Amal Al-Sibai

Saudi Gazette

Many factors can cause damage to your hair leaving it dry and brittle, resulting in hair loss. Some factors include vitamin deficiencies, hormonal imbalances, medications, stress, poor diet, excessive use of heat appliances and hair styling chemicals, and simply put - not taking care of your hair and managing it well.



Your hair doesn’t need a whole lot, but with more time and effort, your hair could regain its health, shine, strength, and growth.



Hair stylist Fatimah from Morocco shared with us all there is to know about natural hair care, from the home.



Wash your hair correctly.



• If you thought taking a shower every day was good for your hair, you’re wrong. Daily baths and showers will strip your hair of its natural oils that maintain its softness and luster. Try not to wash your hair every day.



• Massage your scalp when you shampoo your hair. Do this by firmly pressing the tips of your fingers on your head, for about 1 minute before washing the shampoo out. Massaging increases the circulation to the hair cuticles, and improves delivery of nutrients and oxygen. It also helps prevent dandruff.



• Look for a sulfate and silicone free shampoo.



• Pour conditioner into your hand and rub from the tips of your hair to just below the scalp, not on the scalp. If you want softer silkier looking hair, leave the conditioner in your hair for a few minutes before rinsing it off.



• Try to wash your hair on the coolest setting that is comfortable or at least try giving it a final rinse of cool water. This seals the hair cuticles (the outermost layer of the hair shaft) and locks in moisture, making it shinier.



Be careful when drying your hair.



• If you can, avoid drying your hair with heat as much as you can; it will only age your hair. Heat causes damage to your hair, but there are precautions you can take to minimize the damage.



• When you blow dry your hair, put it on a cool or the lowest setting and hold distance it at least 8 inches away from your head to protect your hair from the heat.



• Use heat protection spray on your hair before you use the blow dryer, and also before you use hot rollers or a flat iron or curling iron, or you can use a leave-in conditioner.



• Keep the blow-dryer moving constantly to avoid applying too much heat in a single spot.



• Wet hair is more fragile and more susceptible to damage than dry hair, wet hair breaks more easily. Avoid wringing your hair with a towel after you get out of a shower.



• Do not brush your hair when wet. When your hair is dry, brush or comb using a wide-tooth comb, or a natural bristle brush like a boar bristle brush. These brushes distribute the natural oils throughout your hair to make it softer and shinier.



• Apply leave-in conditioner or only a few dots of almond oil or argon oil to make your hair more pliable.

 

Go easy on styling products.



• Minimize your use of products like hair spray, gels, and mousse; they can dry your scalp which will negatively affect your hair.



• The chemical assaults we put our hair through have a direct impact on hair health, from highlights to lowlights, chemical perms and chemical straightening, to bleaching and dyeing. These styling chemicals cause your hair to look dull and rough and they cause split ends, hair breakage, and hair loss.



Give your hair special treatment on a regular basis.



• Once a week, apply a deep conditioning treatment, such as olive oil, argon oil, avocado oil or coconut oil. Wrap your hair with a towel or wear a shower cap.



• You can also purchase a hair mask or hair cream and apply it.



• Use a natural treatment like olive oil, mayonnaise and an egg or a soak in full-fat milk.



• Leave these treatments in your hair for 3 to 8 hours before washing.



• Use a leave-in conditioner at least twice a week after you shower; there is also a spray type. Leave-in conditioners penetrate deep into your hair cuticles to heal them more completely and lock the moisture in your hair.



• When hair loss occurs because your hair is damaged and prone to breakage, regular haircuts can help it look better. Hair that is regularly trimmed is less likely to become damaged and develop brittle split ends. Regular haircuts may actually help you with hair growth, as they may help keep your hair healthy and prevent it from breaking off.

 

Eat healthy foods that will keep your hair strong, smooth, and shiny.



• A good diet can prevent hair loss. Essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, promote healthy skin, hair and nails. You should eat some of these foods, which are rich in omega-3, every day:



- Salmon, tuna, mackerel, and other fatty fish

- Flax seed oil

- Walnuts, almonds, and milk



• Vitamins B-6, B-12, and folic acid are also important to your hair. You can take a multivitamin to get more of these nutrients, but you can also add foods rich in these vitamins to your diet.



- Vitamin B-6: sunflower seeds, pistachio nuts, bananas, potatoes, fish, chicken, turkey, beef, prunes, and spinach.

- Vitamin B-12: meat, poultry, fish and dairy products.

- Folic acid: dark leafy greens, asparagus, broccoli, citrus fruits, tomatoes, whole grain products, okra, celery, cauliflower, corn, carrots, beans, peas and lentils.



• Supplement biotin, a B vitamin can help reduce or prevent hair loss. Some people do not get enough biotin in their diet, resulting in biotin deficiency. Scientific evidence indicates that taking biotin supplements may help alleviate hair thinning if you have a biotin deficiency.



• Protein also promotes healthy hair. Eat a daily serving of fish, chicken, eggs or soy.