You wake up one day and take a look in the mirror – only to realize that your thick head of hair is starting to thin out. Don’t panic – you’re not alone. Millions of people suffer from hair loss every year. In this blog post, we will discuss the top causes of hair loss, and our best tips for healthy hair!
Why does my hair fall out?
Hair loss (the medical term is alopecia) comes down to two main factors: genetics and environment.
If you inherited the “balding gene” you end up with male pattern baldness (MPB) or female pattern baldness (FPB). This type of hair loss happens in a predictable pattern. For men, MPB will start with hair recession at the front of the scalp. According to the National Library of Medicine, about 80 percent of men will experience MPB by the age of 80, while it typically starts in their 20s or 30s. Women tend to experience hair loss after menopause with a gradual recession along the part of their hair. About half of women will experience FPB by the age of 80.
While most people still reference the “balding gene” as coming from your mother, this is not entirely accurate. While this does happen in some cases, the reality is that we still don’t fully understand what causes baldness in men and women. We like to think of things as being simple and there being just one gene, but the truth is there may be many genes involved with causing baldness.
If you did not inherit the “balding gene,” then you are experiencing hair loss as a result of your environment. This does not mean you are absorbing some toxin from the surrounding air, but rather a combination of everything you surround yourself with and internal factors. This means everything from what you eat and drink to how you wash and dry your hair is having an effect on the health of your hair.
Common Causes of Hair Loss and Unhealthy Hair
Stress
We all know that stress can take a toll on our health, but did you know that it can also cause hair loss? When you’re under a lot of stress, your body produces high levels of the hormone cortisol. This hormone can interfere with the production of hair follicles, leading to thinning hair or even hair loss.
If you’re experiencing hair loss and think it might be due to stress, there are a few things you can do to help alleviate the problem. First, try to reduce the amount of stress in your life. This may mean taking on fewer responsibilities at work or home, or even just making time for yourself to relax and unwind. If you can’t reduce the amount of stress in your life, there are still things you can do to help manage it better. Exercise, meditation, and deep breathing are all great ways to help lower your stress levels.
Your Diet
What you eat has a direct effect on the health of your hair. If you’re not getting enough of the right nutrients, it can lead to hair loss or unhealthy hair.
One of the most important nutrients for healthy hair is protein. Your hair is made up of keratin, a type of protein. If you’re not getting enough protein in your diet, your body will start to break down existing proteins (including your hair) to get the nutrients it needs. This can lead to hair loss.
Getting enough vitamins and minerals is also essential for healthy hair. Vitamins A, C, and E are all important for maintaining the health of your scalp and hair follicles. B vitamins are also essential, as they help your body produce keratin. Iron, zinc, and copper are also important minerals for healthy hair.
If you’re not getting enough of these nutrients in your diet, it can lead to hair loss or unhealthy hair. The best way to get these nutrients is through a well-rounded diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. You can also take supplements if needed.
This also means that certain eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia will have hair damage or loss due to not getting the required nourishment their bodies need. If you or a loved one may have hair loss due to an eating disorder, then you should seek medical treatment as more serious consequences could occur.
Hair Care and Hair Products
How you care for your hair can also affect its health. If you’re using harsh chemicals, over-washing, or heat styling excessively, it can damage your hair and lead to hair loss.
Try to avoid using harsh chemicals, such as those found in some hair dyes and permanents. If you do use them, make sure to follow the directions carefully and use a deep conditioner or protein treatment afterward to help repair the damage.
Overwashing your hair can also strip it of its natural oils, leaving it dry and brittle. This can lead to hair breakage and eventually hair loss. Try to cut down on washing your hair to only 2-3 times per week, or every other day if possible. You can also use certain products to help with protecting your hair from heat damage and restore the protective oils. I recently started using Argan Oil to help with protecting my hair from the heat damage of the hair dryer. It may not seem like it will make that big of a difference, but for me, this has brought on significant improvement.
