Hair fall has become one of the most common problems among men, women, and even teenagers today. Most of us have tried numerous home remedies to prevent hair loss but none of them seem to work. Given how busy life has become these days, it’s impossible to spend hours at the parlor getting the much-needed hair treatments. So, The Week spoke to Suman Shrestha of K&S Beauty Center in Jamal, Kathmandu to find out how we can make our hair healthy and strong without putting in too much effort. 

What are the reasons for excessive hair fall?
There are various factors that may lead to hair fall. However, one of the major reasons for most of us is excessive mental pressure. We should learn to lead an optimistic life. I understand that sounds a little ambiguous. But a tension free mind is important for a healthy body and healthy hair as well. Try to develop a positive attitude towards life and that will definitely help you reduce hair fall. For those who live in the cities, the quality of water and air is one the main reasons of hair fall. Try to avoid the use of underground water to wash your hair as that causes hair damage. 

Do our food habits affect the health of our hair?
A balanced diet is extremely important for healthy hair. What you eat is definitely going to reflect on your body as well as your hair.  You should avoid excessive chocolates and unnecessary junk food. In case you have an oily scalp, you must also be careful about your oil intake. Avoid having oily food and meat and that will help you lessen the natural oil that your scalp secretes. Fresh fruits and vegetables will help you keep your hair healthy and avoid hair loss. Drinking alcohol can also cause hair damage. Healthy food habits can go a long way in preventing excessive hair fall.  

How often should we shampoo our hair?
Shampoos are chemicals and they affect your hair in various ways. For those who live in cities, pollution and unhealthy environment are going to affect your hair more than the chemicals in the shampoo. So, I would advise people to shampoo their hair as soon as it gets dirty. If you live in a city, you can even wash your hair every day. One should understand that dirty hair that carries the remains of the day’s pollution can lead to hair damage and loss. 

What kind of shampoo prevents hair loss?
Many are under the false assumption that an expensive shampoo means great quality hair. Most of the products that come to our country do not go through quality check. Hence, buying an expensive shampoo does not necessarily mean protecting your hair from getting damaged. Also remember there are different kinds of shampoos in the market. Few such as Head and Shoulders and Pantene are milk-based shampoos and they do not remove the natural oil from your hair. The transparent or jelly like shampoos such as Himalaya help in removing oil. Using only one kind of shampoo may cause hair damage in the long run. I suggest you to buy at least two different kinds of shampoos and alternate between them when you wash your hair. 

Does applying hair oil help in reducing hair fall?
As Nepalis, we have adopted numerous practices from our ancestors. Oiling our hair is one of them. Yet, we have not been able to follow their practices in the correct way. Most of us tend to oil our hair before washing it. Oiling a dirty scalp and then cleaning it minimizes the benefits we can get from an oil massage. You may have noticed that your grandparents always applied oil on their scalps after washing it. That had a purpose and that’s also the correct way to do apply oil. Applying oil after shampooing will help the oil seep through your scalp and hair. This will help in removing the roughness from the length of your hair as well as the scalp. You may also mix the regular oil you use with castor oil. Castor oil helps in increasing blood circulation to the scalp, nourishes it, and strengthens the roots as well. 

What are some of the daily habits we must cultivate to avoid hair loss?
Meditating in the morning is an important habit that everyone must develop. Meditation and yoga help you lead a healthy and stress-free life. And a healthy mind is definitely the key to healthy hair. If you have a job that requires you to sit beside the computer screen for long hours, then it is a good idea to keep a green plant next to your computer. The plant will help you relax your eyes and sometimes helps you reduce stress as well. 
Most people with long hair face a particular problem where their scalp gets oily and the ends of their locks are extremely dry after every wash. The solution to this problem is to wet your hair and apply conditioner before washing your hair. That helps in preventing the length of your hair from becoming too dry. If you exercise every day, make sure you wash your hair after the workout session. The sweat that comes out from our body is salty and has the ability to weaken the roots of our hair and damage them.   

 
• stronger
 
• longer