Hair defines who we are in our eyes and shapes others’ perceptions of us. We are classified as bald or bushy or thinning or luxuriant when it comes to our hair. Hair seems to be a fascination. We cut it, style it, curl it, straighten it, lighten it, darken it, comb it, wash it, dry it, and cry about it when we lose it. Hair is the topic of this article, let us explore in this blog some simple steps for growth and prevention of hair loss.
What is Hair Hair is non-living, yet is in a cycle of constant renewal and shedding. Unlike vital organs, such as the heart, liver, or kidneys, where limited cellular renewal can occur, hair growth occurs at the amazing rate of 0.35mm/day allowing the removal of old, damaged hair that is readily replaced with new regrowth. Hair is the only body structure that is completely renewable, as long as the follicle remains a functioning unit. The hair follicle number that is present at birth remains constant throughout youth, slowly decreasing with age. The hair grows from follicles.
Scalp hair density variation with age
| Age | Scalp hair density (per square centimetre) |
| New born | 1135 |
| One year | 795 |
| 30 years | 615 |
What are Common hair problems?
Whatever style of hair you may have, you cannot escape having a bad hair day at one point in your life. Here are some of the most common hair problems that men and women alike suffer from every day if not at one point in their life.
- Dry, brittle hair is due to the lack of moisture in your hair can lead to other hair problems like split ends, falling hair or frizzy hair. This is normally caused by prolonged exposure to heat like the sun or electric styling tools.
- Limp hair, other than medical-related reason is also caused by hair care products build up. If you are using shampoo or conditioner that is heavy on the hair, this will build up over time making your hair lifeless and without volume.
- Split ends are the most common hair problem. When your hair becomes dry and brittle, the hair cuticle is damaged, causing the ends to split. Excessive hairstyling, blow-drying, hair colouring and straightening are some of the major causes of split ends
- Dandruff and flaky scalp cause itchiness. Your scalp is where your hair is rooted. It is the bed of your hair and it needs proper washing and cares just as much as your hair. Excessive use of chemical-based hair care products can cause the skin on your scalp to dry leaving flakes to form.
- Lack of nutrients can also cause your scalp to get dry. Dull hair is due to a lack of moisture in your hair. Lack of protein, vitamins, and minerals from eating the right food can cause to the lack of natural moisture and shine of your hair.
- Chemical build-up from hair care products can also cause your hair to become dull and limp.
- Heat damaged hair is caused by prolonged exposure to the sun and the excessive use of a blow dryer. No matter how healthy your hair is, excessive exposure to heat can cause your hair to become dry and brittle. Eventually, this could lead to other hair problems.
- Grey hair appears as part of the signs of ageing. But, younger folks may exhibit grey hair, too. Exposure to heat, smoke, dirt, and chemicals can cause your hair to get damaged and become grey. Lack of essential vitamins and minerals can also lead to grey hair. Medical conditions that require radiation treatment is also known to cause grey hair.
- Falling Hair or Hair Loss is another common problem. Falling hair is caused by using the wrong hair care product and an unhealthy scalp. If you are under chemotherapy treatment, hair loss occurs due to exposure to radiation.
- Other health conditions that can cause hair loss includes alopecia, severe infections, surgery and, using of antidepressants.
Minimize damage to your hair by following these simple hair care regimen
- Regularly wash your hair. When washing your hair, make sure that you massage your scalp to keep them clean and healthy. A clean and healthy scalp will make your hair healthy .Manipulate the hair as little as possible.
- Choose the right hair care aid. A lot of hair care products contain harsh chemical ingredients that can damage your hair. It is important that you use products with natural-based ingredients.
- If you need to use a blow-dryer, put the setting on low heat to dry your hair to minimize heat damage
- Give your hair a break. With so many hair care products available in the market today, hair styling has been made easy. While it is understandable that you style your hair when you need to go out, you need to give your hair a break by going natural.
- Trim your hair. Your hair is like grass that grows over time and just like grass, it needs a good trimming every now and then to maintain its healthy ends.
- Feed your hair. Believe it or not, your hair needs sustenance. Protein, vitamins, and mineral-rich foods help your hair grow and develop.
- Lastly, give your hair a hot oil treatment. Pamper your hair by giving it a hot oil treatment to make your hair shiny and less prone to damage.
- Select a conditioning shampoo. Apply an instant conditioner after each shampooing. Consider use of a deep conditioner once weekly.
- Select a wide-toothed comb with Teflon-coated tips. Select a vented ball-tipped styling brush.
- Do not comb wet hair. Allow hair to air-dry avoiding heated drying appliances.
Main reasons for Hair Loss
- The decrease in the blood circulation on the top part of the head
- The blood circulation issue can occur in the frontal, temporal, vertex and occipital zones of the head
- When blood circulation is lessened in these areas, the hair follicles can’t achieve enough blood flow necessary to maintain healthy growth
- Blood flow is always necessary for good hair growth and loss prevention,
The Two Main Types of Hair Loss
Basically, they can be divided into two groups: the scalp disease alopecia areata, and the thinning hair of alopecia androgenetica.
1.Alopecia androgenetica – the ‘male pattern baldness’ which has always plagued older men and to some extent also older women. But it now happens in many younger women. Thinning hair now affects more than one-third of all older women and, one in eight of all younger women.
Alopecia androgenetica in a man usually appears as receding temples with a bald patch on the crown; in a woman as thinning throughout the scalp. Thinning hair in women is a hormonal, hereditary condition caused by a genetic character. When there is hair loss, there is frequently also a background of illness, weight loss, nutritional deficiency or thyroid problems. Fluctuating levels of the male hormones, the androgens, which women have in their bodies just as men do though in smaller amounts, can act as a trigger to alopecia androgenetica.
