Well-groomed, from head to toe

BEAUTY CORNER

Hair has a life cycle. Every strand that grows must fall one day. New hair will grow at the same place, after some time. There is a natural balance between the rate at which hair falls and the rate at which new hair grows. Any disturbance in this balance can result in excessive hair fall or hairiness all over the body.

Now-a-days, excessive hair fall is very common. It happens for various reasons such as emotional and physical stress, local scalp infection, adverse drug reaction, hormonal imbalances during teenage and pregnancy, etc.

Causes of hair fall

Any unnatural or excessive loss of hair, temporary or permanent, is called ‘alopecia’. It could be caused by factors such as:

*Heredity
* Trauma
* Local scalp infection
* Diseases
*  Chemical or drugs
* Emotional or environmental stress
*  Hormonal imbalances  
*  Pregnancy
* Birth control pills
*  Menopause
 
Prevention

Hair loss occurs mostly when hair is extremely dry, rough and damaged. Conditioning and nourishing of hair are important to prevent hair loss. Cream rinses help dry and rough hair to regain lustre, strength and flexibility. Generous application of moisturisers and oil replenish the moisture in dry hair.

Massage is a very important element of scalp treatment to control hair fall. It invigorates blood circulation, giving hair an increased supply of nutrition and oxygen for healthy growth. Massage also stimulates dormant hair follicles.

Home remedies

Treating spot baldness: Make a paste with a few small sticks of mulathi in milk cream. Add a little saffron and apply it on the bald patches at night. Rinse it out with clear water in the morning. If possible, mix some ground dhatura seeds in the paste. It increases the potency of the recipe. Massage the  bald scalp spot generously with your fingertips for 5 minutes while applying the ointment.

Oil massage: Castor oil is excellent for hair re-growth. If combined with white iodine, which is available at a chemist shop, it can produce the desired results. Part your hair in small sections and apply the oil to the scalp with cotton wool. Massage it in with your fingertips. If you are able to get white iodine solution, use it every alternate day.

Squeeze the milk out of half a coconut, add the juice of half a lime and massage into the scalp. Leave on for 4 to 6 hours. Wash off with a mild shampoo or crushed hibiscus leaves mixed with a tablespoon of crushed fenugreek seeds and made into a paste.

Do’s and Don’ts

*In case of baldness due to fungal, viral or bacterial infections, consult a dermatologist.

*Use a soft brush with well-spaced bristles.

*Sanitise brushes and combs at least once a week.

*Drink a glass of carrot juice to which juice of half lime and 2 yeast tablets (Brewer’s Yeast) have been added.

*Take iron tablets in case you are anaemic.

*Improve the protein content of your diet.

The most important aspect of any treatment is correct diagnosis. Unless it is properly determined, the treatment given may not work well. It is advisable to seek professional help in case of severe hair loss.

Have you nailed it, yet?

One golden rule to follow for good-looking hands is to apply a rich, lubricating hand cream after washing.

Creams and oils do not soften the hand skin; they merely hold in the moisture in the skin and prevent its escape.

Sports enthusiasts must use sunscreen that contains para-amino benzoic acid to screen out aging ultraviolet rays. Petroleum jelly forms an inexpensive and effective barrier from UV rays.

Nails are easier to understand when they are compared to hair. Both are primarily composed of dead tissue protein. Nails are healthy when you feel fit and eat a well-balanced diet.

Brittle and split nails are caused by lack of calcium. Nails can be improved by taking two tablespoons of gelatin daily in a glass of fruit juice. You will see the results in six weeks.
Ragged cuticles are caused by lack of lubrication. So lubricate — with lots of cream — both the cuticles and the areas around the nails as often as possible to eliminate raggedness.

A manicure once a fortnight is very essential for an elegant look. Before every manicure, soak your hands in a little warm water with olive oil for about 5 minutes.

Shape nails using the smoother side of an emery board.

If cuticles are neglected, they tend to stick to the nail. Healthy cuticles should be soft and supple. Smoothen some cuticle cream into the cuticles and push back the cuticles.
Follow this by removing all the dead cuticles with an orange stick wrapped in cotton and dipped in cuticle remover.

Snip off ingrown nails, if any, with a cuticle cutter but do not cut the cuticle as it would only make the cuticle grow rougher and harder. Massage hands with a good hand cream.
Remove all residue from shaped nails by washing and drying the finger tips.