Hair fall is a hot topic nowadays. Both men and women are looking for ways to reduce hair fall. Little do they know, our hair goes through an active cycle of growth, transition, resting, and shedding. Yes, you heard right, “SHEDDING”. Surprisingly, an average adult loses around 100 hair per day. However, those hair follicles are actively replaced with new hair. So, there is nothing to worry about.
Hair fall is normal but the problem arises when hair loss leads to bald spots, patchiness, or hair thinning. That’s when you know that your hair growth couldn’t keep up with the shedding. Well, if you are going through pregnancy or chemotherapy, then it’s nothing to worry about. However, if you start losing hair suddenly without any apparent reason. Then, you need immediate medical intervention.
In this article, we are going to discuss the best ways to reduce hair fall in men and women. Let’s get started.
How to Reduce Hair fall in Men and Women?
Hair loss is a very common problem and you will find tons of hair fall remedies on the internet. However, it is easier to categorize them into 6 main sections:
1. Hair Care
If you are dealing with mild hair loss, the first line of action is hair care.
Gentle Styling
Tight braids or hairstyles that pull your hair at the roots can loosen the bond between your hair and scalp. Hair are somewhat flexible but excessive stretching can become a potential cause of hair loss.
Also, avoid using heating tools like straighteners, curling iron, etc as they can dehydrate your hair follicles. Excessive inflammation can disrupt the growth cycle of your hair, which in turn leads to hair loss.
Use a Soft Brush
Brushing your hair regularly is a vital part of hair care. Keratin protein is stacked on your scalp. Therefore, brushing your hair gently from the roots to the end will condition your hair shaft thoroughly. Using a soft hair brush will balance the oil levels in your hair.
Keep your Scalp Clean
A dirty scalp is often responsible for hair loss. Therefore, you should keep your scalp healthy and clean. Regular shampoo is not the right way to keep your scalp clean. Instead, it will backfire and dry out your natural oils. The key is to use mild shampoo at regular intervals.
Massage
Massaging your scalp will deep condition your hair and promote blood flow in your hair follicles. Ideally, you should use coconut or olive oil to massage your scalp for the best results. Make sure the oil sits in your hair for about an hour before washing it out.
Avoid Harsh Hair Treatments
Harsh hair treatments like bleaching break down keratin protein molecules, resulting in hair damage. Even harsh hair care items like a hair spray can damage your hair over time. Make sure that everything that goes in your hair is not contributing to hair loss.
2. Lifestyle Changes
Minor changes in your lifestyle can yield great results in your hair growth.
Quit Smoking
Many studies establish the relation between smoking and hair loss. Not just smoking but consuming tobacco can cause oxidative stress. It not only affects hair growth but also causes premature graying of hair.
Yoga
Yoga poses like forward bend, camel pose and fish pose can increase the blood flow in your head. They work as great stress relievers. As a result, it will slow down the hair loss process as stress is one of the main contributors to hair loss.
De-stress
High-stress levels can disrupt the growth cycle of your hair by pushing the hair follicle into a resting position, thereby preventing new hair growth. In scientific terms, this condition is called Telogen Effluvium. Sometimes factors like medications, severe illness, or giving birth can also cause this condition.
3. Diet
Diet plays a major role in hair growth. Therefore, you should consider switching to a healthier diet.
Mediterranean Diet
A healthy diet lays the foundation of a healthy body. Following a Mediterranean diet that consists of raw vegetables and herbs can do wonders for you. It can even reduce the risk of male or female pattern baldness. Even if you can’t incorporate this diet into your daily life, you should consume fresh fruits and vegetables at least thrice a week.
Protein
Keratin protein is the building block of your hair follicles. People with hair loss mostly suffer from nutritional deficiency. Therefore, a protein-rich diet can help prevent hair loss.
Vitamin A
Too much or too little vitamin A can disrupt the hair cycle. Consuming too much vitamin A is very unlikely. Therefore, fill your plate with vitamin A rich food. Also, you need retinoids for healthy hair growth and vitamin A is the best way to get it.
Zinc and Iron
Both iron and zinc play a major role in our hair growth cycle. Iron boosts oxygen circulation in hair roots, whereas, zinc is required for hair tissue growth and repair. Increasing zinc and iron intake can help you deal with hair loss.
4. Supplements
Multivitamin
A multivitamin supplement is the best way to get the right amounts of vitamins A, B, C, D, iron, zinc, and selenium. You will get more value from a daily multivitamin tablet but these minerals are essential for hair growth and retention. Also, vitamin D is associated with non-scarring alopecia. You will notice significant regrowth after treating the deficiency.
Biotin
Nowadays, Biotin is a trending supplement on social media for its hair growth benefits. It is not just another marketing trend. We can confirm that Biotin is essential for the hair life cycle. Therefore, consider taking biotin for healthy hair growth.
5. Medical Treatments
Medical treatments are the last bastion when comes to hair loss treatment. If you have tried everything and nothing seems to be working, it’s time to move to a more professional approach. Popular medical treatments for hair growth are:
Laser Therapy
Low-level laser therapy works by stimulating epidermal stem cells. It is a promising medical procedure that improves hair density. People with genetic hair loss usually go for laser therapy. You can choose to get your laser therapy done by a professional or you can buy a home laser device and use it regularly to get the desired results.
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Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP)
Platelet-Rich Plasma injection is a medical treatment to stimulate hair growth on the scalp. In this procedure, platelets are separated from the blood and injected into the scalp area already affected by hair loss. You will start noticing results after 3-4 sessions.
6. Medications
If you have doubts about hair growth treatments and want to stick to a moderate approach, then you can try some OTC (over-the-counter) drugs:
Minoxidil
As of now, minoxidil is available as a foam or solution that’s applied to your scalp directly. It is one of the most reliable OTC drugs approved by the FDA at 5%. Scientists are also considering it as an oral medication for hair loss. However, it still requires more studies to label it as a safe oral drug.
Finasteride
Finasteride is a long-term hair loss drug that slows hair loss and promotes hair growth over time. It is not a very popular option as it can cause loss of libido and erectile dysfunction. If you are patient enough to wait for 12 months to see any significant growth, then you can try this drug.
Phenylephrine
Topical phenylephrine is a drug that can contract follicle muscle, as a result, it will be hard to pull out hair. This drug is still under supervision but once it is approved and become publicly available, it will work as a good hair loss medication.
Conclusion
Now that you have got all the hair fall rescue theory it’s time to get into action. So, choose the right solution and start your journey to healthy and beautiful hair.
