This Complete Guide is all about hair loss and prevention. While there are a LOT of products on the market today that claim to slow, stop, prevent or reverse hair loss, there are many other ways to attack hair loss that don’t include using strong chemicals or prescription drugs. Granted, some are effective and some are not, but the only way to know for sure is to try them for yourself. I’m going to list a few possible ways to treat hair loss and let you make up your own mind on their effectiveness. Just to remind you all… I am not advocating any type of hair loss treatment, simply because every person is different and what might work for you might not work for someone else!
Key Points
Okay, the first type of home remedy can be categorized as “herbal”. Many folks, including myself, have begun using certain herbs to combat all sorts of problems… anything from aging skin to a lack of energy to, you guessed it, hair loss. Here are some of the more popular herbs pertaining to hair loss…
Stinging nettle:
Also known as Urtica Diocia, this herb has the ability to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT (DHT is often the cause of male hair loss). An optimum dose of 50-100mg per day in capsule form is recommended.
Ginkyo biloba:
this herb is thought to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin. It is believed that the increased flow of blood to the brain area delivers more nutrients to the hair follicle thus promoting hair regrowth.
A recommended dose is 120-160mg of dry extract each day spread over three doses.
He Shou Wu:
Also known as Polygonum Multiflorum, this herb has traditionally been used to reduce hair loss and can be taken in capsule form or as a tea.
Pygeum Africanum:
This herb is derived from the bark of the evergreen tree and it works like green tea. It is used to treat male pattern baldness. You should take 60-500mg per day in pill or capsule form.
Saw Palmetto:
Also known as Seranoa Repens, this is a favorite choice for many men due to its ability to slow hair loss and encourage hair regrowth. Many commercially prepared hair loss treatments use this herb as a base but it can easily be found in its pure form. A dose of 160mg twice each day is recommended, but be sure the ingredients are made from the berry extract not the dried berries themselves.
The second type of home remedy for attacking hair loss are external preparations that are applied to the hair and scalp directly. Some of these may sound odd, but you never know until you try, right?
Safflower Oil:
Also known as Carthamus Tinctorious, safflower oil applied to the scalp acts as a vasodilator that dilates blood vessels. This allows more blood to deliver nutrients to the hair follicle thus creating an environment conducive to hair regrowth.
Aloe Vera:
You can rub Aloe Vera into your scalp each night. It’s believed that the herb activates the production of nitric oxide and contains an enzyme called superoxide dismutane. These two substances combined may stimulate hair regrowth in those suffering from male pattern baldness.
Red Pepper:
Also know as Capsicum, you can apply Red Pepper to the scalp as a poultice. It irritates the scalp and stimulates blood flow to the base of the hair, which may encourage renewed hair growth.
Onion:
Yes, onions. Some believe that rubbing the scalp with an onion before shampooing may actually stimulate hair growth… your mileage may vary!
There are many more home remedies that may aid in hair growth or regrowth.
There are many products on the market that claim to cure hair loss but 99% are just vitamin products that don’t address the underlying cause. However, recently a new product has had amazing exposure in the media mainly due to the fact that many famous celebrities are using it. This new product has been through various clinical trials and the results have been incredible.
Hair Loss Remedies for All Age Groups
Regardless of your age, you need to be concerned about your hair. The appearance and quantity of hair that you have is a reflection of your internal health. You can use natural hair loss remedies to save your hair.
Of course, when you are young you have plenty of hair. But, there are even some of you at an early age, twenties, start to lose your hair.
The appearance and quantity of hair that you have is a reflection of your internal health.
Aside from a having a serious illness, your hair loss is affected by scalp cleanliness, stress, diet, and excess DHT. Knowing this, you can check out many hair loss remedies available to you.
Scalp cleanliness
If you have dandruff, you need to get rid of it. Dandruff can be a source of hair loss when it combines with dirt, shampoo chemicals, excess sebum follicle oil. Over time this combination of chemicals can create a film on your scalp that hardens and start to plug up your hair follicles. Once plugged, your follicles can’t support hair growth.
Dandruff can be caused by excess stress, dry scalp, or chemical irritations. Look to see if you have excess stress in your life and find a way to reduce it. Chemical irritations can come from the shampoos that you are using.
Look for shampoos and conditioners that have natural ingredients. Start moving away from those hair products that have so many petrochemicals and dyes. Petrochemicals are those ingredients that you are not familiar with on the ingredient label – propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, butylparaben, and FD&C colorings.
Stress
Stress is a major contributors to many illnesses. It can also be the main reason you can experience loss of hair. Many years I was under a lot of stress at my new job. During the first 3 month there I experience excessive hair loss on the top of my head.
