Words by Tara Rose Kidd, founder of Tara Rose Salons and Tara Rose Academy
To many women, the idea of losing your hair can be terrifying, however, the causes can be beyond your water quality.
When you look back at beauty icons through the ages, long flowing hair is pretty much a common trend. From art to fashion, women and gorgeous hair just seem to go hand in hand. As the old saying goes, when you look good, you feel good. For women who are experiencing hair loss, while it can begin to take a toll on their mental health, it may also be a symptom of a deeper health issue at work.
It’s important to remember that some hair loss is normal. When you’re in the shower or brushing your hair, you’re going to see some hair fall. At any given time, 80 to 90 per cent of your hair is growing and 10 to 15 per cent is in a resting phase, where it doesn’t grow or fall out. This cycle is continual so that every two or three months, the resting hairs are shed and new hairs grow in their place. So you could be losing between 150 and 200 hair strands from your head per day, while some ladies more and others less. However, the longer your hair is, the more noticeable it might feel.
If you’re experiencing more loss than normal, there could be a number of causes, some with simple solutions.
Install a water filter
One of the first solutions I recommend is simply taking inventory of the products you’re using at home and whether you’ve installed a water filter on your shower. Using a filter for your shower helps reduce the harshness of the water going onto your hair further by removing chemicals like chlorine, which is especially relevant for those of us in the UAE. As most of our tap and shower water is desalinated seawater from the Arabian Gulf, which often means it’s treated with a fair amount of chlorine. Pure Blue shower filters are easy to install and a quick way to help resolve potential hair fall.
Use good quality products
For many women who regularly apply colour or chemical treatments to their hair, using quality products at home is as important as the salon services themselves. Mass-produced products such as shampoos at the grocery store, use ingredients that dehydrate the scalp and cause build-up. These products block the hair follicles and have been shown to cause increased hair fall. We recommend finding a brand that uses natural, vegan ingredients such as Authentic Beauty Concept.
Opt for professional services
Another step you can take is by taking a look at your hair services and making sure you’re not over-processing your hair. I recommend choosing a salon that has highly-trained staff where you’ll be given a consultation before services. It’s important, to be honest about what you’ve previously done to your hair and get a professional’s advice on what you should or should not do. While you’re in the salon, going for a deep conditioning treatment is also worth it to help repair damage and save the hair fall you can experience from all the chemical processing. Our salon has great options for treatments that help nourish damaged hair as well, and we have a range of ammonia-free options if you’re wanting to be conscious of what chemicals you choose.
Keep a check on your hormones
Finally, hair loss can be a sign that something bigger is going on with your health. You can be doing all the right things with your hair care routine, the right products, and the perfect salon schedule but still experiencing hair fall. Hormones, medications you’re taking, vitamin deficiencies, undiagnosed illnesses, heredity, and even stress all could play a role in why you’re experiencing hair fall. The safest way to ensure you’ve gotten all the answers is to arrange an appointment with your doctor. Either a general practitioner or gynecologist could help you to understand more about what’s going on with your body and if necessary, perform tests that would provide answers or refer you to the right specialist who can.
Dealing with hair loss can be daunting, but you’re not alone. I encourage you to find a community, whether online or in a salon like Tara Rose, where you feel that you can openly talk about what’s going on and ask the questions you need to. Social media has maintained this culture of perfection and unattainable beauty standards to the point that it’s almost impossible not to feel some form of insecurity, especially when you feel you have a flaw.
It’s important to remember whether you have a centimetre of hair or ten, one hair or 100,000 on your head, the hair on your head does not define you as a woman. You are that woman inside and don’t forget to check her out in the mirror so you can see how incredibly beautiful she is.
For a consultation and to book a professional service at Tara Rose Salons, visit tararosesalon.com
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Images: Supplied & Feature Image: Unsplash @curology
