Eat A Complete Protein
You cant control healthy locks by genetics or age, but you can help your hair through eating healthy. The old adage says you are what you eat and this is definitely true when it comes to your hair. Dr. Bergfeld says first, be sure youre eating enough overall. As you age, you start to eat smaller portions because your taste level goes down, and you become nutritionally deficient. She says, Usually, when a person says, Im on a healthy diet, theyre on a restricted diet. Include a variety of foods in your diet.
Because hair follicles are made of mostly protein, dont skip this vital nutrient. A lack of protein has been linked to hair loss. Dr Bergfeld suggests women eat a little bit of low-fat, red meat a couple times a week. This captures your protein and other vital nutrients. Whats more, she says with age, your thyroid slows down. Patients get a little tired and think its old age, but they have mild iron storage anemia. Eating low-fat red meat alleviates this iron shortage
Other nutrient-rich foods for lush locks include:
How Can I Restore My Thinning Hair
Does your hair growth seem stalled? Your scalp may be oily. Humidity triggers sebaceous glands on the scalp to release excess oils that can build up and clog follicles, halting new hair growth. Whats more, research shows that hot temperatures can cause hair follicles to prematurely enter the telogen phase, contributing to slowed growth and increased shedding for a thinner-looking head of hair.
To help thicken and regrow your thinning hair, try apple cider vinegar. Its alpha-hydroxy acids dissolve oil buildup on the scalp and in pores, while its acetic acid stimulates blood flow to follicles to encourage growth. Plus, the vinegars astringent properties help tighten pores to reduce the amount of oil that is secreted.
To make an apple-cider vinegar hair solution: In a small spray bottle, combine equal parts apple cider vinegar and water and shake. Spritz onto hair and scalp, and massage in circular motions. Let sit for 15 minutes, rinse with cool water, then shampoo as usual. Repeat twice a week for results in four weeks.
This article originally appeared in our print magazine.
What Are The Best Treatment Options
Okay, if you’ve been to a dermatologist or trichologist and it’s not too serious but still something you’d like to fix, Evans-Frost said there are a couple of things that’ll help get you/that damn hair on track.
First up, she said to focus on your scalp health – which kinda makes a lot of sense, as your hair is only really healthy when the rest of the body is healthy, too.
“I am a big supporter of scalp health for hair health, along with the best possible way of eating .”
When something isn’t right, your hair is the first to show problems. Poor nutrition, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and prolonged high levels of stress all contribute to poor scalp and hair health.
“There are so many treatment remedies available and most of these work when the underlying causes have been addressed. Scalp health plays a big role,” said Evans-Frost.
“My most favoured product is Activance Clinician, because it is simple to use and incorporate into any hair washing routine. It is only available by prescription from selected trichologists.”
Activance Clinician Total Hair Health Original Leave-In Treatment
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Why Is My Hair Thinning And How To Stop It
Hair loss, or hair thinning, is more common than wed think, affecting approximately 30 million women in the United States alonethats roughly one in four of us. Yet, despite these numbers, it seems a lot of us are unsure why hair loss and hair thinning happen in the first place.But, do not worry. Weve spoken with dermatologists and hair experts to talk us through some of the reasons for hair loss and some potential solutions that could prevent further hair loss and hair thinning. All it takes is making a few minor adjustments to some of your everyday habits or creating awareness around the issue to find out which solutions work for you.
Shampoo For Thinning Hair
Today, there are many fantastic shampoos available for men with thinning hair. Designed to nourish hair and encourage growth, these products can be highly beneficial for those with sparse strands. In particular, shampoos that contain blockers for DHT can be highly useful for preventing the thinning of hair. Additionally, selecting products that are as natural as possible is also ideal.
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How To Fix Thinning Hair
Medically reviewed by Katelyn Hagerty, FNP
Seeing lots of hair in your shower drain or blowing around on your hardwood floors? Youre not alone: Two in three men suffer from male pattern hair loss by age 35.
