We all lose strands of hair every day. It is completely normal to see some hair coming off your scalp when you brush your hair, wash your hair or run your fingers through your hair. Normal loss of hair is anywhere from 80-100 strands every day. This is due to the growth cycle of each strand of hair. If you are losing around this amount of hair, you have nothing to be concerned about. If you are losing more than this then ideally you need to determine why your hair is falling out in larger than average amounts and whether this is temporary or related to pattern baldness which is hereditary.
Causes of temporary hair loss are many. These include impact of medications, hormonal changes menopause, thyroid problems, vitamin deficiency, lack of adequate/appropriate dietary intake, stress etc. Ideally you should try and eliminate causes off your list and the resort to other possible remedies.
Here are a few suggestions to help reduce hair fall which relate to poor health:
Regular head massage
Why can massaging your scalp help? It increases blood flow to your scalp abd when blood flows to your scalp, blood flow to your hair follicles increases. This conditions the scalp through providing essential nutrients and strengthens hair roots! The warmed, massaged skin makes your blood vessels open which helps with even more blood flow. Massaging in appropriate vitamins, minerals and oils can prevent or reduce dry skin and dandruff which may be also impacting hair loss. Try using a vitamin infused product specially formulated to aid and maintain hair health such as trico.lab detox or trico.lab regenerate herbal blends. Products such as these can help improve the health of your hair as vitamins and minerals are directly absorbed into your scalp and hair follicles.
An added bonus of massaging your scalp is that it is also very restful and relaxing and can help you deal with stress by reducing muscular tension. Stress is another leading cause of hair loss.
Remember that your hair and scalp is a key part of your body that needs sufficient and appropriate nutrients to grow and maintain its health.
The right diet
You can liken your hair to a tree. It will stay healthy and strong while it has a good root system and gets the nutrients it needs. Without a strong foundation your hair will never be really healthy. So, start eating the right foods for your hair. Here are a few items you should include in your diet to maintain and support a healthy head of hair
Omega- 3 Fatty Acids
Provide nutrition to hair follicles to promote growth as well as reduce hair loss. They easily reach the cell membranes deep into your scalp and also help increase your hairs elasticity , meaning it will not break as easily. Omega3 fatty acids also help moisturise and nourish dry, itchy skin, helping to prevent dandruff. Foods that are high in Omega 3 include flaxseeds, walnuts, salmon, sardines and soy beans
Zinc Rich Foods
Deficiency of zinc is one of the major known causes of hair loss. Zinc helps to build proteins and therefore is essential for hair growth. It helps create DNA and boost tissue growth and repair. Also helps to regulates hormones such as testosterone which if too high can also be a cause of hair loss. Zinc rich foods include oysters and carbs, ean beef, wheat germ, spinach, nuts, pumpkin, pork and chicken.
Protein Rich Foods
Hair is primarily made up of protein so a lack of protein can mean a lack of hair or premature greying. Foods high in protein include milk, cheese, yogurt, lentils, chicken and lean beef
Often the amount of food and the variety of food you would need to eat to get adequate amounts of the right vitamins and minerals for healthy, thriving hair may not be possible. This does not mean you diet is unhealthy, it may simply mean that your intake each day isn’t big enough to get what you need.
Herbs can help
If your hair loss is acute and you think your diet is adequate, then there are some herbs that have been traditionally been used to prevent hair loss. Here are a suggested few:
Peppermint
Known to be useful for reducing the production of sebum, calming the scalp, reducing dandruff
Rosemary
Helps with increasing blood circulation, which sometimes is a cause for hair damage and hair loss. Also known for increasing shine and body, helping with dandruff, strengthening hair, boosting growth and fighting hair loss. Pregnant women should seek the advice of their health practitioner prior to consumption
Nettles
Rich in iron and help the body to rid itself of toxins out which would have hampered the body in a long run. Also known to help condition hair, improving textures, and helping with dandruff, irritated scalp, or dry scalp conditions.
Calendula
Traditionally used to stop and reverse hair loss through increasing collagen production. Known to reduce inflammation caused by metabolic disorders that cause hair loss, fighting anti-bacterial and fungal infections that can cause balding. Also contains polysaccharides that are particularly helpful for HIV-related hair loss. Known to support keeping hair follicles healthy and each strand of hair thick and pliant, transforming dull hair and traditionally considered an effective solution for oily hair, fine hair, and dry hair.
Rosehip
Known as a natural hair conditioner as it contains beta-carotene, which assists in normalising hair’s oil production, keeping hair moisturised, flexible, and strong. Also packed with powerful antioxidants, vitamins and fatty acids which stimulate collagen production and help repair damaged hair and thicken and nourish dull or thinning hair strands. Also used to help offset hair loss by encouraging hair growth. When absorbed by the scalp’s skin can be used to repair damaged hair, renew damaged scalp tissue, and moisturise hair.
To get the right amount of herbs to help you achieve what you want with your hair, we recommend looking at commercially available herb combinations. Herbal teas are a great option. Look for teas which have organic ingredients specifically combined to aid hair health and are naturopath approved for safe consumption. trico.lab organic herbal teas are naturopath approved and have two blends – one specifically to detox and nourish hair, the other to help generate and grow hair with the support of a specific ingredient combination.
Manage Stress
Believe it or not, if your diet and nutrients are all ok, stress may be the cause of your hair loss. If this is the case, you need to determine the root cause of your stress and eliminate or reduce exposure. Your mindset plays an important part in managing stress. Ideally an optimistic and positive frame of mind helps as will having an action plan, forming solutions to any issues and writing down tasks needed to be completed. A good night’s sleep, exercise, massage, breathing exercises and meditation are other ways of dealing with stress.
We have provided a number of suggestions on how to deal with losing hair. Everyone faces different challenges, but the first step is to actually take one. Start with assessing your diet and nutrition as this is possibly the easiest to fix. Making small changes to your lifestyle may make a massive change to your hair and scalp health. And hopefully this will bring you renewed confidence to make more small changes to a happier and healthier you!
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