How To Stop And Reduce Hair Fall – 14 Things That Worked For Me

Who hasn’t had a hair loss scare? All of us, at some point, start to fear that we might be losing too much hair. While most of the time it’s just a false alarm, and our hair’s routine shedding, in some cases, it is more than that. But what could be causing the unexpected hair loss?

If you have been experiencing hair fall, and have reason to believe that it’s not just your shedding cycle, the first thing to do would be to find out what’s causing the problem. But first, let’s dismiss some common myths concerning hair fall, discuss how hair growth works, and why hair fall occurs.

All You Need To Know About Your Hair

1. Myths Concerning Hair Fall
2. Hair Growth- The Stages
3. Patterns Of Hair Fall- Types Of Hair Loss
4. Causes Of Hair Fall
5. Tips For Treating Hair Loss

i) Get The Right Diagnosis
ii) Use The Right Comb
iii) Towel Dry The Right Way
iv) Choose Your Products Wisely
v) Wash Your Hair Thrice A Week
vi) Style It Right
vii) Natural Treatments
viii) Keep Your Scalp Healthy
ix) Yoga And Exercise
x) Take Supplements
xi) Homemade Treatments
xii) Salon Treatments
xiii) Diet
xiv) Anti-Hair Fall Products

1. Myths Concerning Hair Fall

Myth 1- Only Men Are Affected By Balding

Let me make this very clear: Experiencing hair loss doesn’t indicate that there is something wrong with one of your ‘X’ chromosomes. It is actually pretty common for women to experience hair fall. In fact, 40% of women are affected by hair loss at some point in their lives.

Myth 2- Washing Your Hair Too Often Is The Problem

The next time someone gives you this little piece of unwanted advice, please feel free to laugh at them. Granted, washing your hair more than thrice a week is a bit excessive, but it does not cause hair loss.

Myth 3- Brushing = Balding

No, brushing does NOT make you bald. I mean, unless you are yanking the hair right out of your skull with a brush, this isn’t a thing. However, brushing your hair when it is wet is a big no-no as this causes breakage.

Myth 4- Coloring And Hair Treatments Will Lead To Hair Loss

What’s the point of having hair if you can’t have fun with it? As long as you go about it the right way and avoid over processing, you’re good. However, there are certain hair treatments that list hair fall as a possible side effect, so it is always a good idea to do your research before you opt for an extreme treatment.

Myth 5- Shaving Your Head Will Fix The Problem

Shave your head if you please. But if you’re expecting your hair to be thicker when it grows, you will be disappointed.

While the little things do matter, hair fall is often the result of a bigger problem. To understand why you are losing hair, you need to first understand how hair growth works. I’m not going to give you a biology lesson, but here’s a little bit of information that can help you understand the problem better:

2. Hair Growth – The Stages

Have you ever wondered why your hair does not grow past one point no matter how much you try? This is because, contrary to popular belief, your hair has a life cycle of 3-5 years after which it falls out to let a new hair grow in its place.

Stage 1: Anagen

This is the phase when the hair grows out from the follicles, and the shaft is continuously constructed, increasing the length of your hair. This phase can last for 2-6 years.

Stage 2: Catagen

In this phase, your hair prepares to go into resting. This stage can last for about 2 weeks.

Stage 3: Telogen

The last phase is the resting phase wherein the hair stops growing and eventually falls out to let a new hair replace it. This phase lasts for about 5-6 weeks.

10-20% of your hair is always in resting at any given time. Hair loss occurs when your hair falls out without completing this 3 stage cycle. The hair loss becomes permanent when the follicle stops producing hair, leading to balding. There are two types of hair fall that can lead to balding; keep reading to find out what they are.

3. Patterns Of Hair Fall – Types Of Hair Loss

Pattern 1: Telogen Effluvium

If you have been experiencing loss of hair from all over your scalp and body, it is likely that you have Telogen Effluvium.

