hair breakage

Protein for Hair : Why You Need It and When You Do Not?

December 7, 2016 Nayantara Karnik 11 Comments

Most of us know the importance of deep conditioning and moisture for our hair. We oil our hair on a regular basis and try to take good care of it, yet sometimes no matter what we do, it continues to be problematic. Assuming that you have no medical or health problems, your diet is reasonably good, you exercise regularly and try to stay healthy, it can be puzzling as to why these problems persist. In that case I’m here to tell you it could be because of a not-very-well-understood hair ingredient – protein for hair. Is your hair getting too much of it or not enough?

Who Needs Protein for Hair?

Our hair is made up of about 91% protein, including keratin which we often see in the hair product ingredients. It is also one of the major hair straightening treatments.

Now, what are proteins? Going back to school chemistry, proteins are larger molecules composed of chains of smaller amino acids.

In the modern world, our hair is exposed to styling, treatment and environmental damage or other stress which cause the hair structure to degrade beyond what our ancestors ever faced. Even though getting protein for hair from inside-out is the key and it should be sufficiently present in your diet, that may not be enough for your hair to remain in a healthy state.

4 Ways to Stop Hair Fall

May 18, 2016 Swati 4 Comments

How to Stop Hair Fall?

Inversion Method

Most of the time hair fall is just due to lack of proper nutrition to the hair follicles. This can occur due to lack of exercise or lack of proper blood circulation through out the body. The inversion method works only in such cases.

Everyday for one week you must bend your head down for 4-5 minutes and keep massaging the scalp simultaneously. Repeat the exercise again after a month. The break is so that the body does not get used to the exercise and stop showing its effect.

Hair Oiling and Scalp Massage

Scalp massage helps improve blood circulation which delivers nutrients to the hair follicle. It is one of the basic techniques in hair care. Hair oil helps lubricate the hair and scalp at the same time, making it easy to massage and conditioning the hair.

It is true that hair oil does nothing more than conditioning the hair but regular application of oil keeps hair fall at bay and helps hair to stay frizz-free and manageable.

Take Care of your Hair Accessories and Choose Hair Products Wisely

Hair accessories like combs and bands get dirty and oily as well (when you apply oil). They must be washed and cleaned regularly to make sure the dirt and grease does not keep on transferring to your hair and scalp over time.

Try to buy wooden combs and avoid hair brushes if you have curly hair. Wooden combs distribute oils all through hair and calms the frizz.

Whenever you are buying hair care products, make sure you buy the professional ranges of good hair care brands instead of the over the counter products. Though expensive, the professional range products are gentle on hair and provide better maintenance. They help control the excess hair fall which can happen due to drying ingredients in the regular shampoos.

Pamper your hair every week with a hair mask. And, never EVER skip conditioner after a shampoo.

Exotic Oils and Essential Oils

I have time and again stressed on how essential oils are one of the best hair fall treatments. My favourites are Rosemary, peppermint, tea tree for hair. They help promote hair growth and reduce hair fall as well. You can mix essential oils in everything right from your hair oil to your shampoo, conditioners, hair masks and even the leave-in treatments.

Another pampering treatment I love is indulging in exotic oils like argan oil, hazelnut oil, macadamia oil, brazil nut oil. They all feel very luxurious (I am not sure how different they are from regular oils in terms of hair conditioning) but it is more of a feel good factor which leaves you and your hair happy after the treatment. It is more psychological.

So, these are just few ways on how to stop hair fall. But, you must remember that excess of everything is bad so if you feel hair fall is excessive, visit a dermatologist or trichologist immediately. Hair fall can indicate an underlying health condition.

What are your tips to stop hair fall?

How to take care of your post coloured dry hair? – My Hair Diary

February 29, 2016 Swati 11 Comments

cysteine infusion reviews and hair color — My Red Hair – way back in August

It has been 6 months since I got my dry hair coloured. The reds are the worst as they fade the fastest. That is how Katrina Kaif managed to spend 55L on the Chinar-esque shade she got which I absolutely fell in love with. My red lasted for 3 months and since then my hair is chocolate brown which is not too bad if I can say so.

In the long run, I can also claim that my dry hair is doing pretty well after the intensive chemical treatment it went through. But, yes, the post coloured dry hair care is an intensive process. You can let it go for even a week. I do slip off quite a many times and make up for it by getting a hair spa! Anyways, let me share what I did and did not do which you should do.

