Hair loss is one of the worst things that can happen to us, particularly devastating when you keep finding clumps of hair in the drain or on your comb. Hair loss is probably one of the few problems that we all deal with at one point or all throughout our lives, regardless of our racial or even gender differences. We are all clearly worried or just simply focused on ensuring proper hair growth. This is where this article comes in handy for you, as below we discuss the reasons of hair loss and its treatment, and how to grow hair faster and stronger.
In this article:
- What Causes Hair Loss?
- How to Grow Hair Faster with Home Remedies
- How to Make Hair Grow Faster with Natural Products
- How to Grow Hair Faster with Specific Hair Growth Products
- Extra Hair Growth Tips to Consider
What Causes Hair Loss?
Hair loss is referred to as Alopecia in the medical world, a common condition resulting from the hair shaft breaking or simply decreased hair growth. Everything from low vitamin levels to anemia, protein deficiency to more serious ailments, such as thyroid disease, and the use of chemotherapy can lead to hair loss.
Aging and genetics are generally the main culprits, of course, but life stages such as pregnancy, puberty, and menopause can also be the main factor. Emotional trauma and even dieting can cause a major difference in your level of hair regrowth.
You can have either scarring or non-scarring hair loss, where the former denotes permanently destroyed hair follicles and the latter to simply plenty of empty ones instead. A doctor will have to examine you to conclude the real reason for hair loss.
However, losing hair is part of the cycle, where each individual loses anywhere between 50 and 100 strands of hair a day, or up to 250 strands on the days your hair gets washed.
Over 90% of your hair would be in the anagen phase, meaning that it is constantly growing. That in and of itself is a very good thing. Just double check if you have thinning hair follicles that can lead to early hair loss. Otherwise, check for stressors that might be disrupting the normal hair cycle.
Any kind of trauma can potentially shock the hair follicles, apparent within the three-to-six month period afterwards. You might also want to cut back on the vitamin A if you are consuming over 5000 IU a day. On the other hand, low levels of vitamin B might also be your problem.
Finally, overstyling your hair is a big no-no, particularly if you enjoy tight braids, hair weaves or corn rows. Hot roll treatments and hair relaxers with chemical treatment are all related to hair loss as well. Keep your roots away from harsh chemicals and high heat, and always use heat protectants prior to heat styling.
While hair loss in and of itself is going to happen as we get older and life keeps throwing obstacles at us with a rather ferocious appetite, we can take control by ensuring faster hair growth for the strands that have healthy follicles. There are many ways to go about doing this.
There are the hair growth home remedies, the natural doctor-prescribed options, and the not-so-natural hair growth products to consider. Remember that hair typically grows up to half an inch a month, and that is only in a healthy state. Getting regular trims will keep your strands free of split ends, so those scissors are your friend.
While you will grow half an inch per month, you only cut off an eight of a full inch every two or three months. At the end of the day, to get long princess or mermaid-worthy hair, treat it like it is spun from gold. No yanking, pulling and damaging. Just a whole lot of loving!
How to Grow Hair Faster with Home Remedies
There are many old maids’ tales that actually do end up helping, albeit at a slower pace and with messier ingredients than the pills you grab from a pharmacy. They are fun and can be quite the interesting experience however, if done right.
Egg Yolk Hair Growth Mask
We just have to mention this first. Yes, we are talking about a hair growth mask made out of eggs on your head. It’s bound to be sticky, but do not fret so much about that. Particularly if your problem is with breakage.
The lecithin, and proteins in the eggs help strengthen your hair, while also nourishing and healing along the way. Your dandruff will also become a thing of the past due to high Sulphur content.
To make the mask, mix two eggs with two tablespoons of olive oil. A half cup of water will dilute enough to get rid of most of the stickiness.
Apply to dry hair after it has been brushed, and leave on for thirty minutes. Then take a shower as you usually would with shampoo and conditioner. Should work beautifully.
Olive Oil for Hair Growth
An olive oil treatment involves massaging your scalp after flipping over your hair from underneath for a few minutes. Cover with a shower cap for up to two hours and then wash it out.
Eggs and Honey Hair Growth Mask
Beat a single egg until it’s smooth before adding in plain yoghurt, and a tablespoon of honey. Apply this concoction to wet hair, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then wash out with your shampoo as usual.
Herbal Infusion for Hair Growth
Rosemary, catnip, nettle, burdock, horsetail, and sage are all known to help hair grow faster, particularly rosemary. You can use any of these herbs to make a steeped tea that you will use in a final rinse after shampoo and conditioner. You can also mix it in with your shampoo to give your hair that extra boost.
Aloe and Lemon Hair Growth Mask
A light mask of aloe vera gel, and lemon should also do the trick. It also reduces dandruff and brings back your natural shine.
Mix fresh aloe vera gel with a little bit of lemon juice, apply it to your hair and leave it for up to 20 minutes. Doing this 1-2 times a weeks should give you some great results.
You can also combine the aloe vera with equal part coconut milk or even wheat germ using the same process. Drinking it often will also help with multiple issues.
How to Make Hair Grow Faster with Natural Products
Natural hair growth products include anything from oils to eggs and simply anything that doesn’t require you mixing up chemicals in there. Since millennials in particular turn to more natural ways of treating their problems, these types of hair growth formulas come in very handy. Which is your favorite?
Rosemary Oil for Hair Growth
A scalp massage with rosemary oil is a rather inexpensive way to get that hair growing long and beautiful. It is great stimulation for your hair follicles, as the increased blood flow to the scalp from the massage enhances the roots and helps bring in the nutrients faster than usual.
