Dry Scalp: Common Causes and Treatment Tips

Dry scalp is a fairly common problem faced by many of us at some or other time in life. Some of us have had a dry scalp since birth. One reason is strong heredity. If one of your parents has always complained of an itchy dry scalp, then be careful, they might have passed it on to you.

Other causes:

1. Excessive hair drying or brushing

2. Excessive cold weather

3. Excessive treatments like dyeing

4. Excessively hot or windy weather

These all act as irritants for the scalp and result in excessive dryness. Symptoms of a dry scalp are a feeling of itchiness and tightness on the scalp when you comb or tie your hair. Even small flakes might appear. If these flakes get secondarily infected, then they might lead to seborrheic dermatitis caused by a fungus. This results in greasy, yellow and oily flakes on the scalp. It causes intense itching. This is especially with people having a tendency for seborrheic dermatitis generally. Dry scalp treatment is essential as it gives you an uneasy sensation every time you comb your hair.

Tips:

- Make sure you switch to deep conditioning shampoos and conditioners. But make sure you are not shampooing your hair too often. That itself can lead to loss of natural oils and hair proteins which are essential to maintain the softness and shine of your hair.

Avoid using chemical-based shampoos and try using the herbal or natural variants. They are milder in general.

- When you wash your hair, avoid hot water, instead use cool water.

- When you are out in the sun, make sure you cover your head with a large enough hat or a scarf or stole. Use light-coloured, light-weight stoles. They help reflect away the sunlight and reduce insensible loss of moisture from the scalp.

- Avoid doing chemical treatments to your hair till the scalp is healthy again.

- Avoid excessive combing as it will lead to further drying and flaking.

- Avoid dyeing your hair too often.

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.

Female Hair Loss: Common Causes and Basic Remedies

It is widely known that pregnancy causes hormonal changes that ultimately lead to excessive hair loss. During pregnancy, a large reserve of protein and calcium is taken up by the baby, causing a lack of essential nutrients, which are beneficial for hair growth. This major transfer of nutrients leaves a woman severely deficient in hair food.

Consequently, women are advised to obtain a healthy diet during pregnancy and to consult with their physician to ensure a proper balance of hormones.

Menopause is another reason that can cause hair loss because of the lack of oestrogen. A thinning of scalp hair along with a growth of excessive facial hair occurs in about half of all women by age 50, although it may begin anytime after puberty.

We can always blame postmenopausal hair loss on the lack of oestrogen, but research has shown that more than one hormone is involved in this process. The loss of both progesterone and oestrogen throughout menopause seems to lead to a new hormonal pattern that leads to hair fall and an increase in facial hair.

If you are concerned about hair loss or the growth of unwanted facial hair during menopause, visit your doctor for a check-up and for a diet review.

A doctor’s treatment plan will be based on both your medical and lifestyle information. A doctor might prescribe a short-term dose of oestrogen to see if that addresses the problem. Drinking plenty of green tea, getting enough vitamin B6, losing weight and getting enough sleep are highly recommended because your problem might get fixed if you just switch to a healthier lifestyle.

Women suffering from hair loss should avoid ponytails, hair weaves, braids and tight hair rollers, which can pull and stress your hair. If you need to use blow-dryers and other heated hair instruments, try to use the cooler, lower heat. Use shampoos and conditioners that contain biotin and silica.

Head massages can help with blood circulation in the scalp and promotes hair growth. Give yourself a head massage every day by putting your fingers gently, but firmly, on the scalp and start moving the scalp in small circles for a few seconds in each spot until you’re done with your whole head. This can be done for five minutes twice a day.

A Balanced Diet for a Better Hair Day, Every Day

Many people don’t think much about the health of their hair — that is, until its starts thinning. If you’re noticing a significant increase in the amount of hair lost per day, you might take comfort in the fact that you are in good company: Hair loss affects about 35 million men and 21 million women in the US alone.

This equates to two-thirds of the male population that will experience noticeable hair loss by the age of 35, and that number jumps to 85 per cent by the time they reach the age of 50, according to the American Hair Loss Association.

Hair loss can occur for a variety of reasons. One permanent cause is genetic, but most people don’t realize that other causes may be temporary and reversible. Temporary hair loss may be caused by extreme stress, severe illness or childbirth; but the cause that is most easily treatable is a change in diet, according to the AHLA.

Hair needs many vitamins and nutrients to stay healthy. Among them are protein, iron, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and vitamin A, but not too much: Excess vitamin A can actually cause hair loss, according to researchers at the University of Hawaii.

