Should I Try A Hair Supplement
There are TONS of different supplements on the market promising thicker and fuller locks, but do they actually work when it comes to treating hair loss? “The simple answer is no,” said Evans-Frost.
We can almost feel a million hearts breaking right now.
“Hair supplements contain ingredients that provide the body with everything hair takes from it – that is it,” she said. “Consider this – hair grows out of the human , so simply fertilising the hair will not work long term, especially if there is a deficiency in place.”
Our advice? We hate sounding like a broken record, but hit up your doctor or dermatologist before you start taking hair supplements willy-nilly. There’s no point wasting your hard-earned dosh on something that might not work for you.
Are you suffering from hair loss? What treatments have worked for you? Share your experience in the comment section below.
Feature image: Getty
Style Tips For Thinning Hair
Ask your stylist. They might suggest a short cut, a different part, maybe a gentle body wave. Try a styling product for thin hair to hide bare spots. Apply it to the root area then gently blow dry to build volume. Let your hair air dry for a while before you use the dryer. Special cosmetics can disguise parts of your scalp that show. Think about keratin fiber hair cosmetics. Sprinkle them over the thinning patch. Their static charge makes hair look thicker.
What Is The Prognosis/outlook For Women With Hair Loss
Your diagnosis determines the prognosis:
- Anagen and telogen shedding may stop with time.
- Treat any diseases associated with hair loss.
- Disguise or cover your hair loss using a wig or hat.
- Early treatment of alopecia may reduce the speed of thinning and may promote regrowth.
While hair loss is not itself dangerous, women with hair loss tend to be very upset by the changes to their appearance. These negative feelings can affect self-esteem and social lives. Recent studies suggest that FPHL can be associated with conditions that include metabolic syndrome, endocrine disorders and diabetes.
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Female Hair Loss : Why It Happens And How To Treat It
Noticed your hair falling out? Whether youve spotted more hairs than normal on your pillow, in the shower drain catch or on your clothing, its easy to panic when you notice your hair thinning at a faster pace than normal.
Female pattern hair loss is the most common type of hair loss women experience.
Hair loss in women can occur for a variety of hair types and reasons. Sometimes, its triggered by changes in your hormone levels and a genetic sensitivity to certain hormones. In other cases, factors such as stress, thyroid issues , weight loss and even environmental factors can all have an effect on your hairline.
As a woman, dealing with hair loss can be difficult. Luckily, its almost always treatable using a range of safe, effective medications. Weve covered these treatment options, as well as the key reasons for female hair loss, below.
Don’t Rely Solely Shampoo
‘It is important to note that shampoo will not grow your hair. This is because it is not left on the scalp for long enough to have an effect. You must use drops or tonics that are left on the scalp and not rinsed away,’ explains Kingsley.
However, regular shampooing is important as it keeps the scalp environment healthy and this is key to healthy hair growth.
‘Shampoos, conditioners and styling products can certainly give the appearance of more body and volume. To add immediate body to fine hair, or hair that lacks volume, use a body building shampoo. Containing proteins, these temporarily plump the hair shaft,’ advises Kingsley.
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The Thyroid Disease Connection
The thyroid is a butterfly-shaped gland that rests in the front base of the neck. It secretes thyroid hormones that are used by every cell in the body. There’s a connection between hair loss in women and thyroid disease. Imbalances in thyroid hormone levels are a common reason for hair loss in women. Too much thyroid hormone and too little thyroid hormone may both trigger hair loss. Other symptoms of hyperthyroidism include weight loss, rapid heart rate, inability to fall asleep or stay asleep, and anxiety. In addition to hair loss, hypothyroidism may be associated with weight gain, fatigue, feeling cold, slow heart rate, and constipation. Luckily, thyroid hormone imbalances are easily detectable with blood tests. Treatment helps alleviate symptoms, including hair loss.
What Are The Myths About Hair Loss
Myths about hair loss are widespread. Nothing in the following list is true:
- Youre losing hair because you shampoo it too much, or because youve colored it or gotten a perm.
- Dandruff causes permanent hair loss in women.
- Stress causes permanent hair loss in women.
- If you shave your head, your hair will grow back twice as thick.
- If you stand on your head youll increase circulation, stimulating hair growth.
- If you brush your hair 100 strokes a day that will make your hair healthier.
- Hats and wigs cause hair loss in women.
- Hair loss only affects intellectual women.
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How To Fix Thinning Hair For Females
Hair loss is not only a man’s dilemma. In fact, genetics and other factors play a role in women’s hair loss. According to the British Broadcasting Corporation , women’s hair loss is primarily found on the top and sides of the scalp, compared with men’s hair loss, which starts at the hairline. If you are looking for options to fix your thinning hair, you can relax. Expert fixes to fatten up your strands and restore your beautiful tresses are easier to execute than you think.
Wash your hair daily with a gentle volumizing shampoo, suggests DailyGlow.com. Rinse your hair with lukewarm or warm water instead of hot water, which can dry out your tresses and further damage your hair and worsen hair loss. Avoid scrubbing your hair when washing and make sure to follow up with a volumizing conditioner to thicken your hair and mask bald spots while your hair is growing back out.
Apply an over-the-counter minoxidil lotion to your scalp daily. According to the BBC, minoxidil was first used to treat high blood pressure but was soon discovered to promote hair growth and stop hair loss. Do not discontinue use of this product as hair will start to fall out again within 6 months of stopping.