This is a centuries-old formula that works wonders. Just keep it to once a week if your hair is naturally on the oily side.
Castor Oil for Hair Growth
Our elders often recommend it, and the modern world embraces it. Castor oil, obtained from pressing the seeds of the castor plant, is used in the manufacturing of many a natural product, as well as anything from plastics to waxes to even perfumes and pharmaceuticals.
It is truly the unsung hero of hair care, combatting bacterial and fungal growth while also bringing in lots of goodies. These include omega-6 fatty acids, vitamin E, proteins, and multiple other nutrients essential for your hair strands to retain their moisture, strength and luster.
Massaging hot castor oil onto your scalp, also make sure to coat your strands down to the tips. Pile your hair on top of your head and cover with a shower cap before blasting it with a hair dryer for 15 minutes. Softer strands will be your immediate reward once you wash out the oil afterwards in a regular style shower.
Coconut Oil for Hair Growth
Admit it, you were waiting for this. Coconut oil, much like castor oil, is a go-to natural product for just about anything these days. It is great to use in the shower on the hair ends, as well, since it will prevent your hair from drying out. This is especially the case if you are a scalding hot shower lover. You can also massage it onto the scalp and leave it in overnight before washing it out come the morning.
Essential Oils for Hair Growth
There are hair oils, and then there are essential oils for hair. Essential oils are packed with nutrients, and each has its own benefits. Massaging your scalp with them will yield some great results.
Peppermint is known to improve circulation and provide a very fresh feeling, tea tree oil soothes and gets rid of that pesky dandruff, while lemon oil is great for healthy hair promotion.
How to Grow Hair Faster with Specific Hair Growth Products
While there are so many natural ways to make your hair grow faster, there are also a plethora of hair products created with that specific problem in mind. What route do you prefer to take?
Hair Vitamins
Let’s start with vitamin tablets. You can always get your hair growth vitamins from your daily dietary intake, but sometimes there are certain nutrients missing from the list. Vitamins like Biotin, Vitamin E and such are very important for hair growth. There is also SugarBearHair, which is specifically geared towards having long and lush, healthy tresses.
Hair Growth Shampoos
Here is where it gets tricky since not every shampoo is good for every hair type. However, there are many that have been created specifically to provide the vitamins necessary while you shower, going easy on the strands while also stimulating the scalp.
There are too many on the market, so you might want to ask a pharmacist or your doctor about the best hair growth shampoos to try out. Just don’t use shampoo every day, considering all the oil it strips off with the gunk and grime that you are trying to clean out.
Hair Masks
There are specially formulated hair masks that can be used on a weekly basis to help restore and revitalize your hair. It is generally a very easy process, with lighter ingredients meant to strengthen your strands from the inside out.
Conditioners
While most people might skip on the conditioner if they already have oily hair, you should actually be working it in more often. Conditioners keep in the moisture and help grow the hair nice and strong, even if that is not the top point written on the bottle.
Matching shampoos and conditioners are actually best. You should also be ending your shower with cold water in order to lock in the moisture, as miserable as that sounds.
Grass Fed Gelatin
Eating low-fat gelatin dessert is great, but a bigger boost comes from the gelatin from grass-fed cows, something that can be bought at health stores. It increases the collagen your skin needs, which is also essential for healthy hair.
Pick up some gelatin either for dinner or dessert. Some cultures have this as a staple of their diets. Check out some cool recipes.
Hair Growth Treatments
Treatment sets normally include everything from the treatment to the shampoo, conditioner, and hair masks. There are a good number of them around, but a few are highly recommended by users around the world.
Do your own research before buying into one. Normally, they are enriched with proteins that are essential for hair growth, stimulating new follicles while strengthening existing ones.
Extra Hair Growth Tips to Consider
There are a couple of steps to follow that will ensure you have healthier and longer hair in the long run, which are:
Keep away from Hot Tools
Anything that hot is bound to hurt your hair. Even if you are going to be blow-drying, use a protector against the heat. Air-drying is best, if you can, but even then a protector can come in handy. When you are actively trying to grow your hair, just don’t style with hot tools in general, though. And towel dry with a cotton t-shirt instead to keep things soft.
Diet and Exercise
Your body requires a healthy diet and a good amount of exercise on a daily basis. Your hair is no exception to that rule. Keep getting those vitamins, cover up well under the sun but get that Vitamin D as well, and eat all the greens you can. That, of course, includes kiwis.
Foods in general to consider for their hair growing vitamins are almonds, peanuts, pecans, walnuts, eggs, milk, cheese, pork, liver, salmon, sardines, avocado, and cauliflower. The best superfoods to include in your diet, however, are spinach, and broccoli for their vitamins A, B & C.
Careful with Hair Bands
Tight elastic bands are a no-no for your hair, particularly since your strands are bound to get caught. Yanking them is a nightmare, while gently unwrapping can become a very frustrating act. While we are at it, keep away from face lifting tight ponytails your mother used to always force on you.
Choose a Good Brush
A wide-tooth comb is your best bet, followed by a wet brush, when you want to work out your tangles in the morning or late at night. Avoid wire or metal hair brushes, while boar is really great instead. The larger the brush, the better, lessening the tension.
That Silken Pillow
Investing in a silk pillowcase or two or three or four will work wonders on your hair. Cotton causes friction, while silk and satin help retain the moisture in your hair instead.
Just Don’t Add Color
Finally, we say just skip the highlights and overall coloring of the hair. It burns out your strands, hurts the follicles and should be steered clear of until you reach your desired length. Harsh chemicals on anything cause more harm than good. Go natural, if you can.
Photos via @polyenee, Instagram
