Untimely hair loss is a nightmare for everyone, regardless of age group or gender. Did you know that approximately 35 million men and 21 million women suffer from hair loss?
Hair loss can sharply decrease your confidence and lower your self-esteem. The problem starts when the hair loss is severe, and the new hair fails to replace the fallen ones. Worst still, the situation may deteriorate, leading to Alopecia. For starters, Alopecia is a condition that causes balding patterns across the head. There could be many reasons, including regular grind, diet, pollution, and genetics. Thankfully, hair loss is stoppable. Here are some tips on how to stop hair fall.
Normal Hair Growth Cycle
Before we dive into the tips and ways to stop hair fall, let’s understand the science behind hair growth in humans!
The hair growth cycle contains a total of four phases. These are:
- Anagen
- Catagen
- Telogen
- Exogen
The first three stages help the hair to mature and are responsible for the new hair growth activity. Further, the last stage, exogen, represents the period where the old hair is shed, and the new one is birthed.
Note: hair growth depends on various factors, such as age, nutrition, and health. Therefore, no specific time period of a certain stage in hair growth can be ascertained.
Types of Hair Fall
There are multiple types of hair fall. I have enlisted them below to understand this topic better:
- Androgenetic Alopecia: this hair condition is prevalent in both males and females. The hair starts thinning in an ‘M’ shaped pattern. It may start from the crown of the head and then spread further. Further, in males, it can indicate heart disease, high blood pressure, etc. In females, it may be associated with PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome)
- Telogen Effluvium: this type of hair fall is temporary. It can happen due to stress, leading to hair thinning and, eventually, hair fall. In this case, the hair starts growing again after the stress disappears.
- Anagen Effluvium: this is an abnormal hair loss. It can be caused due to drugs given in chemotherapy. However, as soon as the patient is fit again, the hair starts growing back.
- Alopecia Areata: this hair loss condition starts in patches. It is often due to a lack of proper diet, nutrients, and a healthy life pattern. However, physicians prescribe multivitamins or other medications that help the hair grow.
- Tinea Capitis is a fungal infection that creates big patches on your scalp. The fungi enter your hair follicle and erode it deeply. Ultimately leading to hair loss. For this condition, you must visit a doctor for proper treatment.
- Cicatricial Alopecia: in this situation, a patient can face temporary or permanent hair loss.
Why Does Hair Fall Out?
There can be many reasons for hair loss. Let’s have a look at them one by one.
1. Nutritional Deficiency
If essential nutrients such as iron, zinc, copper, and proteins are missing from your daily food intake, then this can be a reason for hair fall. For hair loss prevention, you must ensure that your Diet includes all these nutrients in a balanced way. Vitamin D deficiency may also be another reason for the loss of hair. Vitamin D deficiency can be managed by getting proper morning sunlight.
2. Hormonal Imbalance
Women after the age of 30 can go through menopause or hormonal imbalance. This can also be one of the reasons for hair loss. This generally happens due to the excessive conversion of dihydrotestosterone, i.e., DHT. Although women produce estrogen mainly, the body of women also releases testosterone and other androgens, such as DHEA. Women may start converting these androgens to DHT at a certain age.
3. Thyroid Problem
The thyroid is a gland located at the front of the neck. When this gland starts producing excessive or insufficient amounts of thyroid hormone, then the growth cycle of hair might get hampered. In addition to hair loss, if you are losing or gaining weight, getting sensitive to heat or cold, and changes in your heart beat rate, it can indicate that you are having thyroid problems.
4. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
PCOS, or Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, is a syndrome in which a woman’s body produces higher levels of androgens than usual. This may result in hair growth on the face and body and thinning of the hair on the head. PCOS may lead to acne, weight gain, and ovulation-related problems.
5. Stress
Stress can also be one of the reasons for thinning hair. Therefore, avoid extreme stress, and when in stressful situations, get yourself engaged in activities like yoga, meditation, exercise, and head or body massage to prevent hair loss.
7 Ways to Stop Hair Fall
1. Book an Appointment with a Dermatologist
The first step must be to consult a qualified dermatologist. They have expertise in diagnosing hair, skin, and nail conditions. There are plenty of reasons behind a hair fall. Hence, it is of utmost importance to know the root cause.
Moreover, after proper consultation, they will suggest the best treatment.
2. Keep Yourself Hydrated
Water is essential for all cells, including those that generate new hair. Hair follicles are the fastest-growing tissue in our body. Therefore, they require more hydration than other tissues. Otherwise, strands become thin, brittle, and dry and might break off easily.
