"If I can't control my hair, how can I control my life?" This is a motto stitched on a pillow that sits in the waiting area of my studio where I help women restore their hair, and it rings true for so many! Throughout history and present day, hair is a woman's crowning glory, a symbol of beauty and a stranger's first impression. When it begins to thin, it is usually devastating to one's self-esteem.
Thankfully in this day and age we are armed with an array of options to work with whatever hair we DO have, and even long-term solutions that can completely disguise finer areas and provide hope for regrowth. There are a few things that we can make part of our lifestyle and daily grooming habits that will positively impact our hair and therefore our self-esteem.
- For starters, don't be scared to brush your hair! Too many of us brush our hair less and less the finer it gets, and that's the worst thing you could do. Brushing your hair stimulates the oxygen in the scalp and helps hair keep its body. The same goes for washing: it's a myth that washing your hair causes hair loss. All that "extra hair" you see in the drain is simply the hair you've shed since your last washing that has built up over time. In fact, skipping a wash can hinder growth if grime builds up on your scalp!
- Be sure to nourish your tresses from within, too. Take vitamins and minerals that will support your hair growth and remember it takes time to see results. It is best to consult with your doctor on what will work best for you, and this information can even be determined with blood work. Eating a well-rounded diet filled with iron, beta carotene, folate and vitamins A and C will prove beneficial for your hair. Some good foods to incorporate into your meals are various nuts, spinach, halibut, carrots and Greek yogurt.
- When it comes to styling, there are two simple tricks that will be your secret weapons. To hide tell-tale thinning areas where hair is fine, try hair makeup. There are a range of colors to suit most shades of hair. For example, Fullmore comes in a variety of colors and can be lightly sprayed on your scalp, avoiding hair beyond the root. This will completely disguise thinning hair where density in the crown is an issue.
- When your hair is fine and delicate, backcombing is a surefire way of spreading it around and making it look voluminous. Avoid combs as they intensify the hair at the root but make the ends look feather-like. Use a good bristle brush and begin at the tip brushing down toward the root. This spreads out the hair without clumping it at the roots and can double the appearance of your hair. What's especially great about this method is it's easy to brush out without breaking and damaging your hair at the end of the day. Give it a light hair spray afterward, which will keep it in place and stop it from flying away so it doesn't look wispy.
Most importantly and above all keep a good mental attitude. If you dwell on your fine hair you may as well kiss the rest of it goodbye! With just a few lifestyle changes, a positive outlook and a couple of foolproof styling tricks, women with fine hair can begin to feel in control once again.