Does wearing a hijab or helmet really cause hair fall? What specialist doctors say

Many people say their hair is falling out because they wear a helmet all day. Others say that when a hijab is worn, no air reaches the head, weakening the roots of the hair. Still others believe changing shampoo or using oil will stop hair fall. There are questions about how accurate these common beliefs about the causes of hair loss and its remedies actually are.

The UK's National Health Service (NHS) says losing 50 to 100 hairs a day is normal. But when more hair falls than the normal rate and new hair does not grow in the same proportion, the condition is called alopecia in medical terms. According to the NHS, more than 140 million people in the world have alopecia — full or partial baldness. Specialists say a specialist doctor should be consulted at the outset if excessive hair fall is noticed.

Experts say hair loss is a normal physical process in humans. But sometimes it can also be caused by a disease, a hormonal problem, a nutritional deficiency or mental stress. The causes vary from person to person — hereditary for some, uncleanliness for others, and age for some. The causes and patterns of hair loss also differ between women and men.

Among men, androgenetic alopecia or pattern baldness is most common — hair thins from both sides of the forehead and baldness appears in the middle of the head. Among women, the parting in the middle of the head widens and hair thins, caused by heredity or hormonal sensitivity and increasing with age. In women, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), pregnancy or hormonal changes after childbirth can also cause hair fall; hair also falls if thyroid hormone is too low or too high.

Aesthetic dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon Dr Shayla Haq says hair can fall for hereditary reasons or because of various kinds of hormonal imbalance. 'Those who have nutritional deficiency, or a deficiency of iron, vitamin D and zinc, can lose hair. Excessive mental stress or anxiety can also cause hair fall,' she says. In most cases, she says, the cause of hair fall in girls is hormonal imbalance and vitamin D deficiency.

Hair is mainly made of a protein called keratin. If the body lacks protein, iron, zinc, vitamin D, vitamin B-12 and biotin, hair becomes weak. Many women in Bangladesh have iron-deficiency anaemia, which is a major cause of hair fall. Sudden dieting to lose weight, going without food for long periods and irregular eating can also increase hair fall.

In addition, mental stress, illnesses such as fever, dengue, typhoid and Covid, surgery, or two to three months after childbirth, many people's hair suddenly begins to fall. Dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis and fungal infections damage scalp health and increase hair fall. An autoimmune disease called alopecia areata also causes hair to fall out. Some medicines — such as cancer chemotherapy, and drugs for high blood pressure, depression and arthritis — can also increase hair fall. Excessive use of styling treatments such as chemical treatments and hair rebonding can also cause hair fall, Dr Haq says.

So what is the role of the hijab or the helmet? In a hot and humid climate like Bangladesh's, wearing a helmet for a long time makes sweat accumulate on the head. Sweat, dust and oil together can cause fungal infection, dandruff or folliculitis on the scalp, and if infection remains on the scalp for a long time, hair fall can increase. But the experts' view is that the hijab or helmet is not directly to blame here.

Dermatologist Dr Tawhida Rahman Irin says: 'When the hair on the head is kept covered for a long time, moisture is created there, it sweats. That affects the hair follicles and scalp.' She also believes that in Bangladesh's climate, wearing a helmet, cap or hijab for a long time can cause fungal or bacterial infection at the roots of the hair.

If a tightly tied hijab, cap or helmet strap pulls on the hair at the same place every day, one type of hair loss can occur — in medical terms it is called traction alopecia. But this does not happen from wearing an ordinary cap; it happens more from tying hair very tightly, repeatedly pulling it into the same style. Dr Shayla Haq says: 'If the helmet is too tight, pressure falls on the hair follicles and hair fall can happen. A helmet can cause hair breakage, and excessive sweat can cause irritation or infection on the scalp.' Wearing a helmet on wet hair after bathing also increases the risk of hair breaking, because wet hair is much softer and more fragile than dry hair.

In this case the doctors' advice is to clean the padding inside the helmet regularly, not to wear a sweat-soaked helmet for a long time, to wear a helmet only after the hair is completely dry, and to consult a doctor if there is dandruff or itching on the head. Dr Irin gives the same caution for the hijab: 'Many people wear the hijab very tightly, and keep various layers over the hijab as well. The hijab should always be tied a little loosely, so that air can circulate.'

The specialists have also spoken about some other common beliefs. Shampoo cleans hair; it does not grow hair — a good shampoo keeps the scalp clean and can reduce hair breakage, but it cannot fix an internal hormone or nutrition problem. Oil keeps hair soft and helps reduce dryness of the scalp, but it does not supply nutrition to the roots; rather, applying excess oil to the head can increase dandruff and fungal infection. Home remedies are not scientifically proven treatments; using them can cause burning and allergies on some people's scalps. In Dr Haq's words: 'These are actually myths. Instead of using shampoos with excessive chemicals, mild shampoos are good for the scalp.'

On treatment, Dr Shayla Haq says that in cases of hereditary alopecia it is important to start treatment early; if it is hereditary, aesthetic treatment may be given, and if it is due to hormonal or nutritional deficiency, supplements may be given. To keep hair healthy, doctors advise keeping iron- and vitamin C-rich foods in the daily diet alongside protein — such as eggs, fish, meat, lentils, chickpeas, spinach, red spinach, nuts, bananas, guavas and lemons. Dr Irin says: 'Seasonal sour fruits including amlaki and amra are beneficial for hair. Protein foods must also be eaten, because hair is made of protein. The zinc in fish also keeps hair growth good.'

For regular care, the doctors advise that shampooing every day is not necessary, though those who are in dust and sweat every day may use it daily on a doctor's advice; after shampooing, conditioner should be applied to the ends, not the roots; wet hair should not be pulled hard with a comb, and an excessively hot hair dryer should not be used to dry hair. Where possible, a wooden comb is better, Dr Irin believes, because a plastic comb damages the hair's texture. She also advises keeping mental stress low: 'The less the mental stress, the less the effect on my hair too.'

Experts say that in most cases hair falls for ordinary reasons — hair loss does not mean cancer or a major disease, nor is it true that once baldness appears hair will never grow again. But if hair suddenly falls in clumps, or sores or itching appear on the scalp, a doctor should be seen quickly.