It is widely known that lovely healthy hair is our crowning glory and can totally transform your looks.But sadly today loss of hair is the bane and fear of almost everyone’s lives and a big source of stress itself!!
Did you know that a hair loss of 25-5o strands/day and even upto 100 strands /day is considered absolutely normal???Isn’t it such a relief to know that-Was a huge relief to me at least,how about you’ll???!!!:)
I’m sure you would be glad to know that the hair that you lose each day was just bound to be shed and only signifies the growth of a new hair….. just like you lose your milk teeth and get new ones when you were kids……:) So stop stressing over the hair in your hairbrush,unless of course it crosses 100 strands/day or falls out in clumps or leaves bald patches behind,you don’t have to worry too much!!Of course it doesn’t hurt to take care of whatever precious hair we do have, before it starts to disappear,right???
So for starters, let’s first understand the structure of hair and get to the root of the problem of hair loss!!
Hair is composed mainly of the protein keratin filaments and grows from follicles in our skin. The base of the root is called the bulb or the papilla, this is from where the hair that we see actually grows.Our hair actually grows amazingly fast- approximately at the rate of 1/2 inch per month.Hair grows approximately at the rate of 1/2 inch per month.The active growing phase of our hair is called the anagen phase,and then it passes into a transitional state or the catagen phase and telogen phase where it rests for a 100 days and then falls out. Thus a Hair loss of 50-100 strands/day and even upto 100 strands /day is considered absolutely normal.It’s only when it crosses 100 strands/day ,suddenly starts falling out in clumps or leaves bald patches behind ,that it is considered to be the condition called Alopecia or Hairloss.
Causes of Hair Loss and Dry Frizzy Hair:
1.Imbalanced Diet
2.Deficiency of Protein and minerals like zinc and selenium in the diet
3.Hormonal imbalances in women during adolescence ,pregnancy or menopause.
4.Hormonal imbalances in men-Male pattern baldness(Alopecia areata) is sometimes caused by a hormone called DHT(Dihydrotestosterone) which shrinks and eventually kills the hair follicles causing bald patches.An enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase converts testosterone into DHT which causes hairloss.
5.Stress
6. Lack of sleep
7.Low intake of Water
8.Overuse of Chemical products for the hair or washing with hard water
9.Chemical treatments like Colouring,Perming and Straightening
10.Exposure to Pollutants and Chemicals in the environment
11.Overexposure to UV Rays
12.Anaemia
13.Genetics
14.Thyroid imbalance or chemotherapy
Do check out which of the above may be the cause of your hair problems,and take professional help for the medically rooted problems like thyroid or hormone imbalance.The other causes can be reversed by taking necessary preacautionary steps
Sadly we only wake up when these conditions get really bad,and then shortcut chemical solutions only end up causing more harm than good.I’m sure all our grandmoms have much much better hair than us& that’s only because they would have followed the age old herbal traditions of haircare,healthy diets and preventive care..So isn’t it time we got back to nature &its natural solutions for restoring health&shine and reducing the very much prevalent problem of hair loss which now plague men and women alike!!
1..Eat right&Nourish your hair from inside out.…….
Hairfall,and dry frizzy hair are more often caused due to deficiencies of Proteins and Omega 3 fatty acids in the diet. The first step in tackling these problems would be to increase protein and omega 3 fatty acids uptake in your diet-especially from eggs,nuts like walnuts,almonds,flaxseeds ,pumpkin seeds,cashewnuts,groundnuts ,soyabeans,olives,legumes, and lots of fruits&veggies….you have to nourish it from inside out as well!!
Good hair nutrition begins with getting enough protein, which is the building block of your hair which is composed of 70 percent keratin protein.Egg whites contain a large amount of protein–ranging from 3.6 to 6.5 g per egg–and help rebuild damaged hair by filling in weakened spots along the hair strand, which strengthens the hair.They are also rich in several minerals, including zinc,selenium, iron,potassium and sodium, esential amino acids vitamins like choline which regulates hormones,as well as Vit E,Vitamins from the B family and Vit D which are all essential for healthy hair.
Walnuts are an excellent source of vitamin E,and omega 3 fatty acids strengthen the hair and keep it well protected from dryness .Munch just 7 walnuts a day and you will have met the recommended levels of minerals, vitamins, and protein.Drink lots of water as well as deficiency of water can cause dryness and frizziness due to lack of moisture in the hair.
2.Supplement your diet with Zinc ,Selenium and Iron:
Deficiency of Zinc ,Selenium and Iron have been found to cause hairloss in both men and women .
