The Expert-Approved Way To Deal With Hair Loss

The Expert-Approved Way To Deal With Hair Loss

Before we plunge into this story, let me tell you this. Those advertisements for shampoos are not hair goals, mainly because we don’t have so much hair or post production at hand. And I am certainly not going to tug at my hair to show off its strength, not only because that’s a little harsh, but also because it is counter productive in my case. The thing about hair loss is that you don’t know when to hit the panic button. Is a few strands of hair okay? More? Less? Normal? In this article, we sort you out on everything related to hair loss, from what causes hair loss to how you can prevent it. And don’t worry, we brought in the experts to also weigh in. So read up!

So, what exactly is hair loss?

Dr Batul Patel, Medical Director and Dermatologist, The Bombay Skin Clinic, says, “From about 100,000 hair claimed to be present on human scalp, a routine loss of 100 strands of hair per day should not cause palpable amount of hair loss. But excessive hair loss – more than 100 strands of hair – can be due to a lot of causes like heredity, aging, diseases, medical side effects, stress, etc. Sometimes this hair loss is temporary and at times it is permanent.”

To put it simply, a couple of hair strands is just hair fall. Hair loss, on the other hand is more serious, and not something you should be dismissive about.

And what causes it?

Dr Viral Desai, celebrity cosmetic surgeon, DHI India and CPLSS, states plenty of reasons cause hair loss. He says, “Genetic baldness is by far the largest cause of hair fall. In addition, the rate of hair loss is aggravated by lack of proper nutrition, excessive use of cosmetic hair products, irregular lifestyle, unhealthy environment and so on.”

So wait, I can’t do anything about it?

Dr. Viral says that the rate and pattern of hair loss is determined by the genetic make-up of an individual. A factor that is largely unmanageable.

What? No!

“Fortunately, the other factors are more within your control,” he adds, taking some pressure off the genetics. “As with the other tissues of the body, hair too needs regular nourishment and hygienic upkeep.”

Dr. Batul says hair loss could be a result of several factors including, hereditary, mental stress or physical trauma, diet and even childbirth.

But hey, it doesn’t have to be a straggly mess. Here are the ways you can work on having a full head of hair, hereditary factors notwithstanding. But before you go up drumming up cocktails of oils, Dr Batul has a word of caution. “It is extremely important to identify the cause of hair fall and take appropriate treatment. Consult your dermatologist,” she says.

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Home Remedies

Dr. Batul recommends soaking fenugreek seeds overnight and consuming it. Application of the paste of fenugreek seeds also helps promote hair growth.

A paste of avocado and honey, or banana and honey applied on the hair for half an hour before a bath can instantly hydrate dry hair.

Fresh homemade almond milk is high in potassium, magnesium, protein, fatty acids, calcium, zinc, vitamin A, E, selenium and manganese, which promote new hair and strengthen the hair.

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Read Up On The Ingredients

Dr Viral warns against the pitfalls of the tall claims made by shampoos and conditioners. He recommends using products with balanced pH levels. So I’m going to have to cut back on products that I buy only because they smell good? Sigh!

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Nutrition

The thing with eating healthy is that it’s great for everything. (Now if only someone can get us to put down the fries.) And the hair is no different. A nutritious, healthy diet is great for hair health. You want to include food with adequate iron, protein and vitamins to make your hair look fabulous.

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Don’t stress

Easier said than done, you say. Well, it comes highly recommended as well. Dr Batul and Dr Viral had almost identical views on stress – it’s not good for your hair. Reducing mental stress could definitely take care of hair loss or at least arrest the pace.

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Lay Off The Chemicals

Be careful with what you subject your hair to. “Avoid procedures such as blow-drying and hair re-bonding. Also, products such as hair dyes and colours may contain chemicals that can damage the hair structure,” says Dr Viral.

Okay, so I have got to stop bombarding my hair with chemicals and eat healthy and reduce stress. How do you plan to go about this? Let us know in the comments!

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