How champagne and cheese can give you dandruff and UV lights can cause breakage – and what to do to stop it
Anabel Kingsley gives some great advice and cures for some of the common hair health problems many face
Is your hair in good health? It can often be our crowning glory but people’s barnets are prone to health problems, just like the rest of our bodies.
Stress, diet and fluctuating hormones are often to blame but it needn’t get you down.
Here, hair and scalp expert ANABEL KINGSLEY explains how to pep up poorly hair.
THINNING HAIR
This doesn’t just happen to older folk. People in their twenties and thirties can get it, too.
It usually occurs if hair follicles are naturally sensitive to certain hormones.
But nutritional deficiencies, imbalances and stress can also lead to thinning.
Ask your GP for a blood test to rule out underlying health issues.
A daily application of scalp drops that protect follicles is the most effective at-home treatment.
Try Tricho 7 Scalp Drops (£50, ).
DANDRUFF
Dandruff is due to an overgrowth of yeast found on the scalp.
Skin cells then divide too fast, resulting in tell-tale flakes.
Other causes include cold winter air combined with overheated rooms.
Cheese, spicy food, white wine and champagne can also make it worse.
Use an anti-microbial shampoo daily until flaking subsides. Look for the ingredient piroctone olamine.
Try Vichy Dercos Anti-Dandruff Sensitive Treatment Shampoo (£7.99, ).
HAIR WON’T GROW
Hair is made of protein, which is the most important nutrient for growth.
Eat a balanced diet containing plenty of protein, iron and complex carbs.
If your diet is suffering, your hair might suffer, too
Stress and hormonal imbalances can also hinder hair growth.
The types of protein-rich food you should look to include in your diet which are good for hair growth
include chicken, eggs, nuts, spinach and other dark leafy green vegetables.
GREASY STRANDS
To rid roots of greasy sebum, don’t skimp on shampoo.
The scalp sweats, secretes oil and sheds dead skin cells constantly – and it is as dirty as your face at the end of every day.
To eliminate any excess oil, never go for more than 48 hours without washing your hair. Like acne, hormonal fluctuations can mean more oil is produced in the glands.
Applying conditioner to hair roots is another common cause of lank locks. Apply only to mid-lengths and ends.
SHREDDING STRANDS
Hair loss is not immediate. It takes six to 12 weeks to fall out after the event that caused it.
It is actually normal to shed anywhere between 50 and 100 hairs a day, but more than this can be significant.
Triggers include iron deficiency, dieting, giving birth and stress.
The good news is hair should grow back as normal once the underlying cause is addressed.
Eat well, manage your stress levels and try to get plenty of sleep.
BREAKING & SNAPPING
Common culprits for weakened, brittle hair are UV damage, heat styling and excessive processing.
Constantly pulling at it can also lead to snapping.
Treat with some tender, loving care to soothe any damage.
Opt for flexible plastic prongs when it comes to brushing. Bristle brushes can be harsh and tear hair cuticles.
Put down the straighteners, tongs and hair dryer to limit heat-styling.
Reduce sun exposure and deep-condition your hair on a weekly basis.
GOING GREY
It is normal to spot some silver strands in our thirties but going grey can happen at any age when pigment cells stop being produced.
Grey hair isn’t grey but white. It just appears grey as it is interspersed with hairs that are still
coloured.
Most of us will have half-white hair by our fifties. Ageing and grey hair is more fragile, so use a pre-shampoo conditioning treatment once a week to strengthen your strands.
Try PK Elasticizer (£31, ).
NO SHINE
Dull hair is usually the result of damage to hair cuticles. Smooth, healthy cuticles reflect light so your hair will gleam but rough and raised surfaces cannot shine.
Heat damage, or too much sun, can also make hair look and feel lacklustre.
Pick the correct styling product to boost shine. Use lightweight creams for fine hair, or a heavier serum for coarser strands. Conditioning properly will close cuticles and plump locks with moisture.
Try Toni & Guy Classic Shine Gloss Serum (£5.45, ).
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