Haircare Tips

Top tips from Dr David H. Kingsley, PhD on how to keep your hair thick, strong and healthy forever.

Hair needs a plentiful supply of protein, energy-producing molecules (carbohydrates) and certain vitamins and minerals for optimal growth to occur. The hair follicle is a nonessential tissue and, therefore, one of the last tissues to receive nutritious substances (or the first to have them reduced), any long-term deficiencies may lead to premature hair loss.

Eat at least 5 ounces (approximately 150 grams) of protein a day. Protein comes in many forms; meat, chicken, fish, beans, eggs, cheese and tofu. Because hair is made of 80 to 95 % protein, this is an important area of your diet.

Iron deficiency is a major cause of hair loss especially in women or men who are vegetarian. If you are iron deficient or anaemic, then taking iron could be helpful for your hair. Other important minerals for healthy hair functioning are: zinc found in seafood and cereals), silica found in potatoes, red and green peppers and bean sprouts, magnesium found in green vegetable and nuts and essential fatty acids such omega fatty acids found in fish).

The following vitamins may also be helpful for hair growth:

• B complex vitamins such as biotin, vitamin B12 and folic acid
• Vitamin D found in milk, fish, eggs and mushrooms
• Beware of taking too much Vitamin A, it can cause hair loss if taken in extremely high dosages.

Stress can affect your hair cycle, and losing your hair can cause a lot of stress! So reduce your stress by following these tops tips:

• Stop Multi-tasking - try to concentrate on one activity at a time
• Get some sleep - lack of sleep can cause stress and depression.
• Have a bath - lie in a warm bath for a few minutes. It often helps to relax your body's muscles and can also help ease your anxiety.
• Positive thinking - try thinking of positive life events rather than dwelling on negative ones.

Damaged Hair does not lead to loss from the scalp, but it can lead to hair breakage which can cause thinning and slow growth. Damaged hair can be caused by chemical over-processing and/or incorrect styling, drying or brushing techniques.

• Colour your hair if needed - although damaged hair from over processing can lead to breakage, do what needs to be done to make it look presentable. If the damage is minor, colour the roots of your hair regularly so that you feel it looks it best. It is recommended to go to a professional.
• Using a dryer that is too hot can cause the hair to burn which can damage the shaft and lead to breakage. Keep the dryer at arms length and in constant motion and use a lower heat.
• Ultra violet heat from the sun can cause hair to become extra dry, brittle and change colour. Wear a hat or use a dedicated hair sun block.
• Comb before brushing - vigorous brushing can cause the hair to break especially if the hair is tangled. Comb the tangles out first by combing from the ends to the roots, by sectioning the hair. Take an inch of sectioned hair at the bottom and come out the tangles and then move up to the next inch. Keep doing this until the section has been detangled. Once the whole head has been done you can then brush for styling.