Washing Too Seldom Is Bad Too
As long as you wash your hair regularly, hair styling products should not be a concern. A healthy scalp equals better hair.
Think of it in this way we wash our face regularly to keep our skin clean from air pollutants, dirt, and dust. Similarly, it is important to wash our hair regularly to get rid of the dirt and bacteria buildup. According to hair specialists, a healthy scalp helps to maintain the hairs natural growth phase, which determines how often your hair will grow and shed. So once again were back to balance. If you dont sweat excessively and youre not genetically prone to an oily scalp it may not be necessary to wash your hair more often than every two or three days, but you should keep it clean. Its not just about clean hair but also maintaining good scalp hygiene.
Should You Stop Using Hair Gel
Hair grows in phases. Each individual hair on your head grows for a period , then it goes into a resting period for around two weeks, before it falls out. The hair thats been shed will be replaced with a new hair. This is why it is important to keep the scalp clean and the pores clear and unblocked.
Stress Trauma And Illness
Chronic stress, trauma, illnesses that cause fever, nutritional deficiencies and even fluctuations in your hormone levels can all cause a form of temporary hair loss called telogen effluvium.
Telogen effluvium occurs when your hairs rapidly change from the anagen, or growth, phase of the hair growth cycle into the telogen, or resting, phase. It usually causes diffuse thinning and can occur several months after the causative event.
Unlike female pattern hair loss, telogen effluvium isnt permanent. Most of the time, the affected hairs grow back once the causative issue, such as stress or a nutritional deficiency, is treated.
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Fresh Vegetable Juices & Smoothies
These are among the best way to alkalize your body and provide the necessary micronutrients to support healthy hair follicles.
Micronutrients are the trace minerals, vitamins, and phytochemicals that our body needs to carry out its various functions.
These micronutrients are contrasted to the macronutrients that are the large, bulky molecules your body needs in mass, like proteins, fats, and carbohydrates.
The general rule of thumb is this: the richer the color, the richer in micronutrients the food. You can find some of the best recipes for hair-growth smoothies here.
Primary Causes Of Hair Loss
Excessive or harsh rubbing of your scalp during washing or drying can cause hair loss. Be gentle.
Your hair products should not be the only thing to blame for a sudden increase in hair loss. There are many factors which can contribute to hair loss in men and hair products and styling are just one of them. Here is a list of common causes of hair loss. Keep in mind that your hair loss may be due to a combination of factors.
Itss worth noting that of the above list smoking is one of the worst. This is bad for your skin and your hair. Also, many men underestimate the effects of poor diet and lack of exercise on their overall health and therefore on hair retention. If you are experiencing premature excessive hair loss the first thing you should do is assess your lifestyle.
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Alternatives For Fixing Hair
Although the healthiest and most natural way is to air dry your hair and try not to fix it using chemical products, if you need to style your hair there are alternatives to gel and wax that are less aggressive to the scalp.
There are various alcohol-free hair waxes and gels on the market that will have a much lesser impact on your hair. Even so, overuse of these products can speed up the alopecia process and therefore you are advised to only use them on the tips of the hair, without touching the root at any time, thus preventing direct contact with the scalp. Also, its very important to wash your hair correctly at the end of the day to remove all possible residues.
Although use of a hairdryer can also induce hair loss due to the direct application of heat onto the scalp, it is still the least aggressive way of styling your hair, especially if it is on a cold or low heat setting.
Treatment For Hair Loss
Most hair loss does not need treatment and is either:
- temporary and it’ll grow back
- a normal part of getting older
Hair loss caused by a medical condition usually stops or grows back once you’ve recovered.
There are things you can try if your hair loss is causing you distress. But most treatments are not available on the NHS, so you’ll have to pay for them.
No treatment is 100% effective.
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How Does Hair Gel And Wax Affect The Hair
Gel, for instance, is normally packaged in a tub or spray can. To preserve the formula and avoid any bacterial growth, a high percentage of alcohol is used. This concentration of alcohol is not good for either the hair or scalp because alcohol is known to dehydrate and irritate the skin and makes the hair dry and dull. If contact is prolonged, it may also lead to flaky skin on the scalp. However, recent developments and ongoing innovations in the formulations of these products allow for these alcoholic concentrations to be reduced to a minimum to prevent all of this damage.
In fact, it has been demonstrated that the extreme density of the gel, together with its characteristic viscosity, causes it to adhere to the scalp and prevent it from breathing. If the scalp doesn’t breathe, it can constrict the hair follicles, causing them to disappear and thus resulting in hair loss.
