A certain amount of hair loss is to be expected. Every time your brush your hair or take a shower, you expect to see a few errant hairs falling out. As long as they’re not too many, you can live with it.
But what do you do if the shower drain is getting clogged or your brush is too full of hair? Perhaps you’ve noticed your hair is looking thinner, duller, or dryer, and you seem to be pulling out handfuls at a time. How can you treat the hair loss before it gets out of control?
Well, we need to make one thing very clear: not all hair loss can be treated!
Essentially, there are three basic kinds of hair loss:
- Trauma-related hair loss — If you suffer physical, mental, or emotional trauma, it may “shock” your hair from the active growth phase to the shedding phase. Many people lose hair after a car accident, loss of a loved one, or pregnancy, all because of the trauma. Thankfully, this is a hair loss cause that clears up on its own. Your hair will usually grow back in time.
- Hormone or disorder-related hair loss — If you are suffering hair loss as a result of a hormonal imbalance (excessive androgen leading to male and female pattern baldness) or a disorder that causes hair loss (autoimmune conditions where your body treats your hairs and follicles like invaders), you need to look into medical options for treating the hair loss. In many cases, the hair loss can only be slowed, not stopped or prevented completely. Consult your doctor to find out more.
- Other causes of hair loss — If your hair is falling out as a result of insufficient protein, vitamin, or mineral intake, the good news is that you CAN do something about it! The same goes for hair loss caused by poor circulation, poor scalp health, excessive free radical activity in your body, and other causes not related to either of the two listed above.
We’ve come up with a lot of solutions on how to treat hair loss quickly, but they’re all for the “other causes of hair loss”. They all focus on improving the health of your hair, scalp, circulatory system, and body overall, ensuring that your body has everything it needs to create new, healthy hair on its own.
With no further ado, here are our tips to help you know how to treat hair loss quickly the natural way:
Eat Right
The food you eat can have a HUGE effect on your hair health!
Think of your hair (and skin) as your body’s best ways of telling you what’s going on inside you. If things inside your body are off balance, your hair and skin will suffer. If things inside your body are healthy, you’ll have strong, lustrous, and healthy hair.
If your hair is falling out, it may be a very clear sign that you’re not getting enough of certain vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, fatty acids, or amino acids. Eating more of “the right” foods will help to improve the health of your hair.
So what are these “right” foods? Here is a list of foods that will make your hair stronger, longer, and less likely to fall out:
- Salmon — Salmon, and all fatty fish, contain Omega-3 fatty acids. These fatty acids improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and strengthen your heart muscles. They also protect your skin and scalp from infection. The high-fat content of fish will add a beautiful luster to your hair.
- Guava — Did you know that a single guava contains all the Vitamin C you need to consume in a single day? Add two or three of these bad boys to your daily diet, and the influx of Vitamin C will enhance the protection of your hair. This vitamin can reduce the risk of breakage and split ends.
- Yogurt –– If you want healthy hair, you need a lot of protein. Hair is made up of a protein called keratin, which can only be produced if you have enough amino acids. Thankfully, yogurt (particularly Greek yogurt) is an amazing source of protein, one that will help your hair to grow faster. It also contains Vitamin B5, which reduces hair thinning and hair loss.
- Spinach — Spinach is loaded with healthy nutrients, including Vitamin A, Vitamin C, folic acid, iron, and polyphenols. All of these nutrients contribute to making your hair healthier, and they will keep your hair moisturized–thus protected from drying out and becoming brittle. All dark, leafy greens are good for your hair.
- Sweet Potatoes –– Sweet potatoes are rich in beta-carotene, an antioxidant that your body turns into Vitamin A. Beta carotene can help to reduce free radical activity and oxidative stress in your body, improve circulation, and protect your hair from drying out. The vitamin also encourages the sebaceous glands in your scalp to produce more sebum, the skin oil that coats your hair and skin to protect it.
- Red Meat — Red meat isn’t just a good source of protein and metabolism-boosting B vitamins, it’s also one of the best sources of iron. A lack of iron can lead to hair loss, as your body needs iron to produce the red blood cells that bring oxygen and nutrient throughout your body. If there is a shortage of red blood cells, your skin and hair are the first to suffer. By eating more red meat, you give your body more iron, thus ensuring you have all the red blood cells needed to keep your hair and skin healthy–along with the rest of your body, of course!
- Avocadoes — Avocadoes are packed with Vitamin E, which acts as a protective coating to keep moisture locked inside your hair and skin. Without enough Vitamin E, there’s a risk of your hair and scalp drying out. When your hair and scalp get too dry, the hair gets brittle and tends to break. The fatty acids in avocados will also improve your circulation and keep your heart sending oxygen and nutrients to your head.
