It’s normal to lose hair. Often, it’s a combination of treatments of dyes and permanents, happens during a quick brush, during your morning shower or while blow-drying – that does the damage. On an average, we lose about 50-100 strands of hair a day. Which is very normal, as there will be a new one to replace. A more gradual increase in hair loss can accompany aging in both men and women; for about 2/3 of all men and 2/5 of women, genetic factors combine with aging to cause significant, noticeable hair loss.
Here are some causes of losing hair and what can you do to control them.
The cause of female baldness is mainly through:
Hormonal changes and imbalances can also cause temporary hair loss. This could be due to menopause, thyroid issues, diabetes, pregnancy and even medication such as birth control pills that contain high levels of progestin also can cause hair loss. Hormones are thought to play a central role in age-related hair loss. Eating sugary foods and refined carbohydrates makes this problem worse. More common in men, this type of hair thinning can begin as early as puberty.
Genes, family history of male or female pattern baldness.
While you can’t change your genes, if you give them different signals, they will behave differently. The gene can be inherited from either your mother’s or father’s side of the family, though you’re more likely to have it if both of your parents had hair loss. Nutrition and toxins will always have an effect on how genes express. With genetic predispositions, all you can do is give your cells what they need to be healthy while protecting them from toxins. While many people have been able to greatly curtail and even reverse age-related hair loss with such an approach, it’s impossible to predict exact results.
Other common nutrient deficiencies result in hair loss, vitamin-B complex, especially biotin (promotes nail and hair growth), iodine, silica and sulfur vitamins A, B6, B12, folic acid, biotin, vitamin C, copper, iron, and zinc. Hair loss can be a sign of vitamin A toxicity, as well as deficiencies. Megadose biotin also has this reputation. Be careful with iron, however; both deficiency and overdosing of iron cause hair loss. Vitamins B6, B12, folic acid, copper, and iron are necessary for the normal formation of red blood cells that supply oxygen to the hair shaft.
It can also be a side effect of certain medications, such as antidepressants, beta-blockers, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Many prescription drugs can cause hair loss. Cancer patients treated with chemotherapeutic drugs may lose up to 90 percent of their hair, but it eventually is re-grown after the treatment.
For some, stress can also be another cause of hair loss.
Here are some best remedies for hair loss for women:
1. Oil treatments: Take any natural oil – olive, almond, mustard oil, coconut, canola – Jojoba oil may help with hair loss when applied to the scalp.
Here are some steps to get started:
- Heat up the oil so that it is warm, but not too hot.
- Massage it gently into your scalp for about 15 minutes (help stimulate blood circulation)
- Put on a shower cap and leave it on for an hour.
- Shampoo and Condition your hair.
2. Natural Fruits/ Juices
You can rub your scalp with garlic juice, onion juice or ginger juice. Leave it on overnight and wash it thoroughly in the morning.
Drinking fruit juices not only reduces our thirst, but it also has numerous health benefits of our hair and body. In fact, drinking a variety of juices made from fresh fruits promotes good health and body strength. It also serves as an excellent natural hair loss treatment. A variety of fruits contain vitamins and minerals to get that awesome shine and some luster to your hair, as well as to maintain the health and quality of the hair strands. You will also notice a difference in increased energy levels and a healthy vibrant looking complexion.
3. Vitamin Supplements:
A high-potency multivitamin and multi-mineral daily.
• Vitamin-B complex. Take a supplement containing 100 milligrams of most of the major B vitamins. Also take an additional 50 milligrams of biotin daily.
• Vitamin C. Take 1,000 milligrams twice a day.
• Vitamin E. Take 400 international units daily, with 100 micrograms of selenium to aid its absorption.
• Iron. Take 50 milligrams daily.
• Zinc. Take 50 milligrams daily, with food and with 2 milligrams of copper.
• Silica. Take 250 milligrams twice a day.
• Free-form amino acid complex. Take 2 grams (2,000 milligrams) three times a day, before or after meals.
4. Coconut Milk:
Coconut milk is among the richest sources of tissue-nourishing, plant derivatives. Grind the grated coconut and squeeze it to remove its juice. Massaging coconut milk (juice) on the scalp can also help in the management of hair fall.
5. Aloe Vera:
Aloe Vera juice is very effective to stop hair loss. Pure aloe gel can be applied directly to the scalp. This is helpful for preventing hair loss due to irritated, dry or infected scalp. Aloe Vera balances the pH level of scalp. After massaging the head with aloe gel, wait for few hours and then wash the hair with lukewarm water. You should do this twice a week for best results.
6. Neem Treatment:
Neem is one of the most sort after herbs in the country! It has many benefits, both health and beauty. And when it comes to beauty, it has some very effective hair benefits too.
How to use:
- Boil neem leaves in water until the water level falls to half its initial quantity and then cool it.
- Rinse out your hair with the mixture once a week.
Boil dried amla in coconut oil till the oil turns black in color. Massage your scalp with this oil. This is an effective and very easy home remedy to check hair loss.
There are also other ways where we can include amla in our hair care routine.
- Use amla and shikakai powder than you can buy in Ayurvedic stores. Mix them both and make a paste. Apply this to your hair. Leave it on for a few minutes and wash off after a few minutes.
Caution: If you have dry hair, skip the shikakai.
- The most effective method, however, is to drink amla and shikakai juice. Yes, it tastes terrible, but if skip the preference of the taste buds once a day, the results will definitely be worth it.
8. Hair fall preventive packs:
When hair fall is really severe, then a preventive hair pack is the way to go. Here are a few packs, you can try at home.
- Pack 1: Aloe Vera mixed with herbal Amla, shikakai and neem powder gives lustrous hair.
- Pack 2: Henna, egg whites and curd when used together stops hair fall.
- Pack 3: Honey, olive oil, cinnamon mixed together make for a soothing yet effective hair growth pack.
9. No Junk food Please:
Unhealthy lifestyle, eating junk food and all these unhealthy habits leads to hair loss due to high levels of toxins in the body. So, start drinking lots and lots of water.
When you use hair fall remedies at home it is necessary to keep a few tips in mind. A few necessary precautions. Here they are.
- Check to make sure that you aren’t allergic to any of the ingredients mentioned in the preparatory products. Even though herbs cause a lot less reactions than chemicals, some people are known to have allergies to a few specific ingredients.
- Always follow the instructions precisely. Some herbs are used for many different purposes and when the preparation changes, the use may also vary. This will not help your condition, but it may also cause further harm.