Telogen Effluvium occurs when more than 20% of your follicles suddenly go into the telogen phase, decreasing the number of follicles that are actively growing hair. This results in the loss of volume and, eventually, balding.

Pattern 2: Androgenic Alopecia

This condition is more commonly known as female pattern baldness and is hormonal. Hair starts to fall off when the male sex hormone testosterone is converted into dihydrotestosterone and starts to attack the hair follicles, rendering them useless and curbing hair growth.

Female pattern baldness is strikingly different from the male pattern baldness. The primary symptoms of female pattern baldness include the following:

• Hair thinning in female pattern baldness is observed mainly on the top and the crown area. Balding starts with the widening of the center hair part.
• The front hairline remains unaffected in most patients.
• The hair loss may be acute, but it does not lead to complete or near total baldness, as it does in men
• More hair loss observed during showers and while brushing your hair.

• 4. What Causes Hair Fall?

  Causes of hair fall vary from person to person. While in some cases external factors might be responsible, issues such as some serious medical conditions, lack of nutrition and heredity are also leading causes of baldness in most patients. Check out some of the top factors that might cause premature hair loss in women.

  a. Hereditary Factors

• Baldness is often passed down through genes. If your parents have a hair loss problem, it is likely that you will as well. While this is more evident in men, women too suffer from genetically inherited alopecia.

  b. Hormonal Changes

• Hormonal changes in the body increase the sensitivity of hair follicles, weaken hair roots, and cause excess hair fall. Menopause, ovarian cyst, hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, etc., bring about changes in your body’s hormonal balance, which eventually leads to hair loss.
• c. Pregnancy
• Most women, during, and post pregnancy, experience frequent dehydration, fatigue, and hormonal imbalance. This causes increased sensitivity in the hair follicles. It also creates unfavorable scalp conditions. All of these factors together lead to chronic hair fall.

  d. Physical And Mental Stress

• Persistent illness, drastic and excessive weight loss, and extreme physical labor can cause the body to get dehydrated and exhausted. This can make the hair follicles undernourished and weak, and cause rapid hair loss.

  e. Scalp Infection

• Fungal, bacterial, and viral infections like seborrhea dermatitis and psoriasis in the scalp can weaken the roots and damage hair follicles, thereby causing thinning, breakage, and hair fall.

  f. Alopecia Areata

• This is an autoimmune disorder where the immune system mistakes hair for a foreign contaminant and starts attacking the hair follicles, causing hair loss. There is no cure for this condition and 10% of the people who have it suffer from permanent hair loss.

  i. Medication And Treatments

• Certain medical conditions call for treatments and surgeries that help to cure the ailment. While these treat your condition, the side effects of the treatments can often damage the hair follicles and cause rapid hair fall. Treatments like chemotherapy to treat cancer, steroids, and medication for typhoid, heart diseases, depression, etc. are known to be responsible for extreme hair fall to the extent of causing baldness. Here’s a list of drugs that list hair loss as a possible side effect:

  1. Anticoagulants
  2. Diet pills
  3. Birth control pills
  4. Thyroid medicines
  5.  Aspirin and other types of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
  6. Aleve or ibuprofen
  7. Gemfibrozil, clofibrate, and other cholesterol medicines
  8. Ulcer medications such as ranitidine, famotidine, etc.

  j. Thyroid Disorders

• Thyroid disorders and anti-thyroid medication almost always lead to hair loss. The hair looks sparse and the hair loss is evenly distributed all over the scalp. Successful treatment often leads to the hair growing back, but in some cases the hair loss is permanent.

  k. Overprocessing And Styling

• While everyone wants their hair to look on point all the time, going overboard with chemical hair treatments and hot styling tools can lead to hair fall.

  l. Iron Deficiency, Anemia, And Blood Loss

• Deficiency of red blood cells in the body, sudden loss of blood, and insufficient iron levels in the body cause not only fatigue, weakness, and headaches, but also hair loss.

  m. Crash Diets And Malnutrition

• Insufficient intake of nutrients and following an unhealthy and unbalanced diet can cause malnourishment in the body. This leads to dehydration of the scalp and hair and can trigger excessive hair fall.

