Photo: LarimdaME / Flickr

Our hair is one of the parts of the body that we spend an inordinate amount of time and money on. We blow-dry it. We cover it in chemicals to straighten it. We colour it. We cut it in a thousand different styles. We fight with it and cry over it. But how good are we to it? How often should we wash it and what products should we stay away from in order to keep it healthy?

The long and short

The 150,000 follicles that cover your head can tell you how healthy the rest of your body is. If you experience abnormal hair loss, which is about more than 100 strands a day, or other hair disorders include alopecia, split ends and brittle hair, it could be caused by autoimmunity, radiation during cancer treatment, pregnancy, iron deficiency or just plain stress.

Treat your hair like a silk blouse

So says Oprah’s Doctor Oz. How often you wash your hair depends on the type of your hair and the frequency and type of products you use. If you have dry hair, you should not wash it more than a couple of times a week. If you have very oily hair, try to skip a day.

Washing your hair daily is not recommended as you’ll be stripping it of natural oils. Occasional rinses in-between washing are enough for most people. After you’ve washed your hair, you should blot it dry with a towel and not rub it vigorously.

Ideally, you should not use a hair dryer but rather let your hair dry naturally. If you’re pressed for time, use a low heat setting. Over-processing due to heated hair appliances and colouring will result in damage such as split ends. You should also use wide-toothed combs and brushes with smooth tips that will not damage your scalp.

The Rapunzel look

For naturally strong and healthy hair, you should stock up on vitamins C and B as well as antioxidant-rich foods. Two to three portions of protein a day will help ensure normal hair growth. Include fish oils, walnuts, eggs and green tea to your diet to thicken your hair. Avoiding coffee is also a good idea. Replace your favourite brew with lots of water.

Consider replacing your conventional hair care products with organic and natural ones. Organic products do not contain petroleum-based polymers, silicones, synthetic chemicals and colourants which are harmful to you and the environment. Look out for products that contain only natural ingredients.

Tags: hair, hair care