Q&A: What should I do to make sure I keep my hair healthy?

Q&A: How often should I wash my hair to avoid loss and keep it healthy and strong?

Answer: "Hair is an outgrowth of protein,found only on mammals. It projects from the epidermis, though it grows from hair follicles deep in the dermis. The average human head has about 100,000 hair follicles." So, how should you take care of it to ensure that your hair stays strong and healthy?

We all want to avoid losing our locks, aging and we want to keep our hair strong and healthy. There are so many myths about how one should take care of their locks. Some say wash it everyday for healthy strands - others say wash every other day. And then there is the issue of hot water vs. cold water - which is best for our hair and is hot water really going to damage our hair?

There are, usually, four types of texture: fine, medium, coarse and wiry. So,everyone's is different and responds to haircare regimens differently.

Excessive washing does not cause loss or dryness. The frequency at which you wash will not do damage - but some recommend only washing your hair three or four times a week. And also remember to not overdo it with the shampoo. More shampoo does not mean that your it is going to be cleaner.

Another misconception is that when your locks are exposed to heat too often, that you will end up losing it. Blowdrying your hair does not cause you to lose your hair but it can damage your hair. And, in fact, too much heat of any kind can damage it. This includes over-processing with dyes or any kind of chemicals such as perms or relaxers as well. This should not, however, change the texture. You get what you're born with, for the most part.

Another myth is that cutting your hair or ends makes it grow faster. This is completely false - cutting your hair will help your hair grow back strong but it in no way speeds up the process of growth. There is a common misunderstanding that hair is thicker at the base than it is at the tip. Cutting your hair will not alter the biological growth pattern or process nor it will make thin, limp hair grow back thicker and fuller.

One myth that is actually true is that diet is related to hair loss, as well as mental factors such as stress. It is extremely important to make sure you are getting all the proper nutrients for a healthy scalp and skin. Another huge factor is stress causing physical damage to your body. When stress starts to take over your life and have physical implications, that is when it is out of control.

It's always important to practice everything in moderation and most importantly, to take care of your body and your health. Everything else, as they say, will follow suit. So, you can avoid costly treatments like Propecia, Rogaine and hair transplant in the future.