Featuring Dr. Hasti Fashandi
Photo provided by Dr. Hasti Fashandi
What is your name? Hasti Fashandi, ND
Where are you from? What is your background?
I was born in Tehran, Iran during the eight-year war between Iran and Iraq in the early 80’s. My family fled the Middle East when I was 2.5 years of age, and my father took my two older sisters and me, while my mother was forced to stay back and escape the country separately. We all endured quite a bit of trauma during that time, from dodging carpet bombs blindly being dropped over Tehran, to splitting up our family just to be able to safely escape; however, we have all been very lucky to have been provided the freedoms and opportunities afforded to us in the United States. My sisters and I have done our best to make the sacrifices of our parents worth the better life that they so deeply wanted to see for their children.
In a few sentences, tell us about yourself and what you do.
I received my Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from the University of Minnesota, and my Doctorate of Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University. I completed an intensely exciting residency program in family medicine at the Bastyr Center for Natural Health, after which I moved to the Bay Area, where I am now in private practice seeing patients from all backgrounds, for things from rheumatologic complaints to hormonal issues. That being said; however, my absolute favorite thing to do is to put my hands onto people, so treating pain / painful conditions is my ultimate passion.
What are you currently doing for your hair care?
I knew that my mom started losing her hair in her mid-twenties, which made me realize that the early changes in my hair were likely genetic. It was not until after I had my sweet baby girl; however, that I really started losing my hair. After she was born, I knew I needed to take extra care of my hair, so although I continued my prenatal, fish oil, and active B vitamins after she was born, I also added in a high-quality internal collagen powder, along with topical argan oil, as well.
Are you using any natural hair products?
I try to stick to shampoos and conditioners that are free of as many chemicals as possible, and do try to use sulfate-free products; however, ever since I started massaging argan oil into my damp hair after showering, it has helped to protect it from splitting, breaking, and damage.
What works well for you and what doesn’t?
I have come to learn that as much as I love having my hair out of my face, particularly when I am doing bodywork or injection therapy, that if I tie my hair back too tightly for too long, not only does my scalp start to feel tender, but my hairline begins to recede, as well. I have come to love using tiny clips for gently pulling my hair out of my face, as well as elastic hair combs, which can actually hold up quite a bit of hair without using very much tension, depending on how tightly you use them.
What are some helpful tips you can share with other readers?
The one thing to always remember is that the health of your hair truly begins with what you are putting into your body. Always do your best to eat a clean, anti-inflammatory, organic diet, where you are aiming to eat your Healthy Plate proportions of all of your macromolecules. My ideal diet for overall health and beauty, inside and out, is the Mediterranean Diet. When you ensure that you are getting adequate nutrients through your diet in the form of your protein, carbs, and healthy fats, and aim to fill at least half of your plate with fresh produce, you can rest easy knowing that you are doing the best by your hair! For more information about eating an anti-inflammatory diet, as well as to see what a Healthy Plate should look like, please visit the following link for a blog article that I have written on this topic: https://www.drhastifashandi.com/2018/12/29/treating-autoimmune-disease-with-food/
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