If you are losing your hair, you needn’t lose your flair—but it sure helps to know what is causing it! Luckily, there are now a variety of treatment options available for both men and women. Depending on the severity of your shedding and the permanence you seek, a hair transplant or restoration procedure could be the biggest solution to restoring your looks and confidence!
In addition to these breakthroughs in beauty, science has also lent us the facts: Genetic disposition isn’t the only thing that can cause your luscious locks to leave you! Your stress level, eating patterns, and exposure to pollution also play a part.
Stress and Hormones
Cortisol is released throughout your body when you’re feeling stressed out, and it drains more than just your energy. This hormone affects the function and cyclic regulation of your hair follicles. At high enough levels, it can cause them to enter a state of rest—or to even start falling out!
What to Do:
Eliminate Stressors and Practice Calming Exercises
Getting rid of the stressors in your daily life would be the easiest solution, but this isn’t always feasible. Relaxation exercises and stress management techniques can do a world of good for the functioning of your hair follicles, giving you one less thing to stress about!
Level Out Your Cortisol and Balance Your Hormones
Supplements that help to lower cortisol can provide your scalp with the tools it needs to keep on growing. Since cortisol is a hormone, hormonal supplements can also help regulate these cycles, especially in women who are pregnant (you are glowing, so keep it growing!).
Diet and Deficiencies
If you aren’t getting enough iron or zinc, your hair can lose its strength, shine—or jump ship completely! You really are what you eat. If you eat poorly, deficiencies develop, and your body does not have the fuel to keep providing you with your best natural features, including your hair.
What to Do:
Up Your Iron and Zinc Intake
In addition to eating a sufficient amount of protein and drinking enough water throughout the day, choosing iron and zinc-rich foods can help to alleviate your hair loss blues! Supplements are also available, and they are especially good for those who have iron-deficiency anemia.
Get Your Omega-3s
Studies have suggested that there is a promising connection between ingesting omega-3s and growing thicker hair. Whether you get them through supplements or food, strengthening your hair will lighten your mood!
Smoke and Polluted Air
Smog, smoke, and other pollutants cause oxidative stress in your body! This means that your ability to naturally detoxify your cells from free radicals is diminished, causing damage to your hair and scalp. Not only that, but pollutants can seep in from the outside and cause irritation, making it even harder for your follicles to flourish!
What to Do:
Protect and Nourish Your Hair and Scalp
If you live in an area like Salt Lake City, it may be impossible to escape smog. To keep your scalp thriving, protect it by washing your hair regularly, wearing protective gear (hats), and giving it a spa treatment every once in a while (deep conditioner)!
Quit Smoking
If you smoke and are developing female or male pattern baldness, there may be a connection between the two! Both the inhalation of and outside skin exposure to smoke can lead to thinning and shedding. If you want more hair, kick the habit and you may just have it!
If you have androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, or telogen effluvium, an awareness of how your environment and lifestyle affect your hair growth will help you optimize the results of your procedures. To get a little more life in your locks, do your part to foster their growth!
