Do away with a receding hairline

Nakato advises cutting out stress on the hair with our choice of hairstyles.

What you need to know:

HAIR TIPS. If you are fond of plaiting or treating your hair, your hairline will begin to thin and eventually lose hair altogether. Carolyne B. Atangaza looks into how to deal with this

Christine Nalumansi is a seasoned hairdresser at Ambiance salon who has successfully helped clients fight against the receding hairline battle. She says the problem which was usually prevalent in women aged about 40-45 is now invading women as young as 25 years.

She describes a receding hairline simply as a systematic and consistent loss of hair on either side of the forehead as a result of various causes including hormone imbalances, hereditary hair loss, itchy scalp conditions, lack of vitamin D, menopause, stress and over-manipulation of hair. “I have helped several women regain their hair using a special root stimulator in a shampoo, conditioner, treatment and hair food that works miracles.

There were two special cases that I couldn’t help and when they went for medical tests one was found to be allergic to all perfumed chemicals while the other one was allergic to alcohol found in most products. Sometimes it is important to seek medical advice in case the problem defies all measures,” she advises.

Victim of your hairstyles
Anna Bella Nakato of Enviri Zanacho on the other hand describes a receding hairline as a progressive loss of hair around the edges of your forehead. Nakato points out traction alopecia as the chief cause of hair loss in women. Traction alopecia happens when hair is pulled too tightly over time and makes patches. “Tight braids, weaves, cornrows or ponytails and other protective hair styles are among the most common culprits responsible for traction alopecia,” she says.

Stop putting stress on the hair. You can test to see whether your braids are too tight by attempting to raise your eyebrows or move your forehead. If you can’t, or the movement is difficult, your hair style is too tight.

Invest in products that have hair regrowth properties. Nakato recommends messaging the scalp with natural oils to help increase circulation and bring nourishment to the follicles.

“Castor oil is one of the best hair growth remedies, especially for your edges. Warm the oil and use it to massage your scalp and thinning areas around your hairline. Natural oils help make your scalp healthy by increasing circulation and bringing nourishment to your follicles.”

Spare five minutes a day to massage your scalp in order to improve blood circulation, much like exercise and provides nourishment to hair follicles.

Also herbs such as Saw Palmetto, horsetail, nettle, onion juice and aloe Vera are a few of the best herbal remedies for hair growth.

Remedies in hair products
Treatments that prevent further hair loss and keep the scalp and hair follicles healthy range from shampoos, hair conditioners, and dietary supplements to laser treatments. All of these options are non-invasive, and if carefully chosen have no side-effects.
Joan Kagombe, a sales person at a cosmetics store points out the Protectiv Mega Growth’s range of anti-breakage, stimulating shampoos, relaxer, deep repair for healthy ends or detangling conditioning. “If yours is a critical case, try Growth Renew which provides a five step system to help hair damage whilst wearing hair weaves, extensions, braids and wigs,” she tips.

Change your lifestyle
A holistic lifestyle change is essential for the health of your hair. Exercise regularly, cut out refined foods from your diet, especially refined sugar, which are known to contribute to a receding hairline. Incorporate fruits for Vitamin C to fight hair loss by providing nourishment for hair follicles. Pineapples can, for instance, contain bromelain which is an anti-inflammatory and can help prevent scalp infections.

Fish oil contains Omega 3 fatty acids that block or stop the conversion of testosterone into DHT. DHT is considered to be one of the primary causes of receding hairlines in women and men.
Ensure your diet includes vegetables, proteins, minerals especially magnesium, zinc and selenium, whole grains, and nuts that keep body, mind and hair in a healthy condition.

What not to do
• Don’t use products that contain alcohol. Alcohol causes drying of the scalp, which can lead to a receding hairline. Check the list of ingredients in the hair styling products before purchase.
• Try not to comb hair backward. Aggressive over combing is a common cause of hair thinning in women. It is good to brush hair or massage the scalp, but a soft brush is preferable. Be kind to your head.
• Avoid pulling your hair, including wearing tightly bound ponytails.
• Stress is a leading cause of a receding hairline in women. In fact, hair loss is one of the symptoms of severe stress, anxiety, and depression. Learn to meditate, practice yoga or seek ways to reduce stress in your life from professionals.
• Don’t use pillowcases with abrasive materials; instead look for those made from satin and silk allow the hair to slide with ease and no friction and this can help reduce hair loss.