Eat plenty of iron-rich and protein-rich foods such as spinach, fish, lean meats and eggs, suggests DailyGlow.com. These foods are responsible for adding keratin to your scalp, which promotes healthy hair growth and prevents shedding.
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Are There Complications/side Effects Of Treatment
Minoxidil may irritate your scalp and cause dryness, scaling, itching and/or redness. See your dermatologist if this happens.
With Minoxidil you might also see hair growing in other places other than your scalp . Wash your face after you apply Minoxidil and make sure you avoid other areas when you apply it.
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Cancer Treatment Is A Trigger
Radiation and chemotherapy used to treat cancer are some of the common causes of hair loss in women. Both therapies harm hair follicles in addition to killing cancer cells. People undergoing cancer treatment often experience dramatic hair loss as a result of these therapies. They may wake up with clumps of hair on their pillow or they may lose large amounts of hair in the shower. Rapid hair loss in women often starts within 2 weeks of beginning treatment. It may be worst between 1 to 2 months into therapy. The scalp may be extra sensitive during this time. It may be irritating to wash, brush, and comb hair. The good news is that once cancer treatment is over, hair tends to grow back.
Is Hair Loss Normal
We all lose hair. Some hair loss is perfectly normal, as hair falls out after it completes the 2 to 6 year growth phase. You may notice loose hairs that have fallen out on your clothes or in your comb or hairbrush. The average person loses about 50 to 100 hairs per day. This is normal. What is not normal? Excessive hair loss in women may be apparent by the following: If your hair starts to fall out in clumps, especially when you brush or comb it or are in the shower, you should see your doctor. If you notice that you can see larger areas of your scalp or that your hair is thinning, see your dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment of your hair loss condition.
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Get Chatty With Your Colorist
Hair can be made to look thicker using dimensional coloring techniques, said Tina Mulryan of New Yorks James Corbett Studio, whos on Fuscos speed-dial. Creating various tones can help to reflect light while plumping the hair follicle to give a fuller appearance. All of this can and should be done using gentle hair color products so as to maintain the integrity of fragile hair. And theres no need to be shy: As a stylist we understand how upsetting and embarrassing thinning hair can be for a woman and we know how to discuss the issue in a respectful manner and offer advice and support.
Choose The Right Products
If you decide to color-treat your tresses, its best to opt for a stylist to color your hair. A professional can help determine the safest dye to use for your hair type, and can provide tips on shampoos, conditioners and other hair products made specifically for color-treated hair.
Its also wise to forego daily heat styling, such as with blow dryers, curling wands and flat irons. We all want to look our best, but cutting back on intense heat styling tools one or two days a week will help hair bounce back from the damage they inflict.
If you must use heat-styling products, apply a heat protectant to hair prior to use. A heat protectant provides a protective coating between heated styling products and hair, and adds moisture to protect against damage during heat styling.
Avoid hair products that contain hormone-disrupting chemicals like parabens and phthalates commonly found in many hair products. Dr. Bergfeld adds, Having said that, the science does not substantiate that these cosmetic chemicals you at any risk since the natural environment and foods have a greater risk.
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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:
Can Hair Grow Back After Thinning
The good news: You absolutely can regrow thinning hair. In fact, the answer may already be in your pantry. Read on to find out how typical items in your kitchen honey, apple cider vinegar, and even an avocado can help thicken hair naturally and solve some common age-related hair problems that may have you feeling less than confident.
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Make Sure Youre Getting The Right Vitamins For Your Graying Hair
Although hair is a non-living structure, the follicles that produce it contain some of the most active cells in your body. As hair is not an essential structure, however, nutrients that are in short supply are diverted away from the follicles in times of deficiency.
This occurs when blood capillaries supplying your follicles constrict so the flow of oxygen and nutrients to your hair is reduced. This is especially common during times of emotional and physical shock. Poor blood supply also contributes to thinning hair that is dull, lack-luster, and limp.
Lack of vitamin C can cause hair that is misshapen, tangled, and brittle, while a lack of vitamin E, or essential fatty acids, causes hair to become dry and lack-luster.
Brittle hair and patchy hair loss can be a sign of iron deficiency especially if there are other symptoms of anemia such as paleness, tiredness, and fatigue. Patchy hair loss can also result from a lack of B vitamins, zinc, or vitamin D deficiency which leads to disordered hair cycles.
If youve noticed loss of the outer third of your eyebrows or thinning eyelashes, you may have an underactive thyroid gland, which can be associated with a lack of iodine. Premature greying is sometimes associated with a lack of vitamins B5, B12, or a copper deficiency.
Of course, everyones body is different, so it makes sense to check with your doctor if you have any concerns about your health.
Thinning Hair And Hair Loss: Could It Be Female Pattern Hair Loss
For most women, FPHL begins in midlife, when a woman is in her 40s, 50s, or 60s. It can begin earlier for some women.
FPHL is a progressive condition. This means women tend to continue losing hair. But women do not lose all of their hair, as do some men. Instead, your part often gets wider. Hair near your temples may recede. Without treatment, some women eventually develop widespread thinning.
Treatment can prevent hair loss from worsening and help women regrow their hair. Treatment delivers the best results when started at the first sign of hair loss.
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How Common Is Hair Loss In Women
Many people think that hair loss only affects men. However, it is estimated that more than 50% of women will experience noticeable hair loss. The most significant cause of hair loss in women is female-pattern hair loss , which affects about one-third of susceptible women, which equals out to some 30 million women in the United States.