Every day we lose anywhere from 50 to 100 strands of hair. On average, it’s normal to lose about 80 strands for both men and women. It’s a natural process, with dying cells releasing hair strands to make a room for new, healthier hair to grow. But what’s happening when your hair continues to fall out in high amounts and starts thinning up?
Hair thinning and excess hair loss can happen for several reasons. Sometimes, these reasons can be genetic, but more often they are the consequences of accumulated stress and hormonal disbalance that affects the hormones that affect hair growth. Lastly, one of the reasons you may be losing your hair is an underlying condition that manifests through this symptom.
So what to do? Is it possible to regrow hair, and what should we do to prevent the further process of losing your hair? The earlier it’s detected the easier it is to regrow hair and make lifestyle changes that are necessary to minimize the stress that affects your hair growth.
Another thing about regrowing your hair is that it doesn’t always come from hair loss. If you’ve cut your hair short and only found it was a bad decision after the haircut was made, we understand. That’s why we wrote this guide and a list of tips and tricks that will help you regrow hair so that it’s shiny and healthy again.
We’ll also unveil the causes of hair loss so that if you noticed some other symptoms, you’ll be able to address the condition and prevent further hair loss and potential baldness.
Causes Of Hair Loss
As we age thinning hair and even mild hair loss are normal. Men will notice that their hair is beginning to thin out as they step into their mid-twenties and thirties. For women, this process may start a little later, but it is not restricted to some age.
Most importantly, genetic predisposition, as well as your diet and hormonal changes, affect how your hair grows and how healthy it will look. Let’s look into the causes of hair loss so that we can be able to prevent it.
Seasons
Have you ever noticed that your hair begins to fall out during the early months or fall or right into the spring months? The seasonal changes affect anything, from our mood to our hormones and it’s possible to experience hair falling off during this time.
Scientists propose that season changing can cause natural hair shedding even in humans, but sometimes too much hair may fall which can spark concern.
For some people, this period may cause intense hair change, and they may even end up noticing a receding hairline which can appear quite scary when experienced that way. Luckily, there’s no big cause for concern, as seasonal hair loss can be reversed in its entirety.
Editor’s notes:
To reverse the process of hair loss caused by seasonal changes there are a couple of things that you can do, read on:
- Cut the split ends before the new season starts. One month before the seasons will change go to the hairdresser and request them to cut your split ends. Get your haircut done if you’re a man because that will make a lot of things easier. Our hair is particularly vulnerable during seasonal changes, which is why we need to remove the split ends that can lead to hair fall.
- Increase the intake of vitamins such as vitamin A and C
- Eat more protein-rich food
Genetics
Pattern baldness is commonly a consequence of genetics and generally runs in the family. What’s more important is that it is more common in men, but can also happen among women.
That’s why you need to look at your family members and relatives to determine whether there is a pattern of hair loss that you identify with. Sometimes you will also need to talk to your family members to have a proper assessment of whether someone in the family suffers from baldness or even a minor hair loss.
According to scientists, it’s possible to predict male pattern hair loss given that there’s a family history of pattern hair loss.
If you’re able to identify a family member or a story that talks about someone from your family becoming bald, then it’s likely that you’ve pinpointed the problem. Nevertheless, genetics is not always the sole culprit behind baldness. Oftentimes, it’s the stress and genetic issues that overwhelm you. Additional stress or an underlying condition can speed up the pattern of baldness that is associated with genetic.
Editor’s notes:
Identifying the genetic reasons behind pattern baldness or hair thinning is the easiest way to detect it. However, oftentimes, it is not the cheapest or easiest reason to solve. It’ll probably require several visits to a dermatologist who can prescribe the right treatment for you to follow.
Don’t read tabloid articles or try out suspicious products that will “help you regrow hair fast.” Chances are that it won’t help at all, and what’s more, it could likely cause even more problems. If the problem is more serious or you didn’t go for fixing your problem earlier, you may have to consider some less or more invasive procedures to restore your hair.
Make sure to talk to a dermatologist or other healthcare professionals that can thoroughly assess your situation.
Stress
Stress plays a great role in the functioning of our organism. It’s no secret that being overly stressed can lead to the release of chemicals that can alter or slow down hair growth. More often than not, it can also cause hair thinning and ultimately pattern baldness.
Many people don’t know that they’re stressed and that it affects their everyday life. They are trying to search for the culprit behind hair thinning, but they realize it’s stress when hair loss already took a toll and made bald spots.
Luckily, hair loss due to stress is fully reversible. However, we have to make certain lifestyle changes and control the amount of stress that we’re taking in our lives. Read below on how to manage stress and prevent further hair loss.
Editor’s notes:
Stress can come in many shapes or forms. To prevent hair loss caused by stress, it’s important to recognize your triggers:
- Eliminate the stressful trigger from your life. Could it be a toxic friend, a new job position that you’re not managing quite well, an extreme diet, or family problems? Find what triggers hair loss and gradually reduce the stress from your life.
- Engage in everyday activities that make you feel relaxed and calm. Find a new exciting hobby
Hormonal Disbalance
Another key culprit of hair recession or even hair loss can be hormonal disbalance. Normally, this can result from stress. When we’re stressed, our body releases a hormone called cortisol which can affect the other hormones and proteins in our body. Hair is made out mostly of proteins, with the most important one being Keratin.
According to a study hormonal changes and imbalance can affect hair growth and even cause it to fall off.
With that in mind, lack of Keratin, key minerals, and amino acids that create important proteins can cause hair thinning and eventually hair recession. Other types of hormonal disbalances can also lead to hair loss. Fortunately, it’s a reversible process.
