On an average, most folks lose around 100 strands of hair every single day, varying from 120 to 150 thousand hairs in total. Hair loss generally occurs slowly due to hormonal changes and aging for both sexes. Pattern baldness is inherited with close to 50 percent of men become bald by age 30. Massive hair loss is due to medication, illness, stress or childbirth and it can and should be managed hand-in-hand with your medical practitioner. But if you want to prevent rapid hair loss in an effective way, there are multiple options out there for you.
Tips To Combat Rapid Hair Loss
Try Medication and Lotions
Opt for lotions intended for combating hair loss. If there is thinning hair, consider a non-prescription foam or even lotion with chemicals such as minoxidil in this, like Rogaine. It has chemicals that lead to hair follicle enlargement and boost hair growth. One takes up to four months to get the results and it needs to be used two times a day for a long period of time.
However, bear in mind that minoxidil irritates your scalp and leads to redness, itching, and flaking and for those with scalp sensitivity, another way to manage hair loss is needed. Consider treatments for hair loss other than minoxidil if you cannot handle thinning that occurs once its use stops. Minoxidil has also been demonstrated to be effective in 7 of 10 men for hair re-growth and slowing down of hair loss. If a woman is breastfeeding, minoxidil should not be taken as it contaminates breastmilk.
For male-patterned baldness, the medicines include finasteride that blocks the enzyme associated with converting testosterone to DHT/dihydrotestosterone. DHT is associated with hair thinning and patterned baldness that shrinks hair follicles and influences hair growth consequently. Finasteride is effective for men and women who want to check hair loss, allowing the regrowth of hair loss. Know if one is taking finasteride, hair loss may be likely to persist.
Another option is to combine hair pills and lotions for combating hair loss. Given there are greater results required for preventing hair loss, the treatments should be combined. Minoxidil could be externally used along with finasteride tablets together. But, care should be taken that the treatment is indefinite, costly and tough to persevere with, over time.
Herbal Remedies to Prevent Hair Fall
#1 Bhringraj
This is also known as eclipta alba. It is an ancient and popular hair loss remedy found in Ayurveda in olden times. Used in Ayurvedic system of medication to slow down balding and hair loss, it also helps in regrowing hair and helping in combating premature graying. Applying this herb topically can lower the time taken for hair to grow back. It also combats hair loss by increasing the number of hair follicles in the growth phase. You can apply eclipta-alba oil at an online or local market. There is also a choice of making your own oil by heating around fifty grams of bhringraj plant crushed or grounded in oil of about 200ml. Use the coconut oil for the best results.
Keep the leaves in the oil overnight and then strain oil. Eclipta-alba oil can be massaged into the scalp and head once each day.
#2 Indian Gooseberry
This herbal fruit is also known as amla. Its botanical name is Phyllanthus Emblica. You can make a rinse containing Indian gooseberry which is extremely nutritious and an excellent source of carotene, vitamin C, and iron nutrients. It has been used since the olden times to prevent and stop hair loss.
The Indian gooseberry or amla rinse can be made from amla pieces soaked in water overnight. You need to regularly rinse with amla water once the hair has been shampooed. Dried amla pieces warmed with coconut oil until the oil becomes dark and then, it should be cooled and the oil strained and applied to the scalp daily.
Amla or Indian gooseberry is the preferred cure for hair loss because it has plenty of vitamin C. Another good way to combat hair loss is grinding the amla into a pulp, adding some lemon juice, applying it on the scalp and rinsing it off.
#3 Aloe Vera
Another great cure for hair loss which is herbal is aloe vera. Such a hair mask can be very useful for fending off hair loss. Aloe Vera stimulates the follicles of the hair and removes dead-skin cells that clog these and damages hair growth. Aloe vera-based juice/gel can be purchased from the shop. You can also get the gel off a plant. To use the mask, mix 1/2 a cup of aloe vera gel with 2 tablespoons castor oil and mix this. Apply this to a scalp, cover your hair and keep it on for about eight hours before rinsing it off. Repeat this often.
For using aloe vera leaves for gel, cut off thick leaves at the plant’s base. Cut open the leaf and collect the gel from inside it.
