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Friday, July 12, 2013

Stop the Mane Drain
Don’t stress about losing your tresses; get savvy and check out our expert tips on the best methods to minimise one of the biggest lifestyle banes – hair fall!
Stop the Mane Drain
Does it break your heart to see bunches of your beautiful hair fall out every single time you wash your hair or comb it?
You are not alone. In fact, many women complain about the same thing. Some blame the water, some the harsh weather conditions, and some confess that they’ve not been particularly careful with maintaining their mane. Here, we tell you what exactly is going on, and what you can do to end this agony once and for all.
Why you are losing hair…
We wish we could pinpoint that one cause and nip it in the bud, but there is a lot that can contribute to this condition.
• Environmental factors: The usual suspects – pollution, harsh sun, and constant exposure to air-conditioning – dry out the hair, making it brittle and causing it to fall out easily.
• Stress: Many experts believe that stress is one of the major contributing factors to hair loss.
• Water: The water that is available is sometimes treated with a huge number of chemicals so when this water penetrates the scalp, chemicals start building up there. Sometimes it even contains a especially high content of calcium, which deposits in the hair follicle, blocking it, and also stops new hair from growing out.
• Poor nutrition: Since many women here in Pakistan cover their head, they don’t receive any vitamin D, which is very essential. Moreover, people go on diets without thinking about what it does to the skin and hair. Not having balanced meals leads to brittle hair, and ultimately breakage. Poor iron, keratin and zinc levels in the body are also some of the main causes of hair loss.
• Styling: It is hardly a surprise that your blow dryer and other hair tools that use heat are not exactly BFF candidates for your hair. Over time, they leave your hair dry and brittle, causing it to fall. Plus, the number of products you pile on, in an effort to make your tresses look good, also cause build up… and when not cleaned out on a regular basis, leaves your scalp dirty, leading to hair fall. In the same way, excessive styling and colouring, not only damages hair, but all the chemicals build up and block pores, not allowing new hair to grow.
• Other factors: Hormonal changes, natural ageing, pregnancy, weight loss, certain kinds of medication, thyroid disorders, anaemia and inherited hair loss are some other factors that can causeStop the Mane Drainyour hair to fall.

Styling and treating your hair with chemicals too often not only damages the hair, but the chemical build-up blocks hair follicles and doesn’t let hair grow
What you can do to fix this…
You first need to figure out which factor exactly is causing your hair to fall out before taking action. It is normal to lose about 80-100 hair a day, but how much is normal varies from person to person, and it’s easy to know when you’re losing too much hair.
Start out by fixing what you eat. Eat a balanced diet, which has enough carbohydrate and protein. When snacking, pick a complex carb, like fruits, or crackers. Try to maximise your iron and zinc levels, by eating foods that contain light levels of these minerals and also ensure you drink lots of water.
Dr Francesca Frusco, a New York based dermatologist and scalp care specialist suggests increasing intake of essential fatty acids that are found in oily fish and avocadoes, that help not only the scalp, but the general condition of the skin as well. She also suggests popping zinc supplements as they help prevent dandruff, which can also cause the hair to fall.
Experts also advise a diet rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, eating dark green vegetables for their folic acid content and getting daily fix of vitamin D either through sun exposure or supplements, and taking a combination of iron and lysine supplements.
Making a few changes in your hair care routine is also necessary. First of all, get a good haircut, and chop them down to a comfortable level, because the longer your hair is, the more it is prone to breakage. The kind of products you use, of course, also make a huge difference. Looking out for hair products rich in caviar – will help nourish and revitalise the hair, as well as seal the moisture in. UsingStop the Mane Drainproducts that are sulfate and paraben-free is also highly recommended.
How you wash your hair, is another surprising thing you could be doing wrong. Give the scalp a boost by alternating the use of hot and cold water while washing hair to increase the circulation and prevent dead cells from forming on the scalp. Similarly, washing your mane every day is a big no-no. Put a little shampoo in your hair, wash it gently, and rinse. Don’t scrub your scalp! Also, when you apply a moisturising mask, don’t just restrict it to your hair, but also nourish the roots by applying it on your scalp.
Take care of your hair by keeping it chemical-free as much as possible. Avoid using too many products on it, and colouring your hair as far as possible. If you absolutely must style, use a heat styling protector, and before stepping out in the sun, spray on a little hair sunscreen.
Make a few lifestyle changes so you stress less. Opt for meditation and yoga to calm your mind and body, which will help not only the condition of your hair to improve, but also help you lead a calmer life.
Style it right
Okay, so your hair is thinning, and you hate that it looks so limp, but you needn’t worry – there is a solution for that too! You can make your hair look fuller by taking a small drop of regular conditioner and spreading it lightly in your hair, running your fingers through it.
Pin or tie your hair up in a loose bun, and after a few minutes, you can just untie it for voluminous ‘done and undone’ look. You can also accessorise with bright scarves, to take the attention away from the hair.
If you are planning on getting a haircut, opt for blunt, choppy cuts to give your hair a fuller look. You can style it differently on different occasions, like opting for a side parting for a more feminine look.
Now that we’ve got you all the solutions and inside information, there is no reason for innocent strands to die a gruesome death anymore. And please, don’t stress about losing hair… it will only make it worse!