WOMEN are losing their hair because of over obsessing about it. Hair is a very important part of how women view themselves.
Last year, Zimbabwe was estimated to have spent over US$13 million importing hair and haircare products. For example, the typical professional woman might get her hair done twice a month just to maintain her beauty.
This is not unique to urban women, even in rural communities, a woman’s head is her crown as hairdressers are also in high demand. Whether one uses chemical straighteners or chooses not to, the amount of money spent on hair by Zimbabwean women is high.
This obsession is not only causing financial strain but can take up a lot of time and can damage the health of a woman’s hair if done improperly. This brings me to the topic of the day, a sensitive issue for many – the receding hairlines as well as hair loss, medically termed alopecia.
International supermodel Naomi Campbell’s receding hairline has overshadowed her previous social scandals. By just observing a city centre hair salon, one may find that many clients are getting hair done as their hairlines are receding. This results in many hairdressers selling customers various chemical products and remedies for hairline and hair loss. Many people are making money from selling these remedies than working on a way to prevent or cure the loss of hair caused by poor hair practices.
However, these solutions do not work for some because of the poor understanding on how alopecia works and its various terms.
Style Corner recently did a research to understand the types and what sort of help one needs, before buying and trying a remedy. Below is a summarised guide on the five types of alopecia as reported in New African Woman magazine.
Alopecia areata
Thought to be genetic and autoimmune and linked to stress and medical conditions, occurs on patches of the scalp and can affect eyebrows.
There is no known effective way of managing the hair loss.
Androgenetic alopecia
This form of hair loss is hormonal and may be triggered by either pregnancy or changes in contraceptive pills in women. In this case, medical advice is required.
The mentioned alopecia cannot be solved by creams or remedies but by seeking medical attention. In that case, wigs and extensions can be used to cover up the problem.
Traction alopecia
The most common type of hair loss, caused by tight hairstyles, harsh styling, straightening and chemical processing. Often women do not assess the health of their hair before deciding next hairstyle. By preventing tight hairstyles that pull the hair out of the root, one can reverse the damage to the scalp and allow hair to grow back.
Traumatic alopecia
Closely linked to traction alopecia is caused by the continued damage to the scalp from chemicals over processing the hair as well as sleeping in rollers and over brushing.
The hair loss becomes apparent only after about three years so it is important to always be aware that chemicals might not agree with your scalp. If one does not want to let go of chemical use, separate chemical treatments for longer periods.
Scarring alopecia
Before one decides to tong or hot comb their hair, sometimes the scalp is damaged by overuse causing scars that kill hair follicle.
The damage is permanent and hair transplants may be the only solutions, otherwise wearing wigs may help cover the damage.
Always ensure the scalp is healthy and not damaged for the sake of looking good.
To conclude, before one tries a miracle hair growth solutions that might cost you a lot of money.
Always consult a medical professional and understand the ingredients and know what allergens might be in the supposed remedy.
Feedback: tatenda.chaibva@zimpapers.co.zw.