• 5. Simple Tips For Reducing Hair Fall

  We know that dealing with hair fall can be overwhelming, but there are things you can do to curb a hair fall problem. Here are 40 simple tips that really help.

  How To Reduce Hair Loss – 40 Simple Tips

  i) Get The Right Diagnosis

• As I mentioned before, the causes of hair fall are innumerable, and so it becomes crucial to get to the root of the problem. The best way to go about dealing with the problem would be to get the correct diagnosis to begin with. This can be made simpler by finding the areas where thinning is most prominent and also monitoring how much hair you are losing whenever you comb or shampoo. Consult a physician to find out whether you have any underlying medical issues causing the hair fall.

• ii) Use The Right Comb

• Combing your hair can be a nightmare when you are dealing with hair loss. This can be made easier by using the right comb. Use a wooden wide-tooth comb to untangle your hair; you can use your regular brush after this. This will reduce breakage and hair loss from pulling. It is also crucial to remember not to comb your hair while it is wet. Your hair is at its most vulnerable when wet, which increases the chances of breakage. You should also clean your combs and brushes every week. You can do this while you’re in the shower or while shampooing each week. Cleaning your combs is a necessary precaution to take for hair fall control.

• iii) Towel Dry The Right Way

• While rubbing your hair with a towel seems like the quickest way to dry it, it is also the worst thing that you could do to your hair. Drying your hair vigorously with a towel will lead to hair breakage, tangles, and pulling. Instead, gently squeeze out the excess moisture from your hair with your towel and then let it dry naturally.

• iv) Choose Your Products Wisely

• Try to switch to shampoos that are sulfate, silicone, and paraben-free to avoid loading your scalp and hair with harsh chemicals that cause damage, making your hair brittle and more prone to breakage. Controlling the chemical damage is certainly a sure shot way to ensure hair loss prevention.

  A lot of brands like The Body Shop, Soul Tree, Rustic Art, Organic Surge, and The Nature’s Co. have some really good shampoo options that you can choose from

• v) Wash Your Hair Thrice A Week

• Wash your hair at least once every three days with a gentle hair cleanser or shampoo to remove all the accumulated dust, dirt, oil, and bacteria build up. Keep it clean at all times to avoid hair fall from clogged follicles. It is also important not to wash your hair more than thrice a week. Over washing will strip your scalp and hair of the natural oils that are essential for healthy hair growth.

• vi) Style It Right

• Do not subject your hair to frequent chemical treatments, excessive blow drying, ironing, and coloring, as it can lead to hair loss. If you color your hair and have been facing hair fall issues, it would be a good idea to take a short break before you put any more chemicals in your hair. Avoid hairstyles like tight ponytails, pigtails or braids on a daily basis. Using hair elastics to pull back hair tightly can cause hair fall.

• vii) Natural Treatments

• The ingredients from your kitchen can be a lot of help when you are looking for remedies for hair fall. Ingredients like coconut oil, onion, ginger, etc., have amazing properties that help promote hair growth

• viii) Keep Your Scalp Healthy

  .
• If you have issues like dandruff or an oily/dry scalp, you need to tackle these issues immediately. Scalp health is vital to healthy hair growth and for avoiding hair fall.

• ix) Yoga And Exercise

• You’d be surprised at how much stress can contribute towards hair fall. And nothing relieves stress as well as physical activity does. Regular exercise like yoga can go a long way in reducing stress and helping curb hair fall. In fact, there are certain yoga exercises that specially target reducing hair fall.

