Last Updated on: 17th September 2023, 12:57 pm
People with hair loss in Singapore usually find their hall fall related to some kind of condition their hair roots are having.
It can be challenging to get hair that is strong, shiny, and easy to manage if the hair roots are weak.
Genetics do play a role in hair type, strength and volume but that doesn’t mean that you can’t do anything to strengthen hair roots.
If you have weak hair or weak hair roots then we have some suggestions on what you can do to help you promote hair growth.
1) Stop using heat on your hair
Blow dryers, straightening irons, hot curlers, and other heated styling tools can take a toll on your hair as it removes the necessary moisture needed to keep your hair follicles healthy.
Overuse of heat styling products can cause breakages — damaging any frizz to your natural hair.
If you must use a heat styling product, we recommend limiting the use and applying a heat protectant to your hair before using it.
For blow dryers, which are the most used heat styling product for hair, we recommend holding the dryer about 6 inches away from your hair and moving it around to ensure you don’t concentrate on one spot.
If you have a cool function then we recommend using that as well instead of the heat function to reduce hair damage.
2) Include supplements in your diet
In our hectic daily routines, it is difficult to consume enough nutrients, especially for our hair. You can incorporate supplements into your diet to ensure you get enough vitamins and minerals to help strengthen weak hair roots.
The vitamins and minerals that may be most important for hair growth are:
- Vitamin A: found in sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkin, spinach, milk, eggs, and yoghurt
- B vitamins, especially biotin: found in egg yolk, liver, salmon, avocados, nuts and seeds, and dairy products
- Vitamin C: good sources include citrus fruits, strawberries, and bell peppers
- Vitamin D: found in fatty fish, egg yolk, and fortified foods like milk and orange juice
- Vitamin E: good sources include sunflower seeds, almonds, spinach, and avocados
- Iron: found in oysters, clams, eggs, red meat, lentils, and spinach
- Zinc: good sources include oysters, beef, pumpkin seeds, and lentils
However, before incorporating any supplement, we advise doing a consultation with a doctor to ensure you are not overtaking any of these vitamins and minerals. An abundance of these vitamins can cause health problems and uncomfortable side effects we are certain you won’t want to deal with.
3) Shampoo according to the type of scalp you have
Most of us believe that shampoo is for your hair but shampoo is actually used for your scalp.
Therefore it is important to choose a shampoo that suits the condition of your scalp instead of your hair type.
If you have an oily scalp, it is best to wash it every day and choose a clarifying shampoo to remove the dirt and oil buildup to ensure nothing is clogged on your scalp. You can also do the double shampoo method with the first shampoo to focus on removing oil and rinsing superficially before adding another round of shampoo to lather the scalp.
For dry and sensitive scalps, it is important to shampoo less and look for products that provide a soothing and hydrating function to your scalp.
Remember to use only a quarter-sized amount of shampoo as the focus is to wash your scalp not your hair. The foam from the shampoo will cleanse the rest of your hair when you are rinsing.
4. Massage your scalp
Healthy hair growth can be achieved when you have good blood circulation in your scalp.
You can boost the health and condition of your scalp by performing daily scalp massages for as short as 4 minutes.
Your favourite hair oil or coconut oil can be used to massage your scalp while acting as a deep conditioning protein treatment to promote strong hair roots.
There are devices such as a scalp massager you can purchase to help you perform these massages. These handheld, brush-like devices work by stimulating your scalp.
5. Consume more protein
Your hair is made mostly from keratin which is a type of protein. Therefore, it is important to consume enough protein especially when you have weak hair.
Protein-rich foods that may help boost hair health include:
- eggs
- fish, like mackerel and salmon
- nuts and seeds
- lean meats
- spinach and kale
- beans and legumes
6) Do a final rinse with cold water
Showering with water that’s too hot may cause heat damage to your hair, both at the hair roots and on the hair cuticle.
Steam in the shower can also open up the cuticles on your hair, which may result in hair that’s dry, frizzy, and prone to breakage.
To protect your hair, lather up with lukewarm water. Then, finish your shower with a spray of cool water on your hair and scalp to seal your hair roots and cuticle to stop damage from heat.
7) Dry your hair with a t-shirt
Rubbing your wet hair with a towel after washing can cause hair to break due to the friction that’s created between the towel and your hair.
There are plenty of materials for towels that won’t cause friction but the easier and cheaper solution is to use a simple cotton T-shirt.
The smooth T-shirt fabric will create less friction when drying and, therefore, less damage and frizz. To use a tee on your hair, follow these steps:
- After washing and rinsing, gently squeeze sections of your hair to remove as much water as possible.
- Bend your head forward and wrap the T-shirt around your head in a turban style.
- Leave your damp hair wrapped in the shirt for 5–10 minutes, then unwrap.
- Gently squeeze the T-shirt around any sections of hair that have excess moisture, then dry and style as usual.
8) Do hot oil treatments
Hot oil treatments have been a proven method that works to strengthen weak hair and weak hair roots.
There are plenty of oils you can choose from, like coconut oil and avocado oil that contain essential fatty acids as well as vitamins A, B-5, and E.
The recommendation is to heat up the oil and leave it to cool to a nice warm temperature that is comfortable to apply to the scalp and hair. You can massage your scalp and leave the oil in the hair as one of the deep conditioning treatments you do in your weekly beauty routine.
Conclusion
Eating a balanced diet that includes a wide variety of vitamins, minerals, and sources of protein and proper hair care routines can help boost the health of your hair and scalp.
If you notice that your hair has become prone to breakage or that you’re losing more hair than usual, it’s worth mentioning it to your doctor.
While hair loss is common amongst men and women, it is also usually a signal that there is something up with your body.
