How to (Actually) Prevent Hair Loss
Losing a few hairs every day is a normal physiological phenomenon, of the thousands of hairs we have on our heads, more than one in ten come daily to dislodge hair that has reached the end of its life, to grow in its place.
Prevent Hair Loss
The phenomenon becomes pathological when the hair that falls out is poorly replaced by less and less regrowth or is no longer replaced at all.
Hair is the capital of beauty and seduction, so when it falls out in large quantities it is quite normal that it triggers great distress!
However, there are solutions to attenuate and slow down hair loss and above all to stimulate regrowth! So how to do it?
Hair loss (apart from chemotherapy treatment that can cause hair loss) is completely normal since we all lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, some a little more depending on hair type, age, season, or heredity.
Hair grows 1 mm every 3 days, which corresponds to about 12 to 15 cm per year.
The phases of growth are from 3 to 6 years and the resting phase of 3 weeks during which the hair dies and its phase of loss will extend over 3 months.
Autumn is a season known to be a good time for hair loss due to hormonal changes in response to light, but periods of stress or hormonal disturbances such as pregnancy or menopause can cause hair loss in women.
In case of hair loss after pregnancy, don't worry, as women regain their full capillary capital within a year after the birth of their baby.
Therefore, if it is normal to lose a few hairs a day, it will be necessary to consult your doctor:
- if the loss is more than 200 hairs a day.
- if it drags on because it may be related to an underlying medical problem.
- or in the case of pathological hair loss called alopecia.
This alopecia or baldness in men is most often due to an excess of male hormones, this excess can be hereditary but there are many other factors not always known that also come into play.
Objective: stronger, thicker, denser hair! So how can we prevent hair loss and promote hair regrowth and growth?
Anti-hair loss treatments
In the case of beginner or seasonal hair loss, local care can be provided with gentle stimulating shampoos and anti-hair loss lotions.
These products usually contain:
- plant extracts such as quinine, known for its strengthening of the hair structure.
- B-group vitamins to fortify the hair.
- minerals.
- other molecules such as aminexil, patented for its anti-fall effect.
- or stemoxydine (NEOGENIC®, VICHY) which awakens dormant hair bulbs.
It is advisable to space out the shampoos as much as possible so as not to attack the hair with a maximum of 3 to 4 shampoos per week.
If the hair is greasy or prone to dandruff, it is advisable to use an appropriate treatment for each problem in addition to the shampoo and/or anti-hair loss lotion.
Between two treatment treatments, favor an extra-gentle shampoo. Do not use baby shampoo, they are not suitable for adults (even if they smell very good!).
Anti-hair loss food supplements
Hair loss is also linked to deficiencies in zinc, magnesium, calcium, B-group vitamins, or iron.
Hair is also a very good indicator of these deficiencies, especially mineral deficiencies.
Also, hair dietary supplements are one of the first reflexes to have during a hair loss since they allow with a treatment of at least 3 months (it is the obligatory condition!) to improve the appearance of the hair and to revitalize the hair cycle.
These food supplements improve capillary microcirculation and reduce inflammation at the bulbar level that precedes hair loss.
They provide vitamins from the B group: B6, B8, Zinc, sulfur amino acids which are necessary for the synthesis of keratin and hair growth.
Some food supplements are also Sebo-regulators and can, therefore, reduce excess sebum production which can be the cause of hair loss. In these Sebo-regulating supplements, we will find mainly Zinc and pumpkin seed oil for example.
The presence of Taurine is important in these dietary supplements because it helps fight against free radicals, responsible for premature aging of the hair bulb.
Without forgetting brewer's yeast, which has an ancestral fortifying action on the hair.
These food supplements, therefore, improve the overall quality of the hair: a thicker diameter, shine, and enhanced tone.
Hair loss: natural treatments
Phytotherapy against hair loss
The world of plants also has its place in the treatment of hair loss! Thanks to phytotherapy, you can treat your hair problems.
Indeed, many plants are found in the food supplements mentioned above and they are generally associated with minerals to benefit from a boosted action called synergistic!
- One can use plants in local use by friction on the scalp such as Quinine extracted from Quinquina which is a tree from South America. Quinine is used in the composition of many shampoos, lotions, and anti-fall frictions.
- Scots Pine contains a molecule called alpha-pinene which helps promote cell growth locally at the hair bulb.
- Licorice modifies the action of enzymes responsible for hair loss and finally, Boxwood which used in decoction in the form of friction has a beneficial effect to stop hair loss.
- Finally, Rosemary, Burdock, and Nettle Root are all plants along with Nasturtium that improve the overall appearance of hair and help stop hair loss.
Do not hesitate to ask your pharmacist for advice on obtaining and using these plants.
Homeopathy against hair loss
In homeopathy, a number of strains are indicated. Attention, these indications are given as a general rule and must be the subject of a visit to a homeopath for analysis of the individual's field in order to determine the appropriate strain as well as the appropriate dosage for each person.
