Are you worried about a sudden case of hair loss but are clueless as to what is causing it? There is often that one thing we all unknowingly do that is probably giving our hair a hard time but we fail to take notice of until it is too late and we encounter a horrible case of finding yet another stray hair strand stuck in the comb or strewn on top of the pillow. If you are looking for an effective treatment for hair loss, then read on and you will soon find that your hair loss actually has a deeper root cause (no pun intended) – and that there is a lot you can do about it.
1. Skipping healthy meals
If you are in the bad habit of neglecting the importance of proper meals in respect of breakfast, lunch or dinner or starving yourself, you may need to rethink your routine. Not taking proper balanced meals with necessary nutrients like protein, iron, vitamin B, zinc and selenium will force your body to direct its energy (the little it has anyway) towards all the essential bodily functions – like helping your heart pump and brain run – rather than producing hair that is strong from the roots.
To save the strands, it is important to consume a balanced diet which is especially high in protein content (especially since the basic building block of our hair is primarily protein). When you start consuming all the necessary nutrients and taking them in the form of proper meals, you will notice a drastic reduction in hair loss and an improvement in your hair quality as well.
2. Taking frequent hot showers
Sure, a hot shower every now and then feels extremely relaxing to your body and is incredibly calming after a long day. But frequent hot showers could also be the reason for the clogged drains in your bathroom. The hot water tends to dehydrate your hair strands which leads to dry, brittle hair that are significantly more prone to break and fall out. They also wash out the essential natural oils present in your scalp, thereby stripping the scalp of all natural nourishment it needs. It could also send it into overdrive and produce more of the natural oils which will eventually cause more shedding.
3. Wearing hairstyles that are too tight
Wearing your hair up can be somewhat of a necessity sometimes, especially if you have longer hair and you spend a lot of time pulling your hair up into a ponytail or messy bun just to keep the strands away from your face. But tying your hair back all the time could very well have an unpleasant side effect: it can prove to be extremely damaging and lead to hair loss because the hair follicles will be put under undue stress due to the excessive tension. Furthermore, when your hair is repeatedly tug at the same spots, it will start to pull up at the roots, and the hair follicle itself could eventually wither away or scar. In some extreme cases, it has even been known to result in traction alopecia, a condition that permanently weakens the hair follicle and making it impossible for the hair to grow back.
4. Using too much heat on the hair
If you subject your scalp to unnecessary heat every time by using your blow dryer and heated styling devices like a curling iron, hair straightener or flat iron, you will be inviting hair loss, big time. The high temperature from these devices will lead to the creation of air bubbles within your hair shaft and damage your hair protein and the cuticles, leading to thinner hair that will ultimately make more room for hair loss. Just pat your hair dry with a clean towel after washing (remember: no rough toweling or tugging) before letting your hair air dry. This is probably one of the best things you can do for your hair and shower it with some TLC.
5. Scratching Your Scalp
It is best to avoid trauma to your scalp by keeping excessive scratching in check. The outside of each hair strand is covered with cuticle scales. Scratching the scalp will chip away at the protective cuticle, thus weakening the hair and making it more likely to break. Hair loss may occur when the scratching is aggressive or affects the structure or strength of the hair follicles. It is advisable to switch to an anti-dandruff shampoo to help you in preventing this.
6. Being under stress
If stress has you pulling out your hair, you could very well be doing just that – albeit not intentionally. Taking stress is another factor that can affect your hair adversely and lead to hair loss. There is no denying all the work and the hustle-bustle of our busy lives, and the stress resulting from it is pretty natural. However, stressing out too much has proved to cause three basic types of hair loss, namely:
- Telogen effluvium. Significant stress encourages hair follicles into a resting phase. Affected hair strands might fall out suddenly even when simply combing or washing your hair.
- Trichotillomania. It is an irresistible urge to pull out hair from your scalp, eyebrows or other areas of your body which can be a way of dealing with stress.
- Alopecia areata. Possibly caused by severe stress, the body’s immune system attacks the hair follicles, causing hair loss.
You do not want to deal with any of these now, do you?
7. Over-brushing your hair
Indeed, brushing your hair is healthy, since it stimulates your scalp and facilitates the transportation of the right amount of blood to your hair follicles. Brushing your hair excessively, however, will only pull the healthy hair strands out right off the root and cause a grave case of hair loss. Excessive brushing will put a lot of physical stress on each hair fiber, and it can even cause the cuticle to flake and strip away.
So, there you have it, 7 habits you need to let go off immediately if you don’t wanna lose your beautiful hairs. Adopt good habits instead that will make sure that you always have shiny, silky & healthy hairs to flaunt and garner appreciation for.