• x) Take Supplements

• There are many hair growth supplements in the market that help thicken hair and curb hair fall. Even certain vitamin supplements go a long way in improving the health and volume of your hair. However, do not start taking any supplements without consulting a healthcare professional first. Minoxidil (Rogaine) is one of the most effective, FDA-approved and commonly prescribed medications from doctors worldwide for arresting hair fall and treating alopecia-related problems

• xi) Homemade Treatments

  Hair Oil Treatment

  .
• There have been reams and reams of paper dedicated to how oiling your hair overnight can make a difference. Well, it is true. Though you may not like the idea of sticky, oily hair, application of oils like almond, coconut, and castor seeds, among others, can help your hair in the long term. Leaving your hair oiled overnight provides enough time for each strand to be coated and for the scalp to get nourished. Dandruff and dead cells are loosened by the movement of your fingers and can be removed easily with shampoo the next day. To give yourself an overnight oil treatment, follow the steps below (keep reading to know more about an oil blend recipe for treating hair loss):

  You Will Need

  2 tbsp Carrier Oil (Use an oil of your choice. You can also use hair oil blends)

  Processing Time

  Overnight

  Process

  1. Pour two tablespoons of a carrier oil like coconut, castor, olive, or almond oil, into a bowl.
  2. Dip your fingers into this bowl and start massaging the oil into your scalp.
  3. Give yourself a good scalp massage for about 15 minutes until your entire scalp is covered in the oil.
  4.  Work the remaining oil through the length of your hair.
  5. Leave the oil in overnight and wash it off with shampoo the next morning.

  How Often?

  2-3 times a week.

  Hot Oil Treatment

• If you are not keen on the idea of oiling your hair overnight, you can always apply oil an hour before bathing. Warm oils are preferred because they can penetrate into the pores of the scalp more easily and increases the flow of blood in the area. Follow the steps listed below to give yourself a hot oil treatment.

  You Will Need

  • 2 tbsp Carrier Oil (Use an oil of your choice. You can also use hair oil blends)
  • Hot Towel

  Processing Time

  45 minutes- 1 hour

  Process

  1. Pour two tablespoons of your carrier oil into a bowl and heat it for a couple of seconds until slightly warm.
  2. Dip your fingers into this bowl and start to massage the oil into your scalp.
  3. Give yourself a good scalp massage for about 15 minutes until your entire scalp is covered in the oil.
  4. Work the remaining oil through the length of your hair, ensuring that you coat it from the roots to the tips.
  5. Leave the oil in your hair for an additional 30-45 minutes. Wrap your hair with a hot towel (you can soak it in hot water or use a blow dryer to heat it up) during this time.
  6. Wash the oil out with your regular shampoo.

  How Often?

  2-3 times a week.

  Here’s an easy oil blend recipe you can use to give yourself a hair oil treatment:

  Oil Blend For Hair Loss

  You Will Need

  This is to make a 100 ml mixture. You will also require an empty bottle for storing it and a measuring cap to measure out the required quantities.

  • 40 mL almond oil
  • 40 ml coconut oil
  • 10 ml castor oil
  • 5 ml aroma magic stimulate oil
  • 5ml aroma magic lavender oil
  • 3 vitamin E capsules

  Natural oils such as coconut, olive, castor, almond, jojoba, sesame, etc., can be used to massage the scalp for countering hair fall and encouraging new hair growth. As we discussed, hair fall problems are majorly caused due to the health of your scalp. Using a hair oil treatment twice a week helps stimulate your scalp and improves the blood circulation, boosting the amount of nourishment that the hair follicles receive. It also helps keep away issues such as dandruff, dryness, and flaking. Not only do these treatments improve scalp health, but they also improve the strength of your hair and help keep it conditioned. But oil is not the only nourishing treatment your hair can receive. In fact, there are a number of remedies you can whip up in your kitchen to reduce hair fall.

