The average number of hair on your scalp is one lakh. It is not abnormal to see a loss of a few hairs daily. Hair growth and density do not remain constant simply because growth is cyclic. If you want to understand why or are curious as to how it is totally okay to lose some hair every day cyclically, read our blog post titled, “How to Manage Hair Loss?”. Thus saying, periodic loss of a few hairs (5%) should not alarm you.
What you see as the visible part of the hair is called the Hair shaft. The invisible part which lies beneath the scalp skin (deeply embedded in the dermis) is the hair root.
The shaft and the root constitute what is called the hair apparatus. It is similar to a plant. All three parts should be taken care of properly to ensure hair growth.
For the Hair Root (Corresponds to the Root of the sampling):
Remember the seeds for the hair root, already sown at the time of birth itself and so the number of hairs in the body remains constant. All the steps to take care of hair roots should come from within. Your hair growth and density simply reflect your underlying health. Hair will start falling if you are having systemic disturbances like poor health resulting from nutritional deficiencies (Fad diets and following hearsay dieting), hormonal, genetic, stress, etc. Ensure good health by taking a balanced diet, physical exercises, adequate sleep, a stress-free lifestyle, and maintaining a healthy body weight. If the hair loss continues even after following these remedial measures a visit to a dermatologist will be helpful.
Next is Scalp skincare (Corresponds to the Soil):
It is like taking care of the soil for a healthy plant sapling. Scalp skin should not be excessively oily or dry. Those with excessive oiliness should never apply hair oils (whatever it may be) over the scalp skin. Anti-dandruff shampoos are effective if you have scaly and oily scalp skin. If the scales on your scalp are dense, discrete, and produce itching then consulting a specialist is worthwhile to rule out other skin diseases. Another important factor is lice infestation. People are so accustomed to lice, many consider them as commensal. Lice remain alive by extracting nutrients meant for hair growth. Try to get rid of them as early as possible even if it is minimal. Most of the anti-lice preparations kill only the adult. The nits (sac-like structures) tethered to the hair shaft containing larvae need to be taken care of separately.
Finally, the Hair shaft (Corresponds to the Stem):
Take a mineral-rich diet (nuts, seeds, proteins) to keep the shaft strong and to avoid split ends. Hair bathing may be minimized if you are experiencing hair loss. After showering, towel up your hair for a while and then gently brush the hair with a baby comb with rounded bristles. If the hair is dry or frizzy, you can apply oils over the grownup hair which ensures a protective coat over the hair shaft sheath.
Things not to be used often:
- Hairdryers
- Too many cosmetics and beauty procedures
- Repeated hair straightening procedures
All these breaks open the hair shaft sheath making the shaft vulnerable to climatic and chemical exposures leading to broken hairs and split ends.
In a nutshell, The three easy steps to take care of your hair health are, WEED, that is, remove oil, sugar, and starchy food, processed grains, and junk foods. FEED mineral-rich foods, dry fruits, nuts, seeds, dark-colored vegetables and fruits, balanced diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and finally READ, learn and follow only from qualified experts.