‘Hair brings one's self-image into focus; it is vanity's proving ground. Hair is terribly personal, a tangle of mysterious prejudices.’ ~ Shana Alexander
Hair is a very important expression of who we are. It is our crowning glory. It is often the first thing you notice when you meet someone, especially if they have nice hair. Well-groomed, luxuriant, lustrous hair is, quite simply, beautiful and sexy. It can signify youth, strength and vitality.
Hair is much more than a crowning glory. It's also a ‘dietary time-clock', giving information on our state of wellbeing. This includes our physical, emotional and mental health. Emotionally, if we are in balance, our hair grows and looks beautiful as a personification of our inner self. When under stress many people experience hair loss or their hair loses its texture and sheen.
POSSIBLE CAUSES OF HAIR LOSS
The normal scalp has more than 100 000 hairs. They are constantly growing, with old hairs falling out and being replaced by new ones. It is normal to shed about 100 strands of hair a day, but there are also times when we lose more hair than usual and some forms of baldness can even be temporary. It is normal for men and women to feel distressed about hair loss and so it helps to understand why it happens, to know that hair will grow back, and to take steps to make it less of problem for you.
Hair loss is not exclusively a local disorder. It is a local expression of a generalised body state. For example, it may be due to nutritional deficiency, especially a lack of iron, vitamin B1, vitamin C or lysine. Stress or hormonal imbalances or even a local scalp disorder such as dandruff can also be possible causes of hair loss.
Apart from genetic influence, hair loss can also be due to pregnancy, circulatory problems and thyroid disorders. Other causative factors may be or include physical illness, diet, certain medications and treatments such as chemotherapy, skin conditions, shampoos and conditioners, hair dyes, certain beauty practices and styling techniques, the water you use to wash your hair, as well as other factors that impact on our daily lives.
That said, clearly the treatment for hair loss has to be at root level for optimum results and effect.
NATURE’S ANSWERS
Nature looks at us as whole beings, with physical, mental, emotional and spiritual dimensions. Treatment for hair loss is therefore more effective when taking each of these aspects into consideration.
Massaging the scalp with a combination of essential oils in base oil can stimulate the hair follicles, restore balance to sebum production, and increase circulation and oxidisation, which can sometimes help re-growth. Try this recipe:
Base oils to use:
45 ml jojoba oil
5 ml borage seed oil
To this add:
10 drops rosemary
5 drops each of lavender, lemon and cedarwood.
Massage this mixture into your scalp, using your fingertips to rub vigorously until the scalp feels tingly and warm (about 5 – 10 minutes). Preferably allow the oils to soak into your scalp and hair overnight (cover your pillow with an old towel to prevent soiling). Wash and shampoo as usual in the morning. Do this treatment at least three times a week when hair loss is quite severe, and do it once a week for overall maintenance.
Hair rinses and washes have also been found effective in the treatment of hair loss. A hair rinse to try out is made with 4 tablespoons of dried thyme boiled for 10 minutes in 2 cups of water. Strain and cool before massaging into clean damp hair. Leave on for 1 hour then rinse hair with warm water. Other herbs that may be added to the thyme (4 tablespoons of each) are as follows: rosemary to enhance dark hair, chamomile or catnip to promote healthy hair growth, or burdock root to promote hair growth and reduce hair loss. You may want to experiment with the addition of only one or two of the herbs at a time.
You may use tinctures (available at most health shops) if fresh or dried herbs are not available. Tinctures of rosemary, nettle and fenugreek taken internally are also used as treatment for hair loss. Take 10 drops three times a day in a little water, as single herb tinctures or in a combination.
A multivitamin and mineral combination, with 15 mg iron and 15 mg zinc; a vitamin B complex to supplement any underlying deficiency; as well as 1 000 mg vitamin C and supplemental biotin are recommended for hair loss. Good food sources of biotin include brewer’s yeast, brown rice, green peas, lentils, seeds and nuts and soybeans.
Avoid crash diets and diets that neglect any of the food groups. These can cause deficiencies in nutrients that are detrimental to hair. Eat a diet high in fruit and vegetables and low in starch. This may help to slow down the process of hair loss.
Lie down on a slant board for 15 minutes a day to allow the blood to reach your scalp. Doing a headstand (as in the relevant yoga asana) supports this effectively.
Be wary of using products that are not natural on the hair. As far as possible, use only all-natural and pH-balanced formulations. Use shampoos and conditioners that contain biotin and silica. Conditioners containing chamomile, marigold, ginseng and/ or passionflower help to keep hair healthy as well.
Hair is fragile when it is wet. Gently pat your hair dry, squeeze out the remaining water with a towel, and let it dry naturally. Use a wide-toothed comb to gently untangle the knots in your hair. Do not wear tight ponytails or styles that pull on the hair.
Cover your hair when exposed to extreme heat or cold and when swimming in a pool or the sea.
Tissue salts are also recommended for hair loss. Kali sulph tissue salt number 7 is one that is specifically for hair loss. Take two tablets three or four times a day until the condition stabilises, and thereafter once or twice a day.
Stress and anxiety also contribute to hair loss, so consider finding techniques that aid in relaxation and enable you to cope with stress.
Hair loss is a common problem, and even though most often the causes are due to the factors discussed above, there may also be cases where nothing you try helps and you are still losing large amounts of hair. In this case it would be best for you to see a health care professional to find the causes and a solution that suits you best.
Editor's note: you may find this article interesting on Baobab Oil – a rescue remedy for skin and hair and also Optimal Nutrition for Hair, Nails and Skin.
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