2. Alopecia areata – the scalp disease which starts suddenly in patches and can become total. More men and women now face this severe and frightening loss. A leading American epidemiologist says that it now affects at least one in 100, and he predicts far more over the next five decades.
Alopecia areata strikes suddenly, without warning. It can affect both sexes at any age. In some cases, it develops into loss of all scalp hair (alopecia totalis) or into the loss of all body hair including that on the scalp (alopecia uniiversalis).
It must be borne in mind that hair loss often does not result from a single cause-effect but from a combination of factors that all need to be addressed simultaneously for success.
General Hair loss treatment.
1.Massaging your scalp before sleep or two hours before shampoo
Oil, depending on the type used, can nourish, clean, strengthen, and stimulate your hair, hair follicles, and scalp, enabling your hair to grow longer and fuller. Oil is often mixed with other ingredients, but can also be used alone.Severe dry scalp can lead to a more serious problem than just dandruff and flakiness. Often, chemical-based hair care products are the root cause of your dry scalp so it is best to use naturally based treatments such as oil. Here are some benefits of using oil treatment for dry scalp: Nourishes and hydrates your scalp. Helps balance the sebum in your scalp. Keeps your hair healthy and strong.
Key benefits of Oil massage
- Stimulates blood circulation in the scalp
- Stimulates the hair follicle for hair growth
- Brings back the lustre in your hair
- Prevent excessive shedding of hair.
To treat your hair, warm about a 1/4 cup gently in a saucepan. Once the oil is massaged into the scalp, cover the entire head with a shower cap and tuck hair inside. Allow to sit for a few hours, or sleep with the cap on. After removal, wash and condition hair normally. Use this treatment weekly for the best results.
1.Almond Oil massage Using almond is oil simple. Begin with a tablespoon of the oil and massage into the scalp, working your way down the hair until you reach the tips. Depending on the thickness and existing length of your hair, more oil may be needed. Once your hair is coated, allow the oil to sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly with cold water (or as cold as you can tolerate), and wash as usual.
2.Castor oil massage Full of Omega-3 fats, castor oil rebuilds hair, allowing new growth, strength, added shine, and thickness. Castor oil can be run through the hair as a leave-in solution to keep hair smooth, used in a hot oil treatment, or as a base in a hair growth recipe.
3.Coconut Oil Massage The oil begins as a solid and must be warmed, either from the heat of your hands and fingers or in a pan. A terrific natural conditioner, coconut oil can be used alone, blended with other oils, or, most often, a base for a hair recipe. For the best results, use virgin coconut oil because it is not as processed, and has more proteins.
4.Olive Oil Perhaps the easiest oil to find, and the most familiar to everyone, olive oil is rich in antioxidants. The benefits of olive oil are widely known, as evidenced by the abundance of beauty supplies on store shelves with olive oil as a primary ingredient. Olive oil helps smooth hair, gives hair an incredible sheen, and stimulates hair to grow. Olive oil can be used as a treatment by simply warming up an appropriate amount for your thickness and length of hair, applying the oil from the scalp to the tips of your hair, and letting the oil soak in for 20 to 30 minutes before washing hair normally.
5.Vitamin E Oil is full of antioxidants and healing properties ideal for strengthening hair. In fact, vitamin E oil is often recommended by doctors to help improve or hasten the healing process of certain wounds, because it works faster and soothes the injured area. When it comes to hair, the vitamin improves blood flow and stimulates the scalp, encouraging hair growth.
2.Use of Minoxidil for hair growth
Minoxidil promotes hair growth by increasing the duration of anagen. It causes hair follicles at rest to grow and enlarges suboptimal follicles. Minoxidil was serendipitously discovered to be a hair growth-promoting agent when a patient taking the compound orally for the treatment of arterial hypertension developed generalized hypertrichosis. Originally developed for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia in men, topical minoxidil proves to be more effective in female androgenetic alopecia.
The diagnosis and treatment of androgenetic alopecia are relatively straightforward and easy, with 2 or 5 % topical minoxidil solution in men and in women and 1 mg oral finasteride in men having excellent evidence levels for their therapeutic use in androgenetic alopecia.
3.Shampoo each and every day.
Shampooing removes the grime and dirt that builds up in your hair follicles as you move about through your day. For the papilla to function properly, grime and dirt need to be removed—daily. Additionally, your skin is constantly producing fresh skin cells, pushing the older, dead cells to the surface. Shampooing removes those dead cells from the scalp, allowing the skin to breathe properly. In short, you must shampoo each and every day.
When shampooing, remember to use your fingertips to massage the scalp and disperse the lather through the hair. Do not use the palms of the hands, as this could easily be too harsh and may cause breakage of the hair shafts, resulting in eventual hair loss. A gentle massage is an excellent way to invigorate the scalp, which increases blood flow to the papilla and stimulates hair growth (more about massage later). Rinse with cool or lukewarm water.
4.Conditioner Treatment
Shampooing cleans your hair but daily use of shampoo can strip your hair of its natural shine and softness. To keep your hair smooth, soft and shiny you need to use a conditioner. Some of the benefits of using deep conditioner treatment are: Protects your hair from possible damages, like split ends, drying, breakage and brittleness. Helps retain the natural moisture of your hair to keep it healthy and strong Help soften your hair, leaving it shiny and silky.