Hair fall, thinning of hair, losing a lot of hair can be a cause for concern to many women and men. Hair fall can sometimes be genetic but the main causes are related to the stress level, eating habits, health and hygiene. Arrest hair fall by taking a few simple steps.
Understanding Hair
Hair is made up of a protein called Keratin, produced in the hair follicles. Follicles produce new cells and push out the old cells. So, hair grows to about six inches every year. An average adult loses up to 100 hairs a day. Much more than that; and a balding patch on your head should ring an alarm. The normal hair life cycle is as follows:
Anagen or active hair growth that lasts between 2 to 6 years,
Catagen or transitional hair growth that lasts for 2 to 3 weeks,
Telogen or the resting phase that lasts for two to three months
At the end of the resting phase, the hair is shed and new hair grows.
Why does hair fall happen?
Stress: Physical and mental stress are the main reasons for thinning of hair. Prolonged illness, accidents or even flu can cause hair loss. Stress due to lack of sleep, rest, hectic lifestyle also affects hair. A stressful event can shake the hair cycle and push them into a shedding phase. Pregnancy, also a form of physical stress, contributes to hair loss. Polycystic Ovarian disease or PCOD is also a major cause of losing hair.
Nutrition: Malnutrition, anemia have also been diagnosed with causing loss of hair.
Heredity: If you come from a family where thinning of hair is common among your parents, then hair loss will occur.
Hormones: Hormonal disturbances like thyroid can cause hair loss. Adrenal hormones increase the stress levels that affect hair growth cycle.
Chemicals: Over styling your hair, use of harsh chemicals, heating of hair causes a lot of hair loss over a period of time.
Best remedies to arrest hair fall
Many people regard healthy hair as a sign of beauty. Like all other parts of our body, hair also needs the right kind of nutrition to grow. Deficiencies in nutrition can increase the hair fall. Here are some remedies that can help arrest hair loss.
Healthy Diet
A diet of fruits and vegetables is essential for all of us. But specifically for hair if you include these things in your daily diet, it can definitely arrest hair loss.
- Pro-biotic rich food: The pH balance of your scalp needs to be in direct correlation with your health. Pro-biotic rich foods like yogurt, buttermilk or even pro-biotic tablets help maintain that.
- Nuts: Nuts like sesame seeds, almonds, cashews are some excellent source of minerals. They are good in Vitamin E and iron and thus increase hair shine and reduce hair fall.
- Aloe Vera: One of the traditional and best methods for hair loss is to the Aloe Vera plant. Slice a thick chunk of its leaf and eat the gel inside. This not only gives a glow to the skin but also maintains healthy hair.
- Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids: These are not made by the body but have to be taken externally. They help in maintaining a healthy skin, thus helping in maintaining a healthy scalp. Fish is a great source of them. For external sources other than fish, you need to talk to your health practitioner.
Vitamins to arrest hair fall
Sometimes little extra vitamins need to be taken when you have serious hair fall conditions.
Vitamin C: We all know that Vitamin C is a great source for healthy skin. It also enhances the absorption and metabolism of minerals such as iron. Sweeter varieties of food like oranges, kiwi, mangoes (that also keep the pitta in control) should be included in your diet.
Vitamin A: Vitamin A helps skin glands make the oily substance called sebum. Sebum moisturizes hair and keeps the scalp healthy. Sweet potatoes, carrots, pumpkins, milk, eggs, yogurt, cod liver oil are all essential source of Vitamin A.
Vitamin B: Biotin deficiency is linked with hair loss. Anyone aged 10 or older should get 30 to 100 mcg of biotin per day. Usually, the food that we consume contains enough to provide for the biotin in the body. Whole grains, almonds, meat, fish, seafood, dark green leafy vegetables are all the other source of Vitamin B.
Vitamin D: A low level of Vitamin D is associated with alopecia, a hair loss condition. Vitamin D is received through the direct rays of the sun. Many people do not get enough of this. A good diet including cod liver oil, fatty fish or mushrooms also are a great source of vitamin D. If supplements are required then your doctor would prescribe it.
Home remedies for healthy hair
- Scalp Massage: The cheapest and one of the best methods for increasing the blood circulation is massaging your scalp. This can be done by yourself when you wash your hair, with your fingertips by applying slight pressure and massaging your scalp.
- Essential oils: Whoever said that oiling increases hair loss, must not have tried the oil therapies. Essential oils combined with each other benefit the scalp strengthens the roots and decreases hair loss. Oils made from rosemary or thyme is great for hair. Other combinations of oils like virgin coconut oil, almond oil, castor oil are all great for applying on hair.
- Shampoos: Ayurvedic shampoos and shampoos which have fewer chemicals in them work well to clean your scalp off the excess oil. Shampooing your scalp is an essential step that one must do after oiling of hair.
- Warm treatment: A warm steam treatment for your hair and scalp helps retain the moisture in the hair. This can be done at home by wrapping a warm towel around your head after an oil treatment. It works wonders.
- Ayurvedic products like aamla, reetha, and shikakai mixed together and applied on the scalp help reduce hair loss. Often home remedies of applying egg whites or yogurt or apple cider vinegar help bring the shine and luster back to the hair.
Find out how thyroid affects the health of your skin and hair