And it often starts earlier: About 25 percent of men who struggle with thinning hair and excess hair loss can noticeably tell the difference by the time they turn 21.
Luckily, there are many options for how to fix thinning hair in males, including diet, lifestyle changes and medications. Read on to regain locks youll love.
Ways To Repair Treat & Fix Damaged Hair
Today there are so many fun things you can do with your hair. You can put it in adorable French braids, pull it up into a messy bun or command your hair stylist to give you rose gold hair color. One day its beach waves, the next day sleek and smooth glass hair. And then its Saturday, so why not try balayage? By all means–try it all and express yourself with your fabulous locks. But beware! Over-styling, over-lightening or just plain overdoing it can cause your hair to become damaged, brittle and broken. To prevent those things from happening, or to repair your hair if its already damaged, follow this advice from the pros at Matrix.
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Shampoos For Hair Loss
Shampoos that moisturize the scalp can create a healthy environment for hair regrowth. Anti-dandruff shampoos like Head & Shoulders and Dove Dermacare Scalp contain zinc pyrithione , an ingredient that removes dead skin cells that could be preventing growth. Plus, all of that itching and scratching from a dry scalp can lead to excess shedding.
Whats more, hair thinning can also stem from a hormone called DHT . DHT signals hairs to shrink and become vellus hairs , says Caroling Chang, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at Rhode Island Hospital and member of the Prevention Medical Review Board. It does this by changing the hair cycles and causing a shortening of the growth phase and increase in the resting phase, she explains. In this case, consider a DHT-blocking shampoo like Alterna Haircare.
Treatments For Hair Thinning That May Actually Work
Want to do something about your thinning hair? The first thing you should do is talk to a dermatologist or trichologist. They can figure out whatâs causing your hair loss, and they can recommend treatments that might be right for you. They may suggest options including:
1. Minoxidil . This medication is a foam or a liquid that you put on your scalp. You can buy it over the counter without a prescription. You may have to use it for several months before your hair starts to thicken. If you do regrow hair, youâll lose it again if you stop taking minoxidil.
2. Finasteride . This prescription medication is a pill you take by mouth. You may have to take finasteride for months before you see results, and youâll lose new hair if you stop taking it.
3. Microneedling. A device with hundreds of tiny needles that you use on your scalp may help hair grow, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. The site says research suggests that microneedling may work better if you use it along with another hair loss treatment. You can buy one of these devices without a prescription, but talk to a dermatologist first. They can let you know if itâs safe for you, and they can recommend a specific microneedling device.
5. Low-level laser therapy. The American Academy of Dermatology says research suggests that this scalp treatment may help the following conditions:
- Male-pattern hair loss
- Hair loss from chemotherapy
- Healing and hair growth following a hair transplant
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Talk To A Dermatologist And Be Realistic With Your Approach To Hair Loss
You always hear these stories about people who take a homeopathic approach to fighting baldness.
Its usually some off-the-wall remedy like smearing a paste of ginger and cayenne pepper on your scalp three times a day or eating a special type of ginseng farmed only in a rural village in Tibet. We’ll go on the record to say that it’s highly unlikely that these remedies work at any level.
Theres a lot of misinformation, half-truths, and pseudoscience regarding hair loss, and there are also treatment programs that have been well-researched and tested in clinical settings. So, how do you find the difference? For starters, talk to the experts in the industry like dermatologists and general physicians about treatment programs.
Avoid people advertising secret cures, all-natural remedies, and permanent fixes. If there was a way to stop baldness from happening, wed all know about it already.
Can Thinning Hair Be Restored With Essential Oils
Essential oils are no longer reserved for hippies and your alternative cousin. They’ve seen a recent spike in popularity, with people worldwide seeking alternative treatments for various conditions. And this includes thinning hair and male baldness.
Essential oils are gently massaged into the scalp for several minutes. The mixture should be kept on the scalp for as long as possible before shampooing for best results.
