Hair fall causes & treatment

What Causes Hair fall?

Because there are many types of hair loss, finding the cause can be challenging.The medical term for hair loss is alopecia.

Most hair loss is not associated with systemic or internal disease, nor is poor diet a frequent factor. Hair may simply thin as a result of predetermined genetic factors and the overall aging process. Many men and women may notice mild physiologic thinning of hair starting in their 30s and 40s. Life vicissitudes, including illness, emotional trauma, protein deprivation (during strict dieting), and hormonal changes like those in pregnancy, puberty, and menopause may cause hair loss.

Several health conditions, including thyroid disease and iron deficiency anemia, can cause hair loss. While thyroid blood tests and other lab tests, including a complete blood count (CBC), on people who have ordinary hair loss are usually normal, it is important to exclude treatable causes of hair loss.

Coconut Milk

What You Need

• 1 cup coconut milk

What To Do

1. Apply coconut milk to your scalp using a hair dye brush.
2. Then cover your head with a towel and leave it on for about 20 minutes. You can ideally prepare coconut milk at home by grinding the grated coconut and squeezing its milk.
3. After that, remove the towel and rinse your hair with cold water.
4. Follow up with shampoo.

When To Do

You can follow this process once in a week.

How This Works

Coconut milk is rich in vitamin E and fats that help to moisturize your hair and keep it healthy. The milk is rich in potassium, another vital ingredient for hair growth. Coconut milk is rich in proteins, essential fats and minerals such as potassium. Thus, washing your hair with coconut milk can help reduce breakage of hair. Coconut oil also contains the same nutrients and hence, it strengthens your hair right from the root through the shaft to the tip. Massaging your scalp regularly with this oil provides a protective action against hair loss. You can grate coconut and squeeze out the milk by mixing in a little water. It also has antibacterial properties that protect the hair from damage.

 

Aloe Vera

What You Need

A leaf (or even a stalk) of the aloe vera plant

What to do

This is the traditional way of using aloe vera for treating hair growth.

1. Extract the pulp content from the leaf or stalk and rub into your hair.
2. Ensure your hair is already washed before you do this.
3. Massage the pulp into your scalp in circular motions.
4. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, and then rinse with cold water.

When To Do

Repeat the process thrice a week, ideally, in the morning after you have taken a head bath.

How This Works

Aloe vera plays a crucial role in balancing the pH levels of the scalp and hair. It penetrates deep into the scalp and hair, thereby promoting hair growth.

Remember

The yellow-colored sap of the aloe vera plant contains toxins, and can irritate the skin if you are latex-intolerant. You can ideally boil the plant (that converts the toxins into natural salicylic acid, which is harmless to the skin) before extracting the pulp content.

 

Neem (Indian Lilac)

What You Need

• 10 – 12 dry neem leaves
• A vessel containing water

What To Do

1. Boil the neem leaves in water till the water level comes down to half its quantity.
2. Wait for the mixture to cool.
3. Rinse your hair with this mixture.

When You Need

You can use this remedy as a last rinse after shampooing your hair. It can ideally be done once every week.

How This Works

Neem has excellent antibacterial properties that help you get rid of dandruff. This ensures the scalp is healthy and promotes hair growth. It also stimulates blood flow to the skin, thereby nourishing the hair roots. Neem is even found to eliminate head lice and nits.

Remember

Using neem for hair (especially in the case of dandruff) can cause your eyes to burn. So, be careful while washing off the neem water and ensure it doesn’t get into your eyes.

 

Onion Juice

What You Need

• 1 onion
• A cotton ball

OR

• 1 onion
• 2 tsp of honey
• Rosewater

What To Do

Method 1

1. Grate the onion and extract its juice.
2. Dip the cotton ball into the juice, and apply it directly to your scalp, ensuring the hair strands are covered from the root to the tip.
3. Leave it on for about 30 minutes, after which you can rinse with cold water.
4. Shampoo as usual.

Method 2

Squeeze an onion to extract its juice. Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey to it. To get rid of the odor, you can mix rose water with onions. Apply this on your hair and leave for 40 to 50 minutes and wash off. You can also crush a few cloves of garlic and boil them in a little coconut oil for a few minutes. When the mixture is lukewarm, massage your scalp with it.

When To Do This

You can apply onion juice to your hair once in a week.

How This Works

Onion has antibacterial properties that can eliminate the bacteria that can cause scalp infections. It also has a high sulfur content that improves blood circulation to the hair follicles and encourages hair growth. Sulfur is also known to treat infected hair follicles.

Remember

Be careful while applying the juice to your hair. If the juice gets into your eyes, wash them thoroughly with cold water. Though not harmful to your eyes, onion juice can cause a burning sensation and extreme discomfort.

