FASHION
Hair today, gone tomorrow
Treat your head like your face. Wash your hair regularly with moisturising soap instead of a harsh deodorant that can dry out the skin, writes Phiroze Khareghat

A head of hair is like wealth, or true love. You never know what you have until it’s gone. Eventual hair loss is something nearly every man must face and master.

Being thought of as less attractive by women is the main reason why men find hair-loss disturbing. But many ladies disagree. "Akshaye Khanna, Vin Diesel, Bruce Willis — all of them are hot and balding. Hair has nothing to do with how men look. It is how they carry themselves that matters," explains college-goer Usha Phadnis.

Men lose between 50 and 100 hair a day from their scalp. But through a combination of genetics and aging (even poor hair care), this number can steadily increase until baldness and hair thinning is readily apparent. The most common type of hair loss is what’s called "male pattern baldness." It is marked by a receding hairline at the brow or temples, and a growing bald spot at the crown of the head.

The primary genetic hair loss trigger for MPB is the formation of a hormone known dihydrotestosterone (DHT) in affected individuals. The high amounts of DHT then cause follicles to produce weaker hair until they die out entirely. Simply put, when the DHT starts pumping, the hair start falling.

Then the question comes up. What can you do about it? The key is to recognise the onset of thinning hair early enough so that you can keep what you do have, and learn to adapt to a reduced head of hair.

Your trichologist ( hair care expert) will advise a line of hair-cleaning products loaded with the DHT-blocking ingredients biotin, zinc sulfate, saw palmetto and copper peptide complex. Regular use of these products will help control DHT levels on the scalp and in hair follicles. The treatment consists of Detox (a cleansing treatment), Wash (daily shampoo) and Fortify (daily conditioner), which make up the front line of DHT damage prevention. All these treatments are expensive and hair falling starts once these drugs are stopped. Before taking any treatment related to baldness, it is better to consult a doctor.

Hair graft requires multiple transplantation sessions, where results are permanent. Side-effects are minor mainly being scarring and risk of skin infection.

The five steps to assess your baldness problems are:

Be a detective, and know what hair loss clues to look for and what they mean.

Have other people started to mention that you’re losing your hair?

Are you shocked by how thin your hair looks in recent photos?

When you get out of the shower and look in the mirror, can you see more skin than hair on your head?

Do you notice that the top of your head gets sunburned along with your nose?

If you answered "yes" to any of these questions, you’re losing your hair.

If you’re contemplating artificial means of hiding, enhancing or covering, you may want to think twice about it. You’ll pay in more ways than one. Hair plugs, where hair is harvested from the side and back of your head and transplanted to the top, are expensive, painful and can permanently scar. Toupees and hairpieces aren’t cheap either, and they’re high maintenance. Plus, do you really want your girlfriend running her hands through your "hair," only to discover it isn’t your hair?

Prepare yourself for the looks of amazement you’ll get from your girlfriend, family and friends. But you’ll be surprised by how many people genuinely compliment your new hairdo.

From here on treat your head like your face. Wash regularly with moisturising soap (with aloe), instead of a harsh deodorant soap that can dry out the skin on your head.

One comes across many models who tonsure their hair and look all the more attractive. Men with a receding hairline can definitely go for this look. Alternatively, they can try the close buzz cut and look striking. Sporting a shaved head can actually make you look younger. It’s a hip style these days. Many men in their 20s, blessed with full heads of hair, shave just for the look. — MF