The first step you should take is to make sure there aren’t any underlying medical problems by going to your doctor with your concerns. However, people often find that there’s no obvious reason for hair thinning, and doctors might not even recognize that there’s a problem at all. The good news is, there are a lot of common causes for mild hair loss that are easy to fix. Get out of these bad hair habits and quickly see the difference.
1. Eating badly
This can be a particular problem when dieting, but also among people who are stressed or feel like they don’t have time to eat properly. Hair is formed from keratin, which is a protein, so it’s important to include plenty of protein sources in your diet to keep it growing healthily. You might not be getting enough folic acid, so make sure you eat things like spinach, asparagus and strawberries to up your intake, and include enough iron to keep anemia at bay. A healthy balanced diet is key, but supplements may be an alternative if you struggle to get everything you need.
2. Washing your hair every day
Washing your hair regularly is a good thing, right? Well, yes, but doing it too often leaves the hair dry and stripped of its oils, which means it breaks more easily and leads to it thinning. If you normally wash your hair daily, try doing it every other day instead, or less often if you can. If this makes you feel like you’re not clean enough, you could always use a dry shampoo on your off days. Be careful not to let dry shampoo build up on your hair, though, as it can irritate the scalp and block hair follicles, increasing shedding and reducing growth.
3. Using damaging hair products
A major cause of thinning hair is drying it out so that it becomes brittle and prone to breaking, and one of the common reasons for this happening is the products we use. Silicones are used in many shampoos, but they form a layer over hair, stopping it absorbing moisture, which makes it dry and fragile. Alcohol and sulfates actively dry out the hair and are found in many hairsprays and similar styling products. Check the ingredients of the products you use, and look for natural alternatives without all the nasty additives. Products with coconut, olive, or argan oils will help to reverse the damage and improve your hair’s strength and thickness.
4. Using hot tools too often
Straighteners, curlers, hair dryers and other hot styling tools are used daily by many people, but they can be extremely damaging to your hair, making it brittle and prone to breaking faster than it can grow. Try and limit how often you get out the hot tools, and maybe use it as an excuse to experiment with different styles that don’t need them. If you must use heat, let your hair dry naturally first, and use protective products to minimize the damage.
5. Spending too much time in the sun
Like hot styling tools, the heat from the sun can cause significant damage to hair. On top of the heat effects, ultraviolet rays are also a cause of thinner hair, since they can actually cause premature aging of hair, making it fragile, so you should definitely spend less time in the sun if you’re concerned. When you are out in the sunshine, consider wearing a hat to cover up your hair, or use one of the products available for protecting your follicles against harmful rays.
6. Letting it all get on top of you
We all experience stress to some degree, but when it gets out of hand it can lead to problems, and hair loss is one of them. Because thinning hair itself is a stressful problem, this means it can actually make itself worse. Try and manage your stress levels to keep them at a minimum and you can improve hair growth stop loss. Featured photo credit: Pixabay via pixabay.com
