Long and full hair is every woman’s crowning glory, but sometimes one’s efforts to maintain it in that state are met with thinning hair and sometimes hairline hair loss. The hair around your hairline tends to be very fragile and thin and if not well taken care of, easily falls off leaving you with a smooth bald on the scalp with no signs of hair growth.
Loss of hairline takes two different forms. You could either loose a portion of hair on one or both side of your head closest to your ears or you could loose the hair forming the border between your face and your head. A number of factors are responsible for this, some of which are beyond your control. The most notorious ones include harsh hairstyle regimes, menopause, medication and childbirth.
Drugs such as anti-depressants, some birth control pills and arthritis medication come with hair loss as a side effect. Also, during pregnancy the increased levels of oestrogen freeze hair in its growing phase and immediately after delivery oestrogen levels decline causing all the hair that was resting during pregnancy to fall out. This goes on even as one is breastfeeding. For menopause the decline in female hormones plays a big role in hair loss.
Generally, both men and women loose 100 strands of hair a day but when the number evidently exceeds this, people could view you as a careless person. Hair loss limits the number of hairstyles that you can wear. But with the following tips you can gradually begin to grow back your hairline.
Don’t brush or comb the remaining hair on the patch. Instead use your fingers to straighten the hair. A comb is likely to pluck out the remaining weak hair follicles leaving you with a bald scalp. Brushes and combs bristles are also harsh on the almost bare scalp, so avoid using these.
Don’t chemically treat your hair.Once you have lost a sizeable chunk of hair from your head, you may consider going natural for a while until the hairline grows back. Avoid chemically treating your hairline until the hair has grown back and is in a healthy state. Instead, gently blow-dry or opt for a flat iron as an alternative to straightening your hair.
Avoid braiding and weaving. Take a break from braiding especially the small sized braids, tight weaves, tight cornrows and tight ponytails that tend to put more tension on your hairline. These are known to increase your susceptibility to hair loss resulting from hair breakage.
Sleep on both sides of your head. If you tend to sleep on one side of your head its time to alternate to the next side before the amount of hair on one side begins to shrink. The consistent strain exerted on one side gradually leads to hair loss. Also, remember to wear a headscarf when sleeping to further protect the edges of your hairline from loss of moisture and hair breakage.
Massage your scalp. Take time to massage your scalp daily to stimulate circulation to the nerve endings. Use natural oils like jojoba, castor oil and coconut oil, paying attention to the bald areas. A head massage enhances the release of growth hormones, so do it using the pads of your fingers in a gentle circular motion, taking caution not to scratch yourself with your nails.
Add more nutrients to your diet. What is good for your heart is also good for your hair, thus adjusting your diet could boost growth of hair. A diet that provides Omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin A and zinc can boost your hair growth. You are advised to include low fat dairy products, whole grains and vegetables to your diet as remedy to hair loss.
To divert the uncalled for attention that comes with a receding hairline, tie a scarf around your head or wear a fancy hair bow or headband that covers the damaged hairline until it has grown back. Style your hair in a way that covers the affected area. It is not only a stylish way of covering your hairline but it also reduces its exposure to the harsh weather conditions.
Published in Jan 2014
Fashion9 years ago