Why You Are Losing Hair
- Its genetic if your parents and grandparents had thinning hair or went bald, chances are you may, too.
- Hormones Hormones are very potent molecules that affect the body in profound ways, explains Dr. Burg.
- Age as we get older our rate of hair growth slows.
- Other factors Experts say that other factors may contribute to hair loss, including stress, smoking, overuse of alcohol, diet, and certain medications
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.
What Are Some Tips For Dealing With Hair Loss In Women
There are some things you can do on your own. You might check with your stylist or try some of these:
- Coloring your hair adds volume to the strands, making your hair seem fuller.
- Massaging your head, like when you are washing your hair, can stimulate blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles.
- Getting your hair cut shorter, and having layers added, can make your hair seem fuller.
- Using the right kind of shampoo can also help. Look for a shampoo that adds volume without using sulfate detergents.
- Using the right kind of product at the right time can also help. There are products that add volume that you add while your hair is still wet. However, using too much product can add weight.
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How To Thicken Hair
When it comes to making thin hair thicker, combating the issue at the source is often the best option. As such, lifestyle changes can be incredibly useful for preventing and treating hair loss. In particular, your diet can have a significant effect on your hair, so be sure to watch what you eat and drink. Adding more protein, Omega 3, iron, and vitamin C to your diet as well as drinking more water and less alcohol can seriously improve the health and growth of your hair. Alternatively, speak to your doctor about taking supplements or hair growth vitamins if you arent getting enough nutrients naturally. Due to its power to increase circulation, regular exercise is another factor that can help thicken your hair.
As for your hair itself, be sure to treat it carefully to maintain its health and ability to grow. Not only does this mean that you should use specialized products, but it also requires limiting your use of hairdryers and hot styling tools. As high heat can damage your hair and cause breakage and hair loss, allowing your hair to dry naturally is ideal if youre looking to thicken your locks. If you must use a dryer, be sure to put it on a low setting and use a heat protectant spray. If, after making these changes, your hair still requires an extra boost, consider trialing natural hair remedies, regrowth treatments, and volumizing products.
Natural Remedies To Fight Hair Loss And Regrow Hair
1. Diet
One of the best ways to boost hair health is to make sure you are getting enough vitamins and minerals in your diet. Try to include the following foods in your diet:
- Fresh fruits and vegetables
- High-protein foods
- Nuts which contain selenium and can help strengthen hair
Drinking water is also essential to maintain adequate moisture and integrity of the hair shaft.
2. Coconut oil mask
Coconut oil contains fatty acids that can help prevent your hair from losing protein. Massage coconut oil into your 20 minutes before washing, rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water, and follow up with conditioner.
3. Scalp massage
Massaging your scalp gently 1-2 times a week can also help stimulate your scalp and enhance blood flow to the follicles. Aside from coconut oil, you can also try other natural options like almond oil, rosemary oil, argan oil, wheat germ oil, jojoba oil, and pumpkin seed oil.
4. Green tea rinse
Green tea is known to be rich in catechins that help reduce dihydrotestosterone , a hormone that can shrink your hair follicles. In addition to combatting hair loss, green tea can also fight dandruff and prevent scalp dryness.
5. Onion juice
Onion juice is high in sulfur, which is supposed to promote blood circulation in the scalp. Studies have found that applying onion juice on the hair and scalp may help hair regrowth in people with patchy hair loss, although there isnt enough research to back up claims that onion juice can stop hair loss.
6. Ditch the heat
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Does It Run In The Family
Look into your family’s history with hair loss. Male Pattern Baldness is typically a genetic condition, so your first step in determining if you are balding is finding out if you are genetically prone to baldness.
In the event you have a family history of male pattern baldness, then there is a good chance your hair loss is not the result of stress or another factor. It may come down to genetics, and there is not much you can do about that.
At this point, you should speak with a dermatologist to go over your hair restoration options. There is a lot of information you can find online, but the internet is also filled with half-truths and myths. The only way to get good information you can trust is to go directly to a medical professional who can review your hair loss.
Where Is The Hair Loss
If you are noticing a receding hairline or loss specifically in the crown area, these can be signs of balding. A more random pattern or evenly spread loss of hair is usually an indicator of hair thinning.
If your hair seems to be falling out in patches, you could have alopecia, a condition that causes a person to lose patches of hair. Consult a doctor if you think this to be the case.
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Style Your Hair Right
Hair stylists are a great resource for help for hair loss in women. A new haircut or hairstyle may be just what you need to make your hair appear fuller. Ask your stylist for advice about getting a shorter cut, parting your hair in a different location, or adding curls or waves to add volume to your hair. Products for hair loss in women include using styling products designed for thin hair. Some products are added to the roots while hair is damp before blowing dry. Some cosmetic products can help disguise the appearance of bald spots. Keratin fiber hair cosmetics have a static charge that makes hair appear fuller than it is. Ask your stylist or dermatologist for recommendations about the products and strategies that will work best for you.
