Can Hair Loss Be Reversed
Yes and no. It depends on what type of hair loss youre experiencing.
Some types, like cicatricial alopecia, are permanent, while others that may be caused by stress or a medical condition are temporary. Once the cause has been identified and eliminated, your hair should start growing back.
Generally speaking, if the trigger goes away or whatever caused the injury to the hair follicle, then the hair will recover over a period of four to six months to a year, says Dr. Bergfeld.
Mizani Wonder Crown Scalp Foaming Pre
- Price: $
Mizani Wonder Crown is a foaming treatment to use on dry hair before you shampoo. With ingredients, like tea tree oil, peppermint oil, honey, and salicylic acid, this oil-based treatment cleanses and moisturizes the scalp in one go without stripping.
One key ingredient is cannabis sativa seed oil, which acts as a moisturizer for the hair and scalp and protects against breakage.
Its especially great for an oily scalp, but it also works for dryness. Its free of parabens and silicones.
The versatile formula works well for straight, curly, wavy, and coily hair, as well as hair thats fine, medium, or thick.
One rave review notes that the foam really gets the buildup out of there! It was also called a must for styling oily hair. The product has no single star reviews, but some 2 star reviews note that the product left their hair dry or wasnt gentle enough for their needs.
Vegamour Gro Hair Serum
- Price: $$$
This vegan hair serum contains caffeine and clover seed extract, phyto-actives that have been shown to increase the look of hair density and reduce signs of shedding for fuller, thicker hair.
According to the companys clinical trials, the product can increase the appearance of hair density by up to 52 percent and reduce signs of shedding by up to 76 percent. The product website states that you can expect fuller-looking hair in as little as 90 days, with best results at 120 days.
Overall, the serum receives a 4.4 out of 5 stars with over 2,300 reviews. Most of the reviews are glowing, while many of the 1-star reviews simply say the product didnt work.
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Try Hair Loss Concealers
If youre self-conscious about your thinning hair but youre not quite ready to take the leap into prescription treatment, consider hair loss concealers.
Hair loss concealers are simply products you can apply to your scalp to make hair thinning or hair loss less noticeable.
Fiber hair loss concealers are typically made from proteins like keratin and they cling to the hair you do have to help create the illusion of thickness.
Powder hair loss concealers are applied to the scalp in thinning areas to disguise bald spots and to give your hair the appearance of being fuller.
Liquid hair loss concealers add artificial thickness to your natural hair, typically by coating it with ingredients that cling to the hair.
What Causes Thinning Hair
This is also true of any harsh hair products such as temporary colour and extreme-hold styling products or wearing your hair up too tightly which can tug on your hair and break it from the follicles, causing thin spots.
Stress is also a well-known factor when it comes to hair loss. The negative effects of stress can increase certain stress hormones, such as cortisol, that may kill off the new hairs that are trying to grow.
There are a number of medical conditions that may also lead to thinning hair.
Thinning hair can often occur after you have had a baby or stopped taking birth control. There are also hormonal changes such as pregnancy or the menopause, plus immune system deficiencies that can be a contributing factor.
Certain skin concerns are also associated with thinning hair.
Recommended Reading: How Do Dermatologists Treat Hair Loss
Address A Stress And/or Hormone Imbalance
Off-kilter hormones can affect the thickness of your hair. In fact, women with thyroid imbalances, new mothers, and menopausal women in particular may experience hair loss due to a drop in levels of estrogen. “Optimal levels of estrogen help to grow full, thick hair while low estrogen levels lead to thin and stalled hair growth, eventually leading to hair loss,” says Kristin Dahl, a Los Angelesbased nutritionist and womens wellness educator. Estrogen is secreted through the ovaries and adrenal glands, however, as the adrenals are typically overburdened due to stress, symptoms of menopauses like hair loss and hot flashes occur prematurely and excessively for some.
While some things are out of your control , there are ways to help lower your stress hormone production and keep your hair healthier, shinier, and therefore thicker. Consult your doctor about supplements with adaptogenic herbs, like Ashwagandha root and leaf extract, and amino acids to support keratin production. The Ouai Thinning Hair Supplements include all of these strand-boosting ingredients for healthy hair growth.
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.
Recommended Reading: How To Reverse Hormonal Hair Loss
The Best Treatments For Thinning Hair
Medically reviewed by Kristin Hall, FNP
You see yourself in the mirror everyday, so you may not see the subtle changes that develop over time until they become impossible to ignore.
Receding hairline, widening part and overall hair thinning take time to develop and, once they do, they may be difficult to reverse.
Everyone wants a head of lush and lustrous hair a mane they can be proud of. Unfortunately, we cant always get what we want.
Thinning hair is caused by a combination of factors some of which you cant control and it can create a snowball effect of complications.
Hair loss and hair thinning may not be life-threatening, but unwanted changes to your appearance can affect your self-esteem and confidence.
If youre pulling your hair out over the stress of losing your hair, youve come to the right place. Below, weve delved deep into the subject of hair thinning to discuss common causes and potential treatment options.
Avoid Dryness By Reducing Heat Styling
Heat styling inevitably irritates dry and breakage-prone hair. If you find your hair is thinning or youd like it to look thicker, opt for air-drying as an alternative. Chances are itll grow at a quicker rate . And when it comes to your natural texture, investing in a few really helpful leave-in products to apply post-shower will let you have an entirely new lease on the hair you were born with. If you must, always apply a heat protectant before using hot toolswe love Morrocanoil’s Perfect Defense Heat Protectant for this step.