How to take care of your post coloured dry hair?

Shampoo less but not too Less

I have noticed in the past one year that my hair behaves best when washed on alternate days. The more I go without washing, more hair falls. Find out the optimum time your hair behaves well without shampoo and stick to that. Two should be good if you have normal hair but three is good for both oily and dry hair.

My Hair Diary – October 2015

November 2, 2015 Swati 9 Comments

Wow. We are two months to a brand new year and we will all be one more year older! I think with age people do come to appreciate life more. This year has been very enlightening in that way. And, I can proudly say I shall be entering my 30’s. Now, I can relate to why people say 30’s are very liberating. You appreciate yourself, your thinking changes and you become evolved more than ever!

Anyways, coming back to the post, I did not write about how my hair did last month because by the time I was settled and ready to click pics, it was almost mid-October. The whole of October just went off in the anticipation of Mr. P’s cousin’s wedding and the chronic fatigue becoming a part of life again. It is funny how one can just go on continuously ignoring their health and advising others to not do the same!!

All the travels I have been doing since August has been taking toll on my hair. I have avoided washing my hair except just one place. I think Delhi has hard water because my hair never does well over there! So, the first thing I always do after coming back from lots of travelling is, no not getting a hair spa (I am sure that would be quite lovely and quite expensive as well!), getting a hair spa at home. This has been my routine for the past couple of months, precisely June since it is when I started taking care of myself again! And, it really works for me!!

Hair Spa

Aah..it is nothing special. Just shampoo, rinse twice. No vinegar this time because it would ruin the hair color, if you have any! I have to make sure to wash my hair once every 3-4 days. No, I am not really that diligent. I do get lazy. But, not washing my hair for 4-5 days in a row makes my hair fall because of the dirt so I try not to do it.

After the hair wash, I apply a generous quantity of Schwarzkopf Color Freeze Hair Therapy hair mask. And, sit for anywhere between 15-30 minutes.

Now, I always have one question – How much quantity of conditioner and hair mask is enough? I asked my stylist the same and he actually said a 5 rupee coin sized dollop which I can easily say is not that generous. Then, he added we can add an extra of another half dollop and that would be perfect.

I did try to follow his advise in the beginning and then I started getting bored of the products. So, started scooping a bit more. On second thoughts, I realize now that I am wasting the product unnecessarily and they do not come cheap! So, in case you have the same doubt, you can try this method and see if it works for you.

#OneMonthtoHealthyHair – Thinning Hair or Hair Fall Causes

March 20, 2015 Swati 3 Comments

Life is pretty unpredictable. It can change in an instant and the next instant you find yourself hurling down the hurricane, literally! Btw, something for all of you to ponder upon – you know there is a problem so is it better to face those problems headlong or to bide time till they settle down themselves.

And, that brings us to the major topic in everyone’s life! Hair Fall or Thinning Hair. Why do we get that? Here I am demystifying various reasons for it. So, read all of them patiently and see which one suits your bill and tackle the hair accordingly. Btw, a disclaimer here – this list is by no means exhaustive. There are numerous other reasons but at least I have tried to broadly categorise the causes of hair fall here.

Also Read: Are these factors causing hair fall for you and how you can work around them? {Hair Care}

Reasons for Hair Fall

#1. Shock, Tragedy or Physical or Mental Stress

Any life-changing event, good or bad, is somewhat stressful and has effect on the body, whether it is marriage, moving into a new house, getting pregnant or even travelling. Tragedies like a death in the family or an accident can also have their effects. And, the shock of these things can unravel after a few months.

For the time when these changes are happening in your life, generally the body stays inert and the shock of the event gradually sets in as the time passes. And, then, those changes affect your body. That is why you can notice hair fall certain time after the event.

#2. Diet and Lack of Exercise

I know you must have been tired by now reading this point over and over again! But, nothing can beat this. If you are regularly following a balanced diet and getting your regular dose of exercise, nothing can really harm you. This is most often the simplest cure for all your ailments.

– Lack of protein

Well, hair is made of protein and water. So, obviously, if your body has less protein intake, the structure of the hair is weakened. And, gradually, the hair falls off.

– Weight Loss or Crash Diets

Aah, this is something I would love to go on and on about. Weight loss is NOT the result of crash diets or skipping meals or eating whenever you feel like. All this results in bad health. So, whenever you really think of losing weight, sit back and formulate a plan with a doctor or a dietician. You do not want to compromise on health. And, on this point, I would say that making some very small changes in your everyday life can have HUGE benefits on your weight.