  Homemade hair masks are an inexpensive and convenient option when it comes to controlling hair fall without exposing your hair to any harmful chemicals. They help to strengthen, nourish, and beautify. Here’s a simple homemade hair mask for treating hair loss:

  Green Tea And Egg Hair Treatment

• You Will Need

  • 2 tbsp green tea
  • 1 egg yolk
  • Shower cap

  Processing Time

  30 minutes

  Process

  1. Take 1 egg yolk in a clean bowl. Add 2 tablespoons of freshly prepared green tea to it.
  2. Mix well until the mixture reaches a frothy and creamy consistency. If it becomes too thick, you can add more green tea to dilute it.
  3. Part your hair from the center and apply this hair mask to your scalp and hair.
  4. Cover your hair with a shower cap.
  5. Leave this on for about 30 minutes and then rinse well with cool water and your regular shampoo.

  How Often?

  2-3 times a week.

  Why This Works?

  Green tea is loaded with antioxidants, which help to prevent hair fall and boost hair growth. Eggs have been a popular hair care ingredient for decades because of their high protein content. They provide your hair with the essential nutrients it needs to grow healthily.

• xii) Salon Treatments

  Hair Spa

• Many salons offer hair spa treatments that are meant to strengthen, condition, and nourish your hair. These treatments are ideal for women who are busy and stressed. Not only does the treatment improve hair health, but is also the perfect way to relax and destress. Listed below are the benefits of a hair spa treatment.

  • It deeply conditions your hair, treats split ends, and repairs dry, damaged, and dull hair. It also helps get rid of dandruff.
  • Hair spa treatment provides your hair and scalp with the essential nourishment needed for healthy hair growth.
  • It helps fortify the hair follicles and revitalizes the scalp, creating an ideal environment for unhindered hair growth.
  • It prevents scalp aging and improves the blood circulation in the scalp with a stimulating massage.
  • It also helps remove impurities from your hair and scalp, preventing clogging and build up, resulting in better hair health.
  • The hair spa treatment brings a welcome relief from stress and tension.

  Laser Therapy

• Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) is growing in popularity as an effective hair growth treatment. It effectively deals with hair loss or thinning hair by providing damaged cells in your scalp with extra energy to resume normal functioning. This helps stimulate hair growth and curbs hair fall.

• xiii) Diet

• When it comes to hair health, what you put in your body is just as important as what you put on your hair. Maintaining a healthy and balanced diet becomes crucial as soon as you notice hair fall. Foods that are rich in Zinc, Iron, Vitamins A, B complex, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, omega-3 fatty acids, and proteins should be consumed. These foods by themselves may go a long way in curbing hair fall as more often than not, hair fall is directly related to a vitamin/mineral deficiency. A healthy diet will also help keep your hair moisturized and nourished, leading to lesser hair fall, fewer split ends, and curbed breakage.
  Consider adding more of these to your diet – carrots, oats, whole grains, brown rice, green leafy vegetables, citrus fruits, lentils, sweet potatoes, pumpkin seeds, oysters, nuts such as walnuts and almonds, flaxseed oil (Linseed oil) or ground flaxseeds, seafood like salmon and tuna that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, eggs, beans, yogurt, and low-fat cheese.
  • What we eat can majorly influence hair health. Increased intake of fruits and vegetables, and most importantly, water, is bound to result in healthier hair.
  • Avoid fatty foods and fizzy drinks while also cutting down on your intake of carbs.
  • A protein rich diet is needed for increased hair growth, and a diet which is high in Vitamin E and Omega 3, as well as Omega 6 fatty acids, can stop excessive hair fall. These are some things you might keep in mind before you bite into your next hamburger.
  Do not forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day to flush out all the harmful toxins from your body.

  xiv) Anti-Hair Fall Products

  Here’s a look at some of the best anti-hair fall products available in the Indian market:

  a) Trichup Hair Fall Control Oil

• b) Dove Hair Fall Rescue Shampoo

• c) Parachute Advanced Scalp Therapy

• d) TRESemmé Hair Fall Defense Shampoo

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