Its not just what you apply on your face and what you wear that changes your look. If you don’t possess good hair then all your efforts to look gorgeous can be futile. But taking care of your tresses is becoming more and more difficult especially if you are living in an area where air is highly polluted and water is hard. These along with internal factors or usage of chemicals or prolonged exposure to heat can lead to breaking of hair shaft. “External factors are mostly responsible for hair breakage but sometimes it can be also due to mineral deficiency,” says Dr. Apoorva Shah, Founder, Richfeel Trichology Centre.

Hair Relaxer

It is a milder version of hair straightener. On using relaxer, the duration of having straight hair might be short but the damage caused to hair is also less compared to using straightener. Since, the latter uses heat to straighten hair it is better to go for relaxer if you want to get rid of your curly locks for short period. “Hair straightening breaks strong bond. 20% of strong bond become weak due to which your hair starts breaking especially if you do it frequently,” says Dr. Shah.

Hair Color

Some like to color for special occasion, some to hide the pepper and salt look of their hair and some simply because they are tired of the same common black color of their hair. Hair color might be the solution to these problems but it is also one of the main reasons for hair breakage. “If you wish to use color then opt for ammonia free products. The color might stay for shorter period but it protects hair shaft,” suggests Dr. Shah. Ammonia can cause irritation and make hair dry and weak. Some think henna is healthier alternative of hair dyes but this a myth as it causes dryness.

Hair dryer

It is great equipment for those who want to dry their hair immediately or change hair styles but those who already have weak curls should avoid it as far as possible as direct heat weakens hair. “You should use cold blast instead of hot one,” advices Dr. Shah.

Hair care

Dirt also weakens hair so make sure you wash your hair regularly. “Shampoo should be formulated for daily wash. It should have botanical extracts and no perfume or color,” says Dr.Shah. But before shampoo, you must oil your hair and keep it for minimum four hours and maximum 24 hours so that your hair gets the required moisture. You can also use hair pack once a week which comes in form of a paste. To give shine and softness to your hair you should use serum after washing your hair.

Taking external care of your hair is not all you need to do to make your hair strong and healthy. Eat a balanced diet, include more fruits, calcium, magnesium and zinc rich food items, drink at least three liters of water everyday, get good sleep of eight hours and above all try to lead a stress free life.