Are you conscious about the way you look? Do you want to have strong, straight, and silky hair? If so, you must consider taking hair strengthening treatments. Do they really work or are they just another scam? Kindly read on to find out.
First of all, why do people lose hair?
Hair fall is not unusual. People shed an average of 100 hairs per day. The problem occurs when you start to lose more hair than are replenished naturally. In the case of permanent hair loss, hair follicles are destroyed and replaced with scar tissues. This prevents the regrowth/replacement of lost hair.
Hair loss can occur due to a variety of causes. The most common of them are listed below.
Heredity
Due to genetic inheritance, men may develop bald spots on their hear during their mid-40s and women may experience thinning of their hair during the same timeline. This cause is not curable as it is genetical.
Hormonal changes
This happens to both men and women. If women undergo physical changes due to hormones, it is called menopause. Women tend to lose hair during pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, and thyroid problems. Men tend to lose hair during old age.
Diseases like alopecia areata (patchy hair loss), ringworm (causes scalp infections), trichotillomania (causes a person to involuntarily pull off his or her hair) also cause permanent hair loss.
Medications
The medications given for some diseases like cancer, arthritis, depression, heart problems, gout, and high blood pressure (BP) cause permanent hair loss. If a person is lucky enough to survive those diseases, hair transplanting can be done.
Radiation therapy
The X-Rays used to treat certain diseases like cancer, damage hair follicles and cause a permanent loss of hair. The hair follicles become deprived of nutrition and cannot nourish the growth of new hair.
Emotional trauma
When a person is under a lot of emotional stress due to sudden shocking events or due to work pressure, it can cause hair to fall. If the stress is for a short duration, the hair fall is temporary and hair regrows later on. If there is prolonged emotional stress (for years on end), then the hair follicle gets damaged and hair does not grow back.
Certain hairstyles
Certain hairstyles like pigtails or cornrows in which a lot of heat is applied to the hair can damage your hair and cause your hair to fall. Hot oil hair treatments can cause inflammation of hair follicles and ultimately, permanent hair loss.
Nutritional deficiency
A deficiency of certain nutrients like Zinc, Iron, Copper, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, and Biotin can cause your hair follicles to become malnourished and lead to permanent hair fall.
Symptoms of losing hair at an early age
Some people may lose hair very early during their life like during puberty itself. The symptoms of early hair loss are thus:
Gradual thinning of hair above the forehead
Middle-aged men tend to lose hair on both sides of their foreheads. The baldness resembles the alphabet, ‘M’. In women, the hair thins at both sides.
Circular bald spots
This affects only men. Sometimes, the hair fall is not even and occurs mostly in one spot. This is usually at the topmost part of the head. It leads to circular bald patches in men. The scalp around the bald patch also becomes itchy.
Scalp Psoriasis
This occurs when the scalp produces dead skin cells at an alarming rate. The dead scalp cells block air and nutrient supply to the hair follicles causing them to become weak and ultimately leading to permanent hair fall. The dead scalp cells can be seen after combing one’s hair. Unlike dandruff, they are quite big and scaly.
The causes because of which people (children) lose hair
The following infections can cause hair loss in children.
Tinea Capitis
This is a fungal infection that occurs in circular patches on the scalp. The hair breaks off near the surface of the scalp giving the appearance of many black dots on the scalp. The fungus destroys many hair follicles over time and causes patches of baldness (white patches of baldness).
This infection is also nicknamed, scalp ringworm due to the circular patches of baldness caused. This infection is contagious. So the patient should not share his or her pillows, comb, shampoo, hair oil, hair clip, etcetera with others.
Alopecia Areata
This is a rare type of disorder. In this disorder, WBCs in the body attack hair follicles and malnourish (destroy) them. This leads to permanent hair loss. A hair transplant is the only known remedy to this disorder.
How to strengthen your hair’s root?
There are quite a few ways to strengthen your hair roots.
Using Sulfur free products
Use shampoos that are Sulphur free. Sulfur and Sulfates can malnourish your hair follicles and weaken your hair roots thus causing permanent hair loss.
Moisturize your scalp with essential oils
Rub your hair with essential oils like almond oil, avocado oil, coconut oil, lemon oil, onion oil, castor oil or rosemary oil. These essential oils are packed with nutrients and nourish your hair follicles and hair roots. Thus they promote hair growth.
You must allow your scalp to soak these oils for at least a couple of hours before washing with shampoo. It’s the only way their nutrients can be absorbed.
Use Keratin shampoo
Keratin is a type of protein that promotes hair growth and nourishes your hair. Using keratin shampoos will reduce hair loss, cure split ends, strengthen your hair follicles and hair roots.
How to protect your hair from any kind of damage?
Using the right shampoo and hair oil will repair hair damage and promote hair growth but there are other ways to prevent hair damage. They are:
Comb carefully
Use a wide-toothed comb to comb your hair before taking a shower. This removes the tangles present in your hair. It is far more difficult to remove tangles from wet hair. Hence, you should do this before taking a shower.
Also, comb from the bottom-up. This way, you will encounter one tangle at a time, which will be far easier to remove. You will not end up pulling your hair out.
Dry your hair gently
Whenever you dry your hair with a towel or a blowdryer, be gentle. Do not rub too hard or apply too much heat. This will weaken your hair roots and cause hair fall.
Do not apply hair-straightener on wet hair
Wet hair is far more prone to damage than dry hair. If you apply hair-straightener on wet hair (maybe because you were in a hurry) it will cause split ends and hair breakage. So always dry your hair first before applying hair straightener.
Do not over-wash your hair
The purpose of washing one’s hair is to remove the oil build-up (excess oil) on one’s scalp. However, if one washes one’s hair too often, the scalp will not be able to replenish the lost oil and the scalp will become very dry. A dry scalp means unhealthy hair and will lead to permanent hair loss.
