It’s a frequently asked question that, for once, can be answered positively. While it’s not possible to reverse the flow of time, those that are slowly losing their hair can at least slow down the process with some simple interventions. Here, we’ll run through four of them.
1: Eat a Hair-Enriching Diet
A protein rich diet is good for healthy hair. When the protein content of your diet is low, hair growth can go into abeyance. Meanwhile, individual hair shedding continues as before. The result is a net hair loss. High protein foods include Greek yogurt, tuna, lean chicken, cottage cheese and whey.
Suitably moist hair is less prone to breakage and loss. Keep your hair in optimal condition by eating enough Vitamin A in fruits and vegetables high in the vitamin producing beta carotene: carrots, oranges, sweet potatoes, cantaloupe, and mangoes. Orange may not be the new black, but it could be the new you!
Good fatty acids, such as the Omega-3 found in oily fish or nuts, can also help keep the scalp and hair from drying out. Many Omega-3 supplements are available.
Finally, ensure you get enough iron from leafy greens such as spinach, soy, fortified cereals, or eggs. As well as helping preventing hair loss, iron contains biotin, a nutrient promoting hair growth.
2: Keep Your Scalp Supple
Your scalp is like the topsoil for your hair. Keep it protected from UV rays, moisturized and clean and you’ll create a fertile bed for new follicle growth.
It is a common fallacy to claim that excessive hair washing promotes hair loss. The opposite is true. Like clearing away the deadwood from a forest, removing scalp flakes, dust and oil can encourage new growth. Paraben- and sulfate-free shampoos and conditioners used twice-weekly are ideal.
3: Don’t Over-Style
Avoid tight and tied styles like buns and braids and limit the use of heated straighteners or curling tongs. These treatments can pull on the hair roots and dry out the hair, leading to breakage and shedding. Use heat resistant sprays before any essential heat treatments.
Air cooling and gentle brushing is best, and styles which are entirely loose or loosely tied.
4: Consider Hair Restorations
If none of the above slow hair loss to your satisfaction, then it may be worth considering safe and simple surgical interventions including hair restoration and grafts.
Visit our treatment pages for more information.
