Bad hair day? Maybe some treatment will do you good

Has hair loss become a major concern for you? Hair is more than just something to keep your head warm, as losing it can seriously affect your self-confidence.

Baldness, for many people, somehow implies unattractiveness -- and sometimes, old age. Hair loss can have a severe negative emotional impact on many (not all though) balding individuals. It can seriously affect a person's confidence.

Whether we like it or not, healthy hair is definitely considered one of the hallmarks of beauty.

Each year, countless men and women spend huge amounts of money on hair care products and treatments. Unfortunately, many of us spend our money on the wrong products or even use them incorrectly. The results can be hair in even worse condition than when we started.

It is normal to lose some strands of hair every day, some days more, others less. These strands of hair are probably just the ones that were ready to come out, to be replaced by new healthy strands. However, it is not normal if you end up with large clumps of hair in your hand when you shower.

One of the most common causes of hair loss is stress. Most of us, unfortunately, live somewhat stressful lives. Demanding job, family problems, bad-tempered partners, the loss of a loved one and money problems are just a few of the sources of stress.

So, why does stress play a major role in hair loss? According to specialists at the Svenson hair center, when you are stressed, the scalp produces a hormone called cortisol, which has the effect of shortening the hair-growth cycle. Also, stress causes the scalp to tighten, thus reducing blood circulation to the follicles.

And poor blood circulation contributes to hair loss. No wonder then that a head massage is usually included in scalp treatments, to increase the blood circulation.

Besides stress, of course, there are many other causes of hair loss. Ask any hair specialist about the causes of hair loss, and they will usually give similar answers: too much exposure to the sun, coloring, perming and straightening are often on the list of "hair destructors".

Although the chemicals used in coloring and perming do not directly cause hair loss, they do damage by drying out hair. The fewer hair care products (such as gel, mousse and hair spray) and chemicals you use, the better for your hair.

Also, hair should be dried naturally, because excessive blow- drying also damages the hair. So if you really need to use the hair dryer, use it on the lowest setting and stop while your hair is still damp.

And don't roll your hair too tightly in curlers. Super-tight braids, ponytails or buns should be avoided. Also, make sure you have a good diet, as nutritional deficiencies may speed up or contribute to hair loss. A normal consumption of proteins and vitamins should be included in everyone's diet.

"Fruits, vegetables, protein and zinc are essential for hair growth, hence you should eat 'healthy food' to maintain healthy hair. Don't consume too much alcohol, sweets, salt, spicy and fatty food. Sleep at least six or seven hours per night. Don't wear wigs, helmets or hats for long periods of time, as they block oxygen, which is needed by your follicles. On top of that, avoid perming and coloring," said Pupung, a senior consultant at the Gondo Wangi Sariaji hair clinic.

The condition of one's scalp is determined by various factors, such as diet, health, hormonal balance, age, lifestyle and also heredity factors. Hair loss can be hereditary, but there are many things you can do to control it, as genetics is only one of the factors of hair loss.

Even if you carry the so-called "bald gene", living a healthy lifestyle can delay hair loss. On the other hand, if your parents have thick and shiny hair, but you live a "damaging" lifestyle, you probably will lose your hair sooner than your parents.

Many hair experts say that for men, DHT (dihydrotestosterone) is one of the most common causes of hair loss. An enzyme called 5-alpha-reductace combines with testosterone (the male hormone) to create a strong hormone called DHT, which causes hair to fall out.

Though women don't have DHT, unusual hormonal activities may play a role in hair loss for women, or at least disturb the life cycle of their hair. Pregnancy and childbirth can cause abnormal hormonal activities, at least for many women.

Some medications and radiation can also cost you your hair, too. But just like with pregnancy and childbirth, normally, hair will regrow after the medical treatment is stopped.

It is definitely much easier to prevent baldness than to reverse it once it has started. Therefore, many treatments promise not only regrow your hair, but also to strengthen and nourish the existing hair to prevent, hopefully, future hair loss.

A good product should be able to eliminate scalp oils, excessive sebum and chemicals residue (from gel, mousse, etc.) that may clog your pores, while adding nutrients and conditioners to your scalp. Sebum is a greasy substance needed and produced by your scalp, but excessive sebum will clog your hair follicles, causing hair loss.

A high-quality hair treatment can remove layers of residual products, moisturize the hair and restoring thickness and shine.

Today, there are 1,001 ways and products to prolong the life of your hair, including the hair mask and cream bath.

"We use a hair mask to remove dirt, hairspray, gel or any other residual hair cosmetic from the follicles, scalp and also the hair. And we use a cream bath to soften and moisturize dry hair, especially after coloring or perming," explained Sansan, the top hairstylist at the Rudy Hadisuwarno salon.

"Cream baths are also good to increase the blood circulation (in your scalp) because your head will be massaged," added Sansan, who has been working at Rudy Hadisuwarno for 15 years.

If you think you are losing your hair (especially if this hair loss problem will affect your life somehow), you should consult a hair expert, or trichologist, and the sooner the better.

Usually, the first step in treating hair loss is diagnosing the cause. Many clinics will use high-tech gadgets such as a visual video scope. If you have bad scalp hygiene (e.g. you just wash your hair occasionally) you will be amazed or even freaked out by the crystal clear picture of your dirty hair!

These days, people are spoiled by the choices of hair and scalp treatments, from modern to traditional. You can visit a modern hair center, such as Svenson, to experience the most advanced, up-to-date treatments.

Or if you want something more traditional, visit Gondo Wangi Sariaji, which uses traditional recipes with medicinal herbs as their basic ingredients. Or, if you're into aromatherapy and essential oils, drop by at the Gaya Spa. They use essential oils in their scalp treatments. And for French products, visit Secret Professionnel.

Nonetheless, many skeptics see scalp and hair treatment products as a big scam, a way to make a buck by appealing to people's vanity. Well, judge for yourself. Just bear in mind, results depend on numerous factors, such as age and lifestyle.

Here are some final tips from the hair experts: live a healthy lifestyle, exercise regularly, eat well, get plenty of sleep, avoid stress, relax and, of course, be happy. (Susanna Tjokro)