Have you wondered if there’s anything such as ‘ageing hair’? If you notice wrinkles on your face, when you are on the wrong side of thirty, there must be some giveaways that indicate that your hair is getting old too!
Here’s all you need to know about what happens to your hair as one more candle is added to your birthday cake each year and how you can prevent the damages.
Hair expert and India’s first ever certified trichologist Dr Apoorva Shah says, “There is nothing like ageing of the hair. Every strand of hair has a life cycle of three years and four months after which the hair falls and regrows again as the root is intact and there are 25 such life cycles for every hair strand. But yes, as you grow older there will be greying as well as volume and textural changes in your hair.”
Signs of ageing
“As you get older your hair gets slightly weaker and brittle just like your bones. It also tends to get dry and starts thinning. By the time a woman is in her forties, she may also notice that her hairline is receding,” celebrity hair stylist Dilshad Pastakia explains
“Your hair normally starts greying in the thirties. Hair appears fuller and lustrous when you are younger, and around menopause the volume can appear a little reduced with some changes in hair texture,” adds Dr Shah.
You must understand that how your hair ages largely depends on your genes.
Happy hair foods
Even if you are born with a gorgeous mane but lead an unhealthy lifestyle it will affect the look and feel of your hair.
“As your hair is like your bones, it requires a lot of calcium and protein. So include foods like paneer, spinach, omega 3 (found in fish) in your diet for healthy hair.”
Dr Shah recommends a nutritious diet that contains milk, almonds, soybean, soy, flax seeds, walnuts and at least three litres of water everyday.
Say no to these...
Avoid exposing your hair to direct sunlight and treat it with care especially when it is wet. Pastakia suggests shampooing your hair once in two or three days to keep it clean.
Dr Shah advises against abusing your hair with artificial colours or over-excessive use of heaters and dryers as well as using soap to wash your hair. His recommends shampoos and conditioners that are devoid of heavy chemicals.
The benefits of oil
These hair experts strongly vouch for the goodness of an oil massage. Pastakia says that an oil massage once a week will boost circulation to your scalp. Dr Shah believes, “Oil is the best natural conditioner for the hair and your hair must be oiled at least three times a week but not left on the scalp beyond 24 hours.”
Dark circles
This is a problem that can arise whether you are a new mom still working on your baby’s sleep schedule or if you are a party girl who stayed out too late on a Sunday night. Though you should keep in mind that a long-term solution would be to have an effective moisturising regimen for the eyes, using an eye cream that contains Vitamin E can be a quick fix. Invest in a good quality concealer with a shade that matches your skin tone, and voila – you can be good to go in five minutes.
Acne
Most women have a problem with acne around the time of their periods. For a long-term solution, nothing works like drinking enough water and cleaning the skin a few times a day. Use a face wash that contains salicylic acid, or one with an herbal anti-bacterial agent likeneem. After this, dab the spot lightly with powder to dry it out a bit and apply a coloured foundation on top to conceal.
Cracked Heels
How embarrassing can it be when you go to the shoe store to try out a new pair of shoes, and you realise that your heels look dry and cracked. Apply a night soft heel cream and keep your socks on overnight and you’ll see a significant difference in just a couple of days. For a quicker solution, apply some moisturising foam that is quick drying and gives a slight cover to the cracks.
Stained Nails
Problems with stained or misshapen nails could arise due to deficiencies of calcium. Another big reason could be the use of too much dark nail polish that sometimes leaves such an effect. Though a quick-fix would be to cover it up again, it would be better to take some time out for a cleansing routine as mentioned above, along with specific cleaning techniques such as soaking for 10 minutes in warm water that contains some baking soda. Doing such routines consistently will show you a visible improvement within a week.
Frizzy Hair
There are some of us who don’t have ‘bad hair’ days – the frizziness and wildness of our hair makes every day seem like one of those. The first step in a case like this is to choose a hairstyle suited to the type of hair you have. It is a better idea to go for a slightly ‘undone’ look so that you can minimise your hair care routine. Also ensure that you invest in a good frizz control conditioner, ideally a leave-in one which is the best for controlling hair of this kind. Just smooth in the conditioner after washing your hair, and you are all ready for facing the day.
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