14 Christmas gifts for the friends who are always struggling with hair loss

1/14

Briogeo Blossom & Bloom Ginseng + Biotin Volumizing Shampoo, ₹2,300

Sometimes your hair can seem flatter than a slice of stale bread. This Briogeo shampoo will give it bounce with ginseng, biotin, vitamin B5 and Maltodextrin which sounds a little frightening but actually separates and coats the hair strands to give them a lift.

If you’re worried about weighing it down with an extra layer, fear not. The shampoo is balanced out with witch hazel extract to absorb excess scalp-oil. Ginseng stimulates the scalp to promote hair growth and scalp health while hair-loving biotin gives it the support it needs to grow long and thick.

2/14

Ouai Dry Shampoo, ₹2,700

With winter seeping into our bones you’re likely extending days between hair washes. Then out of the blue, your brother plans a family zoom session for Christmas and your hair looks oily enough to fry pakodas.

A good dry shampoo can help soak up some of that oil without harming your scalp and clogging follicles. And that dreaded white powdery finish that a lot of dry shampoos have? You won’t have to worry about it with this one.

Pro tip: After massaging in the dry shampoo, gently comb through your hair to spread it out evenly. This will add volume and prevent your hair from freezing in place.

3/14

Ahé Naturals Mulberry Silk Scrunchies, ₹1,165

Silk scrunchies may sound a bit extra, but hey, it’s Christmas and indulge your friend’s hair loss woes with these little stocking fillers.

The silk is gentle on the hair strands, doesn’t cause friction with any pulling and twisting which makes breakage and frizz less likely. The scrunchies are filled with satin to give them an added bounce and silk is a lot more gentle on the hair than your standard rubber bands.

4/14

Nicobar Abstract Leaf Scarf, ₹2,500

Scarves are the perfect multi-purpose accessory if you’re trying to hide 3rd-day hair and are still afraid of dry shampoo.

The Leaf scarf is a blend of cotton and silk and is perfect to use as a turban to wrap your hair in, as a cloth hairband, or even as a colourful distraction around your shoulders so no one notices that your hair hasn’t seen the light of day for a while now.

5/14

Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer, ₹28,900

There’s nothing like a Dyson Supersonic hairdryer to really show that you love someone. At least, that you care about the hair loss woes weighing them down.

Dyson claims that their hi-tech hairdryer is less damaging to your hair strands with temperature control to prevent excess heat damage. It cuts down your drying time to half and is quiet enough to use after a late-night shower without waking up the children.

If blow-dries are a regular exercise, then it’s worth investing in a tool that’s going to cause the least damage to your hair. Heat damage can fry your hair cuticles, making them very easily breakable, frizzy and tangled.

6/14

Kérastase Spray Fluidissime, ₹2,100

So you don’t love them enough to dish on a fancy hairdryer, but you could still help them protect their locks from the heat damage their own tools can cause.

Spray Fluidissime by Kérastase provides thermal protection, smoothens out open cuticles and helps de-frizz hair without weighing it down. There’s no leftover clumpiness where your strands stick together like when you accidentally applied too much conditioner and it reached up to your scalp. It’s a light, watery product that your hair can easily soak up.

7/14

Tangle Teezer The Large Wet Detangler Hairbrush, ₹1,440

There are two kinds of people in the world. Those who believe brushing wet hair will rip out half of it. And others who swear that if they don’t brush their hair after bathing, it turns into a tangled mess which causes more breakage once it dries.

If you, reader, know someone from the latter group, we understand and empathise. We do advise switching out their regular post-bath hairbrush for a brush that’s actually designed to be used while our hair is wet.

Hair can be a lot more vulnerable when damp and this brush has a two-tiered teeth system which detangles all hair types, while also smoothing the cuticles down without causing too much physical stress.

8/14

Earth Rhythm Neem Comb, ₹175

Put away the plastic products, both for your hair and the environment, and replace them with a neem comb. It smells great and neem has anti-fungal and anti-allergen properties that can be imparted to our scalp.

