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The hair on your head goes through a life cycle that involves growth, resting, and shedding. It’s common for people to lose around 100 hairs a day.
If you experience more sudden loss, loss in patches, or overall thinning, you may want to see your doctor.
Some shedding is temporary and may respond well to changes in diet, certain treatments, or lifestyle changes. Other loss may be more permanent or not stop until an underlying condition is treated.
By age 40, about half of all men will experience hair loss due to hereditary conditions like androgenic alopecia (male pattern baldness). Likewise, more than half of women will experience genetic hair loss (female pattern baldness) before the age of 70.
Other causes of hair loss include:
- medical conditions, like alopecia areata, scalp infections, or trichotillomania (hair-pulling disorder)
- hormonal changes from pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or thyroid issues
- medications or supplements, such as those used for cancer, high blood pressure, depression, or arthritis
- radiation treatment for conditions like cancer
- stress, whether physical or emotional
- styling practices, like wearing tight ponytails or cornrows
- chemicals in your tap water including arsenic
Let's explore 10 Tips for Hair Loss Prevention and a few of these may require unlearning things we've been told for many years ;)
Regular washing
Washing hair daily may protect against hair loss by keeping the scalp healthy and clean. The key is to use a mild shampoo. Harsher formulas may dry hair and cause it to break, leading to hair loss.
Ingredients to avoid: Sulfates (SLS or SLES), parabens, mineral oil, silicone, fragrance
Recommended products: Sunkissed Coconut Shampoo, Apple Argan Shampoo, Prebiotic Shampoo, Rosemary Shampoo Bar, or Rosemary Mint Shampoo
Coconut oil
According to a 2018 review of studies, researchers believe that coconut oil may help prevent hair damage from grooming and ultraviolet (UV) light exposure.
Lauric acid found in coconut oil helps bind protein in hair, protecting it from breakage at the root and strand. Massaging coconut oil into the scalp may promote better blood flow and help with regrowth.
Recommended Products: Apple Silk Hair Mask or Sunkissed Coconut Hair Mask
Protein
Hair follicles are made mostly of protein called keratin. One 2017 study of 100 people with hair loss noted several nutritional deficiencies in participants, including amino acids that serve as the building blocks of protein.
While researchers note that more studies are needed, eating a diet rich in protein may help prevent hair loss. Healthy choices include foods like eggs, nuts, beans and peas, fish, low-fat dairy products, chicken, and turkey.
Olive oil
Olive oil can be used to deep condition hair, protecting it from dryness and associated breakage. Olive oil is also a central ingredient to the Mediterranean diet, which may help slow genetic hair loss.
Consider applying a couple tablespoons of olive oil directly to hair and letting it sit for 30 minutes before washing out.
Recommended Product: Hair Serum
Gentle styling
Skip tight braids or ponytails that may pull on hair at the root and potentially lead to excessive shedding. While you’re at it, let your hair air dry to avoid irritating your scalp. Heat stylers, like curling or straightening irons, may also damage or break the hair shaft.
Here's a no heat hair style tip from a previous blog post.
Recommended Product: Styling Creme and Wet/Dry Brush
Hair processing
Chemical treatments, like perms or hair color, may also damage hair and scalp. Ask your stylist about alternatives, like organic hair dyes and others that don’t contain ammonia, peroxide, or para-phenylenediamine (PPD).
Additional Ingredients to Avoid: Sulfates (SLS or SLES), parabens, mineral oil, silicone, fragrance
Mediterranean diet
A 2018 study revealed that a diet containing raw vegetables and fresh herbs, like the Mediterranean diet, may reduce the risk of androgenic alopecia (female pattern baldness or male pattern baldness) or slow its onset.
Best results were observed when participants consumed high amounts of these foods — such as parsley, basil, salad greens — more than three days a week.
Try out this Summer Salad Recipe!
Essential oils
Essential oils may help reduce hair loss. A 1998 study divided 86 people with alopecia areata into two groups, one of which cedarwood oil mixed with lavender and rosemary into their scalps. After seven months, 43 percent of that group showed improvement in their condition.
Other essential oils to consider include lavender, lemongrass, and peppermint. Try mixing couple drops of any or all of these oils with a couple tablespoons of carrier oil, like jojoba or grapeseed, and apply to the scalp for 10 minutes before washing.
Recommended products: Prebiotic Shampoo, Rosemary Shampoo Bar, or Rosemary Mint Shampoo
Yoga
Hair loss caused by stress may respond well to yoga. Try these stress-relieving yoga poses to prevent and slow hair loss: Downward Facing Dog, Forward Bend, Camel Pose, Shoulder Stand, Fish Pose, and Kneeling Pose. You can find a flow through these poses for free on YouTube or this previous blog post.
Green Tea
Worried about hair loss? The EGCG catechins in green tea help inhibit production of an enzyme that can lead to hair loss! Recommended: drink 2-3 cups daily
Recommended Product: Sun Goddess Matcha
Keep reading about all the benefits of Tea in this past blog post.
If you found any tips in this article helpful pass it along to friends or share on social, use #CocktailDiet or tag me! Thank you!
I'm your life line so reach out, even if you think it's silly. Please, ask me all your questions.
Contact me to schedule, text 402-204-8070 or email connect@aprilcarnahan.info
Contact me to schedule, text 402-204-8070 or email connect@aprilcarnahan.info
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