HOW TO PREVENT AND STOP HAIR LOSS AND THINNING

Hair loss and hair thinning are two separate conditions, but they are closely related. Often both can happen at the same time, and in other cases, one precedes the other. Hair loss can often lead to thinning of hair, and vice versa.

Today we look at both causes and treatments of hair loss and hair thinning. We will also suggest some of the most effective hair care options to treat these conditions. Without further ado, let's begin

What is hair loss
What is hair thinning
Difference between hair loss and hair thinning
General tips for good hair
Washing off all styling products
Eat healthily and exercise
Quit smoking
How to treat hair loss and thinning hair
Swap your shampoo and conditioner
Oil your hair
Consume supplements
Discontinue drugs that may be causing hair loss
Minimize stress
Follow a hair care routine
Be mindful of hairdryers and straighteners
Don't overdo hairstyling products
Stay hydrated

What is hair loss?

Hair loss is of various types. In medical terminology, hair loss is called alopecia. Alopecia can be of various types. There are 7 main types of alopecia: Involutional alopecia, Androgenic alopecia, Alopecia areata, Alopecia universalis, Trichotillomania, Telogen effluvium, and Scarring alopecias. However, don't let these big terms scare you.

In a nutshell, alopecia (or hair loss) can be both mild and extreme. In extreme cases, hair loss can affect large parts of the scalp in a very short time. For milder cases, hair loss can occur naturally as a result of age. Both men and women can suffer from hair loss. However, men often face hair loss at an early age, and it results in baldness. This condition is called male pattern baldness (Androgenic alopecia).

Hair loss is a result of hair follicles closing down. When hair follicles close one after the other, new hair does not grow in its place. As a result, the overall growth of hair decreases over time. It can lead to complete baldness or pattern baldness. In pattern baldness, hair follicles at the back and side of the scalp are often the last to close.

There are various ways of dealing with hair loss. However, sometimes hair loss caused by genetic factors cannot be treated with topical treatment. The only option in such cases is to go through a hair transplant. Fortunately, you can offset genetic hair loss by taking good care of the head and the scalp.

What is hair thinning?

It is common to lose up to 100 strands of hair every day. When someone starts losing more hair than that, the condition is called hair thinning. Hair thinning may not lead to baldness right away, but it is often a precursor to widespread alopecia.

The first signs of hair thinning come in the form of bald spots. While the loss of hair may not be very prominent, hair thinning can decrease the overall quality of your hair. Over time, thinning hair spreads across the scalp and causes baldness or hair loss.

how to manage hair loss and hair thinning

Difference between hair loss and hair thinning

Hair thinning and hair loss are similar, but not quite the same. They are not mutually exclusive. When your hair starts to thin, it can easily lead to hair loss. On the other hand, hair loss always leads to thinning of hair.

However, if hair loss is acute, hair thinning becomes much less of an issue. At that point, you should be concerned about triggering the growth of hair. That way, you can take care of both hair loss and hair thinning at the same time. While there are some differences between the two, there are way more similarities.

Fortunately, the treatment options for hair loss and hair thinning are quite similar. For example, you would need to take special care of your scalp health in both cases. Without doing that, you cannot expect to have great hair.

Secondly, harmful chemicals can accelerate both hair loss and hair thinning. If you are still using shampoos and conditioners with parabens, SLS, silicon, and other harmful chemicals, they will equally affect hair loss and hair thinning. The causes of hair loss and hair thinning are very similar and often the same. Once you understand this, you can plan your hair care routine accordingly.

General tips for good hair

The fundamentals of good hair are the same for most people. These tips may not work in exceptional cases, and in that case, you should consult a qualified dermatologist only.

Here are some basic tips for good hair. While doing these will not address hair loss or hair thinning particularly, it will promote the overall health of your hair and scalp.

Washing off all styling products

While you should aim to use natural styling products only, it might not always be possible. Even if you use all-natural styling products, it is crucial to wash off everything before going to bed. Never sleep with styling products still on in your hair. It will seep to the scalp through the night and affect the roots of the hair. Doing this for a long time will lead to hair loss.

Eat healthily and exercise

Exercising and eating well takes care of most of the problems we face in our skin and hair. That's because when you work out, blood circulation in your body improves. As a result, everything from your skin to your hair becomes healthier and lively. Food plays a key role in the growth of hair, especially protein-rich food. Make sure you are consuming the right amounts of macro and micro nutrients to get great hair.

Quit smoking

Smoking is the single worst thing you can do for your body. However, one of the first signs of smoking shows up in hair. Smoking can make your hair follicles weak, leading to thinning of hair and eventual hair loss. On top of that, smoking impedes other body functions which has an effect on our hair. If you want to enjoy a good life and a head full of healthy hair, quit smoking at the earliest.