 

Green Tea

What You Need

• 2 green tea bags
• 2 – 3 cups of hot water

What To Do

1. Steep the two green tea bags in the hot water and wait till the water cools down.
2. Now remove the tea bags, and use the solution to rinse your hair.
3. Massage the solution over your scalp.

When To Do This

You can use this green tea solution as an after-shampoo conditioner. Repeat the procedure twice a week, after shampooing your hair.

How This Works

Green tea is known to stimulate hair follicles and boost hair production. It also increases your metabolism, which has been linked to an increase in the rate of hair growth.

 

Coconut Oil Massage

What You Need

1 – 2 tablespoons of virgin coconut oil

What To Do

1. You can begin by slightly warming the oil and putting it into a small bowl.
2. Gently apply the oil to your scalp and the hair roots. Massage in small, circular motions.
3. You can either leave the oil on for about 30 minutes or overnight, and then shampoo as usual.

When To Do This

• Do this every alternate day till you see the results.

How This Works

Coconut oil contains antioxidants that strengthen hair and give it a natural sheen. It also has antimicrobial properties that help fight scalp infections.

Remember

Make it a point to wash your hair within a day of applying the oil. Otherwise, your hair would appear greasy and can attract dust and dirt as well.

 

Potatoes

What You Need

• 1 potato
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 teaspoon water

What To Do

1. Wash the potato thoroughly and peel its skin.
2. Cut it into small pieces and put them in a blender to get the puree (You can add a little amount of water to the puree if it’s too thick).
3. You can further strain the puree into a bowl using a muslin cloth. This will give you the potato juice.
4. To the juice, add a teaspoon each of honey and water. Mix well.
5. Apply the mixture to your scalp and hair, and leave it on for about 30 minutes.
6. Wash off with a mild shampoo.

When To Do This

You can do this once a week.

How This Works

Potatoes contain potassium, vitamin C, and iron, all of which are vital for maintaining hair health. It has also been found that a deficiency of potassium could lead to hair loss.

 

Lemon Juice

What You Need

• 2 – 3 lemons
• 1 cup warm water

What To Do

1. Cut each of the lemons and prepare a cup of lemon juice.
2. Strain the juice into a bowl using a muslin cloth, and mix it with the warm water.
3. After you have washed your hair in the bath, gently pour the mixture over your scalp, massaging it into your scalp at the same time.
4. Leave the mixture on your hair for about five minutes, and then wash it off with cool water.

When To Do This

In the morning, after a bath. Do this once or twice a week.

How This Works

Lemons are excellent astringents. They tighten the pores in your scalp, thereby controlling hair fall. If you have oily hair, a lemon juice rinse is what you can try out.

Lemons also contain alpha-hydroxy acids that exfoliate dead cells, eliminating dandruff in the process. Lemons are rich in vitamin C, an essential nutrient that helps maintain hair health.

Remember

Despite being safe, lemons contain acids. Hence, close your eyes as you pour the mixture over your head. Also, remember not to use the lemon juice remedy too frequently or for a long duration; it can dry out your hair.

 

Honey, Olive Oil, And Cinnamon

What You Need

• Honey
• Olive oil
• Cinnamon

What To Do

Honey, olive oil and cinnamon should be combined to form a hair pack and applied once a week. These rich natural ingredients are the perfect anti-hair fall treatment you need.

When To Do This

Apply this hair pack once a week to see results.

How This Works

This hair pack moisturizes your hair while stimulating the scalp which, in turn, encourages growth.

 

Basic hair fall queries

How Much Hair Fall Is Normal?

Contrary to popular belief, hair fall is actually quite a normal phenomenon, where you lose up to 50 to 100 strands of hair each day. It is when start to lose more than that you need to worry.

Hair fall, when it happens in its natural course, is backed by hair growth. But if the rate of hair loss exceeds the frequency of natural hair regrowth, it is a cause for concern. If you are losing hair in tufts and are unable to maintain volume, you should immediately consult a trichologist.

Hair fall can lead to baldness, technically known as alopecia. It is characterized by the loss of hair from the head and body. With the latest advancements in technology, hair fall can be controlled and reversed to a great extent. In fact, there exist certain traditional hair growth home remedies that work in combating this problem.

How To Control Hair Fall in Winter

It is in winters when our hair problems are at their worst. With the cold setting in and lack of moisture in the air, hair problems like dandruff, dryness, hair fall and scalp itchiness are common.While there are many reasons behind hair fall, here are a few common causes that lead to hair fall. Understanding these causes would be a better way of trying to prevent further damage to the hair.

1. Keep The Dandruff Away:Dandruff is one of the most common issues that occur because of extreme dryness of the scalp. It is one of the main causes of hair fall in winter. Use an anti-dandruff cleanser to prevent hair fall.
2. Don’t Tie Your Hair Too Tight:Tight ponytails or braids are a big no if you’re trying to control hair