Is your hair falling in clumps? Are you scared of shampooing and combing your hair because you know there will be a large number of strands left on the comb? Do you get embarrassed with falling hair clinging to your clothes?

Most people never get to the root cause of falling hair and start reacting only when it is too late. Hair fall could be due to dandruff, prolonged illness, improper diet, stress, hereditary factors, lack of a haircare programme, the type of bath water in your area, and the use of shampoo and other products not suited to your hair.

Read on to know why exactly you are experiencing hair fall and how to arrest it right away.

1 Weather changes also lead to hair loss, especially at this time of the year. It is important to take care of your hair and what better way to do it than naturally. Massage the hair with a combination of pure almond oil and castor oil and then steam the hair. This should be done twice a week.

After massaging the hair, make the following hair pack: 2tsp each of amla, reetha, triphala, shikakai, fenugreek,  and brahmi powder. Mix with two eggs and apply all over the hair. Leave it on for 30-40 minutes. This should ideally be done after oiling hair and twice a week. You will notice the results within two weeks.

2 The use of henna thickens and conditions hair as well as acts as a natural dye. It is safer to use henna than any chemical dye. Chemical colours are a total disaster for the hair; avoid them at all cost. It’s worth greying gracefully with hair on the head than worrying about balding.

3 Dandruff is  dangerous and leads to hair loss. Control it in the early stages and you will not suffer much. Remember, never use other people’s combs and brushes. Disinfect your hair tools with Dettol. Shampoo using warm water once a week to avoid fungus and other infections. If you suffer from dandruff, massage your hair with warm coconut oil and apply the juice of two lemons, steam your hair and leave on oil for about two hours. Use a mild shampoo two-three times a week.

4 Diet plays an important role in having good skin and hair. Though most know about the importance of a well-balanced diet, very few know what goes into making a balanced diet. You should have lots of raw vegetables such as carrots, cabbage, tomatoes, celery, spinach, cauliflower; lots of fruits; plenty of green veggies; and dairy products like milk, paneer, curd and cheese. Avoid sugary food, fried food and too much spice.

5 Taking multivitamins is also essential as often internal weakness or the diet that we follow gives us insufficient nutrition and leads to hair fall. I would recommend the intake of chyawanprash, especially in winters as it has a high content of Vitamin C because it’s amla-based.

6 Drink at least 10-12 glasses of water daily as this helps flush out accumulated toxins in the body.

7 A regular exercise programme will also help hair growth, for increase in blood circulation helps flush out toxins in the body through perspiration. Follow a routine at least thrice a week and you will feel a difference in the quality of your hair.

8 Stress. That’s one of the biggest killers of our times. Stress leads to depression and tension. We hardly have any time for ourselves to relax. Learn to relax because stress can lead to hair loss. Take up a hobby, listen to music or read; don’t become a couch potato in front of the TV or computer. 

9 Never brush or comb dripping-wet hair. This also leads to hair fall. Wait until the hair has naturally dried up a little and then comb out with a wide-toothed comb. Avoid using heated rollers and too much of the hair-dryer.

10 If you have recently suffered from an illness, have had a surgery or given birth to a baby, you will experience hair loss and it is advisable to see the doctor who can put you on the right diet.

Suparna Trikha is a nature care expert and a columnist. Find her on Facebook @suparnatrikha. If you have questions, write to her at t2onsunday@abp.in with your age, skin type and other details