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 To gain advice on maintaining healthy hair, I visited on
behalf of laterlife, a trichologist working at the
The Belgravia Centre in central London (tel 0207 730 6666). There, a staff of two trichologists and twenty three clinicians see
clients who arrive concerned about scalp conditions or hair loss. The initial consultation fee is £10.
If they recommend them, hair rubs, shampoos, and medical treatments may be
available on prescription from the trichologists. For those experiencing severe hair loss,
the clinicians will work on hair extensions to be applied to existing hair or even hair
transplants. “There is no cure for hair loss,” says chief trichologist, Leonora
Doclis, “but we can help anyone to hold on to the hair that they have.”
At the most basic level healthy
hair is just part of a generally healthy system. Maintaining a good diet of fresh fruits
and vegetables, along with healthy exercise and fresh air, and a way of life that avoids
stress, will benefit the whole system not just the hair. Keeping a good head of hair
depends on maintaining good circulation , so that the hair is fed by the healthy movement
of the blood.. During youth and middle age, hair may grow thin during or after pregnancy,
and may also do so after a severe illness or bereavement or other disastrous life event.
But the hair growth then returns over a period of a few months.
With the gradual loss of hair after the age of 50, the healthy re-growing may
not take place. Lower levels of oestrogen
create the problem, with vital looking hair one of the side benefits of taking hormone
replacement.
 What can be done to hold on to a reasonable thatch without
taking HRT?
At the Belgravia Clinic, they
prescribe treatments based on minoxidil for use at home, the exact prescription depending
on the individual. At other other centres, treatments such as Indian head massage , useful
for tension headaches, also improves scalp and hair condition (visit website www.massagetherapy.co.uk). Hairdressers
sometimes just advise clients to sit massaging the scalp while watching television of an
evening.
What is not recommended is the sturdy 100 strokes a night brushing which was
encouraged in Victorian times. That is now considered more likely to rip out hair. Also
under suspicion is a too-enthusiastic weekly blow-dry which can pull at the hair. For
anyone very worried about hair loss, washing the hair gently at home and drying without
pulling is recommended.
 Diet may be part of the problem. Iron deficiency is a hazard
and should be checked via the GP if hair loss is persistent, especially for those who eat
less and less red meat. Iron plus vitamin B complex
is suggested for those wanting to give hair growth a boost. There are products on the
market such as Nutricap , “to fortify hair and nails”, which rely on vitamins
B1, B2 and B6, calcium and vitamin C, as well as other ingredients to help with stronger
hair. Also well-known is Pil-Food, a combination of B vitamins and keratin that is
recommended by the manufacturers as a three-month course. Packs of 100 capsules retail at
£24.95.
Do these things work? “They can’t hurt,” say
trichologists of the vitamin supplements, “and if the problem is nutritional you can
see an improvement in three to six months.”
For a trichologist on the web, visit Philip Kingsley, whose London and New
York salons attract celebrity clients. Contact him at www.philipkingsley.co.uk . To contact a support group if your hair loss
problems are worrying , write to Hairline, Lyons Court, 1668 High Street, Knowle, West
Midlands, B93 OLY.
Next month: hair colouring
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