If you think diet may be the cause of your hair-related woes, try adding some of these hair-healthy foods to your recipes:

• Beans – Great source of iron, zinc and biotin

• Almonds, pecans and cashews – Rich in zinc

• Dark leafy greens (such as spinach, broccoli and Swiss chard) – Contain vitamins A and C, which your body needs to produce sebum (to condition hair)

• Carrots – Another good source of vitamin A

• Walnuts and salmon – Both rich in omega-3 fatty acids

• Brazil nuts – High in selenium (promotes scalp health)

Nutritionists reported on which foods are especially fabulous for your hair. These tips are good for thick, shiny, healthy hair no matter what. They recommend beans for iron, zinc and biotin; walnuts and salmon because they’re rich in omega-3; and dark leafy greens for vitamins A and C. It sounds like a delicious salad, right? Also on the list: Almonds, pecans and cashews, so if you like mixed nuts, you’re in luck.

However, if you’re not the salad-eating type, you can still give your hair a boost. There are tons of supplements out there that contain essential fatty acids and biotin. You will notice a huge difference in your hair — thicker and shinier — after taking them. They also make your mane grow faster, so if you’re trying to get rid of some unfortunate bangs, they may be the answer.

Short- and Long-Term Solutions to Hair Loss

Apart from stress, intense heat and pollution also cause hair loss. With these causes of hair loss, what are the apt solutions?

Hair Replacement

There are hair system makers who offer an ultra-customised non-surgical hair replacement system for both men and women.

There are makers who use real quality human hair and the treatment is custom made to suit each individual’s needs. The idea is to provide a system, which duplicates exactly the way one’s hair used to be. Alternatively, the system can be designed to create a new kind of hairstyle, including a combed-back look that exposes the hairline.

What is an ultra-custom non-surgical hair replacement system?

The systems are made according to the client’s needs. Factors like density, texture, colour, length, curl size, gravity splits of the original hair are considered and only then the new system is designed. The system is glued and taped to the scalp without any surgical procedure and only a replacement of hair is done. One can style, comb their hair the way they want to.

Does the process have any side effects, and how safe is it?

The glue and tapes used are FDA approved and there are no side effects to it. The system has enormous amount of pores, which allows the scalp to breathe, and in lieu of this, the client is able to use the system just like normal hair. It is effective and lasts up to more than three years. Plus it’s really easy to maintain.

What kind of cost is involved in this process?

The extent of hair to be replaced and the length determine the cost of each system. Maintenance of the system can be done at ease by the client, but if the client has other preferences on how to have the servicing done, then a nominal charge is levied. Every client is given due attention at the time of consultation.

What are some of the common reasons for people losing hair these days?

Hair loss, baldness in particular, can either be hereditary or due to one’s lifestyle changes that were not prevalent in previous generations. Hair loss is a perennial problem in men and women. Severe stressful life, exposure to intense heat, humidity, pollution, greasy fast food and many more add to reasons.

What are home remedies for hair loss?

If the hair loss is not due to heredity or any medical process side effects, then nutrient deficiency would be one of the major reasons. A major amount of water to cleanse your system, high-protein diet and iron-rich foods can be suggested and would give a good result too.

Remedy Scalp Itchiness before It Worsens to Hair Loss

Along with dryness of the scalp, negligence towards hair care is a main reason for scalp itchiness, which can be a forerunner of a worse condition such as hair loss. The other causes of an itchy scalp include a poor diet, too much anxiety and stress and lice. Cleaning and washing of hair in an improper way along with dandruff and scalp acne and allergies as a result of usage of chemical-based products like hair dyes are some of the other reasons.

Remedies

1. Make a mixture of one part of eucalyptus oil, lavender oil, German chamomile natural oil with four parts of water and gently dab it on the areas affected.

2. Application of lemon juice on the scalp is believed to be very effective in treating an itchy scalp caused by dandruff. Mixing curd with lemon juice diluted in water is

also found to be very efficient in cases where the dandruff is severe.

3. Massaging your scalp with a combination of cedar vinegar and warm water can be beneficial in curing itchy scalps.

4. Tea tree oil is found to have anti-bacterial properties. These help in treating scalp acne, rashes and pimples which subsequently help in reducing the itchiness.

5. Oil obtained from Neem plant is very good since it has fungicidal properties. Apply a mixture of Neem oil, rosemary oil and tea tree oil on the scalp on a regular basis.

Tips for Itchy Scalp:

• We may feel like scratching our scalp, but avoid doing this as this will only aggravate the problem.

