Hair Loss and Thinning Solutions

Commonly enough many sardarnis face the same issue when it comes to their long kesh, hair loss. Many of us face the embarrassment of our hair thinning around the front, or the hairline rising. But if you face any of these issues don’t worry — there are solutions! The best solution of all is prevention — even if your hair is not thinning, you can still benefit from these tips. Please keep in mind taking care of your hair takes some time. Taking the time to do a few simple things can benefit your hair immensely.

• Oil up your hair. When I was younger I distinctly remember the way my hair would smell on Sunday nights — like coconut or baby oil. Well, that was actually good for my hair! Now that I’m older, I don’t like the look of oily hair 7 days a week. But oiling your hair the day before you wash it is a great idea. Oils such as coconut, mustard and olive promote hair growth. Make your own concoction at night by mixing 1 tablespoon of each and then warming it up. Apply this all the way from your scalp to your ends. Massage your head and especially the front of your scalp gently. Massaging with oil helps to increase hair follicle growth — so take your time and do this for ten to fifteen minutes. Sleep with the oil in your hair overnight and wash it out in the morning. You will definitely see a difference in a few weeks. This tip alone has increased my hair growth around the hairline.

Side note: If you don’t have time to wash your hair in the morning, wash it at night. Oiling your hair and taking the time to properly dry it does take a while. You don’t want to rush this process. If you have to wash your hair before you sleep just put the oil in your hair when you come home from school or work. Leave it in for a few hours and wash it before bed. This way your hair can dry over night

• Brush your hair! Use a paddle brush with both plastic and boar bristles on it. Next time you think you need to wash your hair, see if you can just brush the oiliness towards your ends. A brush helps to distribute the oil to your ends and helps you go a day or two longer between hair washes. Also, try using baby powder. Sprinkle a little bit into your roots where it looks oily and leave it for a few minutes. Brush it out and you will see that the powder absorbed any access oil. Don’t use too much powder otherwise your hair will just look gray. You could also use a dry shampoo, but baby powder works just as well.
• Wash your hair less. Remember when your mom used to only wash your hair once a week on Sundays? Well, she was on to something there. The less you wash your hair the healthier it is. I know a lot of us can’t stand the thought of only washing your hair once a week, but it is really beneficial for your hair. People wash their hair because it gets oily. The reason your hair gets oily is because your hair follicles naturally produce oil to keep it shiny and moisturized. By constantly washing out this natural oil, we cause an increased production of oil in the scalp. Your hair does NOT need to be squeaky clean! Try ‘training’ your hair to produce less oil. Yes, it’s possible. Try to go about 4 to 5 days without washing your hair. I know that sounds crazy, but try it. Slowly but surely, your hair will get accustomed and produce less oil. I recommend washing your hair once or twice a week and if you must wash it more, try not to use shampoo every time. Just condition.
• Use sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner! A lot of popular shampoo brands contain a lot of harsh chemicals that can be too rough for your hair. They also contain a lot of wax-like substances that adhere to your hair to make it seem smoother, but it’s actually just shampoo build up. Your hair may seem shiny and smooth initially, but in the long run these chemicals are not good for your hair. Switch to an organic shampoo or one that is low in sulfates or sulfate free. Good brands to try are — Nature’s Gate and TRESemmé Naturals [low sulfate].
• Wash your hair gently. As much as you want to go crazy around your scalp and lather up, fight the urge and don’t! Be gentle! When your hair is wet it is most prone to damage — flip your hair over and shampoo. This way you aren’t damaging the delicate hair around the front of your hairline.
• Don’t do a “towel turban” after washing your hair. By twisting your hair in a towel, you are causing breakage and frizzing. Gently wrap the towel around your hair and press the water out. Drape the towel around your shoulders, not the top of your head.
• Don’t try to take out your tangles after gently drying your hair with a towel. When your hair is wet it’s most vulnerable to damage and can easily comes out of the hair shaft. So after towel-drying your hair, add a hair serum. My favorite is a detangling and frizz control one — Livon (I love it!). I put a nickel-size amount in my palm and rub it between both hands. Then I flip my hair over and gently finger comb my hair with the serum. You could also use argon oil. If you absolutely must take out your tangles, use your fingers only.
• About a half-hour after your hair is mostly dry (or longer if your hair is thicker), use a wide-toothed comb to take out your tangles. You can get a good wide-toothed comb from any beauty supply store.
• Try not to heat style your hair. I know it’s hard, but try to stay away from adding heat to your hair on most days. Save straightening and curling for special occasions. If you must heat style, PLEASE use a heat-protecting product. There is no reason for your hair to suffer from heat damage. Before using any heat styling tool (including your hair dryer) section your hair and spray the heat-protecting product generously especially around the ends. Comb the product in to make sure you have even distribution. Wait a few minutes before using your tools. I recommend TRESemmé Thermal Creations Heat Tamer Spray. It’s cheap, smells great and works just as well as the expensive ones.
• Stop doing you’re your guth, jura, pony tail or whatever so tight! The number one cause of hair loss is the fact that we sardarnis tend to do a tight guth or bun and not even realize it. When you pull your hair back, you are adding stress to the hair that is in the front of your hairline. This hair is being pulled for hours upon hours at a time, no wonder it’s the first to fall out. The hair around our hairline and at the front of our scalp is very delicate. Please, for the love of your hair, do not do a tight bun, braid or pony tail! Instead, try doing a loose messy side braid, it’s chic, fashionable and good for your hair. Try changing your hair parting every few days too. This can help take the stress off your hair. If you’re going to do a bun or ponytail try doing a lose one. Also, when possible, walk around with your hair open at home.
• Whatever may be the condition of your hair, skin or nails, it’s usually a reflection of what’s going on in your diet. To prevent hair loss, make sure to maintain a diet rich in iron, vitamin A and protein. Eggs are a great source of essential nutrients, but if you don’t eat eggs try to eat more tofu and nuts. Lack of iron can cause hair loss. Eat food rich in iron such as spinach, artichokes, lentils and fortified cereals (read the labels). Be sure to have vitamin C with your iron-rich foods because it helps your body absorb iron better. Eat fruits, vegetables and nuts in a wide variety of colors. Also, try taking a vitamin targeted for healthy hair — a good one to try is Nature’s Bounty Hair, Skin and Nails.

