Care for your hair

A recent study suggests that nearly 70% Indians suffer from dandruff. And before you think it’s not a cause to worry, trust us it is. The number is the second highest in the world, next only to China.
“Dandruff has very little to do with the length of girth of hair, contrary to popular belief,” says Paulomi Dhawan, of Svastii Spa and Wellness Haven. “Dandruff-control hair spas used on a regular basis can curb the flakes. An overall wellness and home remedies will help maintain beautiful hair.” Dandruff can be of two types — waxy and dry — both equally frightening. And unfortunately, “there is no quick-fix” to it. “Dandruff is like a tan — it keeps coming back,” says hairstylist Chinmayee Pal. “It is unpleasant of course, but there’s nothing that you can do to curb it in an instant,” she adds.
Cosmetic Physician with Parachute hair care Dr Rashmi Shetty points out that dandruff could also be a hygiene issue. “The flakes are excessive dead skin of the scalp. The best way to fix it right is to wash your hair every other day, although today there are a lot of medicines available as well. But one needs to know the right way to shampoo the hair, the shampoo needs to stay on the scalp for 5 to 10 minutes.” She warns further, “What most people don’t know is that dandruff could also lead to itchy pimples on the face.”
What to do
    * Start off with drinking plenty of water to keep your body well hydrated. If your skin is well hydrated, you lower the risk of dry scalp and hence reduce the possibility of dandruff.
    * Use tea tree oil to massage your scalp
    * Use peppermint detox shampoo
    * Egg yolk, liver, milk, soy, barley, known to contain biotin, can be consumed
    * Go for water-soluble B vitamin that breaks down fats, carbs, and protein
What to avoid
    * Do not brush wet hair as it will only cause the hair to stretch and finally break. Finger-dry, or use a wide-toothed comb instead of brush to gently remove the knots.
    * Avoid gels and hair sprays that contain alcohol. Since alcohol can dry out your scalp, it can be one of the causes for dandruff.
    * Never wash your hair with very hot or very cold water, as it has the chance of drying up scalp and in turn causing dandruff.
    * Avoid citrus fruits, bananas, dried, stewed, or tinned fruits
A few home remedies that you could try
    * After you shampoo your hair, you could use one teaspoon of fresh lime juice for the last rinse. This will not only help reduce dandruff but also add shine to your hair.
    * Also, try applying a peel of lime immersed in coconut milk or hot oil.
    * Crushed beet root in henna paste is also known to reduce dandruff.
    * Apply pure apple juice

(Photo Courtesy: Blogspot.com)

---