Your hair plays a key role in your physical appearance and self-confidence and when you notice it starting to disappear, whether it’s thinning or falling out, it can take a serious toll on how you look, feel and operate throughout the day. Fortunately, there are many different things you can do to prevent hair loss and encourage hair growth. In this article, we discuss the common causes of hair loss and the best ways to slow down and even stop hair loss by tackling the issue at the root – pardon the pun.
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The Most Common Causes of Hair Loss
Everyone sheds a couple of strands from day-to-day. In fact, the average person loses up to 100 hairs a day without even noticing a difference because new hair growth starts at the same time to fill in the void. But when new hair stops growing to replace the hair that has fallen out, thin and bald spots can start to appear.
There are many reasons why hair loss occurs. Sometimes, it’s your family history to blame and other times, it’s situational and temporary. To determine the best course of action for preventing and treating hair loss, you have to figure out what is causing it in the first place.
The most common causes of hair loss are:
- Family history: If you have close relatives that have hair loss, whether it’s male or female baldness, thinning or a receding hairline, the issue may be hereditary.
- Medical conditions: There are various medical conditions that can cause both temporary and permanent hair loss, including hormonal changes, alopecia, scalp infections, hair-pulling disorder, lupus, psoriasis and Crohn’s disease.
- Medications: Certain medications, typically those used to treat cancer, depression, arthritis, heart problems, high blood pressure and gout, may cause hair loss as a side effect.
- Medical procedures: Some medical procedures, such as radiation or chemotherapy, can result in hair loss. The hair may not grow back in the same way as well.
- Stress: High stress, particularly those that cause physical or emotional shock, may result in temporary hair loss.
- Hairstyles and hair treatment: Different types of hairstyles and treatments can cause your hair to weaken and fall out. For example, wearing tight hairstyles, such as pigtails or cornrows, can lead to alopecia. Frequent or prolonged hair treatments, such as permanently dying your hair for years, can also cause hair loss.
- Poor nutrition: A poor or restrictive diet can cause hair loss, particularly those that are low calorie or that have insufficient amounts of iron, zinc, protein, selenium and essential fatty acids.
- Age: Sometimes, hair loss simply comes down to getting older as the rate of hair growth slows and hair strands become smaller, thinner and have less pigment.
Common Treatments for Hair Loss
With hair loss affecting 80% of men and almost half of all women, the treatment options available certainly aren’t limited. However, just because modern treatments are available doesn’t necessarily mean that they are a healthy choice. That’s also not to mention how expensive some common treatments for hair loss can be.
Nonetheless, some popular treatments for hair loss are:
- Medication: Several medications can help treat hereditary baldness, with Rogaine, and Propecia being the most common.
- Hair transplant surgery: A procedure where hair is removed from a part of your head that has hair and transplanted to a bald spot.
- Laser therapy: A procedure used to treat hereditary hair loss in men and women.
Natural Remedies and Tips for Preventing and Treating Hair Loss
You don’t have to pay a fortune or undergo intense procedures to treat hair loss. There are several natural remedies that can effectively prevent and treat hair loss, and just as many tips for doing the same. All it takes is making a few simple changes to your hair hygiene and habits, and you can make a significant difference in the overall appearance (and fullness) of your hair by preventing breakage, thinning, and hair pulling
Here are some of the best natural hair prevention remedies and tips to try:
Change Your Hair Hygiene
When it comes time to brush out the tangles, always use a detangler brush or a wide-tooth comb. If you have longer hair, start detangling at the bottom and slowly work your way up to your roots to avoid tugging your hair when brushing or combing it, especially when the hair is wet as this is when it’s at its weakest point.
Additionally, start investing in high-quality hair care products that are designed for your specific hair type, whether it’s brittle, dry, oily, thin, etc. And for all the men out there, start using conditioner! Once you get into the habit of regular washing and conditioning, opt for a deep-conditioning hair treatment once a week.
Avoid Tight Hairstyles that Pull on your Hair
Although hair is flexible, stretching it too much and too frequently can lead to permanent damage. Avoid wearing hairstyles that pull on your hair, such as tight braids, cornrows, and tight ponytails.
Reduce Your Use of High-Heat Styling Tools
Hairdryers, hot curling irons and rollers, and hair straighteners are essential hair styling tools for both men and women. Unfortunately, using high-heat style tools frequently can cause your hair follicles to become dehydrated and vulnerable to breakage. Instead, try to air-dry as often as possible and play around with hairstyles that don’t require heat.
Start Rocking Your Natural Hair Colour
While changing up your look with a permanent dye job can be enticing, chemical hair treatments can wreak havoc on your hair. Try to embrace your natural hair color or at the very least, limit your use of highlights, peroxide treatments, perms and dyes.
Take Hair-Promoting Supplements
There are many different vitamins and minerals that are essential for proper hair development and growth. In fact, deficiencies in iron, zinc, protein, selenium and essential fatty acids have been linked to hair loss. So, start taking nutritional supplements in areas of your diet that are lacking.
Additionally, you may want to start taking supplements that are known to help reduce hair loss, such as vitamin D, saw palmetto, biotin, Vitamin C and Zinc.
Use Hair-Stimulating Essential Oils
Essential oils possess natural extracts that can help stimulate hair growth. While more research is needed, the following essential oils have been known to encourage hair growth and may possible help treat hair loss conditions:
- Lavender
- Peppermint
- Ginseng
- Hibiscus
Treat Yourself to a Scalp Massage
Scalp massages can be an effective way to encourage hair growth by increasing circulation and genetic changes. Some studies even found that a 4-minute scalp massage each day increased hair thickness in non-balding men. You can give yourself a scalp massage or opt for one at a local spa, and they feel so good.
Improve Your Diet
As mentioned previously, having a poor diet or being deficient in certain vitamins and minerals can lead to and progress hair loss. On the other hand, improving your diet to ensure you’re getting well-balanced nutrition into your day can help prevent and even reduce hair loss.
A Mediterranean diet is highly recognized as being the healthiest way to eat, with benefits that extend far beyond your hair. It’s even been found to reduce the risk or slow down the onset of male pattern baldness.
However, making a few simple changes can also help:
- Eat more foods rich in antioxidants to fight the signs of oxidative stress (environmental factors that contribute to hair loss)
- Include an array of colorful fruits and vegetables into your meals
- Reduce your sugar intake
- Limit processed fats and preservatives
- Enjoy alcohol in moderation
- Eat more protein (eggs, nuts, beans, peas, fish, chicken, turkey)
Butt Out The Cigarettes
You’ve heard it a million times before and for all kinds of reasons: it’s time to quit smoking and your hair loss is just another reason to do so. Smoking cigarettes can make your hair vulnerable to damage, as it weakens your hair follicles. Smoking has also been linked to premature graying and hair loss.
If you’ve noticed your hair getting thinner or falling out, trying these home remedies and making a few small diet and lifestyle habits can be an effective way to prevent, treat and slow down hair loss.
