Posted by Nikoletta Ventseslavova

Read if: you have predisposition to hair loss and you are keen on finding a way to prevent it.

We use seatbelts when we drive fast down the highway and they are our salvation if a truck suddenly appears in front of us. Accidents happen all of a sudden and we have to be prepared for them. In whatever situation, like treating our hair loss or in life, most of us make the mistake to look for the cure when the damage is done. Are you a person with hectic work schedule with no time for proper food, enough sleep and exercises, living in a polluted urban environment? If yes, then expect problems with hair loss, or read on to learn how to prevent it.

Understanding hair loss

All people lose hair on a daily basis, about 50 to 100 head hairs a day. This amount of hair loss is a totally normal and natural process we don’t have to worry about, because these hairs are replaced — they grow back in the same follicle on our head.  Unfortunately, many people suffer from rapid hair loss without new hair coming to replace it, which results in thinning hair. There are many reasons for this including medication, genetics, radiation, chemotherapy, exposure to chemicals, hormonal and nutritional factors, thyroid disease, generalized or local skin disease, and stress. Although we cannot interfere with our genetic predisposition or DHT levels, we can change our lifestyle regimen to maximize the potential of our body against hair loss.

Hair loss prevention steps:

Diet change:  The nutrients that stimulate hair growth and renewal are:
-          Iron: found mostly in meat and plant sources like liver, beef, pork, leafy greens, cereals, beans and pumpkin seeds. Iron-deficiency anemia causes unexpected hair loss mainly in women, that’s why adding iron-rich foods to your diet is essential mainly for vegetarians looking into hair loss prevention, since they avoid meats and eggs. For the better absorption of iron, include Vitamin C in your diet as well. Hair loss can be slowed by a healthy diet, rich in vegetables and fruits. Avoid low-calorie liquid diets, as they deplete our energy and can cause hair loss. Raw egg whites should also be avoided as they can harbor bacteria and can prevent the absorption of biotin. The nutrients that stimulate hair growth and renewal are:

-          B Vitamins: in combination with biotin are essential for healthy, vibrant hair. Good sources are: lentils, sunflower seeds, soybeans and walnuts.

-          Zinc is also an important for hair nourishment. It is found in sea foods, beef, dark chocolate, lamp, peanuts, and pumpkin seeds.

-          Protein, lysine and Omega-3 fatty acids have a main role in preventing hair from becoming dry and brittle. Protein is essential and its deficiency is one of the main factors for hair loss. It can be found in seafood, white-meat poultry, milk products, eggs and protein bars, nuts and lentils.

-          Water: The hair shaft is one quarter water. H2O makes your hair supple and soft therefore you should drink at least 4 to 8 cups daily to stay hydrated and to have healthy, silky and shiny hair.

-          Stress management is important.  Normally, 85% of the hair is in its growing phase, while 15% is in its final “death” stages. Stressful events produce shock that alters this cycle and as a result 30-40% of the hairs start to die 3 months later. Learn how to live stresslessly,  Stressed out? Tips on meditation

It is also important to be cautious with some prescription drugs. Blood thinners like Warfarin, arthritic medications and psychiatric drugs are amongst the medications that induce hair loss. Be sure that you have read the labels before you take them.

Infections due to low personal hygiene are also a factor. By keeping your scalp and hair clean through regular shampooing, you can prevent any fungal infections like Tinea capitis that results in patchy hair loss. However, don’t overdo it, as over washing damages the sebaceous glands that naturally moisturize hair and scalp. Hair care products should be chosen carefully: never use harsh shampoos, or stylizing products as they damage hair follicles; stay away from protein enhanced shampoos, as they fill the gaps on the hair shaft temporarily, but they don’t repair damaged hair.  Use herbal and mild shampoos instead.

Hair should be treated as a living organ. As we all know plants flourish in our homes when we are positive and show them affection. The same corresponds refers to our hair and we need to be gentle with it:

-          Avoid brushing hair when it is wet – this is the time when it is most vulnerable and combing may snap a lot of hair in growing phase.

-          Use your fingers or wide-toothed comb for tangles, not a brush.

-          Frequent brushing is also not recommended, as it can injure hair and increase loss. Be gentle when rubbing it with a towel, as this can also lead to breakage. It is most beneficial to leave it dry up on its own.

-          Overuse of hair dyes, hairdryer and curling irons can also aggravate the problem of hair loss, leading to baldness. In order to preserve the thickness of our hair it is better to adopt easy hairstyles and avoid tight hairstyles and coloring products (if you are using colorants, leave a gap of at least 6 to 8 weeks between each session, as this prevents hair loss. After all, it is better to have grey hairs than bald scalp!)

-          Get enough sleep, because irregular sleeping patterns causes for hair loss. (Read also: Defeat insomnia without pills)

-          Reduce the amount of tobacco and alcohol to a minimum: smoking reduces blood flow to the scalp, causing reduction in hair growth. People who drink excessively suffer from mineral deficiency; heavy drinking provokes stress reactions and negatively impact the liver (the critical organ, managing hormones in our bodies).

***And finally- a personal hair loss journey with a happy ending***

As there are many useless anti-hair-loss products on the market, I decided to tell the story of Anjum Shahzad, a certified alternative therapist, who found an alternative treatment for this condition. He was only 15 years old when he started suffering from hair loss. Anjum tried many kinds of treatment, starting with herbal remedies such as Saw palmetto, massages, homemade lotions and oils. He changed his diet by cutting down junk foods. Unfortunately, these things didn’t work for him, because he was genetically predisposed to hair loss, due to the levels of DHT and 5 alpha reductase in his body. Years later, at the age of 19 he went to study Chemistry at Manchester and he decided to try get rid of his problem with the drug Propecia, but shedding continued. In 2002 he learned about the drugs Avodart and Dutasteride, which promised to inhibit both the receptors better than Propecia.  8 months later he was about to accept that he was destined to be bald, when he came across a therapy called Wet Cupping – a Chinese holistic therapy which detoxifies the body by making small incisions on the skin and removing the “bad blood” from it. It managed to cure Anjum’s hay fever and he decided to do a Wet Cupping course and become a qualified therapist. Years later, he decided to experiment and tried the method on his scalp. He shaved his hair off and chose two points to do the cupping – one on the crown and one on the back of head. As a result his hair loss was halted and today he still has a good hairline.

More useful articles:

Hangover remedies

Natural ways for whiteningteeth

Beating phobias

How does laser eye surgery actually work?