• The right kind of comb is also very important. Wooden combs with wide teeth should be preferred as these are known to increase blood circulation.

• Identification of the reason for the occurrence of itchy scalp will prove beneficial in its treatment.

• The right kind of shampoo is also very important. It is a myth that the costliest shampoo is the best. It may be good but may not be the answer for you. So go for a shampoo that best suits your hair condition.

• Washing your hair regularly will help in preventing dirt and dead skin cells from accumulating on your scalp which in turn will prevent infections and an itchy scalp.

These simple tips and home remedies for itchy scalp will be of immense help as they are effective and not very costly as compared to the chemical-based products available in the market. Apart from being light on your pocket, they are easily available, easy to prepare and use. However, one must never forget that all the remedies mentioned will be effective if and only if they are used regularly.

Manage Stress to Maintain the Health of Your Tresses

Turns out that stress and bad habits such as smoking, drinking and even tanning could contribute to hair loss, especially in women, according to preliminary findings from new research.

Two new studies found that women’s hair follicles are particularly vulnerable to the wear and tear of a stressful lifestyle. One study found that women who had suffered the stress of a divorce or death of a spouse were at the highest risk of losing their hair at the midline, meaning a widening of the parting in the middle of the scalp. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium, which refers to hair loss induced from severe stress – may it be physical, emotional, or psychological stress.

Men can chalk balding mostly up to genetic luck of the draw, although smoking, alcohol consumption, daily stress, and sun exposure contribute as well. According to the research, such habits contribute to poor blood flow in the scalp, affecting the health of the hair follicles since it is through blood circulation that the follicles obtain nutrients.

While you can take preventative measures such as wearing a hat when exposed to the sun, quitting smoking, and reducing your alcohol consumption, researchers add that adopting healthier lifestyle choices could possibly help your hair grow back.

‘Part of it is to manage what you can’, shares a New York City dermatologist. ‘The sooner you address it, the better your chances of recovering the former healthy state of the hair follicles’.

Prior research and clinical studies have also linked stem cells to balding, finding that some stem cells in the scalp are incapable of developing into the type of cells that make hair follicles. The discovery, published earlier this year in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, could give hope to men and women with hair loss, said the researchers in a release.

Homemade Hair Loss Treatments that Suit the Needs of Your Scalp

Hair loss may worsen with ageing and a variety of other factors — including genetics, stress, disease and hairstyling tools. While a variety of commercial and medical products offer hair loss treatments, homemade products have the advantage of being less toxic than most found on the market. Homemade treatments are commonly less expensive than commercial products and you have the advantage of knowing exactly what is in the formulation and customising it for your needs.

Vitamin Treatment

Vitamin E has long been touted as an aide to circulation and used in heart ailments. Because of its ability to rebuild capillaries and arteries, vitamin E is a useful treatment for hair. Though the vitamin can be added to shampoos and conditioners, the most efficient treatment is to apply the nutrient directly to the scalp. Puncture a capsule of vitamin E and apply directly to the scalp. This can be repeated daily.

Molasses Treatment

Molasses has been shown to help regrow hair. Blackstrap molasses contains a variety of B vitamins that help reduce stress, which is one of the leading causes of hair loss. Molasses also softens the hair and adds lustre. It can be applied directly to the hair but because of its stickiness, molasses is best applied diluted in water.

Add four ounces of molasses to one cup of warm water and use as a rinse. Wrap the head with a towel and leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing off and drying.

Herbal Remedy

Herbal tinctures and oils are beneficial for the follicles on the scalp and for the hair shaft itself. Massaging the scalp with a combination of herbal essential oils — including rosemary, lavender, cedarwood and thyme — can nourish the scalp within and on the surface. This combination helps increase circulation in the scalp and is especially beneficial for those suffering from alopecia.

Protein Treatment

Hair is made up of protein. Adding protein to the diet can help hair grow, as can adding protein directly to the hair. Eggs and mayonnaise are both sources of protein that can be used as hair treatments.

Mix one egg into a half cup of mayonnaise and apply to the hair. Leave on for 15 minutes to a half hour, then shampoo as usual. This will not only add protein and strength to the hair but moisturise the scalp as well. An avocado can also be added to increase the moisture content of the hair.

Home-Made Remedies for Male Alopecia

Male pattern baldness is a very common problem. Close to ninety per cent of cases of male hair loss falls in this category. Most males who have crossed the age of fifty suffer from this type of baldness. However, like many other conditions, if you are able to detect the problematic condition at an early stage, you would be able to control it to a great extent.