For all forms of alopecia, it is Thallium sulfuricum which is indicated then according to local determination (area of hair loss and appearance of hair): Bryonia alba, Selenium metallicum, Fluoricum acidum and according to a general determination on the individual: Arsenicum album, Natrum muriaticum, Aurum metallicum, Arsenicum album, Phosphorus, Lycopodium clavatum ...
In any case, ask your pharmacist or homeopath for advice on a treatment adapted to each case.
Aromatherapy against hair loss
CAUTION: Great caution is to be observed with the use of essential oils for the first time in order to detect intolerance or allergy and do not use them in children or pregnant women.
Finally, do not expose yourself to the sun within 2 hours of applying an essential oil.
Selection of essential oils for hair :
- The essential oil of Ylang-ylang thanks to its anti-oxidant power.
- Rosemary essential oil which activates microcirculation in the hair bulb.
- The essential oil of Lemon for its unique effect on the scalp.
- Cedar essential oil + Tea tree essential oil + Palmarosa essential oil is a mixture that can be used in a shampoo for hair loss on an oily scalp.
Be careful, always ask your pharmacist for advice on the use of these essential oils, which have active ingredients that are sometimes very powerful and may be incompatible with the use of certain medicines.
Hair transplant
Hair transplants are generally the last resort for major (and or very badly experienced) hair loss.
Although natural hair transplants are relatively expensive, implants are much more frequent and affordable.
Finally, the use of wigs or hairpieces (thanks to their high technicality of manufacture) makes them almost undetectable accessories and are a very good alternative to grafts or implants at a lower cost.
Hair loss at the chemist's counter:
- Eventually determine the cause: pregnancy, diet, stress, change of hormonal treatment, fatigue, hereditary ...
- Propose food supplements over 3 months combined with anti-hair loss shampoos and mild shampoos.
- If the person wishes, propose a local treatment to stimulate regrowth.
Then make the first check-up after 3 months because the effects of all these treatments are only visible after 3 months, this being linked to the natural growth phase of the hair, even if a visual improvement can be noted with some treatments from the first month.
There are solutions to attenuate, slow down this hair loss, and above all stimulate regrowth! So how can you do it? Here are a few solutions offered by your online pharmacists.
Hair loss: the causes
Hair loss is completely normal since we all lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, some a little more depending on hair type, age, season, or heredity.Hair grows 1 mm every 3 days, which corresponds to about 12 to 15 cm per year. The growth phases are from 3 to 6 years and the resting phase lasts 3 weeks during which the hair dies. The falling phase lasts 3 months.
Autumn is a season known to be a good time for hair loss due to hormonal variations in response to light, but periods of stress or hormonal disturbances such as pregnancy or menopause can cause hair loss in women.
In fact, motherhood causes a phenomenon called post-partum alopecia which affects about one in two women, but not to worry, as women regain their entire hair capital as early as the year following the birth of their baby.
Thus, if it is normal to lose a few hairs a day, it is necessary to consult your doctor if :
- The loss is more than 200 hairs per day.
- It takes a long time because it may be related to an underlying medical problem.
- Or in the case of pathological hair loss: alopecia.
This alopecia or baldness in men is most often due to an excess of male hormones, this excess can be hereditary but there are many other factors not always known which also come into play.
Objective: stronger, thicker, denser hair! So how can we prevent hair loss and promote hair regrowth and growth?
How to prevent hair loss?
A few healthy lifestyle tips to start with:- Don't traumatize your hair!
Stop the abuse of aggressive products (or those made by a professional): colorings, perms, chemical straightening...
- Don't (too) pull her hair! Have an adapted hairbrush and be careful with headbands, elastics, curlers, very tight braids, curling iron, smoothing plate...
- Avoid too hot water or drying too hot (hair dryer or straightener with hot plates).
- Massaging the scalp activates microcirculation and makes the scalp much more receptive to treatment: massage is done with fingertips in gentle circular movements from the nape of the neck to the top of the skull.
Funny little spider-shaped massagers can also be used and are very effective in stimulating microcirculation.
- Wearing a hat in the sun and preferring to air-dry the hair is a plus for beautiful, strong hair.
- Use protective hair products (nourishing oils, with or without sun filters depending on exposure) by limiting excessively long baths in salt and/or chlorinated water which makes them brittle.
- Rinse hair with lemon juice diluted in lukewarm water tightens the scales of the hair.
- Diet also plays a role, since a balanced diet rich in zinc (seafood, meat, calf's liver, dried beans, soybeans, lentils, wheat germ, wholemeal bread, etc.) and B vitamins (meat, fish, vegetables, dairy products) helps to nourish the hair "from the inside".
- Tobacco also alters the quality of the hair: with less water, it is "asphyxiated" by the substances contained in cigarettes.