#4 Try Yucca
This plant is another herbal remedy for rapid hair loss. Yucca can be used in the hair and is a Native American remedy for hair loss. People use it to cure baldness. This herb specifically works to counter hair loss in the following way. Its root contains saponins that reduce itching and inflammation. Yucca can easily be purchased at the store. Here’s how you can use it.
Peel the root and crush it before mixing with a shampoo or massage it directly into the hair. Rinse and then repeat on a regular basis. You can either use Yucca extract or a single tablespoon of root powder in 2 regular cups of water for shampooing as well.
Get Head Massages
Regular head massages increase the flow of blood to a scalp, nourishing hair follicles. These strengthen the hair and prevents rapid hair thinning or loss. It also helps to lower stress, which is associated with hair loss. Get your scalp massaged twice or thrice per week for treating hair loss.
Avoid Stressors
One of the biggest factors in hair loss are stressors. Stress can trigger hair loss, changing the way hair thrives on the head and causing large amounts to be shed at a single time. Daily events can really pile on the stress, so conquering hair loss is about avoiding the stress and anxiety as well.
Try Meditation
Another useful means of lowering stress and bringing down anxiety is to use meditation techniques. Meditational techniques can help you to remain calm and impact your physical and emotional health, not just your hair growth.
It is important to take a 5-minute break and close the eyes while focusing on breathing. Take deep breaths through the nose, focusing on how the breath feels as it traverses the chest. Feel the air going through and exhale your nose. Repeat this for some counts till you feel relaxed in every pore of your body.
Always Exercise
Exercising regularly is another way to help the body and raise blood circulation. It also keeps stressors at bay. Walk, try yoga, play sports or swim – the trick is to find an exercise routine that keeps you active and is enjoyable at the same time. Exercise further releases endorphins which also keep stress at bay. Stress is one of the main triggers for hair loss.
Avoid Chemicals
Hair dyes, perms, sprays, heat and relaxers are all at the root of hair loss. They cause hair damage and also increase the brittleness and dryness of hair strands. Chemicals are one of the prime causes of hair loss. Harsh sulfates and parabens can ruin your hair.
Use Hair Conditioner
Whether it’s warm olive oil or just a natural conditioner like an egg, using this twice a week improves hair growth and hair loss. Specifically, the egg is protein rich and it can keep hair loss at bay.
Brush Hair Regularly
Another important means of ensuring regular, persistent hair maintenance is to keep your hair well brushed. Tangles cause breakage so it is essential to shampoo the hair and brushes it daily. Scalp secretes oil when the hair is combed and this stimulates hair growth. But beware of brushing wet hair or drying it aggressively. Try to treat your hair gently and you will be rewarded with healthy hair.
Additionally, certain hairstyles such as cornrows, ponytails or tight braids also cause hair breakage, and it is important not to do it this way if you don’t want to lose more than normal amounts of hair. Always use a brush using a soft bristled or a wide-toothed comb for the best results.
Eat Healthy Foods
Some vitamin-based and nutritional deficiencies can lead to hair loss. Ensure you eat plenty of green and leafy veggies, fruits, omega-3 acids, whole grain, and proteins. Take the whole foods derived multivitamin to keep hair and skin healthy.
For example, Omega 3 fatty acids boost hair follicles, keep the elasticity of the hair and prevent breakage while promoting hair growth. For the best fish oil, try salmon and sardines. If you are vegan, go for flaxseeds and walnuts. Vegetarians would also benefit from soybeans. Take omega 3 fatty acid supplements too.
For those facing a zinc deficiency, hair loss is common. Zinc is needed for hair repair and growth, so eat foods rich in these like crabs, lean meat, wheatgerm, squash, oysters, spinach, sunflower seeds plus nuts in your diet.
Also, ensure that vitamins C and A are included in the diet. These can produce oil secreted by the hair follicles that keeps hair strong. Consume sweet potatoes, chards, spinach, collard greens, lettuce, swiss chard, winter squash for vitamin A. Additionally, Vitamin C can be found in peppers, papaya, pineapples, strawberries, Brussel sprouts, kiwi, broccoli, oranges, and kale.
Get to the Root of the Problem
Diagnosing the reason for hair loss is also important. There are so many reasons for hormonal changes to radiation therapy and medication. Locate the areas where thinning is common and monitor the hair loss whenever you comb or shampoo the hair.
