We loose 50 to
80 strands of hair per day. Do not get alarmed, this is quite
normal. Unless there is some deficiency in diet, or ill health,
lost hair is quickly replaced by new ones. Each hair grows between
one quarter and one half inch each month.
Reasons for hair loss
Hair loss can be triggered off by various reasons, internal diseases,
reaction to drugs, dietary deficiencies, scalp diseases, menopause,
childbirth, are common causes, which lead to a loss of essential
nutrients and minerals from the scalp.
Another cause of hair loss that is usually
overlooked is hair damage. Excessive stretching and tugging with
hard combs and styling appliances, exposure to extreme heat, regular
use of rollers and blow drying, perming and colouring lead to
this problem.
Alopecia areata is another alarming scalp
disease. In this disease hair growth may be normal in most areas
few bald patched occurring in many parts of the scalp. It maybe
confined to one area or the patches may increase and enlarge,
merging onto each other and finally resulting in total baldness.
The main cause of this is tension and anxiety.
It is essential to remember that hair must
be treated gently. Vigorous scalp massage in out, it would result
in further hair loss. A wide toothed comb should be used.
Natural treatment
Success has been achieved through use of plant extracts that promote
hair growth and improve the health of the scalp. Henna, reetha,
shikakai, amla, bael have been used for controlling hair loss
since age-old days. These extracts have no side effects.
Home Recipes
- Applications of castor oil and iodine alternately for a week
is excellent for this problem. Steam the head by wringing out
a hot towel and wrapping it around the head. Then shampoo and
use a conditioner. A conditioner offers your hair a buffer against
external damage also making it more manageable.
- Soak about 200 grams of reetha in four glasses of water. Leave overnight.
Next morning, boil the mixture for 10 to 15 minutes. Squash the
reetha seeds and strain the water. Apply to hair.
- A paste of lemon seeds and black pepper can be applied on bald patches,
twice a week.
- Massage whipped egg white all over the scalp. Allow it to dry before
washing off.
- Wash hair with a paste of cooked urad dal and fenugreek
(methi), three times a week.
- Combine together 5 tablespoons of pure undulated coconut milk with
one tablespoon of lemon juice. Massage well into the scalp.
Most soaps and shampoos have chemicals,
use amla and shikakai instead. Oiling and massaging the scalp is
a must once a week. Use aloe Vera oil, or coconut oil or mustard
oil twice a week. Check your diet take sufficient proteins
and vitamins. Minerals and iodine are also important. Iodine helps
improve circulation of blood in the scalp.
Hair must be
protected from treatments that cause damage so a regualr hair
care routine must be followed. Unfortunately, we sit up only when
we are confronted with a problem.
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