Nutrients, vitamins and minerals are essential for healthy hair growth and will prevent and stop hair loss. If you realise that you are not getting enough nutrients then try supplementing your diet with zinc, vitamin B and biotin. A secret home remedy for healthy hair is drinking half a litre of lettuce, spinach, carrot and alfalfa juice in equal proportions daily. This mixture is natural and very effective as a natural supplement.

Omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for our health in so many ways, have also been shown to prevent hair loss. Consuming substantial amounts of omega 3 can help you avoid hair loss in the first place.

A daily 10-minute scalp massage will stimulate the follicles as well as increase blood circulation to the scalp.

You can also make some simple and effective home remedies for hair loss using natural oils. Combine henna, jojoba, and aloe vera and mix it all together with wheat germ oil. Use the mixture with a natural shampoo to cleanse your strands.

Take one cup of mustard oil with some henna leaves and boil for a few minutes. After boiling, strain this solution and keep it in a bottle and massage it to the scalp every day; this will help you to reduce the baldness. This solution can help prevent further hair loss and may be used for hair care.

Apply the oils of cedarwood, rosemary, lavender combined with jojoba seed oils on to your hairs and scalp. Daily massage of 30 minutes with all these oils will give excellent results for people suffering with hair loss. In the cases of alopecia areata, this remedy also holds effective.

Wash the hair with lukewarm water every week. Make sure to massage the scalp as well. For better results, mix the warm water with either coconut or olive oil and then apply to hair and scalp. Spend about 15 to 20 minutes massaging these areas to ensure that the oil gets absorbed well.

Female Hair Loss: How to Deal

Often, hair loss or balding is thought of as a problem men alone encounter. But often overlooked is the fact the many women also encounter the problems of hair loss. It doesn’t need to be all doom and gloom though since in a lot of cases, hair problems in women can be treated fairly easily.

The loss of hair in women may start at any age, even in teenage years. It may start because of a stressful experience, new medication, hormonal imbalances or it may be hereditary. These are only a few of the causes the hair may begin to fall out excessively.

Any woman who suffers from female pattern baldness will usually have their self-confidence lowered. Everyone tends to judge a female by their hairstyle. If a man is going bald, this is seen as normal but unfortunately it’s not the same for women.

This is often an important piece of this issue. But there are a number of female pattern baldness treatments for sale which you can use in the privacy of your own home. Many of these treatments are unisex or designed for men but rebranded and aimed at women. These are the products you need to steer clear of as men and women lose hair for different reasons. And any treatment should be specific to females since using a unisex or male hair loss treatment may end in even more hair being lost.

There are a few good female pattern baldness treatments which will effectively help with hair and scalp problems. If you’re suffering from any type of female pattern baldness, it doesn’t have to be the end of the world. In many cases, the body corrects itself and the hair begins to regrow. This can take anything from weeks to months as a best-case scenario.

And do not forget to speak with your doctor if you need help in deciding what will be the best type of treatment for you.

Simple Steps to Have Shiny Hair

If you love the look of your hair when it’s shiny, glossy and frizz-free, you might be saving up for an in-salon keratin straightening treatment, or tried one already. At a high cost, these treatments promise to turn even the frizziest, most unruly manes into manageable sleek locks, with results that last for months.

But recent headlines have warned of the hazards of these treatments. It turns out that formaldehyde fumes from the smoothing ingredients, which are sealed into the hair with a flatiron, can cause lung, eye and skin irritation. This is true, government investigations found, even of treatments that are advertised as being formaldehyde-free. That’s led some stylists to don gas masks while providing smoothing treatments and to offer masks to their clients as well.

OK, so this news might be unsettling, but don’t despair. Some simple steps will help you achieve smooth, shiny hair — without putting your health at risk.

1. Pick the right shampoo and conditioner. Sun, heat-styling, chlorinated water and chemical styling processes leach protein from hair and make curly hair especially difficult to manage or style straight. Shampoos and conditioners that are protein-enhanced temporarily smooth the outer portion of the hair fibre, making strands glossier and more manageable. Look for products that are labeled acid- or pH-balanced; many contain hydrolyzed keratin.

2. Be gentle with wet hair. Curly or wavy hair is especially fragile when it’s wet, so blot — don’t scrub — hair with a towel to dry. Keep in mind that those super-plush towels that feel so good against your wet skin aren’t the best choice for blotting your hair. Strands of hair can get caught in the loops of regular terry towels, leading to frizz. You might want to invest in a towel designed for drying hair. Some are made of microfibres that whisk water away quickly, cutting drying time.

