For many of us, our ultimate hair wish is to just have more of it. Whether that’s about encouraging some extra length from your hair, boosting volume, or restoring hair that’s thin by encouraging regrowth, enhancing our hair is a multifaceted process.

For anyone who’s experienced hair loss, it can be a super worrying and even traumatic hair event. Your hair can be a source of your confidence, and when it starts falling out, your self-esteem can be similarly diminished. Luckily, there are things you can do to help promote hair regrowth. 

Choosing the right hair products, looking at both natural and medical treatments, and prioritizing length retention, as well as preventing loss and promoting growth are all important factors in bringing your hair back to its thickest and fullest potential.

Understanding Hair Loss

The first step to prompting hair regrowth is understanding why you’re losing hair in the first place. The NCBI explains that healthy hair growth occurs at a rate of 0.35 mm/day, adding up to approximately 0.5 inches a month or 6 inches per year.

As per Web MD, all hair abides by a natural growth cycle, with the three phases to our hair’s life cycle called anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (resting).

Healthline explains that at all times, the majority of your hair is in the anagen phase, while around 1% is in the catagen phase, and 9% is in the telogen phase.

Therefore, losing 100-150 hairs per day is all a part of hair’s natural growth cycle—although losing more could point to an issue which needs treating.

Hair Loss As A Symptom

Hair loss tends to be a symptom of something else going on in your life and is potentially a sign of an underlying health issue. There are several major lifestyle contributors to hair loss, and if you identify which one (or ones) are impacting your locks.

Diagnosing Underlying Causes

• Stress. The NCBI explains that the stress hormone, cortisol, is known to affect the function and cyclic regulation of the hair follicle. Heightened levels of cortisol have been demonstrated to reduce the synthesis and accelerate the degradation of important skin elements, “namely hyaluronan and proteoglycans by approximately 40%.”
• Poor Lifestyle Choices. Smoking is associated with negative effects on hair health, particularly premature hair greying and alopecia, per NCBI. It’s recommended that those struggling with hair loss should make an effort to stop smoking.
• Lack Of Vitamins and Minerals. The NCBI confirms that micronutrients, such as vitamins and minerals, play an important, in normal hair follicle development. “Deficiency of such micronutrients may represent a modifiable risk factor associated with the development, prevention, and treatment of alopecia.” 
• Side Effects Of Medications. Per the AARP: “Hair loss is a relatively rare side effect, but a variety of common medications may cause it.” These include beta-blockers, blood thinners, antidepressants, cholesterol-lowering drugs, certain nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and hormone-related drugs like thyroid meds, hormone replacement therapies or steroids.

Choosing the Right Products

Alongside tackling the underlying causes of your hair loss to help boost regrowth, you can also switch up your haircare routine to help promote long, healthy locks.

There are a few different haircare products and practices that can be employed to help not only stimulate hair regrowth but also help minimize excessive hair loss, and help with length retention for a longer-looking mane.

Gentle Washing

Getting into a gentle shampoo routine can help to maintain and healthier scalp and to keep hair feeling happy. Anything overly harsh, or using surfactants such as sulphates can dry out the hair strands and irritate the scalp, which can cause issues with hair growth.

The Monday Haircare range has a wonderful gentle shampoo that will properly cleanse without causing inflammation to the scalp or leaving hair feeling brittle and prone to breakage.

Scalp Care

Scalp care is another crucial element of hair regrowth efforts and should not be slept on! An NCBI study proves that scalp massage can help increase blood flow to the area, which can, in turn, enhance the strength of your hair’s roots, which can also help nutrients better travel down the strands of your hair. The study saw an increase in hair thickness over a 24 week period.

If you want to up your scalp massage game, you can opt for a dedicated scalp massage tool, which you can use both to work (gentle) shampoo into the scalp or use it to apply scalp serums or oils. They can be bought from most major haircare brands, but the Boucleme massager is a personal favorite.

