With the COVID restrictions being relatively relaxed all over the world, more people are leaving their homes to socialize. People worldwide have been experiencing an age of revitalization, where self-care, developing, and maintaining our appearance are high on anyone’s list of priorities. Hair is vital to our appearance. Whatever style it may be in, we all consciously keep and thoughtfully modify when making our overall appearance. However, just as with everything else, hair is not always perfect. It can undergo thinning, and in worst cases, can be lost as people advance in age. For many, this may cause frustration and just feeling hopeless as we try to prevent this.
This doesn’t happen to everyone, though. How much thinning and loss may affect your hair is usually determined by your lifestyle choices and your approach to hair care. Let’s take a look at some key areas that’ll help you keep your hair looking fuller and beautiful.
Diet and Overall Health
It wouldn’t be an understatement to say that your hair is one of the best indicators of your overall health. Healthy, luscious hair usually indicates good health, as many health conditions can cause hair loss, thinning, or dullness of hair. Thyroid diseases, anemia, autoimmune diseases, and hormonal changes are some conditions that may cause harmful changes in hair (along with other signs and symptoms). Keeping your health in check by regularly checking in with a doctor will help keep such issues at bay.
The food we eat tremendously impacts the quality of our hair, as hair is produced by highly metabolically active cells that need adequate energy and nutrients to replicate. Foods rich in Omega-3 fatty acids like salmon and food rich in the B vitamins such as B6, B7, B9, and B12 are essential for hair growth and may be deficient in vegetarian diets. There are also trace minerals necessary for hair growth, such as iron, magnesium, and zinc. Taking a regular multivitamin will free you from the hassle of keeping track of what you might be missing.
Haircare
How you clean and maintain your locks obviously matters a lot as well. Over washing hair causes it to be stripped of the natural oils protecting it, giving it a dull and dried-out appearance. Using hot water while showering also increases the potential damage by removing more of the natural oils that keep it from looking dry. Using mildly warm water in showers and showering less regularly can help keep your hair safe.
Using rough towels could also cause excess hair loss because they grab onto and stretch relatively elastic wet hair, which may cause cumulative damage the rougher you try to dry it. Instead, using a microfiber towel or a cotton t-shirt to dry your hair is much gentler and forgiving, causing far less damage.
Being mindful of the products you use is also crucial, as some hair products (shampoos and conditioners) cause more damage than harm. It is always best to get recommendations from hair care specialists.
Environment
Is it sunny out? Well, the sun isn’t your best friend as hair cowers in fear, trying to escape the dullness and dryness that sunlight brings. It may seem to give you highlights, but this is more indicative of the underlying damage to your hair and may lead to long-term hair breakage. Investing in a hat or staying in the shade when it’s too sunny outside are good ways to keep your bangs safe.
The pool and the beach are two other places where your hair could be endangered. Over-chlorinated pool water and salty seawater damage the cuticle, which is the outer layer of your hair, leading to damage and breakage. Saltwater could draw moisture out of your hair, essentially drying it more.
Age, Sex, and Genetics
Though these factors may be beyond our control, multiple treatment programs can be followed, such as hair transplantation, platelet-rich plasma therapy, and many more regimens that’ll give you the perm of your dreams with time and patience.
You might feel like the world is out to get you. That it will do whatever it takes to give you a bad hair day. Fear not though! Now you also know how to stay clear of bad “hair habits”. With some patience and determination, you too will get the locks and style of your dreams. It’s never too late to start looking after your hair! So start today!