Hair is one of the ornaments of women. A woman becomes more beautiful with long and silky hair. It contributes a lot to their self-esteem. Every woman dreams of perfect, rich, nutritious-looking hair. Unlike other body parts, it also needs to be taken care of. It is normal to lose 10-15 strands of hair every day. But excessive hair fall is a matter of concern.
Causes of hair fall
There are many causes of hair fall. It can affect women of any age. Some of the causes are listed below.
Scalp infection
Scalp infection leads to itchiness and hair loss. Dandruff also leads to hair fall. Lice also make the hair follicles weak and lead to hair fall. All these lead to drying of hair and the hair start falling out. Sometimes not taking proper care of hair and not washing hair properly can also cause scalp infection which will ultimately lead to hair fall. Not washing hair the right way can lead to product build-up which clogs the pores not allowing any moisture and nutrients to penetrate the hair.
Colouring the hair
Hair colours damage the hair and lead to hair fall. Hair colours contain many chemicals like ammonia and peroxide which weaken the hair shafts and lead to the breakage of hair. Hair colours dry out the scalp as well.
Providing heat to the hair
At times women use different hairstyling tools like hairdryer, straightener, curler, etc. and these equipment are highly heated before using. These too provide heat to the hair and make the hair weak and dry. It also leads to split ends.
Hereditary
Some women have inherited hair fall from their parents. Many women are born with the gene of hair fall. Parents have hair fall in their gene and they transfer it to their child. But it's the father's gene that decides the hair type of the child.
Pulling the scalp hairstyle
Sometimes women make a tight bun, ponytail. But this also affects the hair. It weakens the hair follicles leading to hair breakage. This hair fall is permanent and no new hair grows in the same place.
Intake of high power medicines
Sometimes hair can break due to intake of high-power medicines. These medicines cause side effects that lead to hair fall. Steroids are very harmful to the hair as well as to the body. These contain many chemicals which can lead to severe hair fall. But it isn't permanent. The hair fall stops when the person stops taking the medicines.
Stress and lack of sleep
Stress brings the hair follicles to a resting position preventing them from producing new hair strands. And after some time hair falls out even by touching it. Lack of sleep cause stress, depression, and many other mental problems, and these problems lead to hair fall.
Improper diet
Lack of calcium, zinc and iron in food leads to hair fall. Calcium is important for healthy hair. Zinc and Iron help in forming keratin which is important for hair growth.
Treatment
Hair loss is not a serious problem it can be treated in many ways. The ways are very simple and can be done easily at home. Some ways to treat hair loss are mentioned below.
Oil massage
The scalp should be massaged with lukewarm oil. It provides all the essential nutrients making the hair thicker. It reduces hair loss. It should be done once or twice a week at night before washing the hair. By leaving the oil overnight on the scalp, the hair shaft absorbs all the essential nutrients from the oil. Coconut oil is the best but there are many other oils as well. Women should prefer oil according to their skin type and convenience.
Washing the hair
Washing the hair with shampoo helps to remove dirt from the scalp and hair and keeps the hair healthy and clean. It should be done twice a week. But not daily. The hair should be washed with lukewarm water. After washing the hair applying conditioner is a must. Conditioning the hair helps to detangle the hair easily. So washing and conditioning the hair are necessary steps for healthy hair. A mild shampoo can be used for washing the hair.
Proper diet
A healthy diet is necessary for making hair thick. The food should be rich in calcium, zinc, iron, proteins, and antioxidants. But intake of excess vitamin A should be avoided as it can lead to partial hair loss. Drinking plenty of water is also important. It helps to restore the moisture of the scalp.
Trimming the hair
Hair should be trimmed once in three months. Trimming reduces split ends. It also helps to remove the damaged hair. So, hair should be trimmed to promote hair growth.
Brushing the hair
The hair should be brushed or combed with a brush or comb. Brushing helps to remove all the hairs that have fallen out from the follicles. It also helps to detangle the hair and reducing hair fall. For brushing the hair a brush with a soft bristle can be used. A wooden comb can also be used and it improves blood circulation. But wet hair shouldn't be combed as it can result in more hair fall.
Reducing stress
Hair fall can be treated by reducing stress. By doing meditation, yoga, or any favourite activity stress can be reduced. By sleeping for 7-8 hrs in a day stress can also be reduced. It is very important to get out of stress healthy hair.
Home remedies
- Aloe Vera Gel
- Onion Juice
- Neem Water
- Green Tea
- Amla paste
All these can be massaged on the scalp to reduce hair fall. It should be done once or twice every month.
Conclusion
Hair fall is natural but if it continues to happen then it's better to show a dermatologist. Hair needs to be taken care of for not facing such problems.