How to Prevent Hair Fall - Slideshow

Is hair fall normal?

» It is considered normal to lose 40-50 strands of hair everyday, especially if you wash it everyday.

» But if the rate of hair fall is worrying, or your hair has started to come out in tufts, and you aren't able to maintain the same volume of hair - there could be cause for concern.

What causes hair fall?

» Treating hair fall and encouraging hair re-growth becomes easier when the cause can be identified.

» Reasons for severe hair fall are - trichotillomania (compulsive psychological urge to pull out one's hair), genetics (a major factor in baldness), hair styling (like perming, colouring, ironing etc.),

What causes hair fall?

» Skin diseases like ringworm infection on the scalp and lifestyle diseases like diabetes.

» Malnutrition and side-effect to certain drugs like in chemotherapy, acne and diet pills also cause hair fall.

Get it under control

» There is no immediate remedy to controlling excessive hair fall, but by continually practising certain changes, there will be significant improvement in the long run.

» As hair is a barometer of general health, following a healthy lifestyle (diet and exercise) is desirable. Vitamin B &E, iron, calcium and zinc are needed.

» Drink lots of water.

Controlling hair fall

» The chances of infection on your scalp are higher when it remains dirty. So shampoo and condition always, with reliable products.

» Avoid unhealthy hair practices like frequent blow-drying, tight hairstyles, ironing, perming, rough toweling wet hair etc.

» If you use hair gel, make sure you wash it off the very next day.

Caring for your hair

» Massage your scalp with lukewarm oil. Apart from the goodness of oil, massaging improves blood circulation.

» If split ends bother you, trim them off frequently.

» Always oil/shampoo from root to tip.

Go natural!

» Take good care of your hair before it begins to fall out.

» Washing hair with tender coconut water/coconut milk is said to be helpful.

» Curd/ a decoction of used tea leaves work well as natural conditioners.

» Shikakai (Acacia concinna) powder is also healthy for hair. You can complement its benefits by adding the paste of fresh curry leaves.

Lifestyle

» Lifestyle improvements are also highly recommended.

» A lot of hair loss/graying is directly linked to mental stress. Meditation may prove effective in this counter.

» Good sleep is necessary for overall health, including the hair.

Lifestyle

» Avoid alcohol and tobacco use.

» If despite all this you are still losing hair, maybe it's time to blame genetics.

» Hair replacement/using a hairpiece may be an option. Or else, let your shiny pate be the new fashion statement.