3. Detangle hair with care. Use a wide-tooth comb to gently separate curls. Finer hair may require a leave-on conditioner or detangling product, while thicker smoothing creams and straightening lotions often work best on coarser, curlier hair.

4. Practice healthy heating habits. To minimize heat damage, coat locks with a thermal protection product, allow to partially air-dry, then blow hair completely dry. Be patient; use clips to divide your hair into several sections and then place a round boar-bristle brush under a 3-inch section of hair. Attach a condenser nozzle to your dryer and hold so the airflow aims downward to smooth, not ruffle, the cuticle. Before releasing the brush, hit the ‘cool’ button on your dryer. Letting the dried hair cool while it’s still held tightly in the brush will help set the smooth, shiny style in place.

5. Add a spritz of shine. Spray your hairbrush or your palms with a shine spray and run it lightly through your hair. If you apply the spray directly to your hair, you’ll likely get too much product on your locks, and that extra moisture could lead to frizz.

Hair Loss Solution: Topical Wet Products or Wigs?

Yes, there comes a point in life when you will be faced with the option of whether to choose a wig or to go for hair loss treatment, when faced with a hair thinning or hair loss problem. Hair loss and hair thinning are very prevalent conditions that affect millions of people across the world today. Could this justify the reason why there are millions of stores, both physical and virtual stores, dedicated to selling wigs?

The answer as to whether to go for a wig or opt for a hair loss treatment lacks a straightforward answer. This is because there is no option that will affect the other’s use. In other words, were you to choose a wig, you will still continue with your hair loss treatment beneath that wig. The other alternative would be to go on with the treatment for hair loss without the wig as you watch your hair grow — naturally all over again. The choice therefore boils down to an individual’s taste and preferences, and the situation at hand.

One thing that is unquestionable is whether or not to use a hair loss treatment; unless you want to be stuck with a wig for the rest of your life, you really have no option but to choose an effective hair loss treatment that will grow back your natural hair. Luckily, the market provides you with a wide gamut to choose from, ranging from herbal and natural medications to topical prescription and over-the-counter applications, to hair transplant surgery — all of which come with their pros and cons — to help ensure you restore back your natural hair.

Hair loss treatment is highly recommended as it is the only guaranteed way you can restore back your hair. Perhaps you are cautious with hair loss treatments because of the adverse side effects of using the chemicals that most of them come with? This is where you can invest in a good wig, or several of those, to help you as you wait for your hair to grow back naturally.

There are natural alternatives that you can rely on to help boost natural hair growth without having to resort to using these chemically-laden hair loss treatments. As expected, the process will be significantly longer, so a good-quality wig can come in handy in such a situation. A wig also comes in handy if you are on treatment for an underlying health condition that could be causing your hair thinning problem.

Whether to opt for a wig or seek hair loss treatment is pegged on different factors, but it all boils down to what is good for your hair and scalp health.

5 Hair Care Tips to Prevent Hair Loss

There are several successful treatments for hair loss. With the right treatment, you should be able to stop your hair from excessively falling out and even regrow the hair that you have lost.

There are many natural hair loss treatments that you’ll find people using. Remember that with any method you use, you should plan to see results over time, not immediately.

The base of every successful hair loss treatment is having the right hair care regimen. The following are easy tips to apply in taking better care of the scalp and hair:

1. Make sure to get the required amounts of vitamins A, C, B, and E, as they’re essential for proper hair growth. They help in maintaining good blood circulation, thus helping to increase oxygen to the scalp.

2. Massaging the scalp with herbal oils like jojoba oil or olive oil. It’s always been seen that oils of thyme, lavender, rosemary, and cedarwood have been able to help with hair loss (alopecia).

3. You’ll want to avoid excessive blow-drying of the hair and chemical shampoos. The hair and scalp can be damaged by hair colouring or other treatments.

4. Herbal treatments such as amla, henna, shikakai, and reetha can be used to shampoo your hair. In particular, amla powder is known to be a powerful antioxidant that will help to prevent hair loss and greying of hair. It’s also a rich source of vitamin C. Shikakai works well as a shampoo as it doesn’t remove the natural oils that are present in the hair. Henna also works as a great natural conditioner.

5. You’ll want to reduce stress from your life as much as possible. You can do this by exercising or even meditating. You’ll want to try to avoid smoking as the nicotine can decrease blood flow to the scalp and hamper healthy hair growth.

Causal Factors of Female Hair Loss

Hair is women’s crowning glory. It helps them achieve the best look for their face with a few snips and twists. Women, like men, also suffer from hair loss — though it is somewhat less perceptible. Even though it is not a typical issue, hair loss in women may also happen due to some hereditary and environmental causes.

