This can have a devastating effect on the way a woman
feels about herself and can knock her confidence considerably.
There are many reasons for hair loss and it does not
affect just the over-65s, it can also have an effect on the young. Hair can
gradually become thinner or be lost totally over time. It can also happen
suddenly.
Illness can play a part as can medical treatments such
as chemotherapy and, it has been reported, severe stress can be a
culprit. It can also be genetic.
I asked Marilyn
Sherlock, clinical trichologist and chairman of the Institute of Trichologists,
for her thoughts.
“Try to find
out what the cause is. Seek expert advice. There may be a treatment that will help
you,” she said.
She also pointed out that there are a lot of
manufacturers selling products that claim to cure hair loss. Before you open
your wallet and waste your hard-earned cash you should talk to your doctor, a
dermatologist or a tricologist (www.trichologists.org.uk) for their opinion.
Marilyn told me that she was finding that younger
women were suffering a lot of hair breakage due to the extensive use of extensions.
Not only can they cause pain, but they can also cause problems such as bald
patches.If you have to use them, keep them for special occasions only.
If you are over-colouring
your hair, this too could be harmful to your tresses. “Root retouch rarely
causes hair loss, “says Marilyn, “But bleaching over bleach can be harmful.”
A good tip from Marilyn, if you think your hair is
thinning, is to use a volumising shampoo and conditioner. This will coat the hair and
make it look thicker. Many brands including Dove and Rahua, an organic haircare
range, make them.
Hair needs to be cared for whatever texture you have.
Marilyn advises not to over-expose your
hair to heat as this can damage
the it. Air dry as much as possible and limit your use of curling irons and
straighteners.
“If you have long hair, don’t rinse out all the
conditioner, leave some in to help protect it.” says Marilyn.
Use your fingers to comb through your hair rather than
a brush. If you
need a brush for styling use a soft natural bristle brush. If you find that a
plastic brush works for you, all well and good. On finer hair it may make the hair static and
may not give you as much tension when styling.
Marilyn recommends Kent Hairbrushes. G B Kent &
Sons has been manufacturing brushes since the eighteenth century and carries a
royal warrant.
For styling advice always ask your hairdresser. And
remember a healthy diet is a vital
weapon in having lustrous locks.
By Daralyn Danns