Topical Product Application

There are many different scalp treatment products on the market that are designed to help support hair growth and minimize hair loss. L’Occitane, Act & Acre, and Phillip Kingsley all make scalp serums with these aims in mind. It’s worth bearing in mind that consistency is key with products like this, but getting into a routine with your application will offer the best results.

Keeping the scalp clean is also key to making sure that you maximise the absorption of hair regrowth topicals and encourage new hair growth. A temporary halt on non-essential scalp product use, while you’re in your scalp serum routine, can also help it to work as effectively as possible. 

Length Retention

If you’re trying to make your hair grow, the last thing you want is to be losing more hair through breakage. Length retention strategies can help to keep the hair you do have as long and as healthy as possible.

• Sleeping on silk or satin. Switching out your pillowcase from cotton to silk or satin can help keep your hair protected while you sleep. Silk doesn’t soak up oil in the same way cotton does, meaning hair won’t dry out overnight. These fabrics also generate less friction, which can help stop hair from snapping or tearing.
• Limited hair brushing. You should be mindful of any hair brushing that can cause damage or breakage to your hair. Opt for a bush with more gentle detangling properties, like the Tangle Teezer or the Aveda Wooden Paddle Brush. You should also be wary of brushing your hair when it’s wet. Wet hair is more delicate and can therefore be more likely to snap.
• Wearing hair in protective styles. There are a whole host of different protective styles for different hair types, although the terms primarily concerns hair textures 3 and 4. Braids, twists, and locks are all types of protective hairstyle.
• Extra TLC. If you want to keep your hair healthy, strong, and less prone to breakage, it’s important to spend some extra time on treatments. You can opt for more conventional hair masks that help to pack in moisture and nourishment, such as our beloved Davines NouNou Nourishing Repair Mask, or opt for a specific anti-breakage treatments. The K18 Leave-In Molecular Repair Hair Mask uses the brand’s patented K18 peptide, which repairs damaged hair strands from the inside out. The K18 peptide protein fills in the gaps in the polypeptide chains which make up strands of hair, re-bonding the strand over time, not only preventing breakage, but also repairing damage.

Natural and Medical Treatments

On top of wonderful reparative and growth-boosting hair products on the market, there are also some natural remedies, such as Rosemary oil mixed with pumpkin seed oil, which may be worth considering. The NCBI draws attention to a wide variety of different oils that offer haircare benefits.

The use of rosemary oil to help cleanse and stimulate the scalp for hair growth has been well-documented. One study even claims that the application of rosemary oil is as effective as medication! In addition, people found it easier to stick to a rosemary oil, rather than a medication, regimen.

Medical Treatments

If you’re really struggling with your hair regrowth, it may be worth asking your doctor about Minoxidil. The NCBI explain that minoxidil was first introduced as an antihypertensive medication. But the discovery of its common adverse event, hypertrichosis (or hair growth), led to the development of a topical formulation this use. Now, topical minoxidil is the mainstay off-label treatment for hair loss conditions.

Per Healthline, minoxidil, the key active ingredient in Rogaine, has been available on the market for hair loss since the introduction of the 2% formula in 1986. This effective hair loss treatment is approved by the FDA to treat male and female pattern baldness and is available over the counter in different topical formulations.

Wrapping Up

There are multiple steps needed to begin addressing hair loss. From identifying underlying causes to selecting appropriate treatments and adopting beneficial hair care habits, there are a whole host of different approaches to tackling hair loss and encouraging regrowth. 

These actionable strategies for promoting hair regrowth and retaining hair length can encompass both natural methods, medical treatments, or a combination of both.

Whether this is the first time you’ve experienced hair shedding or you’ve dealt with it before, we can all agree that losing more hair than usual is something we want to put a stop to quickly. There are many reasons why you might be noticing a difference in hair fall from a change in weather to a deficiency in certain vitamins, or simply a change in your routine.

Together, we’re going to look at why hair shedding happens in the first place, how much shedding is normal, and what you can do to combat hair fall when it happens. 

What Is Natural Hair Shedding?

Ever heard that we have all new hair on our heads every seven years that pass? That’s kind of true. To understand exactly when and why we lose hair in the first place, we’re listing the stages our hair goes through from when a new hair sprouts to when it eventually falls out.

