Let’s talk about the one thing almost everyone is obsessed with – HAIR! With a full industry thriving on treatments, procedures and external applications to treat hair fall, it is high time we realized that it is what we put in the hair that matters more than what we put on the hair. Today, let’s understand and tackle one of the most common problems, hair fall, and understand how our everyday life, diet and the lack of it affect our overall hair health.
Human hair is made of a tough protein called keratin and dead skin cells. It has a ‘hair follicle’, that anchors each hair into the skin and a ‘hair bulb’, that forms the base of the hair follicle. In the hair bulb, also known as the root, living cells divide and grow to build the hair shaft. And this is the only "living" portion of the hair. The hair that is visible is the ‘hair shaft’, which exhibits no biochemical activity and is considered "dead". The base of a hair's root (the "bulb") contains the cells that produce the hair shaft.
One main trigger for hair loss could be hereditary, or because of hormonal / biological reasons or medical reasons (such as alopecia, fungal infections, tinea capitis, etc.). It could also be because of medical conditions (such as trichotillomania). It is best to get yourself tested by your doctor to check and rule out any such possibilities. Should these be the reason, your doctor would advise you the way ahead to take corrective measure.
Besides this, the following could also lead to common hair fall problems –
1.Stress (Physical and Mental)
2.Imbalanced diet
4.Side Effects of Medications
5.Crash Dieting
6.Chemical Treatments
7.Over Styling
8.Pregnancy
9.Excess Vitamin A intake
10.Anemia
11.Vitamin B Deficiency
11.Vitamin B Deficiency
11.Vitamin B Deficiency
13.Anabolic Steroids
14.Wrong and Chemically Strong Hair Products
Spend some time on yourself and answer the question – “How many of the above reasons apply to me?” Answering this can give you the solution to your hair problems.
1.Get your Blood Profile - First things first, get your blood test done to detect any vitamin and mineral deficiency.
2.De-Stress – Do something mindfully ever day to reduce your stress levels. Take a walk, exercise, watch your favorite show, engage in a hobby, treat yourself to periodic body massages.
3.Food for Hair - To promote hair growth, you need to 'feed' the hair from the inside. Foods high in protein as well as vitamins A, C, and E, minerals like zinc and iron, and omega-3 fatty acids can contribute to healthier hair.
4.Get your vitamin B12 at breakfast-A diet that includes a health amount of vitamin B12 will promote healthy hair. Try to get at least 2.4 micrograms a day by including foods such as chicken, shellfish, yogurt, cottage cheese, and eggs.
5.Multivitamins – Make it your routine to take your multivitamins
6.Enjoy your beans and biotin - Foods that contain biotin such as beans and eggs can prevent brittle hair.
7. Spread your selenium - Foods containing selenium like nuts and nut butters are necessary for a healthy scalp.
8. Love your carbs8.: Enjoying carbs such as whole grains and fruit are necessary every day. Low-carb diets can contribute to thinning hair.
9. Watch your diet9.Do not eliminate the necessary nutrients from your diet under the façade of ‘crash diets’. The only thing these diets make you lose are hair and skin health. Weight loss with such diets always comes back. Resort to healthy eating. Any drastic changes can also lead to severe hair fall and unhealthy hair.
10. External Hair Care 10.– Ensure you do not over treat your hair as any chemical will only further damage your precious locks. Go as natural as possible and take extra care whenever your tresses undergo any treatments. Needless to say, choosing the right products also matters at the end of the day. Opt for gentle and herbal formulae as much as possible.
11.Hydrate – This cannot be emphasised enough. Your skin and hair need water to look and be lustrous. Drink at least 8-10 glasses a day.
What you eat matters. Your body needs a lot of nutrients to function normally every day. Hair is the last ‘part’ of the body to get any nutrition. Therefore, it becomes crucial that you ensure that enough nutrition, care and love reaches your hair. Simple care tips, as mentioned above, go a long way in giving you a head full of beautiful hair.
If you would to ask or add on something, feel free to drop a comment below. Love is in the hair!