If you’ve been noticing a lot of hair in the shower or fallen strands on your floor, in your bed or in your hair brush that amounts to more than you usually notice, you may be suffering from hair loss. While it may be unsettling, it’s helpful to know that this issue happens to many people. Hair loss can result from stress, hormonal imbalances, age, diet, lifestyle, or plain old genetics (for me, it’s pretty much all of the above). If you’re experiencing hair thinning or excessive hair shedding, here are some of the things you can do to protect your hair and to promote hair growth.
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Use The Right Products
Shampoos cleanse hair of dirt and excess oil, while a conditioner smooths out and detangles hair. There are tons of hair products available in stores and online right now, so at the very least, use a gentle shampoo free of sulfates that won’t strip your hair of essential oils. Next, choose a mild conditioner that won’t weigh your hair down and consider trying a hair density serum to boost volume (The Inkey List and The Ordinary both have hair density serums to address thinning locks that are super affordable!). If you’re experiencing severe hair fall, make sure to use products that specifically address this issue, such as the Dr. Barbara Sturm Anti-Hair Fall Shampoo.
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Be Gentle To Your Hair
Your hair can only be stretched, twisted or styled so much, which is why you should avoid tight braids and ponytails, which can tear the hair away from your scalp and cause thinning around the edges. Also, avoid vigorously rubbing your wet hair with a regular towel (hair is much weaker when its wet); use a microfiber towel instead and gently squeeze your hair to dry. When it comes to brushing, soft boar bristles and wide-toothed combs are the best for delicate, fine hair. They are gentle on the hair, won’t tug on strands and help distribute your scalp’s natural oils throughout your strands.
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Cut It Shorter
Long hairstyles are heavy and will add weight to your locks, so opt for shorter or medium-length cuts. You can have layers added around your face to cover a receding hairline, or go for choppy bangs that bring attention to your face rather than your hairline. You can also apply clip in hair extensions to make your hair seem fuller and longer.
Avoid Heat Styling
Thermal styling tools like blow dryers, flat irons and curling wands will damage hair and make it prone to breakage and shedding. If styling with a hot styling tool, do your best to limit the heat and dial down the temperature. The good news is that there are many ways to style your hair without using heat. You can use dainty hair accessories, a pretty silk scarf, a floppy sun hat, or a soft-knit beanie around your head to mask hair loss. Just choose fabrics that are very soft and won’t irritate your scalp. If accessories and scarves won’t cut it, you can also wear clip-in hair extensions to glam up your look.
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Avoid Bleaching/Coloring Your Hair
Steer clear of bleach or boxed hair dyes when experimenting with color. Bleaching agents can make your strands dry, brittle and more vulnerable to hair fall. If you’d like to change the color of your hair, there are safer alternatives, like organic hair dyes that don’t contain ammonia and peroxide, as well as the ZALA clip-in extensions. The shade range at ZALA’s online store is incredible, and you can go anywhere from ice platinum blonde to jet black hair in just a matter of minutes. If you have tons of gray hair like I do and need to dye your hair regularly, try to spread out your colouring sessions as much as you can.
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Take Multivitamins
These vitamins play a key role in promoting healthy hair growth: vitamin D, vitamin A, iron, biotin and selenium. Make sure to follow a healthy diet with variety to get these vitamins naturally. Increase the amount of eggs, nuts and fatty fish you eat, as these are known to improve hair growth. And, if you suspect that your hair loss is linked to a lack of these vitamins, talk to a dermatologist first before you snap up the latest Instagram or TikTok hair gummies to determine what’s really causing your hair loss.
Try Rosemary Oil or Minoxidil
Rosemary oil is a natural way to promote hair growth because it can improve circulation, which can prevent hair follicles from being starved of blood supply and falling off. It’s also a natural way to prevent dry/itchy scalp and dandruff. Apply 4-5 drops directly to the scalp and massage the oil in(dilute with a carrier oil to reduce potential for irritation). Let sit for 5-10 minutes and rinse.
Rogaine is an over the counter product designed to treat thinning hair by stimulating hair growth. It comes in both a women and men’s formula and contains minoxidil – an ingredient that has been shown to improve hair regrowth when applied topically and used consistently.
Consider Your Hormones
Many hormonal conditions such as hypothyroidism or PCOS can cause hair loss if left unmanaged. If you are experiencing hair fall as well as symptoms of hypothyroidism and/or PCOS, book a visit to your doctor and share your concerns. Proper diagnosis of any hormonal imbalances is half the battle and can go a long way in treating your hair loss directly.
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Try A Scalp Massage
Massage can improve blood circulation which can improve cell turnover or hair growth. Try performing a gentle scalp massage while you work in your shampoo or apply a treatment oil; it’s a great way to boost circulation to your hair follicles (it also feels amazing!). You can grab a scalp massager from Amazon for about $6 and thank me later.
Weekly Scalp Scrub
Scalp scrubs or exfoliating scalp treatments can be a great way to remove dead skin cells on the scalps surface that can cause flaking, dryness, itchiness or block hair regrowth. The Inkey List has an awesome Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment that you can apply to the scalp and massage in for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off that will keep your scalp healthy and flake free.
I hope you found this post helpful in your journey to reduce hair fall. While frustrating, there are definitely things you can try now to improve hair loss, so don’t lose hope!
