Taking care of your hair is not a task, but a necessity. Shalvi Mangaokar talks to Dr. Sonal Shah about the do’s and the don’ts of hair care
A good head of hair can make or break your look. Today, however, there are various ways to take care of long tresses. And it isn’t just women, men are also becoming more aware of the importance of taking care of their hair. Dr. Sonal Shah, founder of Richfeel, and India’s first certified woman trichologist gives us advice on the do’s and don’ts of hair care.
Do’s
1. Brush it up
Your hair needs about 8 to 9 strokes a day, which helps distribute natural hair oils. Brush strokes should always move outward from the scalp.
2. Shampoo your hair
Shampoo has no effect on hair loss and does not cause an increase in the production of oil. The hair that falls out during shampooing is due to fall out and people with oily hair should, in fact, shampoo more frequently.
3. Eat healthy
Make sure you have a balanced diet, rich in proteins. Our hair also requires minerals such as iron, copper and zinc in the right proportions and a deficiency of these will affect the condition of our hair. More importantly, if you do suspect that you are losing hair excessively, it would be advisable to pay a visit to a trichologist.
DON’TS
1. 100 a day
It’s a myth that your hair needs 100 brush strokes a day. Excessive brushing can tear the hair and damage the cuticle layer, causing spilt ends, especially for people with dry hair or coloured hair.
2. Hair wash everyday
If you think washing your hair everyday will keep it clean, you’re highly mistaken. It is harmful to the hair to have a continuous supply of moisture applied to it, but shampoo is not the culprit. It is advisable not to wash your hair more than thrice a week (with or without shampoo), unless you find it distinctly greasy or dirty.
3. Shaving and oiling
Despite the fact that it has become almost mandatory to shave a baby’s head at least twice, in the hope of promoting good hair growth, there is no evidence to suggest that it helps. Oiling may perform the essential function of scalp conditioning, but will not stop hair from falling if you do not face a hair loss problem, nor will it accelerate the rate of hair re-growth.
TIPS FOR GREAT HAIR
- Stay away from harsh chemical products that can damage hair.
- Stress can be injurious to hair. Get plenty of rest and sleep.
- Tangles in wet hair are best removed with a wide toothed comb.
- Avoid hot water or hot blow dryers that may stress hair.
- Have regular trims to eliminate split ends and allow the hair to look and feel healthier.
- While drying your hair with towel, use the blotting technique instead of rubbing it vigorously.
- Massage your scalp with your fingers daily in order to stimulate circulation of nourishing agents to your scalp.
- Eliminate or cut back on smoking, caffeine and carbonated sodas, which weaken the body and block maximum hairgrowing potential.