realized this would be the perfect gift for individuals and families as well. Rather than search all over for that perfect gift for someone, sending a basket full of goodies that would appeal to them makes for a much more complete gift; a Christmas gift basket radiates the idea that someone has put a lot of thought into selecting a gift. It doesn’t hurt that instead of spending hours shopping at the mall you can fire up your browser and order a Starbucks themed basket (containing everything from signature coffee, tea, biscotti, flavor syrups and scone mix) for your coffee loving sister. It’s no wonder that Christmas gift baskets were so popular last year, and that trend is expected to continue.

It is part of normal hair growth cycle. Remember that 10% of our hair is in a resting phase, which would usually fall every 2 or 3 months. The matter gets noticed when hair loss is beyond the normal shedding limits. These include: Plenty of reasons cause hair loss. Identifiable with one or more spots of hair loss on the scalp. When there is a mal-function of the immune system the intrinsic white cells attack the hair follicles and result in this ailment. When the entire scalp hair has fallen it is called Alopecia Totalis. Alopecia Universalis is a rare condition when the entire body hair is lost.

Genetic factors: This can cause male pattern baldness which affects nearly 25% of men by age 30. Though the reason is genetic another contributing factor is testosterone the male hormone. Testosterone is converted to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which slows down or stops hair growth and produces weaker, shorter hair. Men who do not have testosterone do not get male pattern baldness.

Skin diseases: this is a common reason for hair loss and it could affect the scalp too. Some of the skin diseases include dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, scalp fungus such as ringworm and tinea captis.

Sudden illness or fever: this could also cause massive hair loss. This is however a temporary event.

The other common conditions which can also result in hair loss include: Childbirth, menopause, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and aging. Though these are the primary reasons for hair loss, there could be several others also.

Hair loss can often be treated successfully: not only can you stop hair from falling but you can re-grow hair as well. A few of the natural hair loss treatments include:

1. Including vitamins A, B, C and E would accelerate new hair growth. Why are these vitamins important for hair loss? Their beneficial actions include: providing sebum, improving blood circulation to the scalp by increasing absorption of oxygen and collagen.

2. Scalp care: Massage your scalp with herbal oils such as olive oil, jojoba oil, amla oil. These include: essential oils of thyme, rosemary, lavender and cedar wood.

3. Avoid scalp abuse: Stop daily use of harmful chemical shampoos and blow drying. Hair and scalp can get severely damaged when you use chemical treatments like coloring as well as straightening. Your hair and scalp can get damaged as hair turns brittle and dry when you wash it with hot water daily.

4. Going the herbalk way: Try using powders of amla, shikakai, henna and ritha as shampoo and conditioner. For effective prevention of graying and hair loss, amla powder is known as a powerful anti-oxidant. It has a natural low pH. Use henna then which plays its role as a natural conditioner.

5. Reduce stress: Take the help of exercises and meditation to reduce stress levels, which is another factor in hair loss. Smoking is bad for the scalp: This is because the nicotine from cigarettes restricts blood flow to the scalp by constricting the relevant blood vessels. To avoid sunburn and damage to the scalp caused by UV rays, avoid sun exposure.