Hair loss or hair fall is one of the most common problems that people experience specially during monsoon. Here is the advice from Dr. Arati Soman from Nisarga Herbs on hairfall during the monsoon season and what you can do to prevent it.
Reasons behind increased hair fall
1. Oily & Sticky scalp
During rainy season humidity in the air can make scalp oily and sticky. There is increased sebum secretion and accumulation on the scalp. This makes scalp itchy and you go for head bath more usual than normal.
2. Excessive Hair Wash
Repetitive washing of hair using shampoos with harsh chemicals reduces moisture content in the hair. Thus your hair becomes rough and dry with increased brittleness. This also leads to frizzy hair, dandruff and hair fall. Rains take away the life from your hair. Moreover, the hair not only starts to fall, but they also become dull and lifeless.
3. Humid Conditions
Sometimes, excessive humidity in the atmosphere makes it even worse. The hair will be at its weakest in this period of time. Monsoon is known to bring out infectious microbes that grow in water. Keeping the scalp wet would cause in dandruff and hair fall.
4. Growth of Bacteria & Fungi
Humid conditions encourage the growth of bacteria and fungi on the scalp, triggering and aggravating scalp concerns such as itchiness, flakiness, excess oiliness and even hair loss to a lot of extent. The rainwater, due to various changes in the environment becomes acidic which can cause some damage to our hair.
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Hair care is critical in the season of monsoon and if it is overlooked leads to severe hair damage.
There are many other reasons leading to hair fall such as age, genetics, lack of nourishment, hormonal imbalance and stress.Since factors like age and genetics cannot be changed, diet is one thing one can make changes to.
A diet which is lacking in nutrients is surely a cause of hair loss .
No matter how hard you try, your hair cannot be treated singularly. Your hair health needs holistic attention and proper care.
A balanced diet with the right amount of nutrients helps in promoting hair growth and makes them stay strong and shiny. On the other hand lack of nutrients from food adversely affect your hair.
Essential fatty acids, especially omega-3s, play a key role in the health of your skin, hair. It counts especially if you’re experiencing hair loss due to poor nutrition.
Good hair is a result of overall health.
A balanced nutritional diet is one of the predominant factors which keep your metabolism healthy and thus, your hair in good health. While choosing your food make sure your foods include essential nutrients for hair growth like Vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K, and minerals such as iron, zinc, etc. along with protein.
Also, Ayurveda suggests to include herbs which improve digestion such as methi, Haridra,ginger and maricha in your regular diet. Consuming Triphala Churna, hingu (asafoetida) and seasonal fruits can enhance your digestion capacity and immunity, irrespective of age group and body types
List of food ingredients for healthy hair
1. Sprouts
Sprouts contain enough vitamin C, which is considered to promote hair growth.
2. Leafy vegetables
These are healthy as they are loaded with nutrients like folate ,iron ,vitamin A and vitamin C
3. Nuts
Nuts contain a variety of nutrients that promote hair growth by providing a wide variety of B vitamins, zinc and essential fatty acids. Walnuts are a rich source of selenium, which protect your hair from sun damage.
4. Fenugreek seeds or methi seeds
These are enriched with folic acid, vitamin A, vitamin K and vitamin C – all of which support healthy and strong hair
5.Flax seeds
Flax seeds are loaded with polyunsaturated fatty acids that keep scalp dryness away. Hence including these to your regular diet will help a lot to reduce hair damage.
Generally people experience fall of 50-60 strands which is considered healthy. But during rainy season hair increases by 30 %and a person can experience hair fall of more than 200 strands.
Hair care is an important component of your daily routine.
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Easy tips for Gorgeous & Healthy hair
1.Wash your hair less
frequent washing of hair reduces moisture content and make hair dry. The more frequently hair is washed more oil is produced and require more often washing if hair are washed very frequently, more oil is produced in scalp and hence require hair wash more often. Ayurveda recommends you wash your hair twice or thrice in a week with a gentle massage using normal or lukewarm water during your hair wash.
2. Do not use harsh shampoos
Your scalp follicles get clogged with the unwanted build-up of excess oils, dirt and grime, which you need to cleanse out through regular hair wash with natural shampoos, as harsh chemicals used in hair products may change your scalp pH while they can strip off the natural oils from your scalp and protein layers from your hair. You can opt for natural hair cleansing herbs like Soapnut, Shikakai , Hibiscus flowers, Triphala powder, etc. to wash your hair.
3. Oil massage for hair
Massaging herbal oil in the scalp and hair has been Ayurvedic practice for centuries to maintain thick, healthy hair. This practice provides deep conditioning and nourishment to the hair. It also calms the mind and encourages sleep.massage also improve blood circulation in scalp and thus enhance hair growth.
4. Conditioning with hair masks
Hair masks or ‘Shiro lepa’ in Ayurveda is an extremely beneficial therapy to nourish and deeply condition your scalp and hair. Applying hair masks once in a week or fortnight is suggested by Ayurveda to keep your scalp and hair in good health. It also helps to combat internal factors like stress and anxiety which lead to hair loss. You can use Ayurvedic herbal powders like Amalaki, henna, fenugreek and solvents like egg white, aloe vera gel.
5. Regular exercise
According to Ayurveda, the toxins need to be flushed out of your body for the growth of healthy hair. Regular exercise is the key to detoxing your body through sweating. Sweating from scalp tissues unclogs your hair follicles. Exercise also enhances the blood flow, thus supporting the nutritional and oxygen intake in your scalp tissues. Ayurveda recommends the everyday practice of yoga, meditation and pranayama to keep your body, mind, and soul in balance.
Trying out these easy steps will definitely help in reducing hair loss.
Also Read – Best Indian Diet Plan for a Healthy Life