There are four key phases.

1. Anagen: The Growth Phase

This stage is the longest and is all about growth. It’s the period of time between when a new hair forms and sprouts from the follicles on your scalp and when it reaches its longest length.

For most, this stage lasts between three and five years, however, some will find their hair continues growing for up to seven years. Roughly 90% of your hair will be in some stage of this phase at any one time.

2. Catagen: The Regression Phase

This phase accounts for just 5% of the hairs on your head and really doesn’t last all that long. In the span of roughly ten days, hairs in the catagen phase will begin to separate from the bottom of the hair follicle as it shrinks and the hair growth stops.

The hair remains in place during this time and then moves into the Telogen phase when growth has completely stopped. 

3. Telogen: The Resting Phase

Lasting about three months and with roughly 15% of the hairs on your head in this phase at one time, the telogen stage of your hair’s growth cycle is all about rest and regrowth.

While the hairs that have stopped growing rest where they are, new hairs begin to develop inside the follicles. That brings us to the final stage and the one we want to understand most!

4. Exogen: The Shedding Phase

This fourth and final stage is where we shed our old hair. The hair that has finished growing, separated from the follicle, and needs to make way for those brand new strands.

It’s during this phase that washing, brushing, and styling your hair can increase the amount of shedding you see as the vigorousness of the movement against your scalp speeds up the process. 

How Much Hair Shedding Is Normal?

Believe it or not, the average person loses between 50 and 150 hairs every day. This is completely normal and part of your hair’s natural growth cycle in the Exogen phase.

With that in mind, it’s worth noting that some of us simply never realized this before. One day you start paying attention, counting the hair you lose, and it can quickly add up and seem alarming. Try not to get into this cycle and remember, as long as the amount you lose is roughly within the 50-150 region, it’s most likely your hair and scalp are totally healthy.

Now for our top tips on how you can help your scalp stop shedding an unnatural amount of hair. It’s also important to point out that while these things won’t directly cause hair to shed all by themselves, they can be responsible for speeding up how quickly the hair sheds during phases three and four.

So, if you’re experiencing things like, hair shedding in patches or your parting becoming wider, this could be a sign of hair loss rather than natural shedding.

1. Eat A Balanced Diet

One of the many things we forget to consider when a balanced diet goes out the window is how it might affect our hair. That’s usually because whilst you may notice changes in your weight, how your skin looks, or how you feel in terms of energy levels, your hair usually takes a little longer to let you know something’s up. 

To combat hair shedding, make sure you’re giving your body all it needs to grow new hairs and replenish a healthy-looking mane. Make sure you’re getting plenty of protein, fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats. Foods like chicken and fish, are a great and lean source of protein, whilst nuts and avocado give a great boost of healthy fats.

Make an effort also to include plenty of leafy green vegetables and fruits high in vitamins. Oranges, for example, are a great and tasty way to pack your diet with vitamin C. 

2. Take A Supplement For Hair Growth

Sometimes, no matter how much we try to include all the vitamins we need in our diets, we end up accidentally skipping the ones that give our hair what it needs to flourish.

If you think that’s the case with your diet, or you simply want to boost what you’re already putting in, try investing in a hair supplement to give the follicles a healthy advantage. Ingredients to look out for include biotin, zinc, and Omega 3, and vitamins A through E. 

3. Avoid Putting Your Hair In Super Tight Styles

Once the hairs on your head enter their resting phase, we want to give them a grace period before they make way for the newly growing hairs and fall out on their own. Therefore, super-tight hairstyles that pull on your locks and then get secured with too-tight hair bands are best avoided.

They can put undue stress on your scalp and end up forcing out the hairs which would usually last a few more weeks. This can be a reason why you’re noticing more shedding than usual. 

4. Be Gentle On Hair Wash Day

Are you guilty of scrubbing your hair in the shower to get a more thorough clean? This will only serve to irritate your scalp, dry out your hair, and may even cause more hair fall. This happens when you stretch and pull at the strands in the resting phase and cause them to loosen from the follicle too early.

