Are you seeing more hair shedding than usual while showering? Does your hair look or feel thinner while styling it? It’s normal to worry about your hair, especially when you may be experiencing early signs of hair loss. Hair loss is a common problem for both men and women.
According to the American Hair Loss Association, two-thirds of American men will experience some degree of appreciable hair loss by the age of thirty-five. Women also make up forty percent of American hair loss sufferers. While it can be genetic, there are many factors that contribute to it and thankfully, some of these can be temporary depending on its cause.
There are a number of causes for hair loss: Vitamin deficiencies, weight loss, hormonal changes, physical injuries, thyroid conditions, hair treatments and many more.
Before we dive into our tips, you must first figure out the possible cause for your hair loss. Take a moment to reflect on your lifestyle and answer these questions:
- How healthy is your diet?
- Do you stress out frequently and experience different symptoms?
- How often do you maintain your hair?
- Do any of your family members suffer from hair loss?
- How often do you go to the hair salon or use chemicals/straighteners on your hair?
Have an idea what may have caused it? Here are some essential tips to preventing early signs of hair loss:
Change Up Your Diet
When you eat, all the nutrients you take in not only contributes to the health of your body but also your hair, which is why it’s so important what you put into your system. To stay healthy, strong and thick, your hair needs the right nutrients. To do so, we recommend eating a Mediterranean diet as it is said to reduce the risk of androgenic alopecia or slow its onset. A Mediterranean diet includes healthy foods such as whole grains, raw vegetables, fruits, seafood, nuts, etc.
Eating a diet that is also rich in protein and vitamins A, B, C, and D will also be beneficial as hair loss may be due to several nutritional deficiencies, including amino acids. Protein is well known for promoting growth and repair in our cells. Foods that contain protein are eggs, nuts, beans, peas, fish, low-fat dairy products, chicken etc.
Our hair follicles are made up of a protein called Keratin, so eating keratin-rich foods can also aid in making your hair stronger and resilient. There are many nutrients that help produce keratin, such as biotin, zinc and vitamin A/C.
Vitamin A supports healthy hair growth as it is partly made up of retinoids. Although it’s not likely that you will take in too much vitamin A through food, be careful as having too much can potentially damage your hair. Foods that contain Vitamin A are sweet potatoes, sweet peppers, spinach, etc.
Biotin (also known as Vitamin H or B7) is involved in the fatty acid synthesis in the body and important to the hair life cycle. It may be useful to see if you have a biotin deficiency and whether that is the cause of your hair loss.
Note: While these foods can make a difference in restoring your hair, you should eat them in moderation. Having too much will not boost the healing effects. Aim for a balanced diet filled with a mixture of nutrients and vitamins.
Create A Hair Care Routine
There is contradicting information when it comes to how regularly you should wash your hair. Washing your hair daily will keep the scalp healthy and clean, and protect against hair loss, washing your hair too often can get rid of the natural oils (such as sebum) and leave your hair prone to feeling dry and brittle.
It’s always best to keep a balance in your hair care routine. Regardless of your lifestyle or hair type, it’s usually best to wash your hair every 2-3 days to prevent any damage to your hair. The key to achieving healthy hair? Choosing the right shampoo and conditioner. You may be surprised to hear that every shampoo is not designed for everyone.
Every shampoo caters to your hair type, whether you have oily or dry roots. If your scalp feels itchy or your hair feels as rough as straw after washing, it’s time to invest in another shampoo.
As we touched on before, your hair needs nutrients as well to grow healthier. This doesn’t only come from the food we eat. There are many natural remedies that reduce hair damage and dryness such as massaging coconut oil and olive oil into your hair.
Coconut oil contains lauric acid which helps bind protein in the hair, protecting it from breakage. It’s also great for protecting your hair from ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. Olive oil is commonly used in many cultures to promote healthy hair growth. This is used to deep condition the hair and may also help slow genetic hair loss. To apply either oil to your hair, heat the oil slightly for 30 seconds before massaging into the hair. Leave it in for 30 minutes before you wash it off.
Avoid Using Chemicals And Hot Tools
Who doesn’t love styling up their hair, whether you’re into changing your hair color like a chameleon or wearing bouncy curls. But the problem is that it can damage your hair overtime.
If you don’t want to compromise on styling your hair, opt in for alternative such as organic hair dyes and products that don’t contain Ammonia, Peroxide and Para-phenylenediamine (PPD). Your hair stylist knows best what to use on your hair but it’s always worth asking about the products used on your hair. At Shen does hair, we ensure that the products we use don’t deteriorate our client’s hair.
If you style your own hair on a daily basis, keep in mind the hairstyles you use. Avoid wearing tight braids or ponytails that pull at your hairline or using curlers/straightening irons frequently on your hair. Give your hair a breather every now and again.
Reduce Your Daily Stress
It’s easier said than done but finding a way to reduce your stress (whether it was caused by work or other responsibilities) can prevent any further hair loss. The truth is that no one will focus on your health except you. No one will give you a break or know that you’re about to have a breakdown if you don’t take action. Make yourself a priority.
Block out a small amount of time in the day for yourself. Even if it’s only for 15-30 minutes, having that peace of mind on your own will help you recover from any mental breakdowns you might experience. Taking your mind off your work for a brief moment will leave you feeling refreshed and clear on what you need to get done. We all need a safe, quiet space to ourselves, so find one in both your workplace and at home.
Whether you want to take up a new hobby or simply want to let your mind drift, it’s up to you. Your mind needs an escape, a restart button in your life. You don’t always need to be productive but you do need to rest your mind and body. If there are moments in the day where you are feeling anxious, take a mini break away from everything and breathe slowly and deeply.
Here’s a little reminder for you: You’re not a money-making machine or a people-pleaser. You are a person with a passion, a purpose and a dream for yourself. Don’t lose yourself in the process of handling your responsibilities.
What To Do If You Feel Your Hair Loss May Be Due To A Medical Or Serious Condition
Changing up your lifestyle can play a part in reducing your hair loss. But what do you do if you feel that it’s a symptom of something more serious?
First of all, don’t panic. It’s not always a great idea to search up your symptoms on the internet and jump to conclusions about your hair condition. The best thing to do is consult a professional/doctor. While the majority of people experience hair loss due to genetic conditions such as androgenic alopecia, it can still be treated.
If you are experiencing any of these painful/uncomfortable symptoms, pay a visit to your doctor:
- Swelling, excessive itchiness or scaling around the areas of baldness
- Burning, stinging or pus discharge
- Sudden hair loss/excessive hair growth on other parts of your body
- Sudden changes in weight, whether gained or lost
- A recent high fever
By Shen also specialize in hair loss and provide consultations. We are offering a FREE scalp analysis so we can get to the root of your problem. Book a consultation today and let’s tackle your hair loss.
