MANY of us envy women who are blessed with elegant hair. You know, those women with thick hair full of body? Although it seems impossible to have lustrous hair, the good news is one can achieve beautiful hair by getting to know one's hair type and looking after it.
To understand hair better, consultant trichologist (hair specialist) Mark Birch recommends visiting a trichologist who can give a prognosis and diagnosis based on one's hair type and scalp problems.
"There are 46 types of hair loss caused by various factors including childbirth, medications, combination of stress, dieting and anaemia. Genetics play an important part in depending the amount of hair you will lose when older. Trichologists can determine your general history and ascertain if your scalp is oily or dry, flaky or sensitive. They will also run tests to ascertain the hair's elasticity," said Birch during an interview recently.
Dubai-based Birch was in Kuala Lumpur for a series of talks on hair, organised by Svenson Hair Centre.
Despite the number of hair treatments available (laser, infra red, ultra-violet, high frequency, ray therapy and hair growth lotions, among others), Birch advised hair loss sufferers to consult hair specialists who can determine hair loss programmes suited to one's needs.
"You won't have the same volume of hair in your 20s compared with your 50s so you need to take certain steps to maintain your hair. Research shows that one in three men will go bald while one in five women will lose their hair genetically.
"Trichologists can educate you if your diet is lacking vitamins. Asian women are usually thinner than Western women as they consume less red meat and tend to skip meals. To boost health, women should increase their meat intake and those suffering from anaemia should consume vitamin B complex, zinc and iron."
He added that losing their "crowning glories" may have a devastating impact on women's quality of life and this includes psychological and emotional effects ranging from decreased self-esteem to anxiety and depression.
"There are some 'normal' causes for female hair loss such as ageing, hormonal changes associated with pregnancy and genetics. However, women who are losing hair should note that hair loss could be an early indication of some illnesses or other problems such as overuse of prescription drugs, dietary deficiencies, stress or damage to hair and scalp caused by styling," said Birch, who has over 30 years of experience in the profession.
The British-born trichologist, who studied Combined Science (Trichology) at the London College of Fashion, explained it was also important to use hair products suited to one's needs.
"There are many types in the market and people often end up using products recommended by friends or purchase shampoos based on advertisements which might not be suitable for certain hair types," he explained.
Birch added that hair is a barometer of one's health and a trichologist would know everything about an individual by merely studying hair samples.
"Hair is the fastest growing cell in the body apart from bone marrow and is important in DNA. A hundred strands of hair is called a trichogram (1g of hair) and if you break it down, you can ascertain if it lacks any minerals. No two hair samples in the world are alike.
"Hair plays an important role in DNA and can determine if you have taken drugs for the past six months or even five years. A few years ago, researchers discovered that hair analysis of a lock of German composer Beethoven's hair suggested that he died from lead poisoning. It's amazing how much can be discovered through hair," he explained.
When asked how often hair should be washed, Birch recommended at least once a day. He said it was an old wives' tale that hair should be washed on a weekly basis.
"People sweat everyday and there's a build up of dead skin cells, bacteria and pollution on your head. People usually wash their face twice or thrice a day. What's the difference between your face and hair? The sweat glands on your scalp are twice the size compared to those on your face. Hair should be washed daily to avoid complications like dandruff and itchy scalp," he said.
This story was first published in The Star on Jan 21, 2009.
