The Sunday News
Rutendo Chidawanyika
THE thinning of the hairline or your edges as we’ve come to call it is a common occurrence especially for those of us who constantly put stress on our scalps by weaving and braiding our hair. The good news is: damage caused to the hairline can be reversed with the correct treatment and if treated early. Many damaged and weak hairlines can partially regrow if you start treating your scalp and hair better. Reverse the damage already done by nourishing your hairline from the outside. Prevent further damage from occurring by avoiding behaviours that lead to hair loss.
Here are ways to start growing your hairline and restore it back to factory settings:
Scalp massage
Massaging your scalp stimulates your hair follicles and encourages blood flow back to the affected area. Avoid raking the scalp with your fingernails. Instead, use the pads of your fingers by moving around in gentle circular motions. Incorporate oils like Jamaican black castor oil and lavender oil into your massaging routine. Do this for a few minutes every day.
Ditch the tight hairstyles
Avoid hairstyles that apply tension to the scalp and pull at the fragile hairs on your edges. So, if it requires chemical processing, tight braids, lace front wigs and weaves, give it a break until your hairline recovers. In some instances, the damage to the hairline could be so bad you’d want to cover it up with a wig. If that’s that case, ensure that you remove the wig daily to alleviate your hair from stress.
When your hair is tied back, strands of hair can break off at the root, causing hair loss around your temples, bangs, sideburns, and forehead.
If you do need to throw your hair back for some reason, there are ways to minimise the stress. Keep any ponytail, bun, or braid as loose as possible. Similarly, ponytails and buns tied below the height of your ears put less tension on your roots than high styles do.
Cover up
Always wear a silk or satin scarf or pillowcases on your bed. These cause less friction than cotton pillow cases, and this could help cradle your head and hair more nicely so as to reduce excess hair loss. Try and avoid cotton doeks and using old stockings to cover your head.
Make a homemade hairline oil
Natural oils moisturise and thicken your hair, and since you’ll be blending them together yourself, you’ll know that there are no hidden chemicals to worry about.
One formula consists of one part organic castor oil, three parts extra virgin olive oil, and five drops of organic tea tree oil. The olive oil acts as a carrier oil, making it easier to apply the product evenly over your scalp, and it also contains beneficial antioxidants and vitamin E. Castor oil stimulates dormant hair follicles, and tea tree oil can unclog hair follicles that are too blocked to grow effectively.
Moisturise your hair
Hair that remains properly moisturised will be stronger, thicker, and less likely to break. A good conditioner is a crucial component in keeping your hair moisturised. Herbal conditioners can be a great choice because they are less likely to contain potentially hazardous chemicals. In particular, look for conditioners that contain amino acids, biotin, aloe vera, ginseng, and/ or green tea. Apply the conditioner and leave it in for 15 to 30 minutes before rinsing it with lukewarm water.
Eat plenty of protein
Meat and legumes (peas, peanuts, chickpeas etc) are some of the greatest sources of protein you can find. Include more chicken, eggs, peanuts, beans, peas, and lentils in your diet. Greek yoghurt also provides a considerable dose of protein. Hair is almost entirely made of protein, so if you don’t consume enough protein, you’ll never be able to regrow your lost hairline. Protein deficiency can also cause your remaining hair to thin out and turn grey.
Look for foods containing iron
Iron can be found in a wide range of foods, including dark leafy greens, whole grains, red meat, oysters, beans, and clams. Iron improves blood flow around the body. Without it, blood won’t be able to carry enough oxygen to the cells around your scalp, and you won’t be able to reinvigorate dormant follicles.
IF ALL ELSE FAILS
Cut your hair short
Brushing and combing your hair can put stress on your hairline. Cutting your hair short reduces the amount of time you’ll need to spend brushing your hair, thereby reducing the amount of brush-related stress. In fact, if you don’t mind shaving your hair completely, doing so might be the best long-term option for restoring your hairline.
Talk with a doctor/ dermatologist
If your best efforts don’t produce any results, schedule an appointment with your dermatologist or general practitioner. A dermatologist would be your best bet since this branch of medicine deals directly with hair and skin conditions, but visiting your general practitioner or family doctor might be enough if the damage to your hairline is only minor. — Additional information from online sources.
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