HAIR LOSS: Causes & Cures

One of the most common questions I get asked is: How can I stop hair loss and grow my hair? While this was a topic of concern amongst 30-somethings, more and more of the younger generation is suffering from hair loss sooner than they should. In a world where there is such an importance associated with the appearance of our hair, its only natural for us to have an undying desire for preserving our precious locks in hopes of transforming them into thick, lustrous crown jewels for everyone to envy!

Let’s begin by discussing normal hair fall. Our scalp has 100,000 hairs on average, constantly cycling through their growth, rest, shed, and regeneration phases. Every hair follicle undergoes a period of rest, where the hair falls out, before proceeding to grow the next strand of hair. Due to this cycle, it is normal to lose up to 100 strands of hair each day. Hair problems occur when this cycle is disrupted, our hair follicle is damaged, and hair falls out faster than it regenerates. This leads to problems such as a receding hairline, hair falling out in patches, or overall thinning.

So what are the COMMON HAIR CONCERNS?

• Hair thinning

• Bald spots

• Receding hairline

• Unusual amounts of hair on your hairbrush

• Clumps of hair in the shower, drain, or all over the house

• Hair falling out in patches

• Running your fingers through your hair and noticeable shedding

Let’s talk about a few CAUSES OF HAIR THINNING OR HAIR FALL:

• Vitamin Deficiencies (Iron, Iodine, Vitamin D, Vitamin C, Biotin, Zinc, Protein)

• Genetics

• Stress

• Lifestyle Habits

• Various types of Alopecia (hereditary or developed condition)

• Post-Pregnancy (aka postpartum)

• Drastic Weight Shifts

• Chemical Treatments/Products

• Improper Diet

• Hormone Imbalance

While these reasons for hair loss are not all-encompassing, they certainly give us some insight. According to Ayurveda, each individual is unique and it is important to understand our unique constitution, also known as Prakriti (one’s nature). I encourage you to take the Dosha Quiz linked below to better understand how to address your particular imbalances.

MY STORY

A few years ago, I started seeing clumps of hair in my shower drain, hair all over the house, in my bed, clumps on my hairbrush…and not long after…bald spots on either side of my hairline. I was in tears! Even though my hair doesn’t define me as a person, it is my pride and joy just like all of us! There is a certain spring in my step when I am having a good hair day, and I’m sure you can relate. So let’s talk about some things I did to reverse and grow my thinning, shedding, brittle, lackluster hair.

MY MANE SAVIORS FOR HAIR GROWTH (and PREVENT HAIR LOSS):

I believe all things have to be addressed from the inside out, so we need to address the root cause from within (nutrition) along with external treatments (oils and masks) to really see a difference!

Hydration (dehydration causes hair to become brittle and fall out)

• Water

• Coconut Water

• Aloe Vera Gel or Juice

Iron and Protein

• Spinach

• Tofu

• Lentils

• Chickpeas

• Spirulina

• Jaggery

• Pistachios, Cashews, Almonds, Walnuts

• Seeds: Pumpkin, Sesame, Flaxseeds

Vitamin D

• Sun exposure (10 mins daily if possible, or twice a week)

• Vitamin D3 + K2 Liquid Drops with MCT Oil

Vitamin C

• Amla (aka Amalaki)

Vitamin B12

• Spirulina

Zinc + Biotin

• Spinach

• Sweet Potato

• Mushroom

• Legumes

OTHER FOODS AND HERBS FOR HAIR GROWTH

• Yogurt

• Black Raisins

• Watermelon

• Pumpkin

• Hibiscus

NOURISHING HAIR TREATMENTS

Hair Oiling (see links at the bottom for the oils I love to use)

• Amla

• Brahmi (Ramtirth from Patel Bros if you have one near you is amazing- linked below)

• Bhringraj

• Coconut

• Sesame

• Black Seed

• Neem (also great as a remedy for lice)

Hair Mask

• Aloe Vera (leave in hair for 15-30 minutes then rinse)
  

Hair Wash

• Maui Moisture is my favorite shampoo and conditioner (and it’s available in most stores)

Hair Accessories

• Silk Pillowcase

• SIlk or Satin Hair Ties

• Wide bristle hair brush (Pro tip: Brushing stimulates hair follicles, so brush your hair when you wake up and few times throughout the day, or run your fingers and massage your scalp if you don’t carry a brush during the day).

WHAT NOT TO DO:

• Tie your hair too tight (pulls back at the hairline; instead try a loose low bun)

• Headbands (pull at your hairline)

• Wash your hair everyday

• Wash hair with hot water (hot water dehydrates hair strands and strips the scalp’s natural oils; use lukewarm water)

• Brush wet hair (wet hair breaks easily)

• Chemical treatments

• Too much heat styling

• Leave on hairspray for more than a day

THE THINGS THAT I DO:

I am sure you’re thinking, well I can’t do everything that Shama just talked about.  I completely understand, but I wanted to give you options for each category!  If I were to start with just a handful of habits from each category, what would I do? 

Well, here’s what I do and it works wonders for my hair and skin:

• Hair Oiling/ Hair Facial

  Scalp massage, or hair oiling now trending as hair facial, once a week with Amla or Brahmi oil.  These are the best oils for hair growth. Warm up the oil and apply for an hour (or longer if you can) before you shower- really focusing on your roots.  Remember, since you already conditioned your hair with oil before shampoo, you do not need to apply conditioner!  I rarely use my conditioner bottle since I always oil my hair prior to washing.  Pro tip: On the days you don’t have time to oil your hair, just shampoo as soon as you get in the shower and then apply conditioner right away, that way you can leave the conditioner in your hair for a longer time as you go about your shower routine and then wash if off at the end!

• Eat iron rich foods: Spinach, Chickpeas, Tofu, Lentils, Sweet Potatoes, Jaggery (eat a little piece with your meals- it is sweet so if eat a thumb size piece of jaggery instead of chocolate or dessert after each meal)

• Hydrate: Water, Coconut water, Aloe Vera

• Vitamin D (15 minutes of natural sunlight or the extract I linked below)

• Amla supplements (by now you should know how much I LOVE this superfood)

• Silk pillowcase and silk hair ties. I tie my hair in a loose low bun or braid)

Remember, consistency is key! I saw results in 2-3 months, but it may be sooner or later for you. Everyone has a different timeframe so trust the journey and don’t give up. Leave me a comment below on your hair story. I’d love to hear about any recommendations you have for things that work for you.

No matter where you are in your hair journey, remember to keep your head high! What’s in it is so much more valuable than what’s on it.