8 Best Ways to Prevent Hair Loss

16 May, 2022  |  Vib - vib

If you have been searching for ways to keep your hair healthy and prevent hair loss, you will find numerous ideas online. Some will tell you how to stop balding and others will present ways to regrow any lost hair. However, not everything works as presented, and that is why we have put together a  hand-picked list of hair growth methods that can help you maximise the health of your hair and scalp.

Reduce stress

When you're under a lot of stress, your hair follicles can enter into a state known as 'Telogen Effluvium'.

When you start to produce excess Telogen Effluvium, a substantial fraction of your hair follicles enter a "resting" stage, known as a 'telogen phase', which is the opposite of the active growth stage known as the 'anagen phase'.

Hair follicles in the telogen phase do not grow at the average pace and eventually start to shed.

Fortunately, Telogen Effluvium begins to reverse and enter the growth stage again after the stressor has passed.

Eat Healthy Foods

Food products with nutrients and vitamins in the right amount are all practical tools for slowly growing hair. Foods that contain Vitamins A, C, D, E, proteins, zinc and iron are all vital hair loss prevention tools. Some of the best food items that contain these ingredients are:

• meat, fish and poultry
  

• Seafood

• Eggs

• Milk

• Strawberries

• sweet potatoes

• Carrots

• Spinach

• Cantaloupe

• papaya

Massage the scalp

Is it normal to see your scalp through your hair? - No, it’s not, and there are ways to address it. Scalp massages are great at promoting hair growth and many studies in recent years show a definite link between a scalp massage and improved hair growth. When the scalp is massaged for an average of 4 minutes every day for 24 weeks, the massage upregulates hair growth genes and increases the thickness of shafts of hair. The hair growth-boosting effects of scalp massages have been attributed to the stretching force applied to the scalp's epidermal cells. This means that the massage can be given by a massage machine or a manual massage from a masseuse. There isn't any drawback to this method for promoting hair growth, so give scalp massages a try if you want to try a non-invasive hair growth method.

Use coconut oil 

Coconut oil has been found to penetrate deep into the hair shaft and effectively aid hair growth.

In a recent study, the effects of coconut oil were observed in both damaged and non-damaged hair. The results showed that it helps to minimise protein loss in both types of hair. Therefore, coconut oil may improve hair's general health and prevent hair loss due to injury.

Coconut oil is safe to use, inexpensive, does not block any pores, and appears to improve the health of the hair and scalp, which could lead to reduced shedding.

Use Vitamins and Supplements

The vitamins and supplements listed below have been observed to be effective aids for encouraging average, healthy hair growth:

Iron, zinc, l-Lysine, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, and Vitamin E are essential vitamins for the hair and the body.

Biotin, also called vitamin B₇, is another vital supplement that is effective and improves the growth of hair and nails. For Biotin, you should plan to consume about 2 mg to 5mg per day.

While taking supplements for hair growth, one factor to keep in mind is that if you are already getting a daily dose of these through food, your body will eliminate the extra vitamins and supplements, leaving no noticeable change in your hair.

The advantage of vitamins and supplements is that any of your deficiencies will be addressed and more hair growth will follow. For example, taking Biotin through a supplement is an effective hair growth strategy on its own as it is water-soluble, and it is rapidly absorbed by the body and starts improving hair growth right away.

Use Hair loss conditioners and shampoos

Hair growth conditioners and shampoos work by increasing blood flow to the scalp, stimulating hair growth, and providing essential nutrients. However, the results are limited due to the short amount of time they remain active in your scalp.

If an unhealthy scalp causes your hair problems, hair loss shampoos and conditioners may be able to help.

If you suffer from excess shedding of dandruff or if you have psoriasis on your scalp, you may be rapidly losing hair, and a shampoo that targets the problem may help.

Another possible cause of hair loss is if your current shower routine and hair care contain chemicals that end up drying out your hair or leaving a buildup of chemicals on your scalp, which ends up causing hair loss. If this is the case, you should move to a more scalp-friendly hair care routine. For good hair growth, your scalp needs to stay clean and hydrated.

Some shampoos designed for hair loss may improve the moisture and hydration in your scalp and hair shaft, giving the strands of hair a better appearance.

Most hair loss shampoos and conditioners contain less irritating chemicals, promote a healthy scalp, and may help alleviate issues causing hair loss. However, if you already have a healthy scalp and get the proper nutrients, these shampoos and conditioners will not have a noticeable effect.

Use Essential oils 

Essential oils are a tried and tested hair loss treatment. By applying essential oils to your scalp, hair growth, improved blood flow, gloss and hydration are all improved. Some popular essential oils for hair loss are; Cedarwood, Clary Sage, Almond, Geranium, Jojoba, Rosemary and Lavender. 

Try laser treatments

Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a relatively new hair growth technique available to anyone who can afford it. In one of the studies done to ascertain the effectiveness of LLLT, men who used an LLLT cap every second day for 16 weeks saw an increase of 35% in hair growth, while the placebo group did not notice any significant difference in hair growth increase. The people who took part in this study also reported that, unlike other laser treatments, LLLT has no side effects, and the process is painless and easy. Long term studies still need to be done to compare the efficacy of LLLT to past treatment methods, but it looks to be a promising method to improve hair growth.

Conclusion

How to stop hair loss immediately may well be your immediate concern, but for lasting success, you need to do it properly by using a blend of the best hair loss prevention techniques and other ways mentioned in this article. For example, lowering your stress levels and consuming healthier foods are all methods that you should try before moving on to other techniques. Coconut oil is generally good for the health of the hair and scalp, and as far as natural hair growth methods go, it is one of the best out there. Supplements for hair growth can work as advertised, but you will need to watch your intake of supplements to avoid taking too much of them. Conditioners and shampoos designed to aid in hair growth can be of great help, but they will fail to have any effect if your scalp is already healthy. Similarly, essential oils can also be worth trying after being diluted enough not to irritate the scalp. Lastly, Laser treatments, such as low-level laser therapy, is costly but has been found to induce hair growth quite effectively.