#3. Medical or Hormonal Issues

– Pregnancy

Generally, in pregnancy, you observe hair fall after the delivery rather than during the pregnancy. It is because all the hairs go into the resting stage during the pregnancy and they fall out once body returns to normal state. This is usually temporary and resolves itself.

– Anemia

Iron deficiency, especially when it progresses into full-blown iron deficiency anemia, can cause hair loss. “It sends your body into survival mode, so your body channels oxygen to support vital functions as opposed to ones like keeping your hair intact,” (Source)

– Hypothyroid

Iron deficiency slows your body’s thyroid function and blocks its metabolism-boosting effects, according to the National Academy of Hypothyroidism. (Source)

– Vitamin B family

Vitamin B1 – B12 are all very important for hair growth and healthy hair. And, sometimes, some bodies are resistant to absorption of B vitamins easily from the diet sources which is why they need supplements. For that, you need to get consultation with the doctor. And, eating a balanced diet also helps in this area!

– Immune system

Now, at this point, I would like to mention that there are some autoimmune disorders in which the immune system is hyperactive and considers the hair as a foreign body and starts attacking the hair follicles. There are various types of such disorders with differing intensities. Some of them lead to permanent hair loss and some are treatable.

– Medications

Now, if you have been taking any antibiotics or contraceptive pills or anti-depressant or stimulants or any other strong medications for terminal illnesses, they all can cause some side-effects. And, then, there are medications which your body rejects or does not suit you. So, may be you are one of those categories!

#4. Heredity or Age

– Heredity

Aah. This thing with genes, I wish I could avoid. I have genetically fine and thin and flat hair and prone to LOADS of splits! I so wish I had the hair of my friend. She did NOT know what a split end was?

Yeah, so, you really can not do anything about those genes. They determine most of the things about your hair – color, texture, volume, length, hair fall issues like male pattern baldness.

But, the good news here is that hair changes its texture every 7 years. So, take good care of your hair and you can actually control the genetic characteristics to an extent.

– Age

But, what you can not control is your age and your body’s aging process. If you have not been on the active side, your body’s metabolism and other functioning have already slowed down by the time you have reached the late twenties and the time you cross the 30, your hormones are wreaking all their havoc. The first to witness it is the hair because it is such an unnecessary organ of the body, if it is called an organ!

So, keep yourself physically active and change your hair and skin routine to suit their needs and everything should be fine. Getting a doctor’s consultation should do you good to make out for the deficient vitamins in your body or anything else your body might need.

#5. Scalp Health and Hair Routine

– Scalp problems

Do you have psoriasis or eczema or alopecia areta? Or, may be your scalp is not well fed (poor blood circulation on the inside and nothing on the outside) which leads to weak hair roots. Or, may be you have the common dandruff or just unclean scalp.

– Clean Scalp

Remember never to let sweat accumulate on your scalp. The salt in the sweat causes lot of hair fall. And, then, we have hairs which get broken in between. All this happens because of poor scalp health.

– Hair Care Routine

And, then, your hair care routine also has a lot to do with how your hair is doing. There is a compulsive disorder in which the person afflicted with it keeps on playing with the hair and pulling it all the time. That leads to hair breakage and thinning. The disorder is called tricholomania.

– Chemical Treatments / Overstyling

Similarly, if you treat your hair too harshly, comb or brush it quickly and with force or tie your hair or braids too tightly or overstyling it or using too many harsh products, all this can affect your hair in the long run.

– Changing Products

Another thing is when you change your products or hair care routine, it is generally normal to see a bit of hair fall, because hair takes time to get adjusted with the new routine. So, again this hair fall is temporary and resolves itself.

– Gradual Hair Fall

What you need to keep a lookout on is the gradual hair fall (may happen for years) which you would not be able to notice till it is too late, not the sudden hair fall which makes your hair fall in clumps. It is easy to spot it and handle the situation.

#6. Overdoing your Vitamins

So, yes, this one is internally tied to the hair supplements post I did last week. Sometimes, we overdo the vitamins and that has a negative effect on the body!! So, keep that in mind.

These are a few reasons of hair fall. I have tried to categorize them as broadly as I can but then there are quite a lot of things that must have been left out. So, let me know which hair fall do you think you suffer from?