There comes a stage in a woman’s life when she stops counting time in birthdays and starts measuring it by the number of hair strands she finds in the shower drain. I seemed to have entered that distinguished chapter with tremendous enthusiasm.
For a long time, I regarded hair fall as a problem demanding immediate intervention. I purchased oils infused with exotic ingredients, invested in shampoos promising miraculous transformations, and listened patiently to friends who swore that a particular remedy had changed their lives. I didn’t just use topical medications; I also improved my protein intake, got a complete blood work done to identify hidden deficiencies, and accordingly added supplements to my daily routine. Eventually, however, I arrived at a different conclusion, that ‘perhaps severe hair fall is education disguised as a problem’ although involuntary but education nonetheless. Here I am going to list some advantages that I have observed over a period of ‘few strands’ to ‘clogging shower drains’ lately.
- In the realm of forensic science:
Should I ever disappear under mysterious circumstances, investigators will not require sophisticated technology or suspicious witness accounts. Instead, the experts simply need to follow the trail.
The detectives in crime dramas are portrayed as searching for one single strand of hair, with acute focus. Such scenes now strike me as utterly unrealistic. I will tell you why. If my case were ever investigated, the challenge would not be locating evidence but determining which evidence was relevant. The forensic team can begin in my bedroom, proceed through the house, down the elevator, across the parking lot and eventually might even land in a neighbouring district, state or country without even losing the trail. Considering that I possess neither the temperament nor the stamina required for a life of crime and I am significantly overqualified to become an innocent victim, it is reassuring to know that my scalp has already committed itself to law enforcement.
2. Spiritual instruction:
Another overlooked benefit of hair fall is the intense spiritual guidance it provides, as detachment forms the core of the entire philosophy of spirituality. While great sages have retreated to the mountains to attain wisdom, my scalp is teaching me the same lessons in a more energy-saving method.
Every morning begins with a practical lesson of impermanence from the pillow, followed by the bathroom floor, the hairbrush, and the gym towel as parts of the advanced workshop on letting go. Through such daily, constant rigorous practice, one cannot remain excessively attached to worldly possessions while watching the biological possessions resigning daily without prior notice.
3. Cultivating observational abilities:
I can now identify my own hair strands from across a room as I inspect furniture and conduct routine audits of other surfaces. My eyes have basically upgraded to high-definition sniper vision, and frankly speaking, it is exhausting. I walk into a room and instantly trigger a full-on CSI episode in my brain. “Aha! A rogue follicle on the velvet ottoman!” My friends think I am being deep and introspective when I stare at the floor, but truth be told, I am just playing a high-stakes game of “Is that a piece of my identity?” I didn’t recognise this heightened awareness as progress at first, but it truly is.
4. Relatability with billionaires
My husband recently contributed a particularly insightful observation during one of my periodic complaints. He, as a matter of fact, shrugged his shoulders and said, “Well, Jeff Bezos is bald”.
Though it appeared to be completely unrelated at first glance, upon deep reflection, however, it may be one of the extraordinary consolations offered to a victim of hair fall.
Here is a man who can fund space missions using a QR code on UPI, purchase properties that resemble small kingdoms, whose company sells all the anti-hair fall products manufactured to date, but all his money failed to reverse hair fall! So, Jeff Bezos stands as the powerful reminder that while money can buy comfort, it is completely useless at persuading a hair follicle to stay on the job.
This feels oddly reassuring as somewhere in this world a billionaire may be looking into the mirror and wondering, “Where has all the hair gone?” Elsewhere, I am looking at my receding hairline and asking precisely the same question.
In retrospect, catastrophic hair fall has been a thorough life coach. It has already made me forensic-ready, initiated me into the philosophy of detachment, transformed me into an investigator no one asked for, and liberated me from the illusion that every problem has a purchasable solution. Above all, it has humbled me enough to realise that some battles exist with the sole purpose of being laughed at.
If wisdom indeed is the reward for growing older, then perhaps a few thousand strands are a reasonable tuition fee.
By Bahnika Sen
Bahnika Sen is a trader, fitness expert, and writer. She can be contacted at: bahnika23@gmail.com
