save me please

[api]

hi, i have very long hair(coming down to my waist) . these are black and dry.
I am recently (6 months ago)shifted to an european country from india and facing many hair problems due to cold and ever humid climate.

Hair falling
sudden greying
split ends
brittleness of hair fibres
dandruff
stiffy and sticky hair

hey, i m not kidding. Literally , i cry when i look at my hair, these are precious to me and very important part of my personality. Is there anyone who can suggest a few genuine tips (i dont try every trick on my hair .....) to save my treasure.

save me please.

[Toni]

Hello Api,

I'm glad to have you post here and will do what I can to help you.

Bless your heart. I do understand your hair is very precious to you.
Know that your whole body is trying to adjust to not only a different climate, yet emotionally, you have to readjust. If you are not mentally and physically WELL, it affects your hair, nails and teeth. Certain vitamin imbalances cause deficiencies in these areas.

So first thing you need to do is to do whatever you can to make you healthy. This should help with the falling and the greying. If you are able to, take some vitamin supplements, particularly Vitamins B & C.

If vitamins are not an option, don't despair. My next and most important advice is about your diet. For whatever reasons, you may not be taking good care of yourself. Could you possibly not be eating or eating well? A good diet is not only essential to your whole body, it's very necessary for your hair's health. If you are sick or mal-nourished, your hair will be too. Here's a good link to follow for what things to focus on.

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/78/95826.htm

Dry heat to ward off the cold is harsh on your hair as well as the brutal cold outdoors. These conditions fight against keeping your hair supple. Keep conditioner on your hair, don't rinse completely or use leave-in conditioner. If these are not available, rub hand lotion on your dry hair to protect it from all the elements. Wrap it up and keep it under a hat if possible to protect from damaging wind too. Keep it under your coat and a scarf, anything as wind is a big enemy.

As for the split ends, this happens to all of us. As much as I'm sure you do not want to cut any of your hair, know that it will grow faster and stronger if you keep that last inch or so snipped off. Hopefully it hasn't split up the hair shafts much further than an inch or else you will have pick more off. Splits will just keep going up and up the hair and you don't want that to happen. So do whatever it takes to cut them off. Your hair will grow back stronger for it Get someone you trust to snip off the dead, split ends. Or, do it yourself if you have to. Your hair is plenty long enough to pull around to the front to inspect and snip off the splits. Keep a check on this monthly.

Braid your hair when you sleep to keep the stress off it when you toss and turn etc.

The dandruff is also probably from the dry heat, drying your scalp out. Do NOT use dandruff shampoo as once a person uses this, you have to keep using it. The day you plan to shampoo your hair, rub conditioner on your scalp, or lotion, or oil. Massage it in and leave for at least an hour. Then thoroughly shampoo it out. If you do not have shampoo, make sure the soap you are using is MILD. Harsh soap will dry your scalp and hair out. Last, but not least, thoroughly, TOTALLY rinse your hair out. Rinse, rinse and rinse again. Leaving any soap or shampoo residue will dry your scalp out too, all mimicking dandruff. This is very important. Also, I hope the water you use is good.

All this sounds like a lot, yet once you do it for a week or so, they will become habits you won't think about, you'll just do. Above all, take good care of yourself Api. Eat well and whatever stress you may have from all these changes, etc., I wish you well and hope that you will find ways to take care of YOU!

Let me know if I can be of further help,
Toni