Hair loss and hair thinning is a result of various factors, such as aging, hormonal changes, lifestyle, and medical condition. While studies show that older men usually experience this condition, generally, even someone young and healthy may already encounter hair loss.
That being said, there are some ways you can prevent hair loss and promote hair growth. You can consider the tips and tricks below to help you slow down possible hair loss and maintain healthy hair for a long time.
1. Use Mild Hair Products When Washing Your Hair
While washing your hair helps prevent itching and severe flaking of your scalp, it’d be good to note that the products you’re using to wash your hair can potentially trigger hair loss. Hair products such as shampoo and conditioner may contain harmful or strong ingredients that may drain and deprive your hair of its natural oil. Therefore, washing your hair with a mild shampoo is advisable instead of using harsher formulas that might cause your hair to become brittle, dry, and more prone to breakage.
Moreover, the idea of preventing hair loss with shampoo and conditioner is made possible with the availability of shampoos with enriching formulas that stimulate and revitalize your scalp and fragile hair today. When looking for a hair product, consider those who have natural and organic ingredients.
Additionally, you may also consider the number of times you wash your hair, as over-washing can also strip your hair of its nutrients, leaving it dry and brittle.
2. Avoid Exposing Your Hair To High-Heat Situations
There’s no explicit evidence that shows hot showers can cause hair loss. But some health professionals advise people to avoid it, if possible because it can cause scalp inflammation which can lead to the thinning of the hair. Extremely hot showers can also tend to make your hair weak, frizzy, and dry and might promote damage to your scalp, by depriving it of the natural oils needed.
Furthermore, the temperature experienced during hot curling, flat-iron straightening, and the blow-drying process can cause severe trauma to your hair. This trauma can lead to frayed and split ends, cracks in the cuticle layer, faded color, and broken strands. For that reason, it’s vital to avoid constantly having high-heat styling tools performed on your hair.
But if you love styling your hair and avoiding high heat styling isn’t an option for you, take at least some precautions to minimize hair damage. For instance, you can place the setting of your hairdryer on low mode. You can also consider using hair products like serums and heat protectant sprays that claim to repair or prevent the detrimental impact of high temperatures on your hair.
3. Use Hair Oil Regularly
Essential oils like almond, argan, coconut, and macadamia are rich in vitamins and acids that can help make unruly and dry hair glossier and more manageable. It can also stimulate hair, speeding up hair growth and lessen hair breakage.
When using these essential oils, you should heat them to a warm temperature first before massaging them into your scalp gently. You may leave the hair oil for an hour before applying shampoo to your hair. Furthermore, applying warm oil while doing scalp massage can condition your scalp, preventing dryness and itchiness.
Some studies have pointed that scalp massage has the potential to improve hair density by enhancing blood circulation to the hair follicles and scalp, as well as improving the action of genes that promote hair growth. On top of that, the scalp massage also helps lower your stress levels, which is another factor linked to hair loss.
4. Reduce Stress
Stress is one of the contributing factors to hair loss. It can cause excessive hair shedding because when under stress, as an autoimmune response, your body’s immune system strikes the hair follicles, leading to hair loss.
That said, consider identifying your triggers and learning how to handle your stress. Properly managing your stress is believed to be helpful in preventing hair loss. Relaxation techniques such as mediation, breathing exercises, and yoga are excellent methods to manage stress. Exercising is also a natural way to boost your mood, as it helps increase endorphin production and minimize the production of the stress hormone.
5. Avoid Alcohol, Caffeine, And Smoking
Studies show that habits like smoking and drinking caffeinated and alcoholic drinks can aggravate hair loss. Blood circulation to your scalp is a crucial factor for growing and retaining your hair. But when you smoke, it can decrease the blood circulation throughout your body. Furthermore, smoking is believed to prematurely age your hair cells, which can make your hair follicles brittle and easily damaged.
Although alcohol doesn’t directly cause hair loss, it may still cause other issues that may result in hair loss. For instance, you can experience dehydration by binge drinking. And as a result, this can dry up your hair follicles, potentially leading to hair thinning. Dehydration caused by binge drinking alcohol can also increase the levels of acids in your body, which can trigger hair loss and other health problems.
6. Be Gentle With Hair Styling
While styling your hair is essential when practicing good grooming, it’d be good to note that this may also cause hair loss. Combing your hair, for instance, while it does not directly cause hair fall and loss, brushing harshly can strain your hair and may even break the hair strand. That said, it would be ideal to use a wide-toothed comb when your hair is wet instead of using a brush. And make sure to brush your hair gently to prevent any tugging and pulling.
Additionally, when styling your hair, it is best to avoid dying your hair more than two shades darker or lighter than its natural color, as it might require the use of harsh chemicals and treatments.
Conclusion
While hair loss or hair thinning is common, there are many ways you can manage this problem. You can opt for a change of lifestyles, such as changing your hair products and your methods of styling your hair. All in all, you can use the points above to help you prevent hair loss.