How to treat hair loss and thinning hair

Now let's get into specific ways to target hair loss and thinning. But before we begin, remember that most of these treatments and tips work for both hair thinning and hair loss. Another thing worth taking note of is that we have not included a hair transplant as an option here, because it falls under surgical procedures. Before making any permanent change to your scalp, make sure you talk it through with a dermatologist.

Our tips and treatments involve natural solutions and products. You can try these out without any fear of side effects.

Swap your shampoo and conditioner

What shampoo and conditioner you use makes a world of difference. It is a popular misconception that all shampoos are more or less the same. Take this apple cider vinegar shampoo for example. Unlike commercial shampoos, it does not have paraben, SLS, or artificial fragrance. When you compare it with a shampoo that has several harsh chemicals, you will see quite different results. The same goes for hair conditioners. Unlike shampoo, hair conditioners do not wash away. That makes it all the more important to choose a conditioner that has natural ingredients. This coconut milk conditioner is a good example of what you should be looking for.

Oil your hair

Regular oiling can stimulate hair growth by improving blood circulation in the scalp. Hair oils come in many types, and not everyone will benefit from the same hair oil. For instance, this 10-in-1 hair oil will work well for hair growth and strengthening. High-quality coconut oil and almond oil works for most people.

Onion oil is particularly well-known for stimulating hair growth. You should pick an oil that works for your hair type. In the end, the most critical part is to oil your scalp regularly with discipline. Doing it once every two or three months will not have much positive effect.

Consume supplements

Supplements are not a bad thing if you can't get all the necessary vitamins and minerals from your daily diet. Selecting high-quality supplements is important to stay safe and enjoy good health. Some supplements are particularly useful to combat hair loss.

Fish oil and zinc supplements are great for hair health. Getting high-quality Omega 3 fatty acids might be difficult to get in your normal diet if you don't consume fish. Fish oil is a simple alternative for those cases. Some studies also suggest that collagen can boost hair growth. Consuming these supplements, as long as they are natural, can be beneficial for overall health.

Discontinue drugs that may be causing hair loss

Certain drugs can accelerate hair loss. If you notice increased hair fall when you are having particular medicines, consider switching to alternatives. However, do not self-diagnose or change drugs abruptly.

Consult a doctor to find out whether it's the meds causing the hair fall. If there are suitable alternatives, switching to them can be very beneficial. It is a common cause of hair loss and hair thinning that we often disregard.

Minimize stress

Stress is a silent killer. At the same time, stress is unavoidable in life. It affects every aspect of your well-being without you being aware of it in the beginning. One of the main reasons behind premature hair loss is stress.

Managing stress can be difficult if you suffer from anxiety or other mental health conditions. While you should try to meditate and work on compulsive behavior, consulting a professional therapist is often the best idea.

Stress is a small component of mental health. Just like the body, you also need to take care of the mind to enjoy good hair and skin.

Follow a hair care routine

Routines are awesome because they keep us disciplined. Once you have a haircare ritual, taking care of your hair and scalp health becomes much easier. Haircare routines can be as simple or complex as you want. A simple routine of oiling, washing, and conditioning is enough. If you want to take extra steps, consider adding serums, hair masks, and other hair products. However, it is not the number of items in your hair care routine that matters the most. How disciplined you are with your routine makes the most difference.

Be mindful of hairdryers and straighteners

Excessive heat is not good for your hair. It can make hair brittle and lead to hair loss. If you cannot do without a hairdryer, consider buying one with a no-heat option. It is much safer than dryers that use a lot of heat to dry hair.

The same goes for hair straighteners. If you are keen on using them, be very judicious with how often you use heat to straighten hair. Straighteners use a lot of heat and are better avoided. Consider natural straightening options instead.

Don't overdo hairstyling products

Hairstyling products can be harmless if they are made of completely natural ingredients. Even in that case, you should always wash it off before going to bed.

However, most styling products contain a lot of harmful chemicals. You should be very careful about how much and how often you use those products. Use it only when necessary.

Even better, switch to products that have only natural ingredients. If the harmful chemicals of styling products remain on your scalp, it can lead to hair loss. Styling products can be quite harmful to hair if you are not careful about them.

Stay hydrated

Water is essential for our bodies. If you are not drinking enough water, the negative effects will show up in different parts of your body, including your hair. It is very important to have at least 3 to 5 liters of water every day. It is one of the simplest things you can do for better hair and good health.

Treating hair loss and hair thinning need not be difficult or expensive. If you do the right things, the benefits will reflect in your hair. Follow our tips to combat hair loss and maintain a head full of gorgeous hair.