Instead, gently massage your hair and scalp with a gentle shampoo formula for a soothing yet thorough cleanse. This can unblock hair follicles and allow new hair to grow. It also increases blood flow to the scalp, in turn promoting healthy growth from the root. 

5. Brush Your Hair From Tip To Root

An oldie but a goodie, brushing your hair from the bottom and working your way up is the only way to go. Much like those tight hairstyles we talked about, stressing out your hair near the roots can cause unwanted hair fall by loosening the strands from the follicles. And, we’re willing to bet you’ve gone in way too hard with the brush more than once before and noticed how much extra hair there was in your brush afterward.

Take a couple of extra minutes and work your brush gently through your hair. It’s much kinder and also a way less painful way to detangle your locks.  

6. Trust Your Own Judgement

All of these tips aside, you know your hair behaves better than anybody. If you go from losing 50 hairs a day to suddenly losing 150 or more and know that’s not usual for you, there could be other things to consider.

Has the shedding been excessive, going on for three months or more, or is the suspected result of a stressful event? It’s always a good idea to talk to a healthcare professional if so.

They can ask you about your hair history, examine your scalp and hair follicles, and help you discover what the cause may be. They can also recommend useful treatment plans to combat any underlying issues that have been medically known to cause excessive shedding.

Whether it’s a naturally fine or flat hair texture, or a thinning of the locks due to hair loss, hair that just needs an extra boost is a common complaint. Luckily, there are strategies to help thinning hair both look and feel fuller.

From tricks to help maximize hair growth, to styles that help to feign voluminous and bouncy locks, here’s everything you need to know about achieving fullness in thinning hair.

The Cause?

Thin-feeling hair can be a result of two main complaints – either, your hair type is just naturally fine and thin, or, you’re losing an excessive amount of hair, giving a thinned-out appearance. 

If you have naturally fine hair, you can still improve the look of its fullness through the right haircare and styling routine. However, if your hair is thinning due to outside causes, you will want to tackle them before you start considering extra strategies to boost volume.

Hair Loss

Per Web MD, there are three phases to our hair’s life cycle: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (resting). At any given time, the majority of your hair is in the anagen phase, while around 1% is in the catagen phase, and 9% is in the telogen phase, per Healthline.

This means that losing 100-150 hairs per day is all a part of hair’s natural growth cycle – but if you’re losing more than that, it could point to a wider issue.

Genetics, hormonal changes, underlying illness, or dietary deficiencies can all play a factor, and if these causes apply to you, it’s best to consult with a medical professional. However, there are some causes of hair loss that can be tackled at home.

A National Library of Medicine study shows that an unhealthy scalp can be linked to thinning hair, so effective scalp care is a must. The American Academy of Dermatology Association also points to over-styling as a cause of excessive hair loss. You may also wish to introduce a hair-boosting vitamin or supplement into your diet to tackle hair loss on a holistic level.

However, if you’ve treated your excessive hair loss issues, or just simply have a naturally fine, thin, or flat hair type, there are further tips and tricks to help you achieve a fuller and more volumised hair look, too.

Choose Your Cut

Choosing the right haircut can go a long way in making your hair look fuller and thicker. There are a few options you can explore to make the most of thinning or fine hair.

Pixie Cut

If your hair is naturally rather fine, a pixie cut can be the perfect way to make the most out of it. Hair length can add extra weight, causing thinner hair to look lank and flat, so going for something shorter can give to appearance of thicker and healthier hair overall. 

Textured Bob

A textured bob is the perfect compromise for anyone who needs to lose some length to help add volume but can’t quite commit to the pixie-cut lifestyle. Bobs can feel more lightweight and allow finer and thinner hair types to achieve a healthy, bouncy appearance. 

Solid Shapes

If you can’t compromise on your hair length, opting for a blunter cut can help give the look of a thicker and fuller hair type. By keeping all your hair at the same length, it’ll look like there’s more of it, and minimize the appearance of lank and damaged hair ends.

