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Dermatologist Tips on How to Get Thicker Hair

Ep 48: How to Achieve Smooth, Voluminous & Glossy Hair

If you’ve ever wondered how to effectively volumize your hair and how to get thicker hair without leave-on hair styling products, this podcast episode is for you. Dermatologist Dr. Teo Wan Lin shares that using the correct shampoo and hair conditioner can effectively increase the volume of your hair starting from roots all the way to the hair shaft. Seborrhea, which is excessive production of oil, can cause your roots to appear greasy and hair to be limp. In addition, alternatives to traditional silicone-based conditioners, such as those based off hydrolyzed plant proteins I.e. rice and wheat extracts can coat the hair shaft. This swells up the cuticle and increases the volume of each strand of hair. Brushing your hair with a paddle brush is also effective for massaging your scalp, stimulating hair regrowth, as well as redistributing the oils to achieve shiny, glossy and healthy hair. 

Hi guys, welcome to this week’s dermatology flash briefing. I’m Dr. Teo Wan Lin of TWL Specialist Skin & Laser Centre, and I’m going to share with you my top tips on how to have voluminous looking hair starting from your roots, to the very ends, and your hairstyle. There are a variety methods I usually advise my patients on how to get thicker hair hair because I work with patients who suffer from hair loss. One of the most effective methods, I find, is to use the correct shampoo, as well as a hair conditioner. 

What are the causes of limp hair?

1. Genetics

In terms of what makes hair look limp, there are a few factors. First of all, genetics determine how thick, or coarse your hair strand is, as well as the natural hair density, which is related to your ethnicity. In this part of the world, we find that the Chinese have lower hair density compared to, say, the Indians who naturally have denser hair. Where we have individuals with finer strands of hair is usually in certain hair colors such as those who are blond, have light colored hair or light colored eyes -they tend to have naturally fine hair. Whereas, Asians tend to have coarser hair. That is just a genetic part of it, there are other factors that can weigh down the hair and make it appear limp. That has to do with the health of the scalp. 

2. Oily Scalp

So the scalp itself is naturally supplied with a lot of sebaceous glands. These are oil glands that serve to moisturize each strand of hair that grows out from the hair follicle. If you have an excess of oil production or sebum production, you will find that it stays on your scalp close to the roots of your hair. That’s where it can cause the appearance of your hair roots to appear flat and greasy. This is due to a lack of distribution of the oil meant for the entire hair shaft, and that can give rise to the appearance of limp hair. 

How to get thicker hair?

When you use a shampoo, especially if you are prone to having oily scalp, in tropical Singapore where it is very humid, you actually may benefit from using a degreasing shampoo. Not all degreasing shampoos are going to be beneficial. I personally have come across certain formulations which are extremely astringent and harsh, that can actually, paradoxically, cause your scalp to produce even more oil. This is the same case for your skin condition which we refer to as reactive seborrhea, and not just that, it can also cause scalp eczema or dermatitis. 

Pay attention to active ingredients

How to get thicker hair? Look out for good active ingredients that can regulate sebum production. Zinc pyrithione is not just effective for regulating oil production but also in terms of treating and preventing dandruff, which is part of an oily scalp condition known as seborrheic dermatitis. Apart from that, it’s also important for us to consider your hair shaft. So if we’re able to thicken your hair shaft, it will definitely add to the appearance of increased volume.

Using the right conditioner
how to get thicker hair

Dermatologist-formulated hair mask designed to increase hair volume and stimulate hair growth. Hair loss treatment. Volumizing hair product. Suitable for all hair types including straight, coarse, curly or fine hair.

The Hair Thickening Mask in our pharmacy’s formulation is actually fortified with natural rice and wheat proteins that helps to coat each strand of hair. It also contains Camellia Japonica, which helps to increase the anagen phase – the growth phase of the hair in the hair cycle. But the key feature of the Hair Thickening Mask is that when you apply it, it doesn’t weigh your hair down, but really serves to coat each strand of hair with the hydrolyzed wheat protein. This is important because traditional conditioners are based on silicones. Silicones, besides contributing to the harmful ocean runoff, serves only to weigh your hair down, rather than to volumize it. So it is a fine balance between being able to detangle your hair, volumizing it, and actually causing it to weigh down. 

Damaging salon hair treatments

The hair shaft itself is actually dead keratin, so a lot of procedures are being done in salons such as rebonding or perming, all these work by breaking the chemical bonds that naturally exist on your hair. What happens is that you may get the appearance of more voluminous hair with your hair treatment, for example, if you perm it, but it really is making your hair more brittle, prone to breakage and not actually contributing to the health of your hair shaft. So, my stance is always, as a dermatologist, whatever hair type that you are born with, you need to embrace it. That means that you focus on the health of the hair shaft as opposed to destroying the chemical bonds.

The Hair Thickening Mask, for example, is a hair mask that is suitable for all hair types. This is as opposed to certain hair conditioners which are marketed for specific curly or straight hair. The other important feature of the Hair Thickening mask is that it contains glycine max extract, which is something that promotes hair regrowth and reduces hair loss. One of the active ingredients is also hydrolyzed wheat protein that helps to thicken the hair shaft. 

What type of hairbrush should I use?

Sandalore comb

The ORZAT4 Infusion Treatment Comb is impregnated with Sandalore which has been scientifically proven to stimulate hair regrowth. Specifically designed for hair loss treatment.

How to get thicker hair? Your hairbrush matters too. We also always advise patients to use our Sandalore bamboo comb. The very nature of paddle brush is that it provides some sort of massage to the scalp when you comb. I find that paddle brushes, as opposed to combs, are the best in terms of providing just the right amount of gentle massage with the rounded bristles at the tip. It also redistributes the oil throughout your scalp to the rest of your hair, and that is important to make sure that your hair doesn’t appear limp at the roots, just because of all the accumulation of oil there. It also definitely helps in regulating oil production. The very act of brushing itself is a neglected part of a haircare routine. 

Dermatologist-formulated at-home hair spa treatment

Finally, I want to talk about how we have incorporated this as part of the Hair Mask Bar system, which is really developed with the focus on environmentally conscious science-backed ingredients, mainly from botanicals for a deep conditioning home spa treatment to deliver salon results without the toxic chemical runoff associated with the traditional hair care industry. The updated packaging that we have is also something I want to share. The bulk purchase option is now available at 500 ml, with a zero-waste sustainable refillable packaging, which allows a product discount when you bring back your empty bottle for refills. It also comes with a complimentary Cutiscool Biological Gel Cap for your very own home spa treatment.

The 360° Conscious Mask Bar contains botanical ingredients for a deep-conditioning home hair spa treatment. It improves hair elasticity, thickens the hair shaft, as well as deep heat repair for damaged hair.

Well that’s it for this week’s dermatology flash briefing, you can check out the full transcript on our website www.scienceofbeauty.net.

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