If you must use heat styling, make sure to use a heat protectant and avoid excessive heat. Try to let your hair air dry as much as possible, and style it using the lowest heat setting possible. The better option though would be to get better at towel drying, however improper towel drying can also damage your hair. We like to use a rubbing motion on our bodies when drying off with a towel, but this does not work for our hair. Instead of rubbing your hair with your towel, you should instead blot it dry like you would a spill on a fancy rug or carpet. This will help to absorb the moisture out of your hair without being so rough on it.
Another element of your hair care that could be damaging your hair is brushing it. More specifically, how you are brushing and what you are using for a brush. Using brushes or combs with plastic bristles will be rougher on the hair and scalp. Hard vigorous brushing can strip and break the cuticle. And of course, yanking your brush or comb through tangles is just yanking your hair out of the follicle. The best options are to use a wide-tooth comb or wide-bristle brush on wetter hair and use a natural boar bristle brush on dry hair.
One more note tangles in your hair. If your hair is getting tangled a lot, then it is not healthy. Healthy cuticles are flat and pointing downward while damaged cuticles are raised up. Your hair will also be more brittle if getting tangled which only makes untangling it harder.
Your Hairstyle
Don’t go running after your hairstylist with some clippers just yet, but how you are styling your hair could be damaging it as well. This doesn’t just apply to dying your hair or the chemicals you might use in styling. This also can mean the hairstyle itself. If you are styling your hair in a way that pulls on the follicle, then you may be doing more harm than stylistic good. There is even a specific medical name for this type of hair loss: traction alopecia.
For example, you may use those elastic hair ties to pull your hair back for when you are working out, but that is not good for your hair. If you tend to pull some hair out every time you take down your ponytail, then you should ditch the hair ties.
Medical Conditions
There are a number of medical conditions that can lead to hair loss. Thyroid problems, anemia, Lupus, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and scalp infections are just a few of the medical conditions that can cause hair loss. If you are having issues with your hair and nothing else seems to help, you should speak with your doctor to determine if there is an underlying medical condition.
A more noticeable medical issue is trichotillomania which is a hair-pulling disorder. Research has pointed to this mental condition being related to obsessive-compulsive disorder and other anxiety disorders. If you or a loved one are often pulling on your hair when under stress, you should seek a professional medical diagnosis.
Medications
Hair loss can also be a side effect of some medications used to treat other conditions such as arthritis, cancer, depression, heart problems, and high blood pressure. Even the antacid cimetidine can cause hair loss as a side effect. If you are experiencing hair loss and are on any medications, speak with your doctor to determine if the medication could be the root of the problem.
While this may primarily involve medications you take as prescribed by your doctor, this can also include certain medical treatments like chemotherapy and radiation. Anyone who is diagnosed with cancer will need to undergo chemotherapy and radiation treatment. These treatments are meant to help kill off the fast-growing cancer cells, but because your hair follicles also grow quickly can cause hair loss. Fortunately, this hair loss is generally temporary and the hair will grow back in a few months.
Pregnancy
During pregnancy, many women experience issues with their hair. It is not uncommon for women to have thicker and fuller hair during pregnancy due to the increase in estrogen levels. However, after the baby is born and hormone levels return to normal, some women will experience a loss of hair. This is nothing to worry about and hair typically grows back within six to twelve months.
Aging
The most common cause of hair loss is aging. With each passing year, it is normal to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day. As we age, the rate of hair growth slows which can lead to thinning hair. This type of hair loss is called androgenic alopecia and affects both men and women.
Best Tips for Healthy Hair
So outside of the genetic disposition towards baldness, most hair loss is a result of the health of your hair. And with these hair loss situations, you can typically reverse the hair loss if you make the necessary adjustments in time. So what are the best tips for healthy hair?
- Avoid using heat on your hair whenever possible.
- Use a natural boar bristle brush on your hair after thoroughly drying it without high heat.
- Look for shampoo and conditioner without sulfates.
- Get regular trims to avoid split ends.
- Consider a new hairstyle that does not require maintenance using chemicals or dyes.
- If using hair ties, weaves, or extensions make sure they are not pulling on the scalp and balance out the use of them with the time not using them.
- Don’t forget about your diet! Eating a healthy diet with plenty of protein, fruits, and vegetables will help to keep your hair healthy.
- Avoid wearing tight hats or headwear. Your scalp needs to breathe!