This one-length style works best for mid-length hair, rather than super long, as this helps mitigate hair weight which can lead to flatness and lankness.

Long Layers

For anyone with a thinner hair type who still wants long locks, adding some layers can be the perfect way to go. Longer, face-framing layers give the hair some shape and movement, helping it to feel bouncier and fuller, while still keeping a good amount of swooshy length in the hair. Frequent trims can also help get rid of split ends, giving hair a healthier appearance.

Bangs

Adding bangs can help frame the face and give the appearance of more hair by showing if its density and fullness around your face. A softer, layered look, or a heavy, blunter bang can both help add the appearance of fullness to thin and fine hair types.

Styling Tips

Aside from choosing a strategic haircut to help improve the look of hair’s fullness, there are some extra styling tips to help you make the most of thinning or flat-looking hair.

Adding Curls

Curls are one of the easiest ways to increase the appearance of your hair’s volume. Using a curling iron to create movement and texture in your hair can give it extra fullness, plus add some fun movement and bounce.

Just make sure you’re always using a heat protectant to avoid causing damage to the hair, which can make it look thinner over time.

Strategic Highlights

Adding face-framing highlights is another clever way to feign the look of thicker hair. Soft and natural-looking highlights around the face or balayage through the lengths can add dimension to fine and flat hair, giving the appearance of abundance. 

Bouncy Blowout

For a fancier occasion, a proper blowout is one of the best ways to achieve temporary hair volume. Blowouts use heat and clever brushwork to add lift to the root and give shape and texture through the hair’s lengths. You can either learn the art of the blowout at home or opt for a trip to the salon to make thinning or flat hair feel big and beautiful.

Consider Extensions

Adding extensions can quickly and effectively give the appearance of a thicker and fuller hair type. There are several different types of extensions you can explore, from the temporary, clip-in style, to more permanent bonds administered by a professional. Extensions can mean your hair takes extra work, in terms of styling and haircare, so proceed with caution if you’re a more low-maintenance girl.

A Permanent Solution?

Although it may sound a little dated, adding a perm (or a permanent wave) to the hair can be another way to achieve a thicker and more voluminous appearance. Perms have come a long way from the poodle looks of the ‘80s, and can now be a way to add gentle waves to the hair so you no longer have to rely on heat styling to add texture and bounce. However, perms can still be damaging to the hair, so they are not recommended for those suffering from hair breakage or loss.

Fine Hair Care

Aside from these styling tips, there are also steps to take to help care for your fine hair. Choosing the right products to both look after and add volume to thin or fine-looking hair is key to making the most out of lacklustre locks.

Lightweight Products

To tackle the appearance of thin or fine hair, you need to build your entire routine around adding volume and boosting thickness. This means choosing a hair wash routine that’s specifically designed for finer hair. You want a shampoo that cleanses the scalp and removes any potentially weighty buildup, and a conditioner that nourishes and protects without feeling heavy or greasy.

Keep Conditioning

If your hair feels lank and flat, it can be tempting to skip the conditioner to prevent any excess weight. But this can be harsh on the hair, and eventually cause it to become dried out and damaged. Instead, try to look for a conditioner that’s deliberately formulated for thin or fine hair, which can help smooth and add shine without causing hair to feel weighed down after use.

Scalp Treatments

Incorporating a scalp treatment into your routine can help boost hair growth for a thicker look and feel. Taking care of your scalp to improve hair growth is like watering soil to feed a plant. 

Rollers

Rollers are one of the easiest ways to add some extra lift to hair at the root. If your hair is standing further off of your scalp, it’ll look fuller and thicker, even if it’s fine or thinning.

Volumizing Mousse

Mousse has a bit of a dated reputation, but it can be a wonderful way to add some extra oomph to flat or fine hair. It’s best applied when hair is wet and can offer some serious lift and extra grit, which can further help with hair styling.

Backcombing

Backcombing your hair at the roots with a teasing brush can quickly lift and volumise thin hair. It’s not great for the hair, though, so is a technique best reserved for special occasions or for specific hairstyles. You also need to make sure you comb out your backcombing very gently to avoid tugging at hair and prompting further hair loss.

