Washington, DC – Healthy, shiny hair enhances the beauty of every woman, but it is very important to take good care of it.
Factors such as age, childbirth, nutrition, thyroid or other illnesses and stress can cause hair loss. I started losing a lot of hair after the birth of my second child, and being anemic and diabetic contributed even more to my hair fall .
I consulted my primary physician for treatment options, but I also did my own research on what can I do to prevent my hair loss.
The first thing I understood is it all starts with how well you control your own body, meaning any illness you have, your stress levels, your food habits. What you eat affects your overall health including health of your hair. A diet that is rich in Protein, Omega 3 fatty acids, iron, and zinc will help promote the growth of hair follicles. I personally added fish, iron supplements, a multivitamin on daily basis, and to be honest it was a very slow and frustrating journey. Here is a small tip – if you see your nails are brittle and weak, this means you are missing some vitamins in your body that are crucial for hair, nail and skin.
Great hair is not an overnight miracle, results are very slow, and I started seeing the results after about six to seven months with new hair growing and hair fall slowing down. I also made several changes in my daily hair care. What works for me may not work for you, but some basic tips can be implemented to keep your hair healthy:
• There is a myth about not shampooing your hair daily, but as long as you are using high quality products you may benefit by giving nourishment, reducing split ends and shine looks to your hair if you live in areas where it is humid, polluted or you sweat a lot and otherwise if you live in a cleaner area.
• Apply heat protectant sprays before straightening, curling or using any using heating tools
• When thinking of Balayage, do not use over the counter harsh colors/dyes, there are so many organic and other healthy options available in the market or get it done professionally.
• Do not color too often as it can harm your hair, but if you must then try using color protecting shampoo and conditioners as they are designed to lock in the color to stay longer and nourish your hair properly.
• We all love nice clean hair and shampoo but it is very important to condition your hair every time you shampoo. This helps keeping your strands healthy, and boosts the natural moisture and shine.
• Get your hair trimmed regularly to prevent split ends from forming as the hair cuticle splits. The reason I say this is when the split goes up the hair shaft, it becomes very thin and breaks your hair, and once the damage is done, there’s no way to repair it. So keep trimming and prevent harmful breakage before it starts.
• If you are like me, I am all about hot showers but when we wash our hair with extremely hot water, the extra heat actually blasts away the volume out of the hair. Try lowering the temperature when washing your hair.
• An over the counter product that worked for me is Rogaine 5% Topical Solution Extra Strength Hair Regrowth Treatment, and you can give a shot but again, I had to apply it daily for over four months to start seeing change. I do online search for better rates and order packs of 6 or more.
• Last but not the least, for any season use hats to protect your hair from damage from the elements, and for that “haute couture” look!
Jyoti Mahajan
Jyoti Mahajan, the Fashion Editor: Fashion, the ever-changing and most talked-about industry is overflowing with varied traits and umpteen choices. Our Fashion Editor, Jyoti Mahajan, not only distills fashion trends for you, but also presents highly innovative ideas for successful image-making in an effortless way. Mahajan is a highly successful career woman and holder of a crowning glory of titles including Mrs India International 2010, Mrs. Gladrags Top Finalist 2010, and Ms America Finalist 2011. Mahajan guides you into what’s hot and what’s not - before you head off to go shopping - and provides you with ideas about what you can mix and match to create that perfect look that suits you the best.