The medical term for baldness is ‘alopecia’. It got its name from the Greek name of fox, ‘alopex’. Foxes are observed to have thinning of fur when distressed with skin problems.

Alopecia may be permanent or temporary, depending on the pattern occurring. The most common one is androgenetic alopecia, which occurs gradually but stays permanently. This pattern is a combination of androgens (the male hormones) and genetics. Another type of hair receding problem is alopecia areata or patchy hair loss.

Depending on the condition of the scalp, the hair usually grows back. The most common hair loss experience for many women is when their hair thins after giving birth or after having fever, weight loss and stress. This is called telogen effluvium. Lastly, traction alopecia occurs from certain hairstyles like ponytails and tight braids.

There are fairly a couple of factors that cause excessive hair loss in women . Hormonal problem is one; thyroid gland–related sickness is another; stress; chemotherapy; and surgery are also common reasons for baldness. Some ladies in their early 30s experience this problem, due to genetic susceptibility or by a hair chemical treatment. Generally, women begin to have alopecia in their fifties.

Age is one common factor of hair loss in women, especially those over 50. When a woman ages, a lot of biological changes happen like change in hormone production due to menopause. At the age of 50, the scalp is no longer very able to produce much more hair. Hair loss in women in their 50s usually appears as diffuse hair thinning.

Hair loss in women that are due to sickness, childbirth, and radiation therapy do not necessarily need treatment as the hair normally grows back once the medical condition stabilizes. Head coverings like hats and wigs may be temporarily used to cover baldness. Hair loss brought on by age, hormones and genes can be treated with topical or oral medications.

Although not a direct treatment to baldness, hair transplants can be considered as a fixed solution to permanent baldness, especially if the issue is significantly affecting a woman. This process is costly and painful, but the outcomes are normally permanent.

Ayurvedic Herbs to Address Hair Loss Problems

There are many herbal products that can be used to prevent and treat hair loss, one of which is amla (Indian gooseberry). It is a very efficient tonic for hair loss. If one is suffering from excessive hair loss, a regular consumption of amla is helpful in restricting the depletion of hair as well as in increasing its strength. Amla powder is also a very good conditioner or used in the final rinsing of hair after shampooing.

Consumption of two tablespoons of honey with a cup of warm water early in the morning reduces the chances of hair loss. Triphala is an ayurvedic herb used for blood circulation and tissue rejuvenation of hair. Reetha and shikakai herbs are also a blessing for the scalp and hair. In places where reetha and shikakai are found in abundance, the locals use it for washing the hair. They also have an antiseptic quality. Reetha is particularly boon for people with sensitive skin.

The extracts of reetha produce lather with soap and perfectly serve as a natural cleanser for hair. It is also anti-allergic and prevents dandruff. Since dandruff is a basic cause of hair loss, reetha indirectly helps in preventing it. Shikakai is native plant of South India and is popularly known as the fruit for hair. Shikakai is a detoxifying agent for the blood in the scalp.

It removes oil and dirt from hair exposed to pollution. In addition to these advantages, it also is helpful in freeing hair of fungal infection. It also prevents hair from premature greying. Due to these properties, both reetha and shikakai are helpful in preventing hair loss. It also acts as a medicine in cases of hair loss due to fungal and bacterial infections. Brahmi is an herb which is helpful in strengthening the hair roots and preventing hair loss. It helps in the rebirth of new strands of healthy hair.

Natural Treatments for Hair Loss in Men

Hair loss is one of the major problems negatively impacting both physical and emotional aspects of a man. Reasons for hair loss vary from person to person according to various parameters like health and age. Hormonal imbalance, fungal infection, after-effects of surgery, prolonged intake of certain drugs and health risks like thyroid diseases and anemia are main reported causes of baldness in men.

At present, there are lots of treatments available for treating baldness in men. Treatments for baldness in men are mainly initiated by evaluating the cause of baldness. Intake of oral medicine, surgery, application of medicinal shampoo, laser therapy, or/and hair transplantation are some of the best treatments recommended for hair loss in men.

Proper head massage with herbal hair lotions or oils is one of the best hair loss treatments prescribed for men and for women too. The use of herbal massage oils works very well in treating baldness and hair loss problems. Today, so many treatments are available in the market, but an herbal and natural treatment is always the best option. Massaging the scalp with herbal hair lotions ceases hair fall and promotes regrowth of hair by improving the blood circulation in the scalp, thereby nourishing the hair follicles.