Salt Sprays

A sea salt spray can add some natural texture to fine and flat hair, plus give it some extra grit and grippiness, which makes it easier to style. Salt sprays can be rather drying, though, so it’s important that you wash them out thoroughly after use.

Dry Shampoo

Anyone with thin or flat hair will tell you that dry shampoo is their friend. Not only does it help you to go longer in between hair washes, but the product also helps to build up volume at the roots and minimize oil for a fuller finish.

Losing some hair from time to time is a fact of life—but if you’re noticing extreme hair loss, it can be rather worrying. Not only do we want to keep as much thickness and volume in our hair as possible, but hair falling out to excess can be a sign of other health issues. 

We all lose a few strands of hair every day, but if you’ve noticed an uptick of strands in your shower drain, it could point to a wider hair loss issue. There are a whole range of different causes of hair loss, and figuring out the reason behind yours may be the best way to come up with a prevention plan. Illness, hormonal changes, stress, dietary issues, and poor hair care can all contribute to excessive hair loss.

Keep reading to discover the primary causes of hair loss, plus the different methods of prevention that could help keep your hair feeling full and thick.

Hair Loss —Normal Or Excessive?

Per Web MD, there are three phases to our hair’s life cycle: anagen (growth), catagen (transition), and telogen (resting). Anagen refers to the active growth phase of hair which lasts 3–10 years, catagen is the transition phase where hair stops growing and lasts 2–3 weeks, and telogen is the resting phase where hair falls out and lasts 3–4 months 

At any given time, the majority of your hair is in the anagen phase, while around 1% is in the catagen phase, and 9% is in the telogen phase, per Healthline. Losing around 100 to 150 hairs per day is a natural part of your hair’s growth cycle, but if you’re noticing you’re losing much more than that, it could be worth investigating the cause to help with hair loss prevention.

Signs of Excessive Hair Loss

There are a few warning signs to look out for that may suggest your hair loss is not completely normal. If you lose several hairs every time you run your fingers through your locks or notice lots of hairs on your pillowcase in the morning or in your shower drain, this could be a cause for concern. You may also notice a loss of density when pulling your hair into a ponytail over several moths. 

Causes Of Hair Loss

The best way to prevent excessive hair loss is to understand exactly why it’s happening to you. Figuring out the cause of your hair loss will help you tailor make a plan to stop it from happening and to return your hair to its most bountiful and healthiest self. 

1) Genetics

One of the primary causes of hair loss is genetics. Androgenetic alopecia (male or female pattern hair loss) is a condition passed down from your parents, and can begin occurring as early as your 20s. While genetic hair loss is the most difficult to treat, having a well-rounded approach to your health and haircare routine can help minimise the genetic effects on hair loss.

2) Pregnancy and Childbirth

Pregnancy and childbirth are some of the leading causes of hair changes in women. When a woman is carrying a baby, her hair essentially stops falling out, meaning it looks exceptionally full and thick during the pregnancy. This is because the hormones of pregnancy keep hair in the anagen phase.

However, after the child is born, hormones shift and the hair moves into the telogen and catagen phases, meaning hair loss quickly picks back up, often leaving postpartum women noticing a lot of hair coming out. This is all completely normal and should balance out once hormones settle following a pregnancy.

3) Hormonal Changes

Alongside pregnancy and childbirth, women experience other hormonal shifts on a monthly (and even daily) basis. Postpartum, menopause, IVF treatment, and coming on or off of birth control are all major hormonal shifts that can impact hair loss. If you’ve experienced a significant hormonal change and are simultaneously noticing an increase in hair loss, it’s likely that could be a major reason why.

4) Underlying Illness

Excessive hair loss can also be a signifier that all is not well in your body more generally. Three major health conditions linked to hair loss are thyroid issues, polycystic ovary syndrome, and diabetes, which causes circulatory problems.