What Is Androgenetic Alopecia
Almost every woman eventually develops some degree of female pattern hair loss. It can start any time after the onset of puberty, but women tend to first notice it around menopause, when hair loss typically increases. The risk rises with age, and it’s higher for women with a history of hair loss on either side of the family.
As the name suggests, androgenetic alopecia involves the action of the hormones called androgens, which are essential for normal male sexual development and have other important functions in both sexes, including sex drive and regulation of hair growth. The condition may be inherited and involve several different genes. It can also result from an underlying endocrine condition, such as overproduction of androgen or an androgen-secreting tumor on the ovary, pituitary, or adrenal gland. In either case, the alopecia is likely related to increased androgen activity. But unlike androgenetic alopecia in men, in women the precise role of androgens is harder to determine. On the chance that an androgen-secreting tumor is involved, it’s important to measure androgen levels in women with clear female pattern hair loss.
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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.
Thinning Hair In Women: Why It Happens And What Helps
- By Kelly Bilodeau, Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch
Many people think of hair loss as a male problem, but it also affects at least a third of women. But unlike men, women typically experience thinning hair without going bald, and there can be a number of different underlying causes for the problem.
Some are associated with inflammation in the body. Some are female-pattern hair loss, says Dr. Deborah Scott, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Hair Loss Clinic at Brigham and Womens Hospital. But the good news is that in many cases this hair loss can be stabilized with treatment, and it may be reversible. When its not, there are a number of new cosmetic approaches that can help.
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Medication For Hair Loss
Minoxidil, or Rogaine, is a topical medication that is used to treat female pattern hair loss and male-pattern baldness. It was initially developed as a blood pressure medication and was used off-label to treat hair loss until it became FDA-approved for that purpose. Minoxidil can slow the progression of hair loss. Most women who use the medication experience regrowth of hair. The medication needs to be used continuously to maintain results. Other types of treatment work for different kinds of hair loss. Corticosteroids help suppress the immune response that damages hair follicles in people who have alopecia areata. Once the follicles recover, hair can grow back. If nutritional deficiencies underlie hair loss, eating a healthy diet with adequate and protein and nutrients can help you regrow hair. Certain medical problems may trigger hair loss. Adequately treating these conditions may help restore hair growth.
Kale Extract For Hair Loss
When we typically think of kale, its more in the context of its nutritional benefits. Since it contains so many vital nutrients our bodies need, experts argue that eating kale, whether you love or you hate it, is one of the best things you can do for your health. However, lately you might find kale extract listed as an ingredient on some of your haircare products this powerful leafy green is also packed with vitamins and minerals that may improve hair health.
Kale is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, as well as several other antioxidants and minerals which all contribute to healthy hair. Vitamin A and K both help us grow new cells and tissues, including hair which is the fastest growing tissue in the body. Vitamin A also helps the skin produce sebum, or oil, which keeps the scalp moisturized so new, silky strands can grow. Similarly, antioxidants in kale like vitamin C, folate, and beta-carotene all help block oxidative damage to skin cells on the scalp. Protecting the hair follicles means less shedding and thicker, more luscious locks!
While there arent many studies that have been done on kale extract for hair, clean cosmetic chemist and KKT Consultants founder Krupa Koestline told that based on the biochemical composition of kale namely its high in quercetin, vitamin C, folate, and other minerals it can be deduced that kale extract can potentially help promote hair growth.
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How To Use Essential Oils In Hair
You can add 5 drops of an essential oil, like tea tree, directly into your shampoo or conditioner. Most commonly, you can make a hair mask by mixing a few drops of your favorite essential oil with a carrier oil and applying it to your hair . Leave the mixture on for at least 15 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.
Once mixed with a carrier oil, some essential oils, like and peppermint, can be applied directly to the scalp.
What Types Of Health Conditions Can Lead To Hair Loss
Hair loss itself is sometimes treated as a diagnosis, but it is often asymptom of something bigger. “Hair loss can be a sign of an underlying health issue and act as an early warning system,” says Richard Firshein, an expert in integrative and precision-based medicine and founder of the Firshein Center. “The health of hair follicles is directly related to health and the functioning of our endocrine system.”
For conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome , which is often difficult to diagnose, hair thinning is often one of the first tell-tale signs along with acne and body hair caused by the increased levels of testosterone. “Patients with PCOS can have overall elevated testosterone leading to androgenetic alopecia,” explains Henry. Talking about it openly with your dermatologist, OB-GYN, or general health provider can help get you to a diagnosis and treatment plan earlier.
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Buying Guide For Best Hair Loss Treatments For Women
Hair loss is usually thought as a problem that affects only men, but many women experience hair thinning and loss as they age, too. There are many reasons why someone might start to lose hair, but regardless of the cause, it can wreak havoc on a womans self-esteem and confidence.
Fortunately, there are plenty of OTC hair loss treatments that can help slow the loss or even regrow hair. But not all hair loss treatments for women are the same. If you dont choose an effective product, youll just be wasting your time and money.
Fortunately, our handy shopping guide has plenty of tips to help you pick the best hair loss treatment for your needs. If youre ready to buy, check out our top recommendations.