Have you noticed more hair falling out in the shower? Or maybe your ponytail is getting thinner or your part is getting wider. It can be jarring to realize that you’re losing more hair than usual, but rest assured that hair loss in females is usually normal and there are things you can do to stop it. It’s important to figure out what’s causing your hair fall, as there can be a number of different reasons for it. Talk to your doctor if you’ve noticed significant changes in your hair so you can figure out the root cause. Plus, we’re sharing our best tips for how to stop hair fall in women.
What Does “Hair Fall” Mean?
Generally, we lose about 50 to 100 hairs per day. Hair shedding is natural, and as some hairs fall out, others grow in. However, a disturbance in the balance occurs when more hair falls out and less hair grows in. This is known as hair fall, hair loss, or alopecia. If you’re experiencing hair fall, you may notice more hair falling out daily (in your brush or in the shower), noticeable patches of thinning or missing hair, a receding hairline, or a bald spot that grows slowly. Hair loss in women is quite common, but it’s important to get to the root of why it’s happening.
4 Causes of Hair Fall in Women
- Hormonal imbalance- particularly around pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause. During these times, the body undergoes significant hormonal fluctuations that can lead to temporary hair loss. Androgenetic alopecia, or female pattern baldness, is another hormonal issue linked to genetics, where hair thinning occurs due to the presence of androgens.
- Nutritional deficiencies- Iron deficiency can lead to anemia, which is a known cause of hair loss. Protein is essential for hair growth, so a deficiency can impact hair health. Vitamins, especially Vitamin D and B vitamins, are crucial for maintaining healthy hair, and their deficiency can result in hair loss or thinning.
- Lifestyle factors- stress, poor diet, and certain hair care practices can lead to hair loss. Physical or emotional stress can push hair follicles into a resting phase, causing hair to fall out. A diet lacking in essential nutrients can also weaken the hair structure. On top of this, excessive use of hair treatments, dyes, and styling tools can damage hair, leading to increased hair fall.
- Medical conditions- thyroid disorders, such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism, can disrupt the normal hair growth cycle. Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is another condition that can cause hormonal imbalances, affecting hair growth. Autoimmune diseases like alopecia areata result in the immune system attacking hair follicles, leading to patchy hair loss.
How to Stop Hair Fall in Women: 6 Tips and Products
1. Good Hair and Scalp Care
Taking extra good care of your hair and scalp can help prevent hair fall and improve hair growth. Keep your scalp clean by doing a scalp scrub once every one or two weeks, and also give yourself regular scalp massages to boost circulation to the scalp. Avoid heat tools as much as possible as well as colouring/chemically treating your hair. When washing your hair, gently massage the shampoo into your scalp, and always condition after. Use a deep conditioner once a week to keep your strands healthy.
2. Stress Management
Physical or emotional stress can push hair follicles into a resting phase, causing hair fall. If you’ve been feeling overly stressed lately, incorporate stress management techniques into your daily routine. Meditation, deep breathing, yoga, and regular exercise are all great ways to get stress under control. Spend time outside, do activities you enjoy, and avoid stressful situations to your best ability.
3. Eat a Healthy Diet
Eating a balanced, healthy diet, with high nutritional value can help keep your hair healthy. Make sure you’re eating lots of protein. Hair follicles are mostly made up of a protein called keratin, so a protein-rich diet may help prevent hair loss. Eggs, fish, chicken, turkey, and lentils are all great sources. Fatty fish in particular, such as salmon and mackerel, are excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids, as well as selenium, vitamin D3 and B vitamins, which are likely to promote strong, healthy hair.
4. Try a Hair Growth Supplement
Hair growth supplements like Nutrafol and Viviscal have been shown to help with hair loss and promote growth. Viviscal supplements are made with a collagen complex and ingredients like biotin, zinc, and iron to support healthier, fuller hair. Nutrafol supplements were formulated for women 45 and older and target 6 root causes of thinning hair, from hormonal shifts to stress to menopause changes. They blend 21 vitamins, minerals, and natural ingredients including curcumin, maca, and saw palmetto. Talk to your doctor before starting one of these.
5. Hair Styling
If you’re experiencing hair fall, try to avoid heat styling as much as possible. Using excessive heat on your hair can cause damage and lead to fall out. If you do use heat tools, make sure to always use a heat protectant first. Hair fall can also happen due to tight hairstyles that produce a continuous pulling on the roots. If you often wear your hair tightly pulled back, it can lead to permanent hair loss. Hair fall due to tight hairstyles is called traction alopecia.
6. Get Your Biotin
Biotin (also known as vitamin B7) is a nutrient that’s naturally found in foods such as nuts, egg yolks, liver, and lentils. If you’re deficient in biotin, it may lead to hair loss. Ensuring you eat a good dose of biotin-rich foods can help ensure you don’t acquire a deficiency. You can also try a biotin supplement. This one is specifically for hair growth and also contains collagen and keratin.
Since so many different things can cause hair loss, it’s best to schedule an appointment with your doctor if you notice any significant changes in your hair. Incorporate these tips to help with hair loss and propel growth!
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