When you have hair loss due to stress, you can recover this hair if you take action right away. First look at your high stress level and start reducing it. Next, start supplementing your diet with a good hair loss nutritional supplement.
Diet
What you eat feeds your body. The type of body you have is based on what you eat. If you do not provide enough nutrients to your body, you hair will not receive enough nutrients to grow and be healthy. Your hair is
last in line for the nutrient you supply your body. One way to improve your diet is eat more fruits in the morning and more vegetable for lunch and dinner. You can consider eating natural food hair loss remedies.
DHT (di-hydro-testosterone)
When excessive amounts of testosterone are converted to DHT by the enzyme 5 alpha reductase, this DHT accumulates at the hair root where it blocks blood circulation to that hair follicle. This decrease in blood
to the hair root weakens it and it loses its health.
DHT also accumulates in the follicle and starts to plug it, thus further inactivating this hair follicle. The result is your hair start to thin out.
For women, DHT formation is not a major activity until menopause. Before menopause, estrogen blocks the formation of DHT. When estrogen decreases after menopause, DHT starts to form causing hair loss in
women.
There are now shampoos that help to clean off accumulated DHT from the scalp and from within the hair follicles. Use them to stop hair loss and to recover some of the hair follicles that are still alive.
There are also some pills that block the formation of DHT in the blood, but I don’t recommend them since it is not known what the longer term effects are of this blocking.
Go to google to find out more about DHT (di-hydro-testosterone) shampoos.
Hair Loss Myths!
Not surprisingly, hair loss myths are more well known than hair loss facts. Since hair loss is such a common and unwelcome condition, the public has been flooded with hair loss myths to promote sales of hair loss prevention products. Many companies have jumped on the hair loss bandwagon because of our own enormous desires to eliminate hair loss from our lives, not to mention the unlimited amount of money that we (the public) are willing to spend on this quest. This makes the hair loss market ripe for perpetuating myths that will increase sales. But, for the most part, they are just that, myths.
Some of the more common hair loss myths are as follows:
Male Pattern Baldness comes from the mother’s side of the family and skips a generation. Not true. There is no one single gene that causes baldness. Most researches believe that MPB is a result of several different genes, inherited from both parents, interacting with each other to cause hair loss.
Hair loss myth #1:
Pattern baldness affects only men. Just ask any women suffering from pattern baldness, it’s not true.
In fact, hair loss is just as common in women as it is in men, it just usually occurs in a less virulent form and is easier to hide. Also, women’s hair tends to thin out over the entire scalp area, whereas men’s hair thins in patches and at the forehead.
Hair loss myth #2:
Poor blood flow to the scalp area causes hair loss. This is a misconception that has been perpetuated by companies selling hair loss products for years. Ask any dermatologist and they will tell you, bald scalps have just as much blood flow as scalps full of hair. It is because of this blood flow to the bald scalp that hair transplants work so well.
Hair loss myth #3:
If you haven’t lost your hair by 40, you aren’t going to. Again, not true. Age has nothing to do with it. If you are genetically predisposed to loose your hair, you are going to. Just be grateful you made it to 40 with your hair still intact.
Hair loss myth #4:
Stress makes your hair fall out. Okay, in some part, this is true, but it takes a very traumatic event to cause enough stress that your hair falls out. The common stress we experience on a daily basis will not make our hair fall out. In fact, some stress can actually increase the production of hair.
Okay, I could go on and on about hair loss myths and not run out of things to talk about. My point is this. Most of the facts we think we know about hair loss are actually hair loss myths.
If you are suffering from hair loss, consult your doctor. Your physician will be able to give you a factual reason for your hair loss and advise you on what types of treatments would work in your specific case.
Tips for managing Hair loss:
Billions of dollars will be spent on hair loss solutions this year. Much of this money will go to waste. Ineffective products and misleading advertising are only partially to blame. Many consumers are not using these hair loss products in an effective way. Fortunately there are a few simple ways that consumers can increase their chance of success. Following these guidelines will ensure that your money does not go to waste:
Start a Journal
People usually try several different hair loss products before they find something that works for them. Many use two or more products simultaneously. Keeping track of all this information can be frustrating and difficult. The best way to figure out what is working is to keep a journal detailing your progress. You should record all relevant information about the treatment process: when you started, the dosage, cost, and any side effects you experience. This documentation will tell you which products are effective, which ones are not, and allow you to make changes as you see fit.
Take Pictures
Noticing small changes in your hairline over time is extremely difficult. Taking pictures on a regular basis is the most effective ways to track your progress. Always photograph your head from the same angle, in similar lighting conditions. Use a digital camera for best results, most will automatically record the date and time for you. When combined with a treatment journal, these photos provide an invaluable tool that will allow you to judge the effectiveness of products you use.
