Photo by Leighann Blackwood on Unsplash
Losing hair can be such a disheartening and even frightening experience. According to
the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) it’s normal to lose between 50 and 100
hairs a day. With about 100,000 hairs on our head, a 50 - 100 loss is barely noticeable so
that doesn’t count as hair loss. That is what we call shedding.
If you notice a large amount of hair in the drain after washing your hair or heaps of hair
in your brush after use, then you might be experiencing hair loss. Thinning patches of
hair or baldness are also indicators of hair loss. But what causes our hair to fall out? Hair
loss can be triggered by a number of things so sometimes it's tricky to pinpoint the
actual cause. Here are some common causes of hair loss:
Medical conditions that can cause hair loss:
● thyroid disease
● alopecia areata (an autoimmune disease that attacks hair follicles)
● scalp infections like ringworm
Hormonal changes that can cause temporary hair loss:
● discontinuing the use of birth control pills
● pregnancy
● giving birth
● menopause
Physical or emotional shocks that can trigger hair loss:
● death of someone close
● excessive weight loss
● a high fever
Other common causes of hair loss include:
● stress
● iron deficiency
● vitamin B12 deficiency
● aging
We can also lose hair due to medications used to treat cancer, high blood pressure,
arthritis, depression and even heart conditions.
And if you have type 4 hair, you might want to dial back on back-to-back protective
styles as they can cause traction alopecia. Traction alopecia is caused by hairstyles
that put pressure on hair follicles by pulling the hair back very tightly eg. braids and
dreadlocks.
So now what? Well, it’s not all doom and gloom. Prevention is better than a cure and
we have some preventative measures to help you protect your hair before it starts to
fall off.
Photo by Leighann Blackwood on Unsplash
1. Change your diet
A diet lacking in protein and iron can lead to thinning hair so make sure yours is packed
with these nutrients as well as Vitamin B12. A healthy diet goes a long way in ensuring
hair health.
2. Massage your scalp
This doesn’t only feel good but massaging your scalp is a cheap way to keep your scalp
healthy. A traditional head massage encourages scalp health as it stimulates blood
flow and also helps oils seep deeper into the hair shaft and scalp.
3. Give your hair styling breaks
This is a very important tip! Moving from one protective style to the next can wreak
havoc on your hairline, your scalp and overall hair health. Give your hair breaks in
between hairstyles, primarily for deep conditioning, minimal styling and even less
pulling.
If you’re already experiencing mild hair loss don’t freak out! Your hair doesn’t need the
added stress. Get yourself some supplements with the following ingredients: Iron,
Vitamin C, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D3, Copper, Zinc, Selenium and the essential amino
acids, L-Lysine and L-Methionine. Also, cut back on tension styles e.g. slick ponytails,
heat styling and excessive combing.
If you’re experiencing severe hair loss, we encourage you to visit a medical practitioner
to help with diagnosing the cause and a suitable recovery plan.
As you can see, our hair is actually more sensitive than we thought so caring for it must
be intentional. We hope you enjoyed this article and found it both informative and
empowering.
Love MPL 🧡