Simple DIY Masks for Thin Hair

Your tresses can be transformed with these simple but effective hair masks, which use natural products to enhance the shine and bounce of your hair. Thinning hair can be made to look thicker and healthier, as well as feeling nicer, especially for women experiencing hair loss. The London Centre of Trichology specialises in expert diagnosis and treatment of hair loss in London, and can help you to feel confident once again about your locks.

Hair Loss London – Click here to arrange your free consultation today.

Beer 

This simple mask makes flat hair look fuller with just two household ingredients: one egg yolk and 50mls of flat beer. The mixture should be applied on damp hair, wrapped up in a dry towel or plastic, and then left for 30 minutes. Wash hair thoroughly and be amazed at how much healthier your hair looks. This easy mixture works well because beer is made of malt and hops, which strengthens your hair cuticles to make your hair look stronger and shinier. This should not be used too often, however, as it will dry your hair out. It works best if it’s used just once a month.

Avocado

An avocado mask will not only strengthen hair, it can also promote hair growth. Avocados are rich in vitamins B and E, which help to protect and strengthen the hair to encourage regular hair growth. Avocados also act as a moisturiser for dry or damaged hair. For this mask you’ll need the flesh of a ripe avocado, 2 tablespoons of honey, and 3 tablespoons of castor oil. Mash the ingredients up together or mix in a blender, before applying evenly to the hair. This should then be left for at least an hour, and for the best results it can be applied weekly.

Oats

This easy mask takes just minutes to make and can do wonders for your hair. Oats are well known for their moisturising properties and can even be used in face masks, as well as hair masks. This mask is created using equal measures of castor oil, milk and oats, which can be adjusted depending on the length and thickness of your hair. This mask should be massaged into your hair and then left on for up to 30 minutes for bouncy and shiny hair throughout the day.

Yoghurt

Yoghurt can help eliminate frizz and rid your hair of tangles, making this an ideal mask for women with long or curly hair. This quick mask is produced using one beaten egg white and six tablespoons of plain natural yoghurt, which should be mixed thoroughly and then applied to wet hair. This mixture can be left on for up to 20 minutes, before being washed out.

Apples

Apples can balance your hair’s pH levels and helps to close the hair cuticle, which in turn results in a smoother surface and shinier hair. To create this apple mask, peel and core 1 or 2 large apples, and then blend these to create a pulp. Combine this pulp with 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon lemon juice and 1 tablespoon of corn flour. Spread the mixture all over dry, unwashed hair and leave for 30 minutes before rinsing off. Lemon juice will also naturally lighten your hair for a gorgeous glow.

Banana

Bananas can soothe itchy scalps, which is often needed after a long day of wearing a wig or topper. To make this mask, mash a ripe banana and add a couple of drops of almond oil, as well as 4 tablespoons of honey. Add this to your hair for 20 minutes and cover with a shower cap to reduce mess or drips. Rinse well and make sure all of the banana is washed out.

For expert advice and treatment for hair loss, contact TheLondon Centre of Trichology 

Pros and Cons of Synthetic and Human Hair Wigs

Women’s hair loss can be embarrassing, and it can be a lengthy progress when it comes to growing it all back. Wigs are a simple way to cover up your hair loss to boost your confidence whilst going through treatment, and here you can find out some of the pros and cons of both synthetic and human hair wigs, to help you choose the perfect one for you.

Here at The London Centre of Trichology we specialise in women’s hair loss, with leading experts who will guide you through your diagnosis and treatment to ensure you feel reassured throughout.

Pros of Synthetic Hair

Synthetic hair is relatively easy to look after, you just need to wash it as you would your own hair, leave it to dry, and then shake it to give it back some volume. This is ideal for those of you with limited time to dry and style your wig, especially since synthetic wigs hold their style no matter what the weather.

Synthetic wigs also come in a huge variety of colours and styles, so you will have no need to go to the hairdressers while going through treatment. For some women, going to the hairdressers can be a stressful experience and can sometimes feel a little intimidating, so this is a brilliant solution. It also offers you the opportunity to experiment with new colours without further damaging your hair.

