Shahnaz Husain
Your hair is said to be your crowning glory. Hair fall and thinning of hair are common issues today. Modern hectic lifestyle, exposure to pollution, inadequate sleep , stress and the use of chemical products deteriorate hair quality and lead to dandruff and hair fall.
There is no miracle treatment to stimulate hair growth. Hair typically only grows a quarter inch”a half an inch max”per month when they are healthy. Leading a balanced lifestyle, adequate diet , proper physical activity and caring for your tresses, as well as your scalp properly will encourage hair growth.
Hair is made up of a protein matter called keratin. It grows out of a hair follicle beneath the surface of the skin. The hair is actually fed by the nutrients in the bloodstream, which flow to the follicles with the blood. Deficiencies in the diet can lead to inadequate supply of nutrients to the follicle. Since the hair is made up of protein, the diet should contain adequate protein. Research indicates that a high protein diet of meats can lead to a deficiency of certain minerals, undermining the health of the body and thus, affecting the hair. The daily diet is as important for the hair as it is for every part of the body.
Diet and treatment for hair
Protein is one of the main nutrients for hair growth, while amino acids are the building block of protein. Having a small bowl of sprouts daily controls hair loss and also promotes hair growth, as sprouts are rich in amino acids. Nutritionists say that fish and sea food are ideal for enhancing healthy hair growth. Protein can be obtained from lean meats, fish, egg, paneer, yogurt, dals, peas, beans and nuts. Sprouted grains are of great benefit to the hair. Moong and kala chana can be easily sprouted at home.
External hair treatments, containing protein, also help to strengthen the hair and restore health. Protein has other benefits too that improve the texture and look of the hair. For instance, some ingredients that are rich in protein may be applied on the hair to add body and thickness. They also make the hair appear healthy and shiny. Applying egg on the hair has been a beauty treatment for centuries. Eggs, especially egg whites, are rich in protein. For oily hair, apply egg white 20 minutes before shampoo. This not nourishes and cleanses the hair, but also adds body. For normal to dry hair, apply the whole egg or only egg yolk.
Green tea and milk
Green tea is super rich in EGCG ,an antioxidant that helps in boosting hair growth and preventing hair loss. Scaly and flaky skin on the scalp can be treated with green tea, which regulates the scalp’s protein levels, nourishes, hydrates and moisturises scalp. Apply warm green tea (from the used tea bags) over your scalp and leave it for an hour and rinse well to make your hair softer, stronger and lesser prone to breakage.
Daily intake of around eight glasses of water and consumption of juice, soup etc promotes cell growth and reproduction”your hair won’t grow without liquid intake. Proper hydration is not only essential for the growth of your hair, but it will also ensure that your body parts function properly.
Daily physical activity results in increased blood circulation across body which also promotes healthy hair follicles.
Milk also contains protein that helps hair growth, by nourishing the hair. It is full of nutrients and contains different kinds of proteins. Milk can be applied on damaged hair to soften it. After your shampoo, rinse the hair with milk and leave on for five minutes. Then rinse off with plain water. For extremely dry hair, add a little milk to egg yolk and apply on the hair half an hour before shampoo. The hair becomes soft, smooth, healthy and lustrous. Yogurt can also be similarly applied on the hair before shampoo to restore the PH balance and enhance hair growth. The use of coconut milk is the most effective remedy for natural hair growth .Take coconut milk from a fresh coconut . To it add half a squeeze of lemon, 4 drops of essential lavender oil. Mix it well and apply it on your scalp, leave it on for 4-5 hours and then rinse it off.
Washing and trimming
Other proteins like lentils, soyabean and yogurt are also used to cleanse the hair and enhance growth. For a home treatment, soak a cup of moong dal without skin overnight; make a paste in the blender with water . Apply this like a pack and wash it off with plain water after half an hour.Indeed, proteins not only enhance the health and beauty of the hair, but can also reverse the damage and restore health to the hair.
If you’re after long, lustrous and shinning looking hair, frequent trims after every eight weeks are a must. Living with frayed, split ends will eventually cause your hair to break further.Regular trimming also prevents split ends from moving up the hair strand and causing major breakage.
