How to Stop Hair Loss

Americans are not known for their lush locks and it is no wonder -- their diet tends to be high in harmful fats, laden with sugar and heavy in animal protein along with dairy. All these foods contribute to hair loss and breakage according to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Harsh shampoo as well as chemicals in the water aren't helping the matter either. But there's hope. By revamping the diet, adding a few supplements and introducing shampoo-free cleansing, a healthy head of hair is possible.

Want a lustrous mane? Look to the diet

Most don't make the connection between diet and hair loss, but the link is strong. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that immoderate consumption of sugar is the main culprit of shedding hair. This would explain why Americans suffer from the malady in greater numbers than most. Even excessive fruit consumption can lead to thinning hair. Many who embrace a raw food diet have experienced this phenomena. On the other end of the spectrum, overindulging in animal protein and dairy also contributes to balding and weak hair due to acidic blood. Yet another offender, unhealthy fats congest the hair follicles -- encouraging hair loss. Iodine deficiency and hypothyroidism along with dehydration are obstacles to healthy hair too. The best bet for glossy, thick locks is to adopt a whole food diet that is abundant in vegetables, healthy oils like coconut and olive, nuts, seeds, low sugar berries and seaweed. Flax and chia seeds are especially beneficial due to their high essential fatty acid content.

Focus on hair-enhancing supplements like B vitamins (especially biotin), zinc, iron and calcium. It is also important to inhibit hair thinning DHT which is derived from the hormone testosterone. Natural remedies that block DHT include saw palmetto, stinging nettle, green tea, pygeum extract and pumpkin seed oil.

Environmental enemies of healthy hair

Two chemical culprits found in city water, chlorine and fluoride, weaken hair -- leading to breakage, clogged follicles and shedding. Both irritate the cuticle on the hair shaft too, thereby creating dull, lifeless locks. A trusted shower filter is a must for healthy hair.

Shampoo is antagonistic as well. Filled with harsh cleansers and additives, hair doesn't stand a chance. Even when natural brands are used, hair is stripped of natural oils and subsequently revolts against the abuse. Conditioner is then required to tame the disorder. Follicles are subsequently clogged -- triggering fallout. To avoid this anarchy, a simple and cost effective remedy is available: baking soda and vinegar. Hair settles down, loss is minimized and luster restored. To cleanse the hair with baking soda, mix one tablespoon of powder to one cup of water in a squeeze bottle. Shake well and apply to the roots, massaging for a minute or two. Rinse well. Next comes the vinegar wash which conditions, calms and boosts shine. Mix a quarter cup white or apple cider vinegar with one cup water. Pour over hair, avoiding the face and eyes. Rinse thoroughly with water.

A full head of hair need not be a pipe dream. By choosing a nutrient rich diet, supplementation and shampoo-free cleansing, tiresome hair frustrations can be laid to rest.

Sources for this article include:

"How to delay or stop hair loss -- Naturally" Kevin Gianni, Renegade Health, April 27, 2012. Retrieved on November 15, 2012 from: http://renegadehealth.com

"Ten Natural Ways Grow Hair and Reduce Hair Loss" Melanie Grimes, Natural News, February 26, 2012. Retrieved on November 15, 2012 from: http://www.naturalnews.com/028251_hair_loss_balding.html

"Tips and Tricks to go Shampoo-free" Rural Spin. Retrieved on November 15, 2012 from: http://ruralspin.com/2012/04/22/tips-and-tricks-to-go-shampoo-free/

"Hair Loss Remedies" Earth Clinic. Retrieved on November 15, 2012 from: http://www.earthclinic.com/CURES/hair_loss.html

"How to slow or reverse hair loss with a healthy diet and nutritional supplements" Dani Veracity, Natural News, October 27, 2005. Retrieved on November 15, 2012 from: http://www.naturalnews.com/012893_hair_loss_male_pattern_baldness.html

"Taking hot showers could harm your health" Shelley Huang, Taipei Times, January 25, 2011. Retrieved on November 15, 2012 from: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/taiwan/archives/2011/01/25/2003494382

Learn more: http://www.naturalnews.com/038081_hair_loss_natural_remedies_healthy.html##ixzz3LbULWq7i

Shampoo for hair loss

Hair loss has multiple causes, including diet, mineral deficiency, medications, stress, pollution, and your genetics. wearing helmets and caps can also increase hair loss. Up to one third of the population suffers from hair loss, and of that third, thousands are women. Whatever the cause of hair loss that might be worrying you, it's important to understand what is hair loss, how hair grows, and what you could be doing before hair loss even becomes an issue for you. In this article, you'll find out all three answers, as well as some short advice on what to do if hair loss does become an issue for you.