Some of the essential oils frequently used for hair loss treatment include:
- Rosemary
- Peppermint
Before applying the oil to your scalp, dilute it with a carrier oil and do a patch test to check that you’re not allergic. You can do this by putting a small drop on your skin, waiting 24 hours, and monitoring for any adverse reactions.
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Yes Women Experience Thinning Hair Too Heres Why And Possible Treatments
At first, I blamed the hairstylists. For several years, my hair had been flat, the cowlick too pronounced, the texture different. I kept switching salons in search of the perfect cut, the miracle product or, ideally, both. Then, as I ticked off my complaints to a new stylist, he ran his fingers through my hair and shrugged. It happens, he said. We get older. The hair thins.
What?
Just a few months later, Ricki Lake, 51, revealed her own struggle with hair loss an irony for the actress who found fame as the star of Hairspray. My fixation kicked into high gear, and I started searching online for answers. I learned that its normal to shed 50 to 100 hairs a day, and that new ones should grow in their place. But a variety of factors, including genetics, illness and poor nutrition, can disrupt that growth cycle, not just in men, but also in women of all ages. The American Hair Loss Association reports that 40 percent of all hair loss sufferers are women.
Genetics is the leading cause of hair loss for both sexes, said Marc Avram, a New York dermatologist who specializes in the condition. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that 30 million women in the United States suffer from hereditary hair loss, compared with 50 million men, though Avram suspects the numbers are much higher.
Top 10 Natural Treatments For Thinning Hair
Men and women of all ages yearn for thicker, fuller hair, especially when thinning hair becomes a visibly noticeable problem. Thankfully, there are natural treatments for thinning hair like balancing hormones, reducing stress, eating a proper diet and more.
The average adult head has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs and loses around 50 to 100 hairs each day. That may sound like a lot, but its actually completely normal. You might think that losing so many hairs would make your hair look thinner, but thats only if the normal process of new hair growth isnt up to speed. As long as hair regrowth and hair loss are in proper balance, hair thinning isnt a problem, but for a lot of people hair loss is a daily concern. Aside from the less than ideal appearance of thinning hair, there is the greater fear that the thinning will turn into permanent hair loss and baldness.
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Androgenetic Alopecia Or Reduced Hair Volume
‘This is one the most common types of hair loss in women and is a slow, gradual and progressive reduction in hair density whereby hair follicles miniaturise, and hairs become finer with each passing growth cycle,’ explains Kingsley.
‘The reason why hair follicles become smaller is down to genes. It occurs when follicles are genetically predisposed to be sensitive to normal levels of circulating androgens ,’ she clarifies.
‘Treatment for this does take time, and the improvement you can expect to see does depend on the degree of your follicle sensitivity and how severe the density loss is when you start treatment. This is why seeking help as soon as you notice changes is really important,’ says Kingsley.
Medical Conditions Leading To Severe Breakage
Some of the medical conditions that lead to severe hair breakage include:
- Lupus: This causes hair to become extremely brittle.
- Thyroid problems: This is one of the leading causes of scattered hair loss. Cancer like Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.
- Muscular dystrophy
Your hair is breaking because it is dry and brittle. Giving an extra dose of moisture can surely make your hair stronger. It is recommended to use a hair mask or deep conditioner at least once a week.
Heat Protectant
If you are planning to go for hair styling then it is recommended to apply a heat tamer spray or serum prior to using the heat styler.
De-tanglers
If your hair is breaking off then they are presumably weak and damaged. This means your hair has lost its elasticity. In such a situation, it is recommended to use a de-tangler as it will prevent any over-stretching of your hair especially during shampooing or combing of hair.
Nourishing hair masks
Hair breakage can happen after any type of hair treatments. Hence, it is recommended to use nourishing hair masks, which help in hydrating and softening of hair.
This process helps in strengthening of air and repair existing damaged strands. Nourishing hair masks should be before and after any type of hair treatments.
Silk Pillows
Did you know cotton pillows are bad for hair? If you have a habit of tossing or turning too much then cotton pillows can lead to severe hair breakage. It is safer to go with charmeuse or silk pillows.
Conditioner
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