Leonica Kei, founder of Leonica K Trichology, talks about hair loss prevention and lists some of the most common factors that lead to a higher risk of hair fall
Struggling with hair loss?
Before you reach for another helping of your favourite hawker dish or fast food snack, think again. Did you know that there is a direct correlation between consuming oily food and developing oily hair? And if oily hair is left untreated, it may clog the pores on your scalp and lead to an overproduction of sebum—which leads to a higher risk of hair loss.
Leading a stressful lifestyle, suffering from a lack of sleep and consuming a diet heavy in greasy or sugary food are all factors that may affect the rate of how fast hair falls. In fact, due to Covid-19, scalp health is often overlooked or neglected when it comes to hair care, since many are not aware of how much it actually affects their overall hair health and hair growth.
Singapore-based industry expert Leonica Kei noted these trends after having treated numerous hair loss patients here in the past 20 years. The owner and founder of Leonica K Trichology centre eventually came to realise that many Singaporeans actually struggle with hair loss and a lack of hair growth.
“Most people take great care of their face but neglect scalp care,” she said. “Many people do not have proper hair care routine [and] to have good hair, it is essential to maintain a healthy scalp.”
After studying at the Institute of Trichologists in the UK, Kei entered the hair industry as a technical adviser for over six years and is now considered as one of Singapore’s most renowned and expert trichology specialists. The veteran hair specialist recently relocated her centre to a brand new outlet at Hilton Singapore after 12 years at Palais Renaissance.
As the brand owner, Kei adopts a hands-on approach when meeting her clients. Prior to each session, she dedicates 15 minutes to have a consultation with customers and figures out their main issues and concerns before providing them with a diagnosis and recommending the most effective treatment option that would benefit their scalp and hair. This is followed by a 60- to 90-minute treatment to tackle the customer’s scalp issues and strengthen their follicles, as well as a thorough cleanse for their hair thereafter with a wash and blow.
Apart from diets, hair loss can also be caused by hereditary and medical conditions. However, hair loss may not be permanent and most forms of hair loss can still be restored with the right treatment and services, which Leonica K Trichology is skilled in.
“Hair is like our skin, so ageing is inevitable. Instead of waiting until the hair starts showing signs of deterioration, prevention is the better approach,” she advises. “The longer you wait, the longer the time you need to reverse your hair loss problem.”
Below, Kei answers some of Tatler’s burning questions about hair loss prevention and her best tips on how we should start taking care of our hair and scalp.