Do not over brush your hair
Brushing your hair too much can cause split ends and hair breakage due to the enormous friction and statically generated. So brush your hair only once or twice while combing.
Avoid certain hairstyles like pigtails or cornrows
A lot of heat is applied to the hair while doing these hairstyles, which can damage your hair and cause your hair to fall. Hot oil hair treatments are also to be avoided and they can cause inflammation of hair follicles and ultimately, permanent hair loss.
The top tips to strengthen your hair?
Now we shall discuss how to strengthen hair. There are many ways to strengthen your hair. Some of them are:
Use biotin based shampoo or eat biotin-rich foods
Biotin is a B-Complex vitamin that helps your body make keratin, the protein that constitutes your hair and nails. Using a biotin based shampoo or eating biotin-rich foods will promote the growth of healthy hair. The following foods are rich in biotin:
- Eggs
- Nuts and seeds
- Avocados
- Sweet Potato
- Salmon
- Liver of any animal
Consume more Calcium and Vitamin D
Calcium is required to maintain the health of your hair and Vitamin D helps your body absorb Calcium from foods better. Consuming the two in tandem will promote the growth of healthy hair.
Consume more protein in your diet
Protein enhances the production of natural hair oil by the scalp. If you have less protein in your body, it could result in a dry scalp and ultimately lead to permanent hair fall. A dry scalp means there is unhealthy hair on your scalp. The following foods are rich in protein:
- Meat, fish, and eggs.
- Milk and other dairy products.
- Nuts and cotyledons.
- Berries and whey protein.
Eat iron-rich foods
Iron facilitates the supply of nutrients to hair follicles. A deficiency of iron in your body will reduce the supply of nutrients to your hair follicles. Thus they become weak and your hairs fall off. The following foods are rich in iron:
- Meat, eggs, and fish.
- Lentils.
- Spinach.
- Broccoli.
- Kale.
Eat Vitamin C rich foods
They enhance the production of collagen, which strengthens hair shafts, resulting in healthier hair. Vitamin C also helps your body absorb iron better. The following foods are rich in Vitamin C.
- Citrus fruits.
- Berries.
- Sweet Potato.
- Broccoli.
- Kiwi.
- Guava.
Eat Silica-rich foods
Silica strengthens your hair and prevents split ends and breakage. Eating silica-rich foods will keep your hair healthy. Some silica-rich foods are:
- Raisins
- Oats
- Bananas
Drink about 8 glasses of water a day
If you have less water in your body, it can lead to a dry scalp, which will, in turn, lead to unhealthy hair and hair fall. Therefore, keep yourself sufficiently hydrated.
Apply essential oils to your hair regularly before showering
Essential oils include Lemon oil, Rosemary oil, Onion oil, Coconut oil, Avocado oil, Almond oil, etcetera. They contain all the nutrients required to strengthen the entire structure of your hair.
They also hydrate your scalp and keep your hair follicles healthy. You must soak your scalp in these essential oils for at least a couple of hours before taking a shower.
Apply egg or milk-based shampoo
Eggs and milk contain protein which strengthens your hair shafts and enhances the production of natural oil on your scalp. Thus applying these kinds of shampoos will keep your hair healthy and your scalp moist.
Types of treatment for hair recovery with pros and cons:
Here are some of the home remedies for hair growth.
Medications
Most of the time, the reason behind severe hair loss is some kind of disease or infection. Taking the appropriate medication will cure this problem. Once, the infection or disease is cured, it is just a matter of time before the hair grows back.
Hair transplant
Planting prosthetic hair on a special type of substance (scalp like surface) is the ultimate cure for any kind of hair problem. Advanced methods are available to do this perfectly.
Laser treatment
Laser treatment can cure hereditary hair loss and heighten hair density.
Applying Rosemary oil
Rosemary oil kills the fungus responsible for scalp infections. It also moisturizes and nourishes hair follicles. As a result, hair grows back healthy and smooth.
Pros
- These methods are highly effective.
Cons
- Some of the methods like taking medications and hair transplants are costly.
Some of the best home remedies for hair growth
Applying Rosemary oil
Applying Rosemary oil is the only home remedy for hair growth. Rosemary oil kills the fungus responsible for scalp infections. It also moisturizes and nourishes hair follicles. As a result, hair grows back healthy and smooth.
People reviews on hair recovery treatment, should you go for it or not?
There are quite a few brands of hair recovery oil that people find effective. Many of the brands have received numerous positive reviews from people on Amazon’s website. People have said that using those hair recovery oils has made their hair grow longer, stronger, and smoother.
People have also said that those hair recovery oils have eliminated bald patches on their scalp. Judging by the numerous positive reviews on hair recovery oils, I would say that they are well worth a person’s money and can be used safely.
Conclusion
Prevention is always better than cure. Despite all the advanced techniques available to regrow and strengthen hair, take precautions to prevent hair damage. It will save you a lot of time and money. Kindly treat every part of your body with respect and take care of them well.
FAQs
1. How to choose the appropriate hair straightener for me?
First, analyze and understand your hair type and texture. Then choose the appropriate plate size and temperature setting.
2. How often should I clean my hair straightener?
Clean it after every time you use it. This will prevent the residual matter from settling on the flat iron plates.
3. Do I need to use hair protection spray before straightening?
It is not compulsory but doing so will lessen hair damage due to heat.
4. How often should a person shampoo?
A person should shampoo at least once a week. This will remove the excess natural oil from the scalp and allow hair follicles to get more nutrition and air.
5. Should showering in hard water be avoided?
Yes, showering in hard water should be avoided as much as possible. It is because hard water contains harmful dissolved minerals that will destroy hair follicles and block them from getting any air or nutrition (due to salt deposit).
