What Trichologists have to say about hair care

Hair Care Center

Hair is an essential factor when it comes to defining good looks. It is a reflection of your internal health. Most of the times, hair loss or changes in the texture of the hair could be indicative of some underlying pathology such as hypothyroidism, anemia, cancer, diabetes, and nutritional deficiencies. Hair fall, greying of hair, dandruff, and a receding hairline, are some common hair care concerns. This section gives you tips on hair care to complete your definition of beauty.

What Trichologists have to say about hair care

Hair fall is part of the body's natural regenerative process. Losing 50 to 100 hair strands per day is normal. Hair loss can and should be reduced to within this normal range. Wash your hair with lukewarm water twice a week if you have dry hair, thrice weekly if you have normal hair, and daily if your hair is oily. The optimum pH balance of the scalp has been calculated to be 6.5. Hence, using a shampoo that helps maintain this pH level is important.
Hard water has an alkaline pH of 8 to 10, which could damage your hair. So, if you have to use hard water, at least boil it the previous night and use it the next morning. This will soften it to some extent. The best method of shampooing is to start with the scalp and roots and gently massage down to the ends of the hair. Never let the shampoo remain for longer than 2-3 minutes on your scalp. Always rinse out the shampoo completely.
Since your hair is fragile when wet, avoid squeezing it or handling it till it dries up. You may condition your hair if it is dry. This will moisturize it and the protein in it temporarily coats the hair strands, protecting them from breakage, detangling them, and making them more manageable.
Allow your hair to dry naturally. Avoid blow drying because a hair dryer releases a gust of hot air at nearly 300 °C that can damage your hair. If you have to use a dryer, set its temperature to low and hold it at least 6 inches away from your hair. Don't rub your scalp and hair vigorously with a towel as this can weaken your hair roots and worsen hair loss.
Using a wide toothed comb instead of a brush is recommended as this will prevent tangling and breaking of hair. Comb your hair when it is almost dry. For hygiene sake, never share your comb with others. It is advisable to wash your comb whenever you wash your hair.
Hair oil helps to moisturize your hair and scalp. However, it is now well established that oil does not nourish the hair. In fact, excessive oil can draw dust and grime towards it, making the hair filthier and weaker. Therefore, oiling is recommended just once a week for normal hair and twice a week for dry hair. People with oily hair should avoid oiling their hair. Alkaline chemicals such as ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, and P-phenylenediamine, present in hair dyes and hair colors, are known to penetrate and damage the hair. So, choosing an ammonia-free hair color makes sense as it is less damaging. Chemical treatments like perming, ironing, crimping, and straightening, ruin the hair and are best avoided.
Soya, green tea, and pumpkin seeds are natural dihydrotestosterone (DHT) inhibitors and therefore help to control hair loss caused by androgens (male hormones). Hair fall due to iron-deficiency anemia responds well to a diet that is rich in iron such as dates, apples, green leafy vegetables, meat, amla, and jaggery. In addition to these, the consumption of eggs and fenugreek seeds can help to restore the ferritin levels in the blood. Smoking can increase almost all the major androgenic hormones including DHEA, androstenedione, testosterone, and dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone most closely linked to hair loss. Therefore, smoking should be quit immediately. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables, wholegrain cereals and pulses, eggs, and white meat is the key to a great looking crowning glory!