1

Take care of your hair. There are no guarantees that you can prevent hair loss that is genetically programmed or hair loss caused by factors not within your control. However, you can do the best by your hair at all stages to give it the greatest chance of staying in top condition and not leaving your head sooner than it needs to. There are a number of things you can do to take good care of your hair:

• Don't subject your hair to frequent, constant heating and drying procedures. Heat weakens hair proteins, no matter the gimmicks promising softness and shine, and constant heating and drying can lead to brittleness and fragility that causes hair loss that would not have occurred otherwise. Minimize the usage of hair dryers, hot curlers, hot brushes, hair straighteners, hair fasteners, and chemical treatments and your hair will last longer. And watch where you put those heated tools; burned scalps can permanently damage hair follicles! Ultimately, natural drying is best for you hair, so aim to dry it naturally more often than drying it with heat.
• Slow down on the dyeing. Never color your hair more often than 6 to 8 weeks and try for semi-coverage rather than full dyeing. When it comes to going gray, it's a lot kinder to your hair to let it turn gray than to dye it. While there are a lot of well-meaning comments about not needing to look older than you are, this ageist "beauty before health" slant overlooks the value of having your hair at all!

1. 2
   Be careful how you style your hair. Some styles that require tight pulling and elastics, clips, etc. can be a cause of hair loss if done on a daily basis. For example, tight ponytails, braiding tightly, corn-rows, and plaits, can lead to significant hair loss when done daily. Winding hair tightly onto rollers, especially heated rollers, is also liable to cause more hair loss. The medical name for loss of hair due to hairstyles that are too tight is known as "traction alopecia" and it is completely preventable as a cause in and of itself
• Be careful with layering styles that lose a lot of your hair. If you're already experiencing hair loss, don't speed it up by having the hairdresser remove more hair! However, careful layering can actually create a fuller look to the hair. Hair that is too long and all one length can pull the roots flat to the scalp and make the hair thinner.
2. 3
   Wash hair regularly with mild shampoo and be gentle with your hair. Hair washing can form a part of preventing hair loss as it can keep your hair and scalp clean (preventing the chances of infections, etc. that might cause hair loss), and provided you use a mild shampoo, clean hair will give the impression of more volume than dirty hair, which tends to sit flatter and more parted than clean hair.
• Avoid brushing wet hair. This snaps off a lot of hair that could still be growing! If you must comb wet hair, use a very wide-toothed comb. Also avoid brushing hair too frequently as doing so can injure hair and increase loss. Use your fingers to undo tangles, not a comb or brush.
• Avoid rubbing hair vigorously with a towel after washing it. This can also lead to hair breakage. Pat it dry gently instead.
• Protein-enhanced shampoos and conditioners are an eye-trick, not a hair solution. They make hair smoother and thicker temporarily because they fill in gaps on the hair shaft. However, they do not repair damaged hair, so hair that is going to fall out from poor care or other reasons, will still fall out. Shampoo does not increase hair amount either.
• When your hair is dried, use a soft-bristled brush to brush it.
3. • Tips
   • 
     
   • If you've been pregnant, don't panic if you get postpartum alopecia. Hair loss as a result of pregnancy can be frightening but it's a natural result of the hormonal changes wrought by pregnancy that changed your hair quality and even thickness. The loss is a sign of hormone levels returning to normal again. Hair lost due to postpartum alopecia usually regrows within a few months.
   • Dandruff shampoos containing zinc have been shown to promote modest hair growth.
   • Don't always leave your hair open. It makes the hair collect dirt and increases chances of dandruff. Before going to sleep, do a loose plait to prevent excess hair loss.
   • Illnesses and taking antibiotics can result in hair loss, so keeping yourself in good physical condition enables you to counteract the effect that these have on your hair.
   • Avoid styling gels and other similar products, as these tend to accelerate hair loss, breakage, and daily wear and tear.
   • Prefer mild shampoo and conditioner over any other type; it is gentler on your hair and will result in better overall condition. Equally, avoid harsh soaps, especially those containing deodorant, as these harm the scalp.
   • Avoid too much exposure of your hair to sunlight.
   • Avoid hot hair styling tools, as they damage hair and can cause split ends, leading to breakage.
   • Sleep with braided hair rather than keeping it out. You will pull less on the hair as you toss and turn during sleeping.
   • Celiac disease can cause hair loss; speak with your doctor if this is a concern.

   
   

   • Warnings
   • 
     
   • Smoking has been linked to hair loss. Quit!
   • Hair loss can be a sign of poor health, lack of nutrients, well before bald patches. Speak to your doctor if you have concerns especially if you have a poor diet, a repressed immune system or you're generally unwell.
   • In 4,000 B.C. Egypt, men rubbed a concoction of oil, dates, and ground animal parts onto their bald scalps in the hope it would make hair grow. Yet, rubbing or stimulating the scalp may be an old-timer's treatment but it doesn't prevent hair loss, no matter how much theorizing suggests otherwise! In fact, suggesting that people roughly dry the scalp with a towel, vigorously rubbing the scalp, and using a hard brush, can actually cause hair loss to increase!
   • If you stop applying Rogaine or taking Propecia, you will lose all the hair you would have lost had you never used them in the first place.