The use of neem doesn’t cause any static building like plastic alternatives which can weaken the hair follicles and cause a lot of frizz. This will be particularly useful for your curly-haired friends who already struggle to contain their mane.

A well-crafted neem comb prevents the build-up of microbes on the scalp and evenly distributes the natural oils we produce from the hair root to the tip.

9/14

Moroccanoil Intense Curl Cream, ₹2,700

Another item you can add to the Christmas basket for your curly-haired friends is a curl cream.

There’s a natural tendency for dryness when your hair is curly as the scalp oils struggle to make their way right down the shaft. Dry and brittle hair breaks easily and the constant pulling and tugging at the root is not going to keep them intact much longer.

This Morroconoil leave-in conditioner hydrates curls, giving them shape and shine with argan oil which also adds a boost of antioxidants and vitamin E.

10/14

Photo credit: Pexels

Calm app for sleep and meditation, ₹5,160 for 1 year

Now we’re not saying it’s all in your head. But the storm you’ve got brewing up there can increase the amount you’re shedding.

Stress-induced hair loss can push your hair follicles into a sleeping state, preventing growth. It can also make your white blood cells attack the hair follicles, causing hair fall.

It’s not easy to lull the mind into a restful state when your thoughts are buzzing between market projections, children’s virtual schooling and increasing petrol prices.

Gift your pals struggling to relax a subscription to Calm. The app comes with a range of problem-solving techniques, guided meditation sessions and expert-led masterclasses along with sleep and relaxation aids.

A breathing exercise followed by a story in Matthew McConaughey’s soothing baritone will become their new bed-time routine.

11/14

MUJI Aroma Diffuser and De-stress oil, ₹4,690 + ₹1,200

Couple a guided mediation with aromatherapy to aid their journey to relaxation-station. Diffusers release aromas that slowly fill up the room without giving you an olfactory overdose.

MUJI has an array of beneficial aromatic oils like lavender, eucalyptus and lemongrass. If you want to leave it to the aroma experts, then opt for one of their blends. We love the De-stress oil which is a mix of lavender, sweet orange and geranium.

12/14

Power Gummies Hair Vitamins, ₹840 (on sale)

Pills, powders and chewable – there’s a supplement now for every taste, and problem.

“Our hair needs around 14 different nutrients to grow. Some of these can be derived through our diet, while for the others that can’t be derived from food, we turn to oral supplements for hair. This is to keep a check on deficiencies, which if not addressed, can lead to hair fall or other problems like dryness and scalp concerns,” says trichologist Dr Rigvita Raizaday of Jean-Claude Biguine’s Trica hair clinic.

We love hair and skin gummies because they bring a childlike wonder to this otherwise pharmaceutical exercise.

Gluten and gelatin-free, vitamin-filled Power Gummies nourish our hair, skin and nails from within. Biotin features heavily in this little gummy bear. The coenzyme plays a role in protein synthesis, including the production of keratin, the structural material that makes up hair, skin, and nails.

13/14

Glow by Vasudha Rai, ₹219

With 15 years of experience as beauty director at leading women’s magazines, Vasudha Rai has seen trends come and go. Her philosophy is looking at our beauty inside and out. In this book, she explains the power of ‘beauty foods’ we can harness to nourish our bodies and benefit our immunity, skin, hair and mind.

She examines Indian superfoods through the lens of traditional practices, Ayurveda and holistic healing.

It includes recipes, oils and concoctions we can easily incorporate into our daily lives from the local resources we have available.

14/14

Diva Divine hair extensions and wigs 10 piece clip-in set, ₹9,900

Sometimes hair loss is irreversible — whether it’s because of heavy medication or medical conditions like alopecia.

A well-made wig or natural hair extensions can be a pick-me-up. Natural hair is the best way to go and Diva Divine, which has boutiques across the country for in-person inspection of the products and an online shop, has an array of products from individual clip-on pieces to wigs and ear-to-ear hairpieces to choose from.

They also come in different colours so you can go natural with your original hair colour and try out highlights and rainbow colours.