Scalp massaging by using essential oils like ginger, fenugreek, lavender and rosemary is another effective and safe hair loss treatment for men. It improves blood circulation, relaxes blood vessels and improves oxygenation of cells, promoting quicker hair growth.

Using ketoconazole shampoo is another effective treatment suggested for those men suffering from hair loss problems. It is one of the commonly prescribed medicinal shampoos for curing androgenic alopecia. Application of this medicinal shampoo preserves hair follicles from the attack of fungi. Action of ketoconazole shampoo on malassezia fungi is notable and extremely effective in preventing further baldness. It contains anti-inflammatory properties and prevents baldness in men.

Laser therapy, an effective non-surgical remedy is a non-invasive and convenient treatment for male hair loss. It is completely safe and found to be very helpful in solving problems like thinning hair and scalp problems. Laser therapy works by stimulating hair follicles with light energy coming from laser diodes. It stimulates cell metabolism and helps in repairing damaged cells.

Promoting the production of energy at cellular level, improving cell function, increasing blood flow in the scalp region and stimulating new hair growth are some highlighting benefits of administering low laser light therapy to a balding scalp.

Nutritive diet plays a key role in maintaining the health of hair. People suffering from hair loss problems are often recommended to have a healthy balanced diet by including lots of vegetables. They are advised to avoid the intake of alcohol, processed and canned foods.

Eating a balanced diet enriched with vitamin B, vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, choline and inositol is a natural treatment suggested for baldness in men. A balanced diet helps in treating nutritional deficiency, one of the main causes of baldness problems. Natural treatments are always better because it has no side effects and treatment benefits are to be reaped in the long run.

Hair Loss Treatments: How to Revitalize the Hair Follicles

One of the most common causes of hair loss and early balding is decreased blood flow to the hair follicles, resulting in slowing or stopping hair growth. Applying the mineral silica, combined with activated oxygen, to your scalp may be able to encourage scalp blood flow and ensuing hair growth.

Silica is an excellent alternative to prescription hair loss treatments because it does not alter your hormonal balance and works as a treatment for hair loss — unlike synthetic treatments, which can alter your hormones and commonly don’t work for early balding.

Usually, according to the normal hair growth cycle, losing hair is inevitable. About 100 strands of hair come loose from the scalp every day. But the actual problem starts when hair follicles develop sensitivity to dihydrotestosterone, a hormone produced by the conversion of testosterone. This affects the ability of hair follicles to grow new hair. These hormonal and genetic factors can cause hair loss. Unfortunately, still our know-how about the actual causes of alopecia is limited.

There are many factors which cause excessive hair loss. Hormonal problems such as under-active or over-active thyroid glands and imbalance of male or female hormones also cause this problem. Correcting the imbalance of hormones may help you stop this problem.

Many women lose hair in large quantities after about 3 months of childbirth. This is also related to hormonal imbalance. Certain hormones are present in high levels in the body during pregnancy, and the body retains hair, which would normally fall off. When the hormones return to normal levels, some hair falls off, and the normal cycle of hair shedding and hair growth starts again.

The B vitamins — including niacin, thiamine and biotin — enhance hair health by circulation of blood to the scalp. In addition, studies have shown that the amount of vitamin B6 within cells affects the response rate of cells to steroid hormones. Cells that are vitamin B6 deficient will become more responsive to steroid hormones. It can be assumed that cells that have a higher level of B6 within them will be less responsive to the hormones that can cause androgenetic alopecia or early balding and other disorders related to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Safe and Effective Hair Regrowth Treatments

There are a couple of things to do for growing a full head of hair again. With extra care and attention, you can get back a fuller, thicker and healthier head of hair.

One of the basic requirements for growing a nice head of hair is to take care of your scalp and existing hair. You need to keep it in good condition. For many people, their hair becomes weakened with the use of chemicals and heat on their hair and scalp. Your hair would normally have stayed on your scalp longer if not for the extreme use of chemicals and heat.

When the roots of your hair are weak, I suggest you stay away from wearing things like hats, caps or any other hair coverings. You do not want your existing hair to be accidentally yanked out of your scalp when they get caught on the headdress item.

Making sure your body is hydrated is something you should take note of. Without water, your skin which includes your scalp tends to dehydrate and dry up. It accelerates hair loss when your scalp is too weak and dry to hold your existing hair.

The two categories of things you can do to remedy hair loss is to get the conditions right for re-growing your hair and to actually stimulate new hair growth.

