Celebrating Healthy Hair This International Women’s Day – Collection Of Healthy Hair Tips From Our Staff

Written by Rali Bozhinova, Superintendent Trichologist, The Belgravia Centre

This week we marked International Women’s Day. We celebrate the important women in our lives, we recognise the significance of your hair – it gives you confidence, makes you feel empowered and beautiful, it’s your heritage and pride. We are increasingly being contacted by women at The Belgravia Centre with concerns about their hair so in celebration of this day, we have collected 7 healthy hair tips provided directly by our knowledgeable and experienced members of staff. Read on to find out more.

Tip 1: Don’t Fall For The Myths

There are many hair myths and old wives’ tales that women often ask us about. You should always find credible sources or speak with a specialist if you need hair advice. Juju, one of our senior clinical therapists says that one of the most commonly asked questions that she hears is whether daily shampooing will lead to more hair loss. The simple answer is that it won’t. However, how often you should wash your hair depends on many factors such as your skin type, hair type, lifestyle and hair care routine. If you often use oilier styling products, exercise regularly, or naturally have an oily scalp, you may find daily shampooing helpful. If you have a scaly scalp condition such as persistent dandruff or seborrhoeic dermatitis you may also need to shampoo more frequently to help you keep your scalp healthy. You should adapt your shampoo frequency to your needs but certainly don’t be afraid that it will make you lose your hair.

With so many shampoos on the shelf, it may feel daunting to find the one you need but try and pick a shampoo that will address your specific scalp and hair type. Veronica, also a senior clinical therapist, says that she recommends the Belgravia Centre range of shampoos and conditioners because they have carefully selected ingredients for healthy hair and scalp.

Tip 2: Avoid Breakage

Hair breakage is different from hair loss but it is still unpleasant to experience and can make your hair look dull and frizzy. If your ends are constantly breaking, you may feel like your hair doesn’t grow in length and that you’re losing your volume.

Mickelly, a treatment adviser with previous experience in hairdressing, says ‘I would recommend having the hair trimmed regularly and combing wet hair with a wide tooth comb or a detangling brush to avoid hair breakage’. Kristina, also a treatment adviser, adds that regular use of good hydrating conditioner, as well as the use of heat protectors while blow drying, can help keep your hair healthy and hydrated, and will help you avoid hair tangling and breakage. Ophelia, a senior pharmacy technician, recommends using a silk pillowcase to protect the hair from tangling and breaking.

Overall, any trauma to the hair can contribute to breakage:

• Avoid thermal trauma by reducing the use of strong heat such as that from hair straighteners
• Avoid chemical trauma by reducing the use of bleach, perms, and relaxers
• Avoid physical trauma by reducing the use of hair extensions, tight braids and ponytails, as they can cause traction alopecia

Just embrace your natural locks, be proud of your hair, and celebrate its natural texture. Of course, we all like to experiment with different hairstyles but you can do this with minimal amount of trauma applied to your hair.

Tip 3: Pay Attention To Your Diet

A healthy balanced diet is always recommended and this is especially important for your hair as it will give you all the needed nutrients for healthy hair growth.

Uliana, a hair loss specialist and pharmacist prescriber, says that ‘Well balanced healthy diet is very important for the metabolism, hormone balance, and healthy hair growth in women. I would suggest that your diet includes eggs as they are rich in biotin and high in protein content; blueberries as they will give you vitamin C and anti-oxidants; spinach as it is a good source of iron, folate, and vitamin C; salmon and fatty tuna as they are rich in omega 3, vitamin D, selenium, and multiple B vitamins; avocado, nuts and seeds as they will provide essential fatty acids, vitamin E, zinc and selenium’.

Tip 4: Consider Food Supplements

A good comprehensive food supplement is not meant to replace your meals but it can complement your diet to ensure you maintain good levels of nutrients daily.

 

Christina, our superintendent pharmacist prescriber, advises that ‘A healthy lifestyle and diet are the best way of ensuring the right combination of vitamins and minerals. However, this is not always possible, so a good supplement such as Hair Vitalics will ensure that the right balance is maintained. Hair Vitalics for Women contain many important vitamins, minerals and herbal extracts which are essential for healthy hair.’