Do Your Homework
The Internet is flooded with products claiming to cure and treat hair loss. Finding out which ones are legitimate can be a difficult task. When researching products online, beware of those that sound too good to
be true. If the company has before and after pictures, examine them closely. If the images were shot from different angles, or in different lighting, be suspicious. These techniques are common camera tricks used
to fool the eye, and the consumer. When a company claims their product has a “98% success rate”, look for documentation of their clinical study. If the clinical information they provide is vague, or even missing altogether, be wary.
If you follow these steps during your treatment, your chances of success are excellent. One last tip – any successful regimen requires dedication. Whatever the treatment is, carefully follow the instructions from your doctor or the product manufacturer.
Aromatherapy for Hair Loss!
Losing my hair, handfuls at a time until I was practically bald was a painful experience for me. Fortunately I was able to overcome my hair loss and re grow my hair through the use of aromatherapy.
Learning about aromatherapy soon became my passion and my field of study. For fifteen years now I have been able to control my hair loss and maintain healthy hair with aromatherapy.
There are approximately 200 essential oils in use today. Of those, about 35 are commonly used for scalp and hair. Most people who work with essential oils settle into about 10 or 15 oils they can’t live without.
This article contains what I consider to be the top eight essential
Oils to stimulate and maintain hair growth.
BASIL, (Ocimum basilicum).
Basil oil is a powerful scalp stimulator. When applied to the scalp you can actually “feel” it working. It produces a warm, slightly tingling sensation. When I use basil I don’t have to use a conditioner. My hair rinses out smooth, tangle free and squeaky clean. I’ve noticed that basil, more than any other essential oil, makes my hair look shiny, healthy and thicker.
CARROT SEED, (Daucus carota).
Carrot seed oil is superior for hair and skin that is in need of nourishment, moisture and elasticity. It is indicated for alopecia areata, fragile hair, brittle hair and falling hair. It is calming to the skin and scalp. Carrot seed oil is rich in beta-carotene, vitamins A, B1, B2, and C, essential fatty acids and other nutrients. It is expensive and harder to find than most essential oils. Although some people find it pleasing, I am not particularly fond of the scent; but I am fond of the results!
CYPRESS, (Cupressus sempervirens).
Imagine your self in a quiet forest surrounded by tall Cypress tress. The aroma of cypress oil can transport you to that soothing place. Cypress is used to reduce oiliness in the scalp and is good for dandruff. I use cypress if I am making a nighttime scalp formula that I will leave in while I sleep. It clears the mind and prepares it for sleep. It is important to use only the smallest amount (1 drop) in your formula or it could have the opposite
effect. I like to blend it with orange and lavender in a base of jojoba.
LAVENDER, (lavendula vera)
Lavender oil is a standard in hair and skin care. It has cell-regenerating properties. It is used to promote
hair growth and to prevent future loss. It is effective for all hair types. Because it has the ability to regulate sebum production, it is useful for either oily or dry scalp. Lavender is often paired with rosemary in scalp and hair formulas. Together they produce an outstanding synergy for hair care.
LEMON, (Citrus limon)
the essential oil comes from the rind, which is high in Vitamins A, B and C. Lemon oil is very versatile. It can be used for dry or oily hair because it helps to regulate sebum production. It is anti-aging and promotes cell-regeneration. It helps to restore the hair’s natural ph level. Lemon oil can produce a healthy shine, especially to blonde hair.
PEPPERMINT, (Mentha piperita)
If I could only have one essential oil for my hair it would be peppermint. It is refreshing and invigorating, excellent to use in the morning to get the day started! Peppermint produces a cool, tingling feeling as it energizes the scalp. It is used to promote hair growth, for dandruff and itchy scalp.
ROSEMARY, (Rosmarinus officinalis)
Rosemary oil is very well known for it’s superior hair care qualities. For hair care, it is probably used more often than any other essential oil, especially to promote hair growth. It is a powerful scalp stimulator for hair loss and to strengthen thinning hair. It is also used to shine and condition hair and to bring out highlights in dark hair.
TEA TREE, (Melaleuca alternifolia)
Tea tree oil has become very popular. It is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal. It is effective against any type of fungal condition of scalp such as ringworm. It is used to heal infections and to reduce itchiness. It
removes build-up on the scalp and helps rejuvenate dull lifeless hair. It leaves hair soft, clean and manageable. Tea tree has a strong, clan medicinal scent.
It is important to know and follow all safety guidelines before using any aromatherapy products. Essential oils must be diluted properly before applying to skin. Certain oils cannot be used if certain medical conditions are present. Enlisting the help of a trained professional aromatherapist can help ensure a safe and effective formula.
