Every strand of hair on your head has a lifespan of about 3 to 5 years. Trusted Source Hair follicles have a cycle of active growth, transition, and rest. Hair loss occurs when your hair’s growth cycle is disrupted.
Hair loss is most commonly caused by your genetics and becomes more common in men and women with age. This condition occurs when more of your hair enters the rest cycle, during which it falls out.
How to prevent hair loss and improve hair health:
- Stay away from hairstyles that pull on the hair:
Hair is flexible, but research shows that your hair can only be stretched so much before becoming permanently damaged. Hairstyles like cornrows, tight braids, and ponytails can pull your hair away from your scalp and loosen the bond between your hair and scalp over time.
- Use high-heat styling tools on your hair:
Using heat to style your hair leaves your hair follicles dehydrated and vulnerable to damage. Hair dryers, hair straighteners, and curling irons can all damage
Mostly your hair by causing moisture in your hair shafts to expand.
- Don’t chemically treat or bleach your hair:
Chemically treating hair with methods such as bleaching damages hair by splitting protein molecules called keratin.
If you’re concerned about hair loss, limit your use of dyes, highlights, peroxide treatments, and perms.
- Use a shampoo that’s mild and suited for your hair:
The purpose of shampoo is to cleanse your hair of dirt and excess oil. Over washing with shampoo can potentially harm your hair. Sulfate and some other ingredients have been linked to frizz, scalp dryness, and fragile hair.
There’s no evidence that any specific ingredients in shampoo cause hair loss, but they might contribute to less than ideal hair health. If your hair is excessively dry or frizzy, try a shampoo that is as natural as possible.
- Make use of a soft brush made of natural fibers:
Using a soft brush with natural fibers can potentially promote healthy oil levels in your hair. The keratin proteins in your hair are stacked like shingles on a roof, so brushing them gently in one direction, starting at the top and continuing through to the ends, can help smooth and condition your hair cuticle. Brushing your hair daily can also help you avoid seeing hair clumps in your shower drain.
- Experiment with low-level light therapy:
Low-level light therapy promotes cell growth and repair. It’s a potentially effective treatment for male-and female-pattern baldness, the most common causes of hair loss in men and women. These genetic conditions cause a certain pattern of hair loss. For men, it starts at a receding hairline or bald spot at the crown.
Essential oils:
Essential oils are natural extracts produced by plants. Some essential oils might have properties that stimulate hair growth. Right now, evidence is almost entirely anecdotal, and no studies have found adequate evidence to suggest that any essential oil can be used to treat hair loss in humans.
Scalp massage:
Giving yourself a scalp massage generally feels good, so even if it’s not effective at increasing hair growth, you may find it relaxing.
Diet:
Your diet can have an effect on hair loss. Eating a diet rich in antioxidants can help fight the signs of oxidative stress
—environmental factors that damage hair follicles and contribute to hair loss. Many fruits and vegetables like strawberries, blueberries, beans and legumes, spinach, and kale are great sources of antioxidants.
Sugar, processed fats, preservatives, and alcohol can all contribute to oxidative stress. Keep this in mind if you’re looking to stop your hair from falling out.
Quit smoking:
Smoking can harm your hair cells, making them brittle and easy to damage.
Smoking has been linked to increased rates of premature graying and hair loss in studies.
Quitting smoking can be difficult, but a doctor can assist you in developing a smoking cessation plan that is right for you.
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