Five Ways Females Can Prevent Hair Loss

Women are much less likely than men to go bald. But, as we age, our hair does thin. Some of us lose more than others. We can blame our genes, partly. We may be able to slow the shedding. As it turns out, environmental factors play a much bigger role for ladies than for men.

Here are five ways to try to hold on to your hair:

1. Don’t smoke. Smoking was a “very significant” risk factor for hair loss in a study led among 90 pairs of female identical twins. (Studying twins helps researchers sort out environmental vs. genetic causes). Those who smoked for the most years had the most hair loss around their temples. Smoking impairs blood circulation, which is vital in hair growth, and makes the scalp oilier, which can encourage bacterial overgrowth and damage harm follicles.

2. Wear a hat. Don’t worry so much about messing up your hairstyle and developing a temporary case of “hat head.” You may be rewarded with thicker, healthier hair in the long run if you make a habit of protecting your head from the sun. A bonus to wearing a hat: You will protect yourself from wrinkles and from skin cancers on your scalp, face, and neck.

3. Watch what you drink. In the study of twin sisters, those who drank one to two cups of coffee a day and those who had up to four alcoholic beverages a week fared best. The reasons are not clear. But a bit of alcohol may help increase blood circulation to the scalp. Bonus benefits: Many studies suggest light to moderate coffee and alcohol use are good for the heart.

4. Stay happy. Hair loss was greater in women who were divorced, widowed, or married multiple times (and in women with multiple children). The common factor? It’s probably stress. Stress raises levels of the hormone cortisol, which might trigger chemical changes that damage hair follicles.

5. Go easy on braids and weaves. Those styles were linked with hair loss by researchers. They focused on a pattern of hair loss on the crown of the head that is common in African-American women. Very tight styles held in place for weeks or months may cause damage.