Another plus of synthetic hair is that it is relatively inexpensive, costing much less than human hair at about £100 for a wig.

Cons of Synthetic Hair

There is, however, a bad side to synthetic hair, which is that it looks unnaturally perfect with its glossy shine and faultless style. For some this may be a good thing, but it can often hint at the fact that you are wearing a wig.

Another problem with synthetic wigs is that you cannot get a silk base with synthetics, which means that your hair will look less natural than if you were wearing a human hair piece. This isn’t always noticeable, but for the self-conscious it can pose problems.

Although synthetic hair costs less, it lasts for a much shorter amount of time than human hair. The average “lifespan” of a synthetic wig is around 4 to 6 months, depending on how well you treat it. Some wigs will be heat resistant, but most synthetic wigs are unable to be straightened or curled, and will melt under high heats.

Although this is not obvious, unless you compare the wig against real hair, synthetic hair doesn’t feel like most human hair due to the fibre it is made of, which once again can emphasise the fact that you are wearing a wig.

Pros of Human Hair

Human hair is hugely versatile and can be coloured, permed and styled just like your own normal hair. This is perfect for those wanting to experiment with colours and styles without buying a new wig each time. Another pro of human hair is that it can come in a variety of textures, so you can find the perfect match for your own hair. This helps to blend the wig in, to ensure that no one will ever notice that it’s not your real hair.

A natural look can be achieved using the variety of scalp options that are available, which can be chosen to meet your needs and hairline. For example if you like to wear your hair up, a suitable scalp option can be chosen to adjust to this.

Human hair lasts a very long time if well cared for, and can live for well over a year without looking frizzy or damaged. Wigs made from human hair will feel incredibly soft and look completely natural on all types of people.

Cons of Human Hair

With this convincing wig comes a hefty price tag however, with all of the hair for these wigs being grown from real people’s heads. This means you can expect to pay upwards of £300 for a wig, with many products needed for proper maintenance as well.

This leads us to the next con – there is a lot of upkeep needed to keep human hair in a good condition. It will need to be washed, deep conditioned and occasionally straightened much more often than a synthetic wig.

Due to being made from real human hair, these wigs will behave like your own hair would, and will get static and dry in humid conditions. This could however also be a positive aspect of human hair, as it adds to the natural effect of the wig.

For more advice on women’s hair loss and treatment, visit The London Centre of Trichology.

Hair Topper Pros and Cons

Hair loss in women can be stressful, so here The London Centre of Trichology has explained a new way of boosting your confidence. Toppers are becoming an ideal new way of covering thinning hair on the top of your head, whilst still showing off your natural hair at the ends.

If you have recently noticed that your hair is beginning to thin, get in touch with The London Centre of Trichology for their expert advice and diagnosis. With many years of experience with women’s hair loss, we can help.

What is a topper?

Most people won’t know what a topper is as it is a relatively new product which has only just begun to surface in the hair loss world. Toppers are more commonly known as “half wigs” or a “top piece”, due to the fact that they only cover the top portion of your head. These can vary in size to suit you and your needs, and your own hair is worn underneath to thicken the overall appearance. This does, however, unfortunately mean that those with total hair loss cannot wear these.

Pros of Toppers

Toppers can be more useful than wigs in many instances, for example they are much more natural looking when blended properly with your own hair. Wigs on the other hand can look very bulky and unrealistic, and also get very hot when worn for long periods of time. Toppers allow your head and hair to breathe, as they don’t cover the whole of your head, which can help you to feel much cooler.

Toppers are very lightweight and as a result you can wear your hair up in a variety of styles with them such as buns, ponytails and plaits. This is perfect for those of you who like to tie your hair up in the morning to keep it out of your way. Wigs tend to be too heavy and bulky for this, and the wefts used to keep the wigs in can often show when they are tied up, especially the wefts at the nape of the neck.

