Introduction:
Maintaining beautiful hair is a complex task. In many countries, women have a long hair tradition. But, it has a few disadvantages. Hair becomes soiled due to dirt collection due to the shedding of the upper layer of skin, atmospheric dust, salts from evaporated sweat, and bacteria. This dirt or dust is held on to the hair and scalp due to a film of greasy sebum and hair oils. However, in most cases, hair problems can be reversed when a person takes proper measures.
What Are the Commonly Reported Hair Issues?
1) Dandruff: Dandruff is a familiar hair problem that causes flaking of the skin on the scalp. Although dandruff is not a serious health problem, it can be humiliating. Dandruff can have various causes, such as oily or dry skin, allergies to certain hair products, and other skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.
2) Hair Loss: Hair loss is a frequently discussed topic among men, commonly called male pattern hair loss. However, hair loss is also common in women. Hair loss is due to stress, hormonal changes, or using certain hair styling products. Hair loss can happen in different ways, depending on what causes it.
3) Split Ends: Split ends occur when the ends of the hair become dry, brittle, and frayed. They also happen when one over-brushes the hair. Further, other reasons are overheating through blow drying, straightening, curling, lack of a good hair conditioner, or excessive perming. It is important to know that the split ends cannot be repaired. Hence, the only reliable method to eliminate them is cutting them off.
4) Premature Graying: Premature graying happens when the hair starts graying at a very early age. Further, the hair color changes to gray or white before the age of 20 or 30. It is caused due to stress, genetics, hormonal imbalance, or smoking.
5) Dry Hair: When the hair lacks natural oils and moisture, they become dry. It happens due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) or the heat from the styling tools, lack of blood circulation, excessive hair washing, and using hard water. The hard water soaks the natural oils from the hair leaving them dry and brittle. Furthermore, nutritional deficiencies can also cause dryness of hair.
What Are the Common Hair Care Tips at Home?
Hair care includes keeping the scalp and hair free from dirt, excess sebum, or grease. Hence, the general measures to be followed are:
1. Avoid Certain Things: Heat drying, combing wet hair, excessive perming, and coloring should be avoided as they lead to moisture and oil loss resulting in fracture of the hair shaft. The cold setting should be encouraged in hair drying to minimize the risk of developing bubble hair. Damp hair is especially susceptible to environmental damage. So, gentle towel drying is recommended before blow-drying the hair. Furthermore, one should protect hair from the damaging effects of chlorine by wetting hair before swimming. Also, it is essential to wear a tight-fitting swim cap and use a specially curated shampoo and deep conditioner after swimming.
2. Shampooing: Shampooing the hair twice a week keeps the scalp and hair healthy. While washing hair, the shampoo should be concentrated on the scalp. If the scalp is oily, a person may need to wash it daily. Soaps should be avoided as the pull on hair increases, producing more hair shaft breakage. Ketoconazole shampoo can eliminate the Malassezia species (which causes seborrheic dermatitis; an inflammatory skin disease leading to dandruff).
3. Conditioning: Hair conditioners can restore the lost oil film after shampooing and provide gloss, bounce, and lubrication for combing. They should only be applied on the hair tips (opposite to shampoo). Further, one should choose a shampoo and conditioner formulated for their hair type.
4. Combing or Brushing: Wide-mounted and soft-bristled wooden combs are advised. Wooden combs reduce friction and hair breakage. They untangle the hair, dislodging the environmental dust, and reduce the greasiness of the scalp by spreading the oil over the hair shaft. Hence, hair brushing should be done twice daily.
5. Diet: Factors like age and genetics cannot be controlled. However, a balanced diet can help promote hair growth and prevent hair problems. Some of the foods to improve hair growth are:
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Eggs- Eggs are a good source of protein and biotin (important elements required for hair growth).
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Berries- Berries have certain compounds that promote hair growth. Also, they contain antioxidants that can prevent scalp diseases.
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Spinach- Spinach contains folate, iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C. All of these help in improved hair growth.
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Sweet Potatoes - Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene. Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A by the body. Vitamin A helps in sebum production, which promotes the natural sheen of hair.
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Fatty Fish - Fatty fish are a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which improve hair density and growth.
6. Proper Oiling of Hair: Oiling and massaging improve blood circulation to the scalp, relax the head muscles, and nourish the hair. Oiling also helps restore moisture content and repairs the split ends.
7. Trim Hair Regularly: Try trimming the hair at least every six to eight weeks to remove the split ends. Trimming does not make hair grow but improves the hair condition. It also makes hair healthier.
8. Drink More Water and Avoid Stress: Staying hydrated is essential for maintaining healthy hair. Hydrating hair products are useful. However, drinking about three liters of water daily ensures healthy hair. Stress leads to unnecessary hair fall and bad hair health. But, one can manage stress by following stress management techniques such as yoga, meditation, deep breathing, and undergoing counseling or therapy.
Most hair damage occurs as a result of poor grooming habits and cosmetic chemical exposure. A proper evaluation of hair structure marks the need for better protective mechanisms from cuticular (the outermost component of the hair) and UVR damage to maintain the cosmetic value of the hair. As a result, dermatologists and cosmetic chemists can formulate better hair care products. Furthermore, hair damage caused by various chemical procedures can be minimized, avoided, and repaired by the correct hair product use.
Conclusion:
It is normal to lose 100 to 150 strands of hair every day. One cannot control all the environmental factors, but one can improve the health of hair by managing other factors. Most importantly, the hair needs nutrition to grow well. Hence, a nutritious diet rich in foods for healthy hair is pertinent.
