Everyone loves a beautiful mane, be it, men or women. You could be having hair fall due to androgenic or non-androgenic causes. Androgenic causes are genetic in nature. Take Andre Agassi for instance, who starts losing his hair as early as when he was 19 and soon after, endorsed the ‘baldness’ proudly! If the causes of your hair fall are androgenic, it is best to accept your hair as they are! In case if your hair fall is due to a disease, it might continue with the disease or even after the disease is cured. A lot depends on the way you have treated the disease and the capacity of your body to jump back to a healthy state. Some of the diseases which lead to hair loss are Lupus, thyroid problems, cancer, muscular dystrophy or any severe chronic illness.
Prevent Hair Loss
- Nothing beats the intake of nutritious foods & regular exercise– Make sure you are consuming enough proteins in your diet as these are the building blocks of tissues and hair. You can include milk, egg whites, pulses and fish; use Omega-3 fatty acids—such as salmon and mackerel— or sprinkle a tablespoon or two of freshly ground flaxseed on to salads or cereal each day.
2. Vitamin A is crucial for healthy hair because it works with the fat synthesis. Food products rich in vitamin A include leafy greens, carrots, eggs and cow’s ghee.
3. Vitamin B12 creates red blood cells, which ultimately provides more oxygen to your body! Eggs, milk, cheese, milk products, meat, fish, shellfish and poultry. Some soy and rice beverages, as well as soy-based meat substitutes, are fortified with vitamin B12.
4. Vitamin C and Iron are good for your hair. Lemon a top source of Vitamin C goes great with iron-rich foods such as spinach, quinoa, chia seeds, lentils, oatmeal, spirulina, soybeans and tomato paste. Oranges, strawberries, sweet potatoes, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, almost all leafy greens, apples, limes, broccoli, papaya, pineapple, gooseberries, and kiwi are also all great sources of Vitamin C.
5. Vitamin E also encourages circulation in the body and helps grow new blood vessels, which helps hair to grow. Almonds, sweet potatoes, spinach, peanuts amongst others.
Some of the most important minerals for hair health are — calcium, copper, iron, magnesium and zinc which are found in vegetables and fruits.
- Regular exercise allows sweat to clean out and unclog your hair pores. The exercise will also make you healthier overall which will help you grow longer, stronger locks.
- Stay hydrated. The hair shaft itself is largely made up of water. Drink 8-10 glasses of water every day, along with fruits and juices.
- Check if you have a hormonal imbalance. If you do, look into natural supplements for hormone regulation and foods that promote healthy hormone levels.
- Health conditions which might lead to hair loss include stress, thyroid disease, anaemia, and medications for heart disease. Read the article on basic tests which you must consider.
- Break your habit of smoking. Apart from a number of diseases, it reduces circulation, and this includes blood flow to the scalp. Drinking alcohol and caffeine hampers the immune system and cause further hair fallout.
- Oil Scalp Massages stimulate the hair follicles to increase hair growth! Take any natural oil – olive, coconut, almond and massage gently into your scalp. Leave it for ½ hr to 1 hour and wash.
- Home remedies: Unless sure, avoid the use of chemical treatments on your hair. Use shikakai soap at least once a week instead of shampoo with aloe vera pulp/curd. Instead of hair gels- use a pinch of brihangraj or coconut oil to settle your hair.
If you have dandruff/ itchy scalp, massage neem oil to your scalp, keep it for 1 hour before rinsing with shikakai soap. Repeat every week till you see an improvement. (if your scalp is sensitive, then neem oil may be diluted with an equal amount of coconut oil to prevent irritation). Neem is antibacterial and antifungal and works wonders for your scalp. Above all, listen to what your hair is telling you. All the treatments, even though natural might not suit your skin type. So try and find what suits you best and use it.
Use henna, to colour your hair if it suits your skin. In case if you use hair colours ensure to hydrate your skin post the treatment. The above remedies would suffice.
- Yoga and Pranayam: Lazy bums out there should never give up on yoga and pranayamas they promote an overall wellbeing. While the below-given asanas aid hair growth, these are also beneficial numerous other body functions.
Adho Mukha Savasana (downward dog pose)
Uttahanasana (standing forward pose)
Pavanmukthasana ( Wind-relieving pose)
Sarvangasana Shoulder Stand)
Vajrasana (Adamantine Pose)
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