Dehydration can speed up hair shedding and breakage. An adult male requires drinking 15.5 cups (3.7 liters) a day. The same for an adult female is 11.5 cups (2.7 liters) daily. If your daily water intake is insufficient, you will notice hair strands falling off even with the slightest touch.
3. Healthy and Balanced Diet
What you eat can have a significant effect on your body and, along with it, underpin your hair health too. To keep your hair strong and healthy, you must consume food rich in omega-3s. Research suggests omega 3 can prevent follicle inflammation and aid hair growth. Besides, these fatty acids are essential for skin and nail health.
Include soybeans, tofu, flaxseeds, and chia seeds in your Diet. They are rich in omega 3. Other than this, Vitamin B6 and folic acid are also essential for hair growth. You can get your quota of Vitamin B6 from bananas, potatoes, spinach, fish, and poultry.
4. Cleansing and Conditioning of Hair
Our hair has to deal with dirt and pollution buildup daily. This buildup can prevent hair follicles from receiving nutrition. When that happens, the hair becomes weak and prone to inflammation, itching, and dandruff. Daily cleansing helps eliminate dirt buildup and stimulates better hair growth.
Cleansing is just one part of a healthy hair care routine. The other is conditioning. The conditioner locks the nutrition within the follicles, strengthening the hair cuticle and helping stop hair fall. Avoiding conditioner can result in weak hair that is susceptible to breaking.
5. Avoiding Chemical Treatments
Chemical treatments are in-trend. We dry, bleach, smoothen, and color our hair to achieve shine and style. However, chemical treatments can damage your hair, often beyond repair. Many of these treatments involve heating, which can take the sheen and strength out of hair. That leads to weak follicles, rapid hair fall, receding headlines, split ends, dry hair, and itchiness.
You are better off using natural remedies. This includes Scalp treatment, Detox treatment, Hot oil treatment, and more. Also, avoid frequent styling and chemical-based hair care products.
6. Hair Nourishing Treatments
When it comes to nourishing, oiling is the best option. It’s a pearl of centuries-old wisdom, after all. Oiling comes with a range of benefits, deep conditioning for one. When we wash our hair, breakage happens. Oiling ensures deep cleaning and masks hair follicles, which lessens breakage.
You have multiple oil options to choose from. However, two options stand out. Both offer strength and shine to your hair and help stop hair fall.
(i): Coconut Oil
Coconuts are rich in carbohydrates, fatty acids, and minerals essential for hair health. It is the most popular hair oil to prevent hair loss and promote growth. Also, it protects the hair from heat damage and works on brittle hair strands. If you aim for silky and smooth hair, coconut oil will exceed your expectations.
(ii): Brigandi Oil
You can call Brigandi Oil an intensive hair treatment to stop hair fall. It combines Bhringraj oil (extracted from the leaves of false daisy) and various herbs like amla, shikakai, and sesame. Bhringraj oil can remedy hair thinning, premature balding, and untimely graying. Also, it soothes the scalp and prevents scalp infections.
7. Vitamins for Hair Fall Control
Some vitamins have magical effects on your hair. Take, for example, Vitamin A, which is required for hair growth. It also helps produce sebum, which moisturizes the scalp and keeps hair healthy. Vitamin A is abundant in carrots, cheese, eggs, fish, milk, and spinach. Biotin (Vitamin B7), Vitamin D, and Vitamin C are also important for hair health. Egg yolks, fish, legumes, nuts, and seeds are some foods rich in these vitamins.
How to Stop Hair Fall Naturally
If you want to take nature’s path to stop hair fall, some exercises and yoga postures can help you stop hair fall naturally. Let’s look at the exercises and yoga asanas that can help you prevent hair loss and see better hair growth.
1. Exercises
- Running: When we run or jog, our body sweats. There are sweat glands on our head and scalp, also. The release of sweat from the pores on our head scalp can naturally promote hair growth. Here are the exercises that can help you prevent hair loss:
- Neck Exercises: Perform exercises that are specifically meant for the neck region. These neck exercises can be a great way to prevent hair fall and grow new hair.
- Sideways Hops: Side-to-side hopping is not only a great cardiovascular exercise, but it also stimulates the growth of hair naturally.
2. Yoga Exercises
The below-mentioned yoga exercises or asanas have proved helpful in the growth of hair naturally:
- Vajrasana
- Matsyasana
- Kapalabhati
- Balasana
- Uttanasana
- Adho Mukha Svanasana
- Sarvangasana
- Sirsasana
Conclusion
If you, too, are suffering from hair fall, it’s time to take some practical steps. In this write-up, we have listed a few proven tips to help you achieve shiny, healthy hair and How to stop hair loss. However, if the problem persists, you should consult a specialist.
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