3 Tips On How To Reduce Hair Thinning

A full head of hair is so much more than just vanity, for many it’s a form of self-expression. Just like your clothes, your hair also reflects your personality, and losing it is a worry most of us have! Before we get into the remedies to reduce hair thinning or balding, let’s look at some facts about the whole issue.

There is some solace in the fact that at some point, all of us will experience hair fall. In the US alone, approximately half of all men and women will show some initial signs of hair loss by their forties. Now we are all aware of male pattern baldness, but there exists a variant that affects women as well. While men typically start balding at the temples or the top of the head, women, on the other hand, start losing hair around their parting or at the front of the head. Most believe it’s all genetics and is inherited from the mother’s side of the family. There may be a link there; Alopecia is the scientific name for hair loss and is a hereditary condition that is passed down from generation to generation. There are other factors than just genetics that contribute to hair loss such as poor nutrition, thyroid, menopause, stress, and environmental factors. Other than health, excessive styling, heat treatments, hot combs, weaves, chemical relaxers, and colouring can also cause hair fall.

Sometimes hair fall is more of a symptom than the disease, as sudden hair fall may be indicative of another, more serious underlying condition. For instance, typically women who experience severe hair fall may also notice other issues such as acne, changes in their period cycles, or changes in their voice, and these symptoms should not be ignored. It may be the first signs of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

To be honest, some hair fall is normal. You lose about 100 to 150 strands a day and new hair grows in their place. The problem arises when these empty follicles are not replenished. Now there are some popular treatments available such as Rogaine or Propecia that does work for most people, however, these treatments have a risk of some serious side effects such as sexual dysfunction or severe hormonal changes. In this case, you may wonder what your alternatives are.

You can go in for hair treatments to stimulate hair growth, which will help accelerate the rate at which the follicles produce new hair. These will not be as effective when the follicles have stopped producing new strands, however. In that case, hair transplant is your best bet. Gone are the days where the hair looked like something stolen off the head of a store mannequin, these days the treatment uses hair that almost resembles the texture of your natural hair.

Fret not, it’s not all black and white when it comes to treating hair fall, there are plenty of grey areas as well. We’ve made a list of top three areas that you should look at:

FIRST | NUTRITION

Let’s start with what is the hair made of. Your hair is made of a protein called keratin; hence a protein-rich diet is essential to maintain the health of your hair. Proper nutrition is the building block for health overall, which includes the condition of your hair and that of your skin as well. Getting all the essential minerals from the food we eat is vital to have a shiny, healthy mane. Your ideal diet should include 3 ounces of meat or beans and dairy. Loading up on omega-3 fatty acids is also beneficial to the growth of hair. It can be found in nuts, seeds, eggs, and fish. Omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and help maintain the health of your scalp which is the anchor for your beautiful strands. Your diet should vary to include all food groups. It is best to have six to ten servings of different veggies, two to four fruits, lean meats, different grains and legumes in your diet.

Here are some minerals and how they help the quality of your hair:

Vitamin A encourages production of sebum in the scalp which boosts hair growth. Vitamin A can be found in dark green leafy veggies, orange and yellow fruits and veggies like mango, papaya, red bell pepper etc. Vitamin B12 also promotes hair growth, and it is found in dairy products and beans. Biotin is useful to help maintain the healthy hair structure if you suffer from breakage, hair thinning, including biotin in your diet, and can help reduce that. Biotin is found in dairy products, nuts, and green vegetables such as cabbage to name a few. Hydration does wonders for your locks as well. Hair shafts comprise almost ¼ of water, hence drinking two to three litres of water every day can help maintain the growth of your hair. Adding zinc or iron supplements to your diet can also help reduce hair fall. However, make sure you get your doctor’s advice before taking any additional supplements.

SECOND | SELF CARE

We all know stress levels increase hair fall, so taking time out to maintain your mental wellbeing can help boost not only your hair growth but can significantly improve your overall wellbeing as well. Include some form of exercise or workout in your routine. 30 mins of exercise daily can help maintain hormone levels and lower stress as well. Meditation has a similar effect as well. A mere 5 mins of meditation can help with everyday stress. Similarly, engaging in activities or hobbies that destress you help boost overall health and in turn the health of your hair as well.

THIRD | STYLING

Avoid harsh styling. Heat treatments affect the strength and quality of your hair and avoiding them is in your best interest. In case it’s not something you can avoid, go in for regular protein treatments to replenish the lost nutrients and the strength back into your hair. Also, use a heat protecting serum before styling your hair, and lastly try to incorporate organic or natural products as much as possible in your routine. Harmful chemicals take a toll on your hair health, so natural is the way to go.

Implement even a few of these routines and diet changes and you should see a difference in the health of your hair.