Hair loss, frizzy locks and dull colour are problems for many here, and the most obvious culprit is the desalinated water. Although most desalinated water is soft, our water here is actually hard (which means soap won’t lather properly in it) and it’s pumped full of chlorine. The weather is also an aggravating factor. First up, hot and sweaty conditions mean most of us shampoo our hair every day, which strips the scalp of its natural oils and causes dehydrated, brittle hair. Sun, chlorine and air conditioning are all drying and heat and humidity can make hair look frizzy.
Most are quick to blame Abu Dhabi for the problem, but it can also be down to your health. Hair loss can take up to three months to show, so if you’ve just moved to the UAE it’s unlikely to be related to conditions here. Stress is also a huge factor, or the problem could be hormonal, so if you’re suffering from serious hair loss, see a doctor to check your thyroid and hormone levels just in case.
‘I see 12-16 patients a day suffering from hair loss,’ says Dr Mike Ryan, trichologist at The Hair Spa in Dubai (unfortunately there are no trichologists based in Abu Dhabi). ‘There is a big problem in the UAE full stop. Male hair loss is generally genetic but not always. Female hair loss is completely different. Firstly it is not normal. There can be as many as 50 different reasons for women to lose their hair.’
Dr Ryan suggests the main thing to do first is to be diagnosed correctly if you are suffering from hair loss. ‘Get the underlying cause diagnosed properly and don’t just take the advice of a friend that tried a vitamin. There are too many expat websites with incorrect information and wonder products that have absolutely no evidence of working. Hair loss can be an indication of an underlying medical condition, such as hyper/hypothyroid, diabetes or polycystic ovary syndrome. If you are male, generally DHT (the hormone that is the primary contributing factor in male pattern baldness) blockers and laser therapy will help, but with women, the underlying cause must be diagnosed as hair loss is not common.’
Lyndal Stokes, hairdresser and manager of Hairworks in Khalidiyah explains that she sees a huge number of clients suffering from hair loss.
‘I would say 30-50 percent of my clients notice it at some point. It can be quite slight and just around the hairline for some woman, and quite bad for others. I think it really is a problem here in the UAE. Lots of reasons contribute to hair loss; lead, mercury and iron in our water doesn’t help but diet, nutrition and hormones also cause hair loss and as we age collagen build up is a big factor. I think out here the fact we are exposed to constant air-conditioning, chlorine and sun makes the hair we have weak.’
Lyndal says the best thing that you can first do is to get a water filter for your shower. ‘This removes all the heavy metals and most of the chlorine, we sell Pure Blue at Hairworks and they are one of the best brands I have come across. You then you need to look at why it’s falling out. Could nutrition or diet be attributing to the problem?’
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Keep your hair on
Check out our tips on what you can do to get your hair growing again and to prevent hair fall.
‘The Aminexil programme by Kerastase is great, it’s a 12-week programme which gets rid of build-up at the hair root, and then stimulates new hair growth. Redken do an in-salon professional treatment that helps with stimulating the blood supply, it feels all tingly when its applied to promote follicle growth. Watch out for the new Kerastase Initialise range, over 24 years in stem cell science has gone into this. It strengthens the hair you have. I also suggest taking Bitoin supplements – they really help. ‘
Lyndal Stokes from Hairworks, Khalidiyah (02 681 6678)
‘Many people don’t realise that there is danger in impurities contained in water supplies, especially chlorine. Chlorine is universally used to disinfect water, but it is not safe for drinking, showering or bathing. Install a water filter such as The H2O Pure Blue Shower Purifier that removes 98 percent of chlorine from the water. Aside from helping protect your skin and hair from the drying effects of chlorine exposure, Pure Blue also helps preserve hair treatments and colour. Priced at Dhs250, the purifier comes with a filter that lasts up to six months, with the replacement filter cartridge also available at Sisters for Dhs100.’
Sara Abdulrazak from Sisters Beauty Lounge, Al Bateen (02 222 2502)
‘Wear a hat to protect your hair from the sun. Or try a lightweight cotton scarf. It’s not for everyone, but I wear a swimming cap when in the pool to protect my hair from chlorine. We sell Nioxin – a well known brand that fights hair loss.’
Karina Smart from Glamour Hair Salon (02 626 3002).
