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Read. tries to get to the bottom of hair loss

Ask many people what has changed about their body since living in Dubai and you are almost guaranteed to get one of two answers; a little weight gain here and there - no doubt thanks to the variety of delicious cuisine so readily available - and thinning hair.

While some of the lucky ones will not lay claim to either of these, the fact is that for many residents, hair loss - or hair fall as it is also commonly known - tends to become more apparent when residing in our city.

The most commonly blamed factor is the desalinated water which pumps through our showers. Although most desalinated water is soft - meaning it contains a very small amount of minerals - the water in Dubai tends to be hard, containing minerals such as calcium and magnesium as well as a noticeable amount of chemicals, such as chlorine. The most obvious way to tell if water is hard is by how easily soap lathers in it, as hard water makes it more difficult. The high levels of minerals in hard water can - in some cases - lead to hair loss and skin allergies, as well as a build up of dandruff which in turn can cause hair fall.

The best trick to avoid this is to wash your hair separately in bottled mineral water - which is cheap to buy but does add an extra few minutes to your shower - or to invest in a filtering shower head which removes a large amount of the minerals and chemicals in the water.

The weather is also considered to be an aggravating factor by many. The hot and sweaty conditions in Dubai mean most people end up needing to wash their hair every day. As well as the water issue, using shampoos and chemical products on our hair can strip the natural oils from the scalp, which, in turn, causes brittle, weaker hair that is more prone to fall.

The sun is very drying on the hair, while the heat and humidity of a climate like ours can cause hair to become frizzy. To combat this, many people will resort to heat styling, such as blow-drying or straightening, which essentially frazzles the hair and weakens each strand. Try to avoid using heated styling appliances when possible and allow your hair to dry naturally. A dry shampoo every other day can also reduce the need to wash your hair - simply spray on, leave to dry, then brush through.

For days when you need to wash your hair, switch your shampoo to one that is specially formulated for hair fall. These will usually be much milder and contain ingredients that supposedly restore hair and prevent further hair loss. However, hair can only be restored through it’s natural growth cycle, which can be supported by avoiding the things which could damage your locks and eating a healthy, balanced diet involving plenty of oily fish, nuts, fruit and vegetables.

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