Having long hair can be a pleasant challenge, but having to worry about your bald spot showing can be quite stressful. If you’re worried about your hair falling out, just remember human beings tend to lose about 60 head hairs a day. This may seem a lot worse if you’re losing 60 long hairs! It’s normal to have some hair come out when you comb or brush your hair. However, if you feel that your hair loss has taken a pattern and is no longer random, consult a dermatologist. Hair loss can be a sign that something is lacking in your body, so it’s best to consult with your physician and receive a detailed blood work.

Wishing you all long, healthy and shiny hair!

Humbly yours, Bainanti

March 12, 2012: Ever since the first article about hair loss was posted on Kaurista, more and more ladies have opened up to me about their hair related problems, whether its breakage, extreme thinning, split ends- there are a variety of hair issues that we as sardarnis face. Dealing with these issues is more complicated for us since the hair on our head stays with us for a very long time, pretty much until it falls out on its own. Because each hair follicle has a longer journey than the average person, it is more important for us to spend extra time taking care of our hair.

So, to answer each question as thoroughly as I can, I will be answering one question at a time. Let’s get started and answer one of the most asked hair care questions!

Q: My hair is thinning so much that it looks like I am going bald. What should I do?

If your hair is thinning to the point where it looks like you are balding, don’t panic! Relax. You can treat this. First off, get blood tests done so possible medical conditions can be ruled out.

If your baldness is not medically related, it can be attributed to tension forming around your hair follicles causing the hair to consequently fall out. Increase protein and iron in your diet and stick with a castor oil regimen. One of the safest and quickest ways to grow your hair is castor oil. I would only recommend this oil in extreme cases because it is a bit difficult to work with. Castor oil has an extremely thick consistency. In my own experience and from what I have researched, castor oil dramatically improves hair growth and the appearance of new hair follicles in 6 weeks. But one of the biggest cons is that your hair will feel slightly oily during the course of this treatment.

To use castor oil:

• Slightly warm up about a tablespoon in the microwave.
• You want to apply this oil as a treatment directly to your scalp. Section your hair and start from the back and massage it in to the scalp.
• Leave the oil in for at least 2 hours and then shampoo your hair as you would normally. You will notice that the oil probably does not completely come out, but don’t worry it’s part of the treatment process. You can wash out this last bit of oil in 3 days.
• Take a break for 3 to 4 days and then reapply the oil in your hair.

In about 6 weeks you should see little hairs sticking up, these are the new hair follicles. If you can, try to buy an organic castor oil or even a pharmaceutical grade one. Be consistent; take pictures of your hair before and after if you really want to document your results.

In my next post I will be revealing some tips and tricks to deal with serious split ends — stay tuned!

Humbly yours, Bainanti