On the market, you can find several unique and interesting effective hair growth remedies for stimulating your hair to grow again. A basic way of accelerating hair growth is to take biotin. Taking supplements like vitamin B7 (biotin) can help speed up hair growth. When you increase the amount of vitamin B7 in your body, the rate and thickness of hair growth also increases. So it is a great idea to supplement your diet with biotin.

If you have tried many treatments to no avail, you can try laser hair treatment. In essence, a low energy laser is used to stimulate your scalp. In other words, the use of laser hair treatment is to increase the blood circulation to your scalp to bring the needed nutrients to your hair follicles. With the increase of nutrients that your hair follicles have not received before, new hair will grow again.

There a number of ways to restore balance to your body for new hair growth. When you look at synthetic drugs or surgery to regrow your hair, it can seem a frightening prospect with all the various side effects. But with natural hair growth remedies, you can be confident you will be using only natural organic ingredients that help you grow your hair again.

When Hair Follicles Die Due to Synthetic Hair Dyes

Hair colouring is the most well-known cause of hair damage, but that does not have to be the case when herbal ingredients are used to replace harsh chemicals. What you use to ‘pamper’ your hair can actual turn out to do even more damage.

People with hair problems usually use ‘treatments’ that contain even more chemicals and irritants. They might coat the hair and make it look healthier and shinier, but the hair and the scalp are actually weaker due to chemical overload.

Nareemal Chiengpradit, founder of Mamma Samunprai Salon, Samyan branch, said she had been through the ‘evil cycle’ before.

‘I used to colour my hair a lot, and my scalp became really itchy. My hair started to fall out excessively, but I had no idea why. Finally, I tried this herbal treatment and it got better. I discovered that hair colouring caused my scalp to be more sensitive. Before that, I had misunderstood that itching meant I needed to wash my hair. Washing caused even more itching, and I washed more’.

An ideal herbal treatment uses Thai herbs such as phlai, Indian gooseberry, false daisy and soap nut to detoxify the hair, condition the scalp and enhance hair colour. While it might not fully cover grey hair like harsh hair dye, it can enhance hair colour naturally in a non-damaging way, and repeated treatments can restore the hair’s good health. The treatment can also tackle hair loss problems.

In fact, the cause of hair loss is usually your own doing. Nareemal explained that most people do not know how to take care of their hair properly, and end up hurting the scalp and hair without knowing it. ‘Never wash your hair in the evening because it will not be fully dry by the time you go to bed. You can blow-dry it, but the core will still be moist, and sleeping on moist hair can cause the scalp to develop rashes or fungus, which in turn causes hair loss’, she said.

Herbal Remedies for Hair Loss in Women

When a woman starts to notice that her hair is thinning, before it gets any worse, it is best that she immediately looks into hair loss treatment options. There are medicated treatments which can help women grow their hair back but some of these treatments have risky side effects. A natural female hair loss treatment can be just as effective and cost a lot less.

No cure exists for hair loss, and herbs certainly don’t hold the magic secret; however, herbs often work to treat the symptoms of some common diseases and disorders, so the same might be true for hair loss. According to the National Institutes of Health National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, herbs such as lavender, saw palmetto and thunder god vine can be used to treat hair loss, although the center does not state their effectiveness. Before seeking herbal treatments, it is best to determine the underlying cause of your hair loss by consulting a doctor. If your problem is genetic, there may be little you can do to solve it; if it is hormonal, however, herbs that treat hormonal imbalances may be effective.

The following are herbal hair loss solutions for female hair loss:

• Mix up your home remedy for hair loss. In the bowl, combine 3 teaspoons of turmeric and 3 tablespoons of besan (chickpea flour). Add a teaspoon of coconut oil at a time until you have a thick paste.

• To stop hair fall and stimulate hair growth, onions have proven to be beneficial in this regard. Directly rub the onion on the areas of scalp that show bald patterns. A variation of this remedy involves application of onion juice two times in a day for a period of two months. This is one of the hair loss home remedies that has improved hair loss problems like alopecia areata.

• Drink spinach juice daily. Spinach juice has been used for many years to treat hair loss. Spinach juice is believed to help improve hair growth and prevent further loss of hair.

• Olive oil and castor oil are two natural oils that can be used to actually unclog your pores and rejuvenate follicles that appear to be in a dead state. Just take a teaspoonful of either castor oil or olive oil and massage them onto the scalp. Leave the oil on overnight so that it is allowed to sink in and then wash away the following morning using a mild shampoo.

• Boil about one cup of mustard oil with 60 grams of henna leaves. Store it in a bottle, and every night before going to bed (or as often as possible), apply this oil to your hair. You will see your hair fall will reduce gradually.