Opt for Natural Hair Products
Try to avoid shampoos that contain silicone, sulfate or paraben and avoid loading your hair and scalp with heavy chemicals that can trigger rapid hair loss. Controlling chemical harm is the way to cut down on hair loss.
Top brands for natural hair products include The Nature’s Co, Soul Tree, and The Body Shop.
Wash Hair Regularly
Another way out is to regularly wash hair once in 3 day-periods with a gentle hair cleanser or a shampoo for removing dust, bacteria, oil, and dirt building up. Make it clean if you want to avoid hair-fall from the clogged follicles. Don’t wash your hair more than 3 times per week, because overwashing the hair strips it of natural oils needed for healthy growth of hair.
Try Hair Oil Treatments
Oiling your hair for 12 hours can make a big difference to hair health. Sticky or oily hair or application of oils like castor seeds, almond and coconut should be avoided. Leaving hair oiled for 12 hours provides enough time for the coating of the strands and offers nourishment of the scalp. Additionally, dead cells and dandruff are easily separated by the application and you can then remove these through a shampoo the day after.
Here’s a hair oil treatment you can try:
- Place 2 tablespoons of carrier oil such as castor, olive, coconut or almond in the bowl.
- Dip the fingers into the bowl and massage the oil into the hair.
- Give your scalp a massage for 15 minutes till the entire scalp is seeped in oil.
- Then mix the oil across the entire length of the hair.
- Leaving the oil overnight, it is important to wash it using shampoo the next morning.
- In case you find the notion of applying oil overnight tough to manage, apply the oil 60 minutes before bathing.
- Specifically, warm oils can enter into the scalp pores and increase the blood flow in a given area.
Here’s how you can go about it. Pour the oil in a bowl and heat it till it is slightly warm. Dipping in the fingers, start massaging the hair with oil. Giving oneself a massage for 15 minutes till the entire scalp is massaged with oil. Coat hair strands in oil from the root to the tip. Leave it on for 30 to 45 minute-periods. Wrap the hair using a hot towel at this time. Then wash out the oil with regular shampoo.
You can also use oil blends like almond, coconut and castor oil or lavender oil mixed with vitamin E.
You can also use natural oils like coconut, olive, sesame and jojoba for the best results. Counter hair falls and encourages hair growth. Hair fall issues occur due to poor scalp health. Using hair oil treatments 2 times a week can stimulate and nourish the scalp by improving the circulation of the blood and ensuring hair follicles get plenty of nutrition.
This also averts situations like dandruff, brittleness and flaking. It improves scalp health and the power of the hair. It also helps to keep the hair conditioned. However, oil is not the only nourishing treatment.
Opt for Homemade Masks
Homemade hair masks offer plenty of benefits. They are convenient, not costly and excellent for eliminating hair fall without exposing hair to harmful chemicals. This strengthens, nourishes and beautifies the hair.
#1 Green Tea Plus Egg
For this, you will need two tablespoons of green tea, one egg yolk, and a shower cap. Processing period is around thirty minutes. The egg yolk needs to be taken in a bowl that is clean and 2 tablespoons of green tea recently prepared are added to it. Then you need to mix the two into a creamy consistency, which should not be too thick. After parting the hair from the scalp’s center, apply this mask to the hair and scalp strands. Then cover the hair with shower caps. This should be left on for thirty minutes and then rinsed off with fresh water and a regular shampoo.
Repeat this two to three times a day. The reason this works is that green tea has potent antioxidants. This not only prevents hair fall but also boosts the growth of the hair. Eggs are also a popular ingredient for nourishing the hair. They have high protein/keratin content which is excellent for conditioning the hair.
Have a Hair Spa Session
Salons offer a lot of spa treatments to nourish, strengthen and condition the hair. The treatment really works out well for women who are stressed out and busy. The treatment boosts hair health and is the perfect way to de-stress and relax.
Hair spa treatments also deep condition the hair, combating split ends plus preventing hair from becoming dull, dry and damaged. It can also eliminate dandruff. Further, this treatment provides the hair and the scalp for treatment needed for nourishing the scalp and the follicles in the hair and strengthening the hair strands, contributing to the growth of hair.
This also prevents the aging of the scalp and enhances scalp blood circulation with a massage that is stimulating. It removes dirt and other impurities from the scalp and hair, preventing clogging or building-up, causing hair health to improve. This hair spa offers a lot of value for combating hair fall.