Zinc inhibits the production of an enzyme called 5-alpha-reductase which converts testosterone into DHT,which is responsible for baldness especially in men.Zinc and selenium is found in high concentrations in most protein-rich foods,seafood and eggs. If you are a vegetarian, you will most probably intake less zinc that those who have meat-based diets. Vegeterian sources of Zinc are dairy products such as milk and cheese, yeast, peanuts, beans, and wholegrain cereals, brown rice, whole wheat bread, potato and yogurt. Of all these, pumpkin seeds offer one of the most concentrated non-meat food sources of zinc.
Anaemia can cause severe hair loss and cause it to fall out in clumps.Add Olives& walnuts to your diet to fight anaemia :
they are both very high in iron content which reduce anaemia thus reducing hair fall as well.
2.To overcome hair fall,Keep your cool literally!!:)
According to Ayurveda ,excessive heat generated in the scalp(pittha)causes hair loss.Ayurveda recommends keeping the scalp moist and cool with oil massages of herbal hair oil made by infusing coconut oil or sesame oil with extracts of amla,brahmi,hibiscus and fenugreek which cool the system and scalp and encourage growth of hair.
Pamper your hair with a herbal hair oil massage the right way:With 2-4 tsps of warmed hair oil,use 4 fingertips to start massaging at the base of the neck.Massage the scalp with circular and zigzag movements of the fingers gently.Cover the hair with a hot towel or showercap for 30 minutes,so that the body heat helps the herbal oil get absorbed better.Wash off with a mild herbal shampoo.Repeat twice a week for best results.
3.Go coco-nutty!!……A coconut-fenugreek hair mask to reduce hairfall,dandruff ,promote hair growth and nourish dry hair-Apply this hairmask twice a week for 2 months and check out the hair growth for yourself!!
Fenugreek seeds replenish hair growth and are a good source of nicotinic acid,lecithin and protein and also moisturizes hair and reduces dandruff.Coconut milk nourishes the scalp and has been proven to promote hair growth.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar rinse reduces dryness and frizziness of hair,as well as hairloss:It acts by removing deposits of minerals from hard water and residue styling products on the hair strands.Use as a final rinse after shampooing with a herbal shampoo and conditioning with a jojoba based conditioner.You could either spray it as a final rinse,or pour it over your hair bending over a sink.Towel dry,and your hair will be softer and shinier.
5.Aloevera gel helps in healing the scalp, balances the PH level of the scalp and cleans the pores. An excellent home made nourishing conditioner for promoting hair growth and reducing frizziness of hair:Take 1-2 aloevera leaves,soak overnight.Peel off the skin.Mix 1 tbsp of thick aloevera gel inside,with 1 tsp of olive oil,1 tsp of herbal hair oil or coconut oil and 2 tbsp papaya pulp. You can use ready aloevera gel for this mix as well.Mix in a blender,and apply this pulpy mixture to your scalp and hair.Leave for an hour. Wash off thoroughly&see how soft your hair feels:)
6. Aromatherapy is recommended for reducing hair loss and conditioning the hair.Essential oils promote hair growth by improving circulation to the scalp, cleanse and nourish the hair follicles. Mix 1 tbsp of jojoba oil,3 drops of rosemary oil,3 drops of lavender oil,3 drops of lemon oil with a wooden or plastic spoon and massage well into the hair roots.Wash hair using a herbal shampoo and condition with a jojoba conditioner. Rinse well.
7. Drinking 2-3 cups of green tea reduces hair loss as well,especially by inhibiting the action of DHT which causes baldness,especially in males.Male pattern baldness is caused by the action of a hormone called dihydrotestosterone (DHT) which kills hair follicles and causes baldness.Green Tea inhibits the production of 5-alpha reductase,which converts testosterone into DHT.
8.Nourishing and conditioning egg and olive oil or herbal hair oil hairmask .Use a jojoba conditioner or a protein based conditioner to tame dry and frizzy hair.
Method:Take 2 eggs in a medium-sized bowl, beat eggs with a whisk. Add 4 tbsp of extra virgin olive oil or herbal hairoil and continue to whisk until foamy. Apply entire contents of bowl to your scalp and hair and massage well. Cover the head with a shower cap and leave for 30 minutes at least. Wash hair using a herbal shampoo and lukewarm water. Rinse well.
Truly following all these natural tips,to make your own natural green hair remedies not only protects your health,saves you money and supports the planet – three great reasons for giving these natural hair treatments a try!Feel free to add your feedback on these natural treatments ,and your own time tested tips of course!!!
Unveil Nature's Beauty Secrets 
