How To Prevent Hair Loss
If you’re starting to notice more hair than usual is falling out, we’re here to help you with products, hair care and other tips to show you how to prevent hair loss. Hair loss and thinning affects around 56 million people in the US, and can be caused by a number of things including weight loss, giving birth and high levels of stress.1,2
That’s why we've crafted a five-step guide to hair loss prevention that can help you to nurture your luscious locks.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
For the most part, hair loss is normal and occurs for a range of reasons including stress, hormonal changes and genetic factors.
If you are worried about the rate that your hair is falling out, seek medical advice as soon as possible.
The key to growing healthy hair is by taking care of your scalp using specialized products and being gentle during washing and styling.
1. Gentle Hair Care:
Treating yourself to gentle hair care can make more of a difference than you might think. Be gentle to your hair during styling for example, if you use heat on your hair, make sure to use a low setting. Also, when washing your hair, make sure to pat it dry with a microfiber towel or t-shirt for less friction, rather than rubbing or twisting your hair dry with a towel.3
Hair masks are also a gentle way to take care of your hair and give you a spa-feel treatment from the comfort of your own home. The Nioxin Anti-Breakage Mask helps to protect and strengthen hair while keeping your strands moisturized.
2. Scalp Care:
A healthy scalp is vital for preventing hair loss. Keep your scalp clean by washing your hair regularly with a cleansing shampoo such as the Nioxin Scalp Relief Shampoo, and consider incorporating a gentle scalp massage to stimulate blood flow4. Research has shown that massaging the scalp can boost hair thickness by stretching the cells found in hair follicles. A scalp massage can also help to dilate blood vessels found beneath the skin, encouraging hair growth.5
Another way to take care of your scalp and help prevent hair loss is to wear looser hairstyles. For example, if you tend to wear your hair in slicked back ponytails and buns or if you have braids, these can cause tension to your scalp.3
3. Choose the Right Hair Products:
It’s important to select hair care products that are tailored to your specific needs and hair type. In this instance, products for thinning hair and hair strengthening should be your go-to.
Here at Nioxin, we have a great range of hair products that are specially designed for light to progressed thinning. Find the answer to how to prevent hair loss in men and women with our range of products for hair thinning.
Our personal favorites are the multi-part System Kits which include gently cleansing shampoo for thinning hair, hydrating conditioners and volumizing leave-in treatments for hair thinning. These kits help to promote a healthy scalp and fuller, thicker looking hair from the first use.
4. Foods to Prevent Hair Loss:
The key to healthy, strong and growing hair starts from within. Your diet plays a crucial role in how to prevent hair loss and so, essential nutrients such as biotin, vitamin A, iron and protein should all be included in your diet.6
Key foods to help prevent hair loss are:6
Eggs (source of biotin and protein)
Spinach (source of vitamin A, vitamin C and iron)
Salmon and other fatty fish (source of omega-3 fatty acids and protein)
Avocado (source of vitamin E)
For an extra boost of these vital vitamins, the Nioxin Hair Growth Supplements include biotin and zinc which help to support healthy hair.*
*With biotin and zinc which contribute to the maintenance of normal hair.
5. Stress Management:
Physical or emotional stress can contribute to losing hair, however, this should be temporary. If your hair loss is stress related, this is unlikely to cause permanent damage to your hair follicles.7Managing your stress and taking good care of your health could result in your hair returning to a normal rate of growth. With this in mind, it’s essential to find stress management techniques that work for you and minimize the impact on your hair.
Yoga is a great exercise for relieving stress, which in turn could help to prevent hair loss caused by stress. Try out yoga poses such as downward-facing dog and kneeling pose for low-impact stress relievers.4
Symptoms to Look For
While it’s normal to lose between 50 to 100 hairs each day, if you notice more than this, then you may want to take action.2
The main symptoms to look out for are:3
Loose hair – This is the most obvious symptom of hair loss; you may be finding more hair falling out than usual on your pillow or hairbrush.
Widening part – Whether your signature style is a middle or side part, if you’re starting to notice your parting getting wider, then this can be a sign of hair thinning.
Receding hairline– Otherwise known as pattern baldness, this is a common symptom that is responsible for 95% of hair loss in men.1
Bald patches – Check your hair for bald patches of all sizes. Keep an eye on any changes in your scalp so you can notice if any patches become larger.
Clogged drains – If your shower or bath drain is getting more clogged with hair than you’re used to then this could be a sign of excessive hair loss.
Being proactive with your hair care is key to preventing hair loss and maintaining gorgeous locs. Maintaining a nourishing diet, using products tailored to your needs and being gentle to your hair and scalp are key to hair loss prevention and healthy, vibrant locks.
If you’re still noticing persistent hair loss, make sure to consult a doctor or dermatologist.
References:
https://scandinavianbiolabs.com/en-nl/blogs/journal/hair-loss-statistics
https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/insider/shedding
https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-loss
https://www.healthline.com/health/hair-loss-prevention#hair-care
https://www.healthline.com/health/scalp-massage-for-hair-growth