Maintain a Healthy Diet
When it concerns hair healthiness, what one eats matters as much as what is put on the hair. Maintaining a diet which is balanced and healthy is crucial for averting and battling hair loss. Foods rich in iron, vitamins A, C, B Complex, and E, zinc, omega 3 fatty acids plus proteins should also be consumed. These foods go the distance for keeping hair nourished and moisturized, leading to less hair fall, lower chances of splitting ends and curbed breakages.
Add more fiber-rich nutritious food to the diet, like whole grains, carrots, oats, brown-rice, green veggies, lentils, as well as sweet potatoes, and citrus fruits. Also choose flax-seeds, walnut, groundnut and fish like tuna and salmon besides eggs, yogurt, beans, and cheeses low in fat.
Avoid fat-rich foods and processed junk foods. Go in for less fizzy drinks and avoid all types of Alcohol and smoking.
It is also crucial to have a diet high in protein. This includes a diet rich in Omega 3 and 6 acids and Vitamin E for preventing too much hair fall. It is also important to consume plenty of water across a dy to prevent the body from a buildup of harmful toxins.
Certain minerals like zinc, sulfur, magnesium, and silica also help in maintaining hair health. Another crucial addition to the diet is beta-carotene. This is converted to retinol as the body requires it. It maintains normal bone and growth development, fending off brittle hair and forming a protective sheath around hair ends.
Hair is also a form of protein, so a diet meager in protein causes thinning of the hair or retarding the cycle of growth. The other way round is also correct; it also results in improved growth of hair. Nutritional experts also indicate that daily consumption of wheat-germ and lecithin also maximize growth of hair and increase its strength.
Other essential protein sources include eggs, beans, fish, as well as yogurt. Soy-protein also stimulates hair growth.
Too much stress and medications also hamper hair growth. If you suffer from medical conditions and the doctor has prescribed medication, you need to have this but try natural remedies so hair growth is not impacted.
Hair Supplements
Eating the right foods, reducing stress, getting plenty of rest are just some of the ways to boost hair health. Eat quality supplements that contain minerals and vitamins or your own formula can also be made. Along with lifestyle changes, these supplements can boost hair growth:
- Vitamin-B complex such as biotin, inositol, and folate.
- Vitamin C with bioflavonoids
- Vitamin B6
- Vitamin E
- Beta Carotene
- A daily magnesium, zinc, and sulfur dosage.
- Silica or horsetail
- Nettle
- Flaxseed Oil
Apply Natural Juices & Conditioners
For our health, natural juices are extremely beneficial and the same holds true for the hair. Too much hair loss can be controlled by using home remedies for hair loss. For this, you need to rub the scalp with ginger juice, onion juice or garlic juice. Leave the application overnight. Then, wash it in the morning with a regular shampoo.
Also, try to use natural conditioners such as mayo which has egg in it. Apply the mayo paste in the hair and leave it on for an hour, covering this using a shower cap.
Another great choice is green tea – this has potent antioxidants in it and two green tea bags can be used for a single cup of water. You need to boil this and let it cool. Then rinse the hair with water and leave it for 60 minutes. Then rinse the hair with normal water.
Another natural remedy to prevent hair loss is boiling potatoes and rosemary in water and using the liquid residue as a hair rinse before washing your hair.
Yet another option is methi seeds which can be soaked and crushed overnight for making a paste the next morning. Use the paste directly or mix it with sour curd and apply the same on the hair strands. Leave it on for an hour with the shower cap on. Wash it well with a good shampoo and condition the hair. Methi seeds leave a certain smell, so washing the hair thoroughly is important.
Another obvious natural conditioner is coconut milk. It is wonderful for regrowing the hair on account of the fats and proteins in it. Along with regrowth, it also stops the thinning of the hair. The first step is to grind the grated coconut for extracting the milk. Then, you need to apply this on the ends and scalp. After about an hour, wash this with shampoo. You can also add rosemary to the concoction for wonderful lubrication.
Thus, there are many natural cures as well as dietary and exercise precautions you need to take. Herbal remedies, natural supplements, oils, juices, and conditioners are all very useful for giving your hair the protection it needs to be healthy, strong and thick.