These are relatively inexpensive when compared to the price of wigs, as you are paying for less hair, however they can require more maintenance.

Cons of Toppers
Toppers do have their down sides however, as it is extremely hard to match them exactly to your hair in terms of colour and texture, especially when buying them online without seeing them in person. To match them exactly to your hair they must look precisely the same as the hair underneath, which can be very challenging.

The clips used to secure the topper to your head can cause problems on occasions, and cheap ones can tug and cause pain which can lead to further hair loss. If you also suffer from thin hair on top and at the front of your head, you may struggle to clip these in which may mean you will have to tape them to your head. Again, this can put considerable amounts of strain on your hair which can cause further damage.

Toppers need much more maintenance and styling than wigs, and will need to be blended into your hair daily which can take a huge amount of time when trying to make them look completely natural. Wigs are much easier in this sense as they can just be put on over your hair in the morning to completely cover it all.

For more information on hair loss in women, visit The London Centre of Trichology.

Quick and Easy Ways to Detangle Hair

After having a bath, shower or even a swim your hair can become a tangled mess, which can be difficult and painful to unsnarl. Vigorous and rough brushing can lead to hair loss as it damages the hair and causes it to break off, which can lead to hair looking and feeling thinner. This can also create split ends, which can make hair look flat and frizzy. To get your hair into its very best condition in time for a special occasion, we have described some of the top ways to keep your hair devoid of knots.

Hair loss causes range from hormone imbalances to genetic factors, and here at The London Centre of Trichology we can help you to discover what is causing your hair loss so that we can effectively treat your condition to give you your gorgeous locks back.

Comb from the Bottom

If you have long hair, knots should gently be combed out of your wet hair starting from the bottom and working your way towards the scalp. Combing from the roots can cause huge breakage in your hair and puts great strain on the roots of your head which is painful and unhelpful.

If the hair is too knotty to get a comb through, try putting a leave in conditioner into the hair, avoiding the roots if you have thin hair as this can make it appear greasy. Leave the conditioner to soak in, then begin again and try to comb it through as gently as possible.

Combs over Brushes

Hair expands in contact with water, which weakens the composition of each strand. This increases the chances of the hair being stretched and snapped off, so it is important to always use a comb rather than a brush on wet hair to avoid further hair loss.

If your hair is too difficult to comb and you simply don’t have the time for this, try to towel dry your hair as much as possible before you begin to brush it. Experts advise that you should brush your hair before getting into the shower, and try not to vigorously scrub it whilst in the shower to avoid creating further knots, before then combing it all afterwards.

Cool Water

Washing your hair in cold water not only gives it an added shine and bounce, it also helps to reduce tangles throughout the day. This is because cold water closes your hair’s cuticles and so it stays softer and shinier for longer. The colder the water the better, although it’s not necessary to wash in water that is too chilly in winter.

Dry and Wash Your Hair Correctly

Avoid tangles by smoothing shampoo and conditioner through the hair rather than scrubbing or bunching up your hair, as this helps tangles to form throughout your hair. When it comes to towel drying your hair, pat it gently with the towel and slowly squeeze the water out of it, rather than screwing your hair up inside the towel. This can help to reduce the amount of hairs that get tangled, which in turn will reduce the amount of time it will take to brush your hair out later.

Sleeping Habits

If you often wake up with knotty and wild hair it could be because you move around a lot in your sleep, so to reduce the amount of snarls in your hair try tying your hair up before you go to bed in a loose bun, ponytail or braid. Make sure this is not too tight however as tight up dos can pull hair out leading to thin, fine hair.

For some people this is too uncomfortable to sleep in so an alternative is to sleep on silk or satin pillowcases, or to wrap your hair up in a silk scarf. This reduces static, which in turn reduces knotted hair. Make sure you never go to bed with wet and uncombed hair, as this will be incredibly tousled by the morning.

Hair Loss Causes – click here for more information about how we can help you.