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Fill In Your Scalp To Mask Thinning
Too-tight ponytails? Mile-high buns? If you’re guilty of any of these styles, you’re likely the owner of thin hairs around the scalp, and are looking for a solution to your perpetual question of how to thicken hair. The more sparse the scalp is at the hairline, the more it can appear thinner than it really isthat’s where a root cover-up product comes in. Fans of the Color Wow Root Cover Up rave about its ability to mask thin hairs at the scalp and camouflage roots at the same time.
If you’re looking for a long-term solution, dab on some of Naturalicious’ Spanish Almond Regrowth Oil twice a dayit’s a treatment oil that harnesses the hair growth benefits of Spanish almond oil and promises results in 90 days.
Hair Thinning: 6 Foods To Eat And 6 Foods To Avoid
Men and women of all ages want strong and healthy hair especially when they begin to weaken and visibly thin out. Fortunately there are several natural treatments for this problem such as hormonal rebalancing, stress reduction, a change in eating habits and so on. The average adult has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs and loses daily 50 to 100 hairs. Despite this figure may seem alarming, it is absolutely normal. You might believe that losing so many hair will give an even more subtle appearance to those that remain, but this will not happen unless the natural growth process of the hair does not have something wrong. As long as the loss and re-growth of the hair will keep itself in balance, it will not be a problem. However for some subjects hair loss is a daily concern. Beyond the best aesthetic condition, in those who suffer from thinning hair there is a constant fear that the condition is irreversible and will lead to permanent baldness.
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What Causes Hair To Thin
Any number of lifestyle factors, genetics, recent life events , or medical conditions can cause your hair to thin.
Lifestyle factors could include using certain hair products, wearing your hair up too tightly, experiencing high stress levels, or not getting enough of certain vitamins and minerals in your diet.
People who have immune system deficiencies could also have thinning hair.
Changing Your Hair Care May Help
Some hairstyles and hair care habits can damage hair, leading to hair loss. If your dermatologist finds that this may be causing your hair loss, your dermatologist can recommend changes that will help you stop damaging your hair.
Youll find tips that dermatologists give their patients at:
Read Also: Why Hair Is Thinning Male
Brush From Ends To Roots To Reduce Breakage
So much damage and breakage can happen at the fault of your hair-brushing technique. Make sure to use the bottoms-up method as well as tools that are gentle on your hair. “It’s vital to detangle from the bottom up, starting at your ends not your scalp,” explains Fernando Salas, creator of White Sands Haircare. “When you comb hair from the bottom up, you are working with less surface area to untangle at one time.” Be extra gentle on your endsthat’s where breakage comes from.
Use a boar-bristled brush for finer hair texturesthey’re strong enough to detangle and minimize breakage but gentle enough that they won’t pull out hair strands.
Up Your Intake Of Healthy Fats To Prevent Hair Loss
Your diet dictates so much of how you feel, what you look like, and what goes on inside your brain, and no one understands this better than Byrdie’s former wellness editor, Victoria Hoff. She even convinced me to eat two avocados a day to see if it improved my hair health.
In fact, one study concluded that in the context of a healthy diet, avocado consumption can fit into a full range of healthy eating plans, as it houses significant levels of dietary fiber, potassium, magnesium, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, folate, and vitamin B6. Plus, a healthy diet rich in fatty acids aids in hair growthit not only prevents hair loss and breakage but also encourages new hair growth and reduces scalp inflammation. So, go for avocados, salmon, and whole eggs as well as any others that offer up healthy fats and omega-3s.
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Shea Moisture Strengthen & Restore Shampoo
- Price: $
Shea Moisture hair products are often touted for their powerful ingredients. The main ingredient of this shampoo is castor oil, which contains ricinoleic acid, a fatty acid with anti-inflammatory properties.
The shampoo also contains shea butter to hydrate, soften, and protect from breakage and damage. Its ideal for chemically-treated hair and seals the hair cuticle for enhanced smoothness and shine. Peppermint stimulates and invigorates the scalp, while apple cider vinegar clarifies.
This shampoo has an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon. Of the 4 percent negative reviews, most customers warn against doctored, diluted products that came from fake sellers, so be careful when purchasing online.
Does Minoxidil Really Work
Many studies have shown the effectiveness of minoxidil in treating hair loss. However, it does not work for everyone, since much of it depends on your age and the location or pattern of the hair loss. Though you may regain some hair growth, dont expect to gain full hair regrowth.
Products containing either 2% or 5% minoxidil are considered safe, and depending on the strength of the solution, you will need to apply either once or twice daily.
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Check Medications With Your Doctor
Some medicines for conditions like heart disease or those used to lower lipids can affect your hair. Talk to your doctor about if any of the medications you take interfere with hair growth or loss, and ask for advice on how to help counteract negative effects. Some of these medicines can cause shedding of finer fibers, Dr. Bergfeld says. Also, when women stop hormone replacement medication, they should expect a fair amount of hair loss.
Theres no one who has the hair at 60 or 70 that they had at 15, Dr. Bergfeld says. Thats why its important to take care of your hair as you age.
What Other Shampoo Ingredients Should I Look For If I Have Hair Loss
Hair loss meaning hair that falls out from the scalp can occur as the result of genetics, diet, illness, stress, medications, and more. Addressing the underlying cause of thinning hair often reduces hair loss over time.
Once youve addressed the underlying cause, a good shampoo for you may include ingredients such as:
- histidine
- phyto-caffeine
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Prescription Medications And Treatments
Here are some medications for hair thinning and loss that your doctor may be able to prescribe:
- Finasteride : This is an oral medication that helps reduce levels of the hormone dihydrotestosterone that can cause hair loss.
- Corticosteroids: These are oral or injected medications that can reduce inflammation that may lead to hair loss.
- Laser therapy: Your doctor or a dermatologist may be able to treat hair follicles with laser technology that sends light particles called photons into your follicles to help them grow. Talk to your doctor first to see if this will help you.