Hair loss is very common among both men and women. Losing a few strands of hair every day is actually quite normal and should not be a cause for alarm. However, if you find yourself losing a lot more than just a few strands of hair every day, then it might be time to pay close attention to your hair and find out why it is happening and possibly come up with ways to prevent it.
Here is everything you need to know about hair loss and how to reduce it, along with ways you can increase your hair growth.
Reasons why hair loss occurs
There are many reasons why people suffer from hair loss. These include:
- Genetic factors
- Poor hair care
- Hormonal imbalance or dysfunction
- Scalp infection
- Stress
- Certain medications and medical conditions
- Poor nutrition
- Aging
- Poor blood circulation
Finding the reason for your hair loss is the first step to finding the solution. Here are some of the ways you can use to prevent and possibly even treat your hair loss problem.
Prevention and Treatment Methods
Proper hair care
This is a fundamental part of preventing and treating hair loss. How you treat your hair will determine how good or bad your hair looks. Adopting proper hair care practices will play a major role in restoring your hair to its natural state. A dirty scalp can lead to clogging of pores and hair follicles which slows down the healthy growth of hair.
- Cleanse your hair and scalp regularly.
- Use your fingertips as opposed to nails when washing your hair.
- Avoid using harsh hair products that can harm your hair.
- Trim your hair regularly to get rid of broken and split ends.
Avoid stress
Any kind of stress — be it emotional, mental or physical — distorts the natural balance of hormones. This hormonal imbalance then affects the normal functioning of tissues and cells that are responsible for hair growth. If you find yourself living a stressful life, try having regular rest or carrying out de-stress activities to alleviate the stress. Proper stress management goes a long way in helping to restore your hair to its original state and also ensuring that more hair loss is prevented.
Eat a healthy diet
A healthy diet is a fundamental part of maintaining healthy hair. Eating foods rich in proteins, vitamins A, B and E, and minerals such as iron, zinc, magnesium and copper ensures that your hair gets all the necessary nutrients for proper growth. Some of these foods include eggs, milk, salmon, whole grains, cheese, chicken, yogurt, spinach, nuts, avocados and green leafy vegetables. The nutrients obtained from these foods will nourish both your scalp and hair. Try to avoid junk foods or fast foods and focus on maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Stay hydrated
Water is not just great for your overall body health, but for hair as well. Dehydration can lead to a dry scaly scalp that’s itchy. This will then cause your hair to break up starting from the roots. Aim to drink at least eight glasses of water a day to keep your scalp hydrated. A well-hydrated scalp is strong and strengthens hair, which makes it grow even faster.
Avoid straining your hair
A lot of people are not aware that straining hair through tight braids or ponytails can impede proper hair growth. If you strain your hair too much, your scalp gets affected. Using harsh hair products can also strain hair and lead to hair loss. Avoid a lot of chemicals and go for natural hair products like castor oil instead. Leave your hair free when you go to sleep instead of tying it up in tight ponytails. Thin-toothed combs can also strain and pull your hair, so use wide-toothed combs instead.
Medical treatment
If you have tried all of the methods listed here with no success, perhaps it is time you sought medical solutions. There are many medical treatment options for hair loss available, including finasteride (also known as Propecia), which has been approved by the FDA. When you buy finasteride and begin using it, you may notice results in as little as three months.