Editor’s notes:
One of the best ways to regrow hair when hormonal disbalance is the case is to start eating more vitamin and mineral-rich foods. Magnesium, Zinc, and Iron play a great role in metabolic processes in our body which are responsible for creating proteins. That being said, also eating protein-rich food can also fix your hair fall problem.
Alopecia
Alopecia is a type of autoimmune disease that attacks the cells that are responsible for growing your hair. There are different types of Alopecia, with the condition being triggered by an extremely stressful life event or is inherited genetically.
Although Alopecia cannot be prevented, there are medical ways to control it and reduce the risk of hair falling out completely. Given it’s an autoimmune disease it can’t be cured permanently, but the symptoms can improve with proper medication and treatment.
Editor’s notes:
If your hair is suddenly falling off in patches, you likely have alopecia. However, for complete confirmation, it’s necessary to visit a doctor and get it confirmed for yourself. The sooner you evaluate your symptoms the sooner you can start the therapy that will enable you to control and reduce the symptoms of falling hair.
Other Causes For Hair Loss
There is several other conditions that can cause you to lose your hair, but they can be closely tied to some of the causes we listed above.
- Thyroid problems. Iron deficiency can cause the thyroid to not work properly and produce the necessary hormones responsible for the proper functioning of our organism. There are several different autoimmune diseases responsible for the bad functioning of the thyroid. Thyroid problems can affect hair follicles, according to a study.
- Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) – This is an autoimmune disease of the female reproductive system that can cause hair thinning and eventually hair loss.
- Dramatic Weight Fluctuation – If you recently gained or lost a greater amount of weight hair falling off may be a trigger defense mechanism. Sudden weight change also affects our hormones so it can also cause hair loss.
- New Strong Hair Product – Our hair is unique in a way, and just because some hair products may work great on someone else doesn’t mean that it feels good for our hair. Trying out some strong shampoos can cause temporary hair loss, although not dramatic. If you notice this switch back to your normally-used hair products or see a dermatologist.
Can You Regrow Hair?
As mentioned earlier, regrowing your hair is mostly possible. However, how we’ll regrow our hair depends on what causes our hair thinning in the first place.
Below, we’ll consider both natural methods to regrow hair, as well as those that require the attention of a medical expert. Sometimes, rapid hair loss can be a symptom of a serious underlying condition which is why medical care and even less or more invasive procedure are necessary for you to regrow hair.
Of course, your doctor will evaluate which of these methods is necessary to regrow hair, but you can always combine both ways for better results unless your doctor advises otherwise.
Natural Ways To Regrow Hair
If both you and your doctor evaluate that there’s no need for some extreme measurements when it comes to hair growth, you can try to grow your hair naturally. There are many ways to do so, from using hair natural hair masks, to treating your hair with care.
Avoid Ponytails And Braids: Do you find yourself using tight ponytails and braids all the time? Perhaps, you’re putting too much strain on your hair and your scalp fights back with hair loss? Loosen your hair tie, or let your hair loose. It’ll regrow in no time.
Use Natural Oils: Castor oil, coconut oil, Virgin Olive oil, and many others can speed up the process of regrowing your hair in no time. Mix these oils one night before you wash your hair and apply them to the area where hair thinning is visible. It’ll not only help your hair grow. It’ll also make your hair shinier. Other oils such as mint oil can also help the process of regrowing your hair, according to a study.
Massage Your Scalp: Sometimes, all your hair needs is extra blood flow to grow faster and restore the sleepy hair follicles. Massage your hair from 5 to 15 minutes at least two times per day. It’s especially applicable to thinning hair, as massage can restore your hair thickness.
Shampoo with Garlic: It is said that garlic can help hair grow faster. Often, the same is said about the onion. There are various natural and organic shops with natural hair products. The shampoos may not have a good smell, but they’re quite helpful in restoring your hair’s original thickness and shine.
Shampoos And Masks With Aloe Vera Extract: Aloe Vera is one of the most powerful weapons against dandruff that can also lead to hair loss. It feels soothing for the hair and helps improve the thickness and shine of the hair. Also, it guides your hair to regrow.
Enrich Your Diet: As mentioned earlier, if hormonal disbalance or some other similar problem causes hair loss, it’d be good to eat some vitamin and mineral-rich food. What you need is more vitamin B6 and B12, as well as Vitamin E. Lastly, Keratin which is the key hair protein can be found in eggs and other protein-rich food.
Medical Ways To Regrow Hair
Whether you’ve already gone to the doctor or not, it’d be good to read this section carefully and see what could work the best for you in regrowing your hair.
You can also use the tips we listed below to consult with your medical expert and choose what would be the best way to recover your hair loss and help the hair regrow.
Topical Solutions: There are several topical medications such as gels, shampoos, conditioners, and soaps that will possibly be enough to thicken your hair. These topical medicines are mostly used when your hair is falling off due to moisture collected on your scalp. Consult with your doctor about the best options, to make sure you’re not allergic to any active substances in the product. One of the popular options is Minoxidil.
Medications: There are medicines that both require and don’t require a prescription to use. One of the most prescribed medicines is Finasteride, also known as Propecia.
NeoLTS Light Therapy: Whether you’re trying to regrow your hair or heal after a hair transplant and speed up the growth of your hair, NeoLTS Light Therapy treatment is prescribed to help the process. The therapy includes a machine that emits low light to help trigger the hair-growth cells. It makes the hair thicker and healthier, helping the hair follicles in your scalp grow.
FUE Treatment: Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) is a minimally invasive surgical treatment that is used to transplant hair follicles into the spots where baldness is present and spreading. FUE treatment is one of the most popular invasive options to restore hair because it’s not demanding and has an over 98% success rate.