Some of the key ingredients include:

• Zinc which contributes to the maintenance of normal hair, nails and skin on the scalp; it also protects cells from oxidative stress and contributes to normal fertility and reproductive health
• Selenium which contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and plays an important role in the function of your immune system and thyroid function
• Biotin which contributes to the maintenance of normal hair and skin
• Copper which contributes to normal hair pigmentation
• Amino acids which are integral components of hair proteins
• Grape seed extract, a source of naturally occurring antioxidants
• Soy isoflavones (Genistein & Daidzein), plant-derived phytoestrogen

Tip 5: Have A Blood Test

We are not saying to ask your doctor for a blood test every month however, if you are suspecting any dietary deficiency or hormonal change, or you simply haven’t had a blood test for over a year but you’ve noticed more hair loss, it may be a good idea to have a blood test done. This will help you find out if there is any health problem so you can get this treated. Dietary deficiencies in iron and vitamin D are common and can be seen in conditions such as telogen effluvium, alopecia areata, and female pattern hair loss.

 

May, a hair loss specialist and pharmacist, says ‘I would always advise women to have a blood test annually, especially for common deficiencies such as vitamin D, B12, folate, iron and ferritin to ensure this is not contributing to or causing any hair loss issues. In practice, I see many deficiencies that go unnoticed as it is not always symptomatic. Vitamins and minerals are very crucial for a nutritional foundation to support hair health.’

Tip 6: Contact A Specialist

If you have noticed any signs of hair loss, it is always advisable to contact a hair loss specialist and address the problem early. It is easier to treat most hair loss conditions in their early stages, it usually leads to a better outcome, and it will also give you peace of mind that you are being proactive.

 

Rana, a hair loss specialist and pharmacist prescriber, explains that ‘Female hair loss still remains a taboo. Many people associate hair loss exclusively with men; however, it is a real issue for many women. So many women try to hide their hair loss as confronting it can be embarrassing and many feel nothing can be done. If you are experiencing hair loss, know that you are not alone.  Our team of hair loss specialists are here to help.’

Additionally, Susan, a senior treatment adviser, mentions that if you prefer to be seen by female members of staff only, you can always request this and this will be easily arranged. Marina, a hair loss specialist manager and pharmacist prescriber, adds that all of our members of staff understand that hair loss can be upsetting or scary, but with the right support or treatment plan, things can also improve.

Tip 7: Consistency Is Key

Our experienced members of staff help women with hair loss on a daily basis. Following the tips above can help you keep your hair healthy and minimise the chances of hair loss. However, sometimes women experience hair loss for reasons beyond our control, such as genetic factors or inevitable hormonal changes such as those seen after pregnancy or menopause. In such cases, using a hair loss treatment can be a great option to help stabilise the hair loss condition and, in most cases, encourage more hair growth.

There is only one clinically proven treatment for hair loss in women – minoxidil. The Belgravia Centre’s pharmacy prepares special formulations of minoxidil at different strengths and formulations, and with various additives to maximise effectiveness. We also offer other natural and technological solutions that are combined to provide the optimum solution to prevent women’s hair loss. One of our 20 qualified hair loss specialists will be available to help you any time with an exceptional level of expertise, at our Central London clinic or through a Zoom consultation if you live outside of London.

Moesha, a receptionist at our Central London clinic, clarifies that should you start a treatment for hair loss, it is vital to use it correctly and stay compliant with the treatment plan as this will ensure optimal results. She adds ‘Ladies, you are not alone. The Belgravia Centre is always here to help you. Your progress will be monitored closely by our hair loss specialists every three months. Consistency is key!’

 

If you are worried about hair loss you can arrange a free consultation with a hair loss expert or complete our Online Consultation Form from anywhere in the world. Take a look through our hair regrowth photo gallery – which is the largest gallery of its kind in the world and contains over 1,000 sets of hair growth photos and verified reviews from patients of The Belgravia centre.