Getting married? Two weeks to great hair!

Dermatologist Dr Parul Kolhe gives you a crash-course so that your mane is lustrous on your big day.

Last week, we brought you a two-week crash course to make sure your skin is glowing on your wedding day. Now we bring you a regimen for your hair, so that its lustre leaves people dazzled.

The modern-day bride rarely hides her crowning glory under a demure ghunghat. If the head is covered , it may be only for the actual rites, but for after the ceremony, or for the sangeet, the cocktail parties and the reception, it's very 'in' to show off perfectly coiffed hair.

Tress style makes as much of a statement as dress style, so if the bridal outfit is Tarun Tahiliani, the hairdo must be Adhuna Akhtar! Hair is coloured, streaked and mascaraed to match the outfit; straightened, crimped or curled to suit the shape of the face; swept into chic chignons, adorned with imported orchids or piled into elaborate beehives studded with Swarovski crystal. Imagine how awful it would look if the hair itself was dry, dull, brittle and frizzy!

To make sure that doesn't happen to you, we've outlined a two-week regime that will have your hair in top shape at your wedding. Read on!

Dr Parul S Kolhe is an MBBS and holds a DDV and DNB in dermatology.

Eat a lot of sprouts, channa, soyabean, dal, eggs, steamed fish or grilled chicken. A high protein diet helps improve quality and strength of hair.

If your eating schedules are erratic, you could take a protein powder in milk, like Nutrilite or B-Protein. Ask your doctor if you need iron supplements as low haemoglobin levels also weaken hair.

The outermost layer of your hair, called the cortex, determines the smoothness level. If it's dry and scaly, the hair will look frizzy and dull. Conditioning is very important to smoothen the cortex. Use a conditioner suited to your hair type every time you shampoo.

Oiling should be done only an hour before shampooing. Never leave oil in all day long as it collects dirt and encourages scalp infections. Eating foods rich in w-3 fatty acids like fish or flax seeds will help add shine to your tresses.

A few days prior to the wedding, you could go for a professional deep-conditioning treatment at a hair spa. You can also try smoothening serums.

Stress (among other things) can make you lose hair. Declutter your mind -- try yoga, pranayama or just a talkathon with your fiance to beat those pre-wedding jitters.

A longstanding hairfall problem and thinning hair require the help of a dermatologist or trichologist. Get it checked out and start a professional anti-hairloss therapy like mesotherapy.

A onetime colouring, straightening or perming won't cause too much damage, but if you're a hair junkie who gets something done every couple of months, then expect hairfall and permanent thinning.

Colouring damages hair as the chemicals drill pores into the hair cortex to enable colour penetration. Straightening, rebonding and perming use chemicals called thioglycollates that break and reseal protein bonds in the hair to enable moulding into desired shapes. This causes hair to become dry and brittle.

Always trust only trained hair professionals for advanced treatments. Never attempt them on your own.

Warn your stylist not to use a very high temperature setting to blow-dry or steam hair. This can cause hair burns and you'll lose the damaged strands a few days later.

There should not be too much of a pulling sensation on your roots once the style is complete, as the traction can cause uprooting of hair.

Finally, after the function open out your hair very gently, making sure all the pins and ornaments are out first. Never yank out hair extensions or detangle roughly. Wash out the styling products like gel, mousse and spray immediately with mild shampoo.