Having your brush smothered by strands of hair or strands from your hair on your pillow is disappointing, but it happens over time, especially as we age. We gradually lose our ability to process vital nutrients, such as iron, needed for strong and healthy hair, as we age.
It’s typical to lose between 50 and 100 hair a day, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). With about 100,000 hair on your head, that small loss isn’t noticeable. New hair normally replaces the lost hair, but this doesn’t always happen.
Depending on the underlying cause, it may be temporary or permanent. It’s safe to say that we humans dedicate much of our time and money to our hair. Think about it: we cut it, style it, color treat it, and more. Hair is an investment, but unfortunately, nearly half of us are bound to experience hair loss at one point or another.
Thankfully, there are at-home remedies using natural hair care products to promote growth. But first, let’s look at some of the most common symptoms :
Symptoms of Hair Loss:
The signs of hair loss can vary depending on what's causing them. They can appear suddenly or gradually, touching only your head or the whole body.
Signs and symptoms of hair loss may include:
A common pattern of hair thinning in men and women. In men, it resembles the letter M on their receding hairline while for women there is thinning on the top of their head with the widening of the parting line with intact forehead hairline.
These are circular, coin-sized, bald spots with smooth shiny skin which usually appear on the scalp but sometimes appear on beards, eyebrows and other body parts.
Shock or trauma (emotional or physical) or presently stress caused by outbreak of coronavirus is said to cause a sudden shift of hair from growing to falling phase causing a large number of telogen hair follicles which shed together. A common symptom is hair thinning in a short period without any bald spots. Hair fall is severe and noticed while combing after hair wash and hair are noticed clogging the drain.
Being aware of the causes of hair fall can help us treat the problem in a better way. Below mentioned are some causes of hair fall.
Causes of Hair Loss:
Losing hair normally doesn’t have much effect on your appearance, as your head has plenty more to make up for the daily loss. But there may be a more significant reason for your hair loss when you start seeing your scalp or bald spots.
When you think of hair loss, you may think of the
- Hereditary factors: If your parents have a hair loss problem, it is likely that you will as well. Hereditary hair fall is called alopecia. While this is more evident in men, women, too, are likely to develop genetically inherited alopecia.
- Hormonal Changes: Hormonal changes in the body increase the sensitivity of hair follicles, weaken the hair roots, and cause hair fall. Menopause, PCOD, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, excess testosterone, etc. may eventually cause hair loss in men and women.
- Pregnancy: Most pregnant women and new moms experience frequent dehydration, fatigue, and hormonal imbalance. This increases sensitivity in the hair follicles and creates unfavorable scalp conditions. All of these factors may lead to chronic hair fall.
- Physical And Mental Stress: Persistent illness, drastic and excessive weight loss, and extreme physical labor can cause the body to get dehydrated and exhausted. This can make the hair follicles undernourished and weak and may cause rapid hair loss.
- Scalp Infection: Fungal, bacterial, and viral infections like seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis in the scalp can weaken the roots and damage hair follicles, thereby causing thinning, breakage, and hair fall.
- Alopecia Areata: Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disorder in which the immune system mistakes hair for a foreign contaminant and starts attacking the hair follicles, causing hair loss. A licensed doctor may prescribe different treatments for alopecia areata, like corticosteroid injections, anthralin ointment, topical corticosteroids, etc.
- Medication And Treatments: Certain medications may lead to hair fall as a side effect. Treatments like chemotherapy, steroids, and medications for typhoid, heart diseases, depression, etc. may cause extreme hair fall. Drugs that may cause hair loss are acne medicines containing retinoids, antibiotics and antifungal drugs, birth control pills, anti-clotting drugs, epilepsy drugs, high blood pressure drugs, anti-inflammatory drugs, weight loss drugs, hormone replacement therapy, Parkinson’s disease drugs, and thyroid medications.
- Thyroid Disorders: Thyroid disorders and anti-thyroid medication almost always lead to hair loss. The hair looks sparse, and the hair loss is evenly distributed all over the scalp. Successful treatment often leads to the hair growing back.
- Iron Deficiency, Anemia, And Blood Loss: Deficiency of red blood cells in the body, sudden loss of blood, and insufficient iron levels in the body cause not only fatigue, weakness, and headaches but also hair loss.
- Crash Diets And Malnutrition: Insufficient intake of nutrients and following an unhealthy and unbalanced diet can cause malnourishment in the body. This leads to dehydration of the scalp and hair and can trigger excessive hair fall.
- Over Supplementation: Over supplementation of a few nutrients, like vitamin A, vitamin E, and selenium, can cause hair loss, among other risks. Instead of taking vitamins in their concentrated form as supplements, consuming them from fruits and other organic foods is better.
- Styling: Heavy usage of hair products like Sulphate and hair accessories can lead to hair loss. They contain chemicals that are not good for your hair and scalp. Hair accessories (like elastic bands) are known to pull on the hair.
While many causes of hair loss can be treated successfully, the key to effective treatment is to find out the best solution to the hair loss. Ahead, we’ve shared 13 ways to prevent excessive loss and maintain your lovely mane.
Natural Solutions for Reducing Hair Loss
#1 B Vitamins
It is crucial that you get enough B Vitamins to have healthy hair because they keep the body's cells functioning properly and create new blood cells, which are essential for hair growth. Vitamins B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, B7, B9, and B12 all have the power to strengthen hair from the inside out. These can be found in individual supplements or in foods such as:
- avocados
- nuts
- whole grains
- legumes, and
- leafy greens.
#2 Scalp Treatments
The roots of your hair can be invigorated with natural scalp treatments at home. An exfoliation is a good place to start, and a soft bristle brush is all you need. The massage motion of this method helps stimulate the scalp and can improve hair thickness by encouraging cell turnover. Since dryness is usually a contributing factor to thinning hair, keeping the scalp moisturized with essential oils is very important. It is crucial not to neglect the scalp since it is the hub of your hair's health, and if it isn't well taken care of, thinning of the hair will not be prevented or prevented.
Flaxseed Scalp Treatment Oil
#3 A Proper Diet
Eating enough food and nourishing your body properly is an absolutely must in order to have healthy and strong hair. Poor nutrition leads to brittle, dry, and ultra-fine hair, so it’s important to have a diet that’s as clean and unprocessed as possible. If you’ve confirmed your hair loss is a result of low iron deficiency, you’ll need to implement more iron into your diet daily. Some foods that can help regrow and restrengthen your hair are:
- avocados
- legumes
- fatty fish
- berries
- spinach, and
- nuts.
#4 Hair Serums
Hair serums have an anti-frizz effect that improves the smoothness of hair. So, if you want the appearance of more polished strands, you’ve gotta add this to your routine. They have a detangling effect that makes your hair easier to comb, style, and manage. For those of you who love hair flipping your way through life, this is a must-have. Hair serums coat your hair and protect your hair strands from heat damage, chemical processing, environmental stressors, and UV light and in today’s world, all of these are important. One hair serum can provide you with so many benefits. Isn't that amazing? What are you waiting for? Go and buy one. We recommend one that is infused with ginger extracts for optimal results and less hair loss.
Ginger Hair Growth Promoter
#5 Fermented Rice Water
There’s been a lot of buzz surrounding fermented rice water for hair growth as of late, specifically for curlier and natural hair types. The practice of using fermented rice water in hopes of growing our hair dates back to ancient Japan, and now it’s all over the internet. If you’re interested in trying it, you’ll need to save water from soaking a pot of white rice. You only want to use white rice here, because brown rice is too rich in protein and other types don’t contain enough nutrients to seep into the scalp. To ferment the water, let it sit at room temperature for a minimum of 12 hours, then pour it into a spray bottle. After spraying it evenly throughout your hair, leave it on for about 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly.
#6 Natural Hair Masks
After a scalp massage, you can apply a hair mask to nourish, soothe, and rejuvenate your hair roots. You can do this once or twice a week, depending on your convenience. Use the following hair mask designed to clarify the scalp by removing build ups, removing dandruff and helping to grow new hair.
#7 Hair Oil Scalp Massage
Massaging your hair with coconut oil, argan oil, peppermint oil, and castor oil can help reduce hair fall and stimulate hair growth. You can also heat the oil for hot oil treatment. It enters the deepest layers of your scalp, revives the hair follicles, and strengthens the hair from the roots. Gently massage your scalp in a circular motion for 20 minutes. Do this at least twice a week.
#8 Use A Gentle Shampoo
After an oil massage or hair mask, wash your hair with a gentle herbal shampoo. It will help reduce dandruff and excess oil. Massage your scalp in a circular motion with your fingertips. Use a scrunching motion to shampoo the hair strands; do not rub them. Also, shampoo your hair twice a week to wash off any excess dirt or build-up.
#9 Aloe Vera
Apply the gel or juice on your scalp and leave it on for a few hours 3-4 times a week. If you have a time crunch, then use a shampoo enriched with aloe vera extracts. Aloe Vera provides shine to the hair and maintains the hair’s pH level. It also works miraculously on dandruff and scalp itching.
Aloe Vera Shampoo -Anti Dandruff
#10 Apply A Conditioner
After shampoo, use a moisturizing and nourishing conditioner. Apply it only to the hair strands and not the scalp. Leave it on for 10 minutes before rinsing. Do this every time you wash your hair. You can also use a deep conditioning homemade hair mask once every week. Mix honey and milk. Apply it to your hair and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wear a shower cap to protect your hair. Wash your hair with a mild shampoo and finish off with a conditioner.
#11 Gently Dry With A Towel
After washing your hair, use a soft towel to wrap your hair and let the towel naturally soak the excess water. Avoid rubbing your hair shafts together to dry your hair. Use a scrunching motion to gently dry your hair without damaging the roots or the shafts. If you are in a hurry, use a hair dryer at a moderate heat setting. However, avoid frequent use of blow dryers at all costs.
#12 Use A Wooden Comb
After your hair is dry, use a wooden wide-toothed comb to gently detangle any tangles and prevent hair fall due to static electricity that is common in plastic combs. Also, avoid brushing wet hair as the hair roots are soft and delicate, and your hair can be easily pulled out. Comb from down-up if you have tangles.
#13 Indulge In A Weekend Hair Spa At Home
A hair spa is the best way to maintain long, thick, and luscious hair. The good news is that you can easily do it at home:
- Step 1: Wash your hair with an anti-hairfall shampoo.
- Step 2: Apply a deep conditioning hair mask.
- Step 3: Apply steam to your hair. You can dip a towel in hot water, squeeze the excess water, and wrap the towel around your head.
- Step 4: Wash off the mask. Towel dry.
- Step 5: Apply a lightweight and non-sticky oil.
A hair spa at home will make your hair and scalp healthier, the roots stronger, and improve blood circulation. By nourishing hair follicles and removing impurities, it reduces hair fall and stimulates hair growth. Your hair will feel softer and look shinier.
Anti-hair fall Weekend Essentials
The Takeaway
Hair fall is the shortest yet most terrifying horror story that no one wants to witness. Our hearts go out to you after seeing so much hair fall every day. But don't worry. We have you covered. Follow these steps and you won't have to worry about hair loss anymore.
- Step 1: Analyze the root cause of the problem first.
- Step 2: Start consuming superfoods for your hair.
- Step 3: Make a quick switch to natural hair care products.
Once you've done all that, you're ready to flaunt your strong, damage-free tresses.