Hair Loss: Facts To Know
- People lose 50-100 strands of hair on an average in a day. While washing hair, nearly double to 250 strands of hair can be lost.
- When hair loss exceeds this from the scalp or other parts of the body, you have a problem called alopecia or hair loss.
- Hair grows at half an inch per month
- About 90 percent of the hair is growing at any time and the remaining percentage is dormant and falls out
When Do You Have Hair Loss?
- If large amounts of hair on your pillow are there each day, you are said to have hair fall.
- If more than normal amounts of hair strands are left in your comb or hairbrush after you make your hair, you have hair loss
- Hair loss in men causes hair to recede from the forehead/crown of the head
- Women experience thinning of hair as parting becomes wider, and more of the scalp is visible
- Hair loss can also be a sign of an underlying medication which requires treatment
Causes of Hair Loss
Important causes of hair loss or hair fall include:
- Genetic conditions
- Medical conditions: Anemia, autoimmune disease, and thyroid
- Chemical therapy following cancer
- Scalp infections
- Skin problems like psoriasis and dermatitis
- Hairstyles which cause strands to strain
- Hair pulling disorder
- Severe stress
- Mineral Deficiency
Easy Solutions to Prevent Hair Loss
Avoid Hair Damage
To do this, you need to limit the use of hair dryers because this weakens hair proteins. Constant heating and drying makes the strands brittle and fragile and causes hair loss which would not have otherwise occurred. Devices that heat your hair including hot curlers, brushes and straighteners can also damage hair follicles and burn scalps. Apart from this, they also lead to hair loss.
Perming is chemical straightening or curling which can damage the hair. It breaks the inner bond of the hair and reforms it to straighten or curl the hair. This makes it dull and brittle. Hair loss results over time.
Chemicals and Dyes
Frequent hair colouring chemicals increase chances of serious damage to the hair and you should avoid colouring for more than 4-6 weeks
Bleaches damage the hair by removing natural pigment when cuticles are filled with chemicals. This damages the hair and makes it susceptible to fall. Bleaching, blow drying and styling your hair can also exacerbate hair loss.
Hair Styles Which Strain Strands
Pulling the hair on a daily basis with elastic clips or bands such as cornrows, plaits and ponytails can lead to hair fall. Winding hair tightly can also have the effect of inducing traction alopecia whereby hairstyles that are too tight cause this.
Use Mild Shampoo
Hair washing prevents hair loss as it keeps the hair and scalp clean and protects them from infections. But washing the hair every day will strip the hair of its natural oils. The only solution is to use mild shampoos which maintain good hair health and ensure zero/no hair loss.
Common ingredients of a good shampoo:
Good conditioning ingredients include silicones, guar, and polyquaterniums
Use nourishing oil such as coconut, almond, lavender or rosemary to increase blood flow to the skin on the head and the hair follicles. This boosts circulation because cells in the follicles get plenty of nutrients which increase hair growth and prevent damage to the hair.
Eat a Balanced Diet
Another important nutritional way to prevent hair loss is to keep the scalp and the hair healthy. Healthy people have good hair and hair loss can be slowed by healthy diet with veggies and fruits. Vitamins and minerals can also prevent hair loss.
Iron is an important mineral. From animal sources, it is called heme iron and in plant sources, it is referred to as non-heme iron. Too little iron can increase hair loss via anaemia through loss of supply of nutrients to hair follicles. Red meat, broccoli, chicken, and kale are some iron-rich products.
Protein is the building block of the human body. It is also essential for strong hair. Deficiency in protein leads to dry, weak hair and hair loss. Amino acids in the protein strengthen the hair. Protein can be had through non-vegan teams like pork, lean beef, seafood and poultry as well as eggs. Vegans and fairy tree consumers can access tofu, whole wheat bread, peanut butter and brown rice.
This helps in the absorption of iron so iron-rich foods can be digested. Vitamin C also strengthens collagens which boost capillary action and supply blood and nutrients to the hair shaft. Lemon, citrus fruits, Brussels sprouts, baked potatoes, tomatoes, and berries are a good source of vitamin C.
Omega 3 Fatty Acids
These fats keep hair healthy and ensure the hair does not become dry and brittle. They hydrate the scalp and nourish the cells lining the scalp. Omega 3 includes fish like tuna, salmon, and mackerel as well as seeds and nuts like flaxseeds and walnuts.
This is a water-soluble, B vitamin which causes hair to remain in good condition and deficiency can accelerate hair loss. So eat biotin-rich foods like egg white, soy flour, walnuts, and yeast.
Acupressure, Other Therapies
This also stimulates hair growth considerably. Acupressure increases circulation in the scalp and stimulates hair growth. Other alternative therapies you can try include yoga asanas, healthy hair growth through a massage, which nourishes hair follicles.
Exposure to pollution such as dust, humidity and heat can damage your mane. Cover your hair with a scarf and protect your hair from unhealthy exposure.
Daily shampooing and exposure to pollution damages the hair. To prevent this, combine castor, sesame, almond, olive and coconut oil and protect your tresses.
Apply Onion Juice
The juice of onion is one of the most successful home remedies to prevent hair loss. Leave onion juice overnight in your hair and wash it out in the morning.
Another great source of nutrition for the hair is a green tea solution. Boil some tea, wait for it to cool and then rub the same into your hair for an hour and rinse thoroughly.
This has rich properties for nourishing hair tissues and reducing hair loss. Apply coconut milk obtained by squeezing coconut scraping in a blender to extract it and then spread it evenly. Massage your scalp with coconut milk once a week to prevent hair fall.
Neem, Aloe Vera, and Honey
Neem leaves boiled in water can be cooled and used to wash the hair. Another good choice is honey or aloe vera juice. Aloe Bera gel prevents hair loss due to scalp dryness or irritation. Other good alternatives are jojoba and mustard oil. Lime seeds are also an effective home remedy for hair loss.
Hair loss is a problem which has a lot of solutions. These easy solutions can keep hair loss at a bay and keep your tresses in good condition. A healthy hair is a way to a healthy you. Use these tips to prevent hair loss and get access to healthy hair.