If you are, in fact, suffering from any of these conditions, then treating them will also help to treat the symptoms of hair loss. It’s important to be patient, thought, as this can take several months.

5) Vitamin Deficiencies 

The correct levels of vitamins and minerals in our bodies can have an impact on hair growth and hair loss. As per Springer Link, the most common deficiencies linked to hair loss are in vitamin B12, biotin, folate, and riboflavin. Taking a multivitamin or supplement which contains these four key ingredients can help minimise hair loss, and, in fact, boost growth.  

6) Lack of Protein

Getting enough protein in your diet is also key to minimising hair loss and helping healthy hair growth. Those with vegan and vegetarian diets, or those who aren’t prioritising their protein intake, can notice weaker and more brittle hair and nails over time. Calorie restriction or weight loss can also have a negative impact on hair, causing weakening and thinning.

7) Certain Medications

Some long-term medications have a potential side effect of hair loss. However, if it’s a medication that treats a potentially harmful or dangerous condition, it’s likely not worth risking your health for your hair. If you are concerned that a medication you’re taking is having an adverse effect on your locks, you should seek advice from a medical professional, and never take matters in your own hands.

8) Trauma and Stress

The Cleveland Clinic confirms that stress and trauma is a leading cause of hair loss in women. Traumatic or stressful events in your life can induce a sudden spurt of hair loss in which a lot of hair falls out all at once. This is a condition called telogen effluvium and is thought to be due to inflammation. It can be reversed over time, but speaking to someone about stress management or trauma therapy may be an intrinsic part of preventing future hair loss.

9) Poor Scalp Health

A National Library of Medicine study shows that an unhealthy scalp can be linked to thinning hair, hair breakage, reduced shine, and rough hair texture. Infrequent or inadequate scalp cleansing, product build-up, and inflammation from harsher products can all damage the hair follicle, which can result in hair loss over time. Chronic scalp conditions such as dandruff or psoriasis can also have a negative impact on hair retention. Using scalp-friendly hair products and incorporating scalp care into your hair routine can help with hair loss prevention. 

10) Over-Styling Hair

If you’re a fan of a fancy up-do or a slicked-back ponytail, beware – you may be causing issues with hair loss. Putting too much tension and strain on the scalp can cause traction alopecia.

Per the American Academy of Dermatology Association: “The constant pulling can cause strands of your hair to break or fall out. In time, the continuous pulling can damage your hair follicles. If you damage your hair follicles, your hair cannot grow back, so you develop permanent hair loss.” You can still enjoy pulling your hair back from time to time but try to do so gently and allow your hair time to recover in a relaxed, looser style in between.

11) Hair Damage

Overprocessing your hair through heat or chemical treatments can also cause hair loss. This is typically more due to breakage (hair snapping in the middle of a strand) rather than actual hair loss (hair falling out at the follicle) – but, nonetheless, the end result is the same: thinner-looking locks.

The best way to prevent this sort of hair thinning is to minimize your hair damage. This can be by reducing heat styling, or by color treating hair less frequently or with less extreme bleaches and dyes.

Incorporating a heat protectant and a reparative hair oil can also help. You may also wish to look into hair treatments that aim to reduce and repair hair damage, such as the K18 or Olaplex haircare ranges. 

How To Prevent Hair Loss

Some of the major causes of hair loss are not necessarily issues you can treat at home with a DIY ethos. If you believe your hair loss is linked to hormonal problems, genetics, or an underlying medical condition, it’s important to consult with a professional to help to treat not only the hair loss but the underlying cause, too.

However, there are some hair loss prevention methods that you can implement yourself at home. These primarily revolve around looking after your hair and scalp.

The National Library of Medicine confirms that keeping your scalp healthy is the key to maintaining your hair, stating that: “there is a wealth of observational data on specific dermatological conditions of the scalp providing evidence for the role of the scalp condition in supporting the production of healthy hair.”

You may also wish to add some extra protein to your diet or incorporate some hair-friendly vitamins or supplements. Treating hair loss from a variety of angles can be the best method of prevention – plus, it’ll offer you some extra health benefits elsewhere, too.