- Chicken — Poultry is a lean meat, meaning it’s rich in protein but without as much fat as other proteins. Protein helps to keep your hair in the “growing” phase for longer, and a lack of protein causes your hair to enter the “resting” phase. If you want to encourage hair growth and increase the production of new hair cells, you definitely want more protein in your life. Chicken happens to be one of the best proteins around.
- Cinnamon — There are very few foods as effective at boosting circulation as cinnamon! It contains compounds that dilate your blood vessels, increasing the flow of blood throughout your body. The more your blood flows, the more oxygen and nutrients reach your scalp and hair–ergo, the healthier they are!
- Oysters — If you want to have healthy hair, you need more zinc. Zinc plays a role in your immune health, but it also plays a role in the production of new hair. Without zinc, your body can’t produce new hair cells. By getting more zinc, you ensure a steady production of hair cells, leading to longer and stronger hair.
- Eggs — Yet another great source of protein, eggs are also packed with B vitamins, iron, and other vital nutrients. But it’s biotin, a B vitamin, that makes eggs truly awesome for your hair. A biotin deficiency can lead to hair loss, so it’s vital that you get more of this important nutrient in your diet. Few foods contain as much biotin as eggs. Plus, few foods are as delicious!
These are the main foods to eat if you want to know how to treat hair loss quickly, but there are so much more! Basically, if you want to have healthier hair, you need to follow a healthy diet. That means:
- Lots of fruits, veggies, nuts, seeds, and lean proteins
- Some complex carbs (whole grains) and animal fats
- Minimal sugar, caffeine, and alcohol consumption
- NO soda, heavily fried foods, or junk food
Follow this basic diet, and you’ll have much healthier hair as a result!
Massage Your Scalp
Did you know that poor circulation can cause hair loss? Think about it: your blood brings oxygen and nutrients, so if there’s not enough blood flowing to your head, you’re not getting enough nutrients.
Scalp massage is one of the best ways to increase blood flow to your scalp. The massage stimulates the capillaries beneath the skin, and the influx of blood will deliver a steady stream of nutrients to nourish your hair.
How do you massage your scalp? Easy: do it while in the shower!
Let warm water run over your hair, and use your fingers to massage your scalp gently. If you’re applying shampoo or conditioner, even better. The massage will help to stimulate the flow of blood AND ensure the nutrients from the shampoo/conditioner penetrate your hair and scalp more effectively. A few minutes of scalp massage every day can do wonders for your hair health.
Control Stress
Stress is a killer! It won’t just shorten your life and increase your risk of health problems, but it will kill off your hair.
When you’re stressed, your body produces a lot of cortisol. This hormone keeps your body in “fight or flight” mode long after it should have returned to normal. It can also lead to hormonal imbalances that may contribute to your hair loss.
There’s no way to avoid stress completely, but you do need to find ways to cope with it. Try these methods:
- Every hour, take 2 minutes to sit in silence with your eyes closed and just focus on your breathing.
- Every hour or so, take a short walk around the office to give your mind and body a break.
- Take time off on the weekends, and disconnect from everything and everyone.
- Find activities that you enjoy, and which help you to relax.
The more you fight stress, the healthier and happier you’ll be!
Other Unique Remedies to Try
Here are a few more awesome remedies to try:
- Make a paste of 1 tablespoon of ground licorice root and 1 cup of milk. Apply it to the patches of thinning hair, let it sit overnight, and rinse in the morning. Licorice root is excellent for opening your pores, reducing irritation and inflammation, and soothing your scalp.
- Use aloe vera to promote hair growth. The alkalizing enzymes in aloe vera will restore your scalp to a healthier pH, reduce itching and dandruff, and add strength to your hair.
- Use onion juice. It may be stinky, but the high sulfur content of the juice will improve circulation to your scalp. Grate the onion, strain it to extract the juice, apply it to your hair, and let it sit for 30 minutes. Check out more info on red onion juice for hair growth here.
- Give your scalp an oil massage, using tea tree oil (diluted to 5%), almond oil, coconut oil, or essential oils. The oil will protect and nourish your hair and scalp, and the massage will stimulate blood flow.
- Use Indian gooseberry, or amla. Mix amla paste with coconut oil, and use it to massage your scalp. The combination is highly effective!
- Mix 1 egg with a tablespoon of honey, and apply it to the patches of thinning hair. Honey is a potent antibacterial (anti-dandruff) agent, and eggs are loaded with vital nutrients.
Ultimate Solution: Visit Your Doctor
If you’re not sure what’s causing the hair loss, it may be a good idea to visit your doctor. The underlying cause may be nutrition-related, or it could have something to do with your hormone levels. Talk to your physician to find out if there is a hormone-based cause behind your hair loss, and take steps to deal with the problem before you really start losing hair!