On the other hand, unlike other hair products such as gel, wax is a soft and malleable substance that, if applied correctly, fixes the hair in place naturally whilst allowing it to move. Although hair wax can be a more expensive beauty product than other products intended for the same purpose, it is also less harmful due to its composition: it is usually formulated using natural ingredients. Also, being totally anhydrous, it doesnt require any preserving agents, like alcohol, in order to protect the formula.
Dying Your Hair Safely
If you plan on dyeing your hair, its a wise decision to do it with the help of a professional hairstylist for men. Hairstylists can provide you with after-dye solutions that reduce the harmful effects of the dye when applied as instructed. Most of these after-dye treatments use counter-chemicals to deactivate any remaining harmful chemicals from the dye, which otherwise can remain in your hair and scalp for days afterward.
If you are going to DIY at the very least you should purchase a good quality after-dye conditioner and use it as directed. The conditioner can act as a protectant for your hair and reduce the chances of breakage and damage to your follicles.
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Benefits Of Natural Hair Products
When it involves hair care products, generally all-natural formulas are more gentle and fewer damaging to hair than their chemical counterparts, which is extremely important once you are experiencing hair loss or thinning hair. youll find many of the ingredients altogether natural hair products right in your kitchen vegetable oil, honey, milk, and avocado. Some products also use fruit components, plant botanicals, and essential oils to feature color, shine, or fragrance to the hair.
Many men and ladies stick with their favorite chemical hair products despite the damage these cause. the most reason for product loyalty is effectiveness, and therefore the problem is that natural hair products have a reputation of being less effective than the chemical-laden variety. When it involves hair, people want results. Fortunately, youll now find a variety of natural hair relaxers, permanent solutions, hair-coloring products, and shampoos on the market today which will deliver the results youre seeking.
Hot Tools And Chemical Treatments
Heated styling tools, such as blow dryers, flat irons, hot rollers, and heated combs, can damage your hair. Regular coloring, bleaching, relaxing, and perming can also singe your hair.
This doesnt usually affect growth from the hair follicle, but it can cause breakage, Forman Taub says.
That can contribute to the appearance of hair loss. Over time, it could even lead to true hair loss by weakening the hair shaft.
What isnt likely to cause hair loss? Shampooing itself.
Most of the stray hairs you notice after lathering up were slated to fall out anyway. You just help them along when you massage your scalp during a shampoo.
So if youve recently spaced out your shampoos by an extra day or two, you might get the impression more hair is falling out when you do wash it.
If youre concerned about recent hair loss, a few simple changes to your usual hair care and styling routine can be a good first step.
It may help to:
- take care not to rub, pull, or twist your hair
- switch to a gentler shampoo
You might also consider using shampoo on an as-needed basis instead of every day. Oily hair may need more frequent washing. But if your hair is on the drier side, you might not need to wash it more than twice per week.
As you shampoo:
- Remember to focus on your scalp, not the length of your hair.
- Use your fingertips to gently massage your scalp.
- Rinse well with warm water.
- Gently pat your hair dry.
The above changes could make a difference, but they might not always help.
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How Much Hair Loss Is Normal
According to dermatologists, there are at least 100,000 hair follicles on your head. Its normal to lose 50 to 100 strands per day. If you have long hair, the hair fall will be more noticeable.
Women typically shed more hair than men daily, but it is unknown what the difference is. Individuals lose different amounts of hair daily due to styling forty percent of women lose extra hair daily from styling their hair a certain way. If thats not bad enough, women will experience more periods of hair shed than men because of pregnancy and menopause.
Male Pattern Hair Loss
In men, hair loss can begin any time after puberty and progress over the course of years or decades. It starts above the temples and continues around the perimeter and the top of the head, often leaving a ring of hair along the bottom of the scalp. Many men with male pattern hair loss eventually become bald.
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Your Hair Products Are Causing Hair Loss
Does your hair look thinner than it once was? Have you noticed more hair fall than usual? There are many different reasons for hair loss, so it can be difficult to determine the real problem. Continue reading to learn more about hair loss causes.
Anyone can experience hair loss on any part of the body. Hair loss causes include heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or medications. Men experience hair loss more commonly than women, and their hair loss is mostly found on their scalp.
You Have Low Iron Levels
The American Academy of Dermatology also says that not getting enough iron into your diet can lead to unwanted hair loss, too.
According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute , iron-deficiency anemia occurs when you don’t have enough iron in your bodythe symptoms of which include fatigue, tiredness, shortness of breath, or chest pain. To help remedy this, your doctor might suggest iron supplements or other healthy lifestyle choices, like increasing your intake of both iron- and vitamin-C rich foods.
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Bleaches And Hair Dyes
If you have dark hair, you might have used bleach and dye before to lighten its tone and change its color.
While most bleaches and hair dyes arent dangerous when used as recommended, some dyes and other coloring products may weaken your hair if overused, which could cause or contribute to hair thinning and noticeable hair loss.
Many dyes and hair coloring products can also cause other problems, including scalp irritation, redness, flaky skin and even blisters. If you have sensitive skin, even a small amount of direct exposure to some dyes may be enough to leave your scalp feeling itchy and uncomfortable.
To reduce your risk of hair loss or scalp irritation, follow the instructions provided with any dyes and other coloring products carefully, or get your hair bleached and colored by an experienced professional.
Chemicals In Shampoo That Cause Hair Loss
Before you start blaming your genetics for your hair loss, you may want to consider your hair washing products. The true culprit of your hair loss may be right in front of you: your shampoo and conditioner.
Hair washing products contain numerous ingredients that are meant to lift impurities from the scalp and leave your hair feeling clean and weightless. However, some ingredients in shampoo and conditioner may be doing the opposite of what you hope for, such as damaging your hair and causing hair loss.
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Your Hormones Are Changing
Just as pregnancy hormone changes can cause hair loss, so can switching or going off birth-control pills. This can also cause telogen effluvium, and it may be more likely if you have a family history of hair loss. The change in the hormonal balance that occurs at menopause may also have the same result. “The androgen receptors on the scalp becoming activated,” explains Mark Hammonds, MD, a dermatologist with Scott & White Clinic in Round Rock, Texas. “The hair follicles will miniaturize and then you start to lose more hair.”
If a new Rx is a problem, switch back or talk to your doctor about other birth control types. Stopping oral contraceptives can also sometimes cause hair loss, but this is temporary, says Dr. Hammonds.
Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia
Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia may occur as a result of hair products or styling techniques that damage hair follicles. The use of hair relaxers, blow dryers, curling irons, and hair extensions can cause central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia, as can the process of creating a permanent wave, or a perm.
The frequent application of oils, gels, or pomades can also cause this condition, which may be reversible if you stop using these hair products or styling techniques. Our dermatologists may recommend taking medication to help hair grow back.
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Monat Hair Loss Lawsuits
Class-action lawsuits against Monat began to appear in 2015. Each of these lawsuits alleged similar things: that Monat products led to scalp inflammation, burning, hair breakage, and bald spots.
Eventually, these class-action lawsuits were consolidated into one case, which was litigated in Florida, where Monat is based.
In 2018, the Florida attorney generals office requested that Monat sign a voluntary agreement that would require the company to give refunds if a customer felt misled by the companys claims. The agreement also states that Monat is no longer allowed to make certain claims in its advertising material.
The attorney generals ruling takes no position on whether Monat did anything wrong. The lawsuit boiled down to whether Monat was participating in false advertising. It didnt address the science behind Monat products or whether they actually can cause hair damage for some people.
Known Drugs That Can Cause Hair Loss
Drug induced alopecia, hair loss that develops due to a side effect of medication, will often occur within three months after starting the particular medication, but the exact timeline will depend on a few factors. The type of drug, type of hair loss, dosage, and your sensitivity to the drug are all important factors in how severe the side effects will be.
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Solution: Get A Holiday Trim
“It’s always best to get a trim before summer,” Moodie recommends. “The sun will do extra damage to hair that is already dry, so remove those dead ends. Spray some water on your hair before you go into the pool or ocean too, as it adds an extra layer of coating. This means, when you go swimming, your hair isn’t as likely to absorb 100 per cent of the chlorinated water.”
Having regular trims will also keep your hair healthier in general as the longer you leave it between cuts the more likely it is to split and break, especially at the ends. This can make fine hair appear even more so, while taming your ends through even an ‘invisible haircut’ can ensure your hair looks healthier.
Products You Should Never Use If Youre Worried About Hair Loss And What To Use Instead
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This article was originally published on 4/18/2016.
Hair loss is upsetting and stressful for men and women alike. While genetics are often the culprit male pattern baldness accounts for 95% of hair loss in men thinning hair may also stem from how you treat your strands and, maybe more importantly, your scalp.
Most experts suggest that people who are experiencing noticeable thinning reassess how they wash, style, and even cut their hair.
Switching out your current shampoo for one that’s specifically formulated to increase volume or supplementing an exfoliating scalp treatment into your shower routine won’t necessarily reverse thinning, but they’ll make what you still have atop your head look a lot better. Avoiding longer hairstyles and choosing closer, cropped cuts is another worthwhile fix, if you’re looking to conceal signs of balding without doing anything too drastic.
To further help with this frustrating issue, Birchbox Man editor Nathaniel Nagy shared with Business Insider four things people with thinning hair should never use.
If you’re using any of these products, stop, and have a look at what you should integrate into your grooming routine instead.
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