HOW DOES AIR POLLUTION AFFECT HAIR & SCALP?
Smoke, gases, dust particles get deposited on scalp and hair leads to hair roots damage and scalp irritation.
Study conducted by famous researcher Fabio Rinaldi on ‘effects of pollution on hair’ revealed a startling fact that amount of heavy metals and particulate matter deposited on scalp is double the level in air.
WHO recommends highest particulate matter (PM) -100ng/mg3
Average PM levels in Mumbai – 238- 643ng/mg3
Delhi – 398- 760ng/mg3
These particles gets deposited on scalp and around hair roots and leads to itchy irritating scalp along with slow damage of hair roots.
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO PREVENT THIS DAMAGE?
- Frequent head wash: Wash hair at least four times a week, if not every day. Idea is to clean the scalp before the damage is done due to deposited harmful particles. Any good shampoo would do. Shampoo is just meant for cleansing, it neither causes hair fall nor stops it.
- 2. EDTA based shampoo: is recommended for people in metros since it helps remove excess gases and minerals.
- Coconut oil massage half an hour before head wash, once or twice a week is good idea. Coconut oil is a triglyceraide of lauric acid having linear polymer structure and low moleculer weight. Because of this it penetrate easily into hair shaft, remain inside hair and thus locks out entry of smoke and other metal particles, thereby preventing hair damage.
- Leave on conditioner: applied after head wash is another way to prevent entry of pollution into hair.
- Tying a scarf or keeping the hair tied too can give protection.
- Since pollution causes hair loss through formation of reactive oxygen species, increased use of antioxidants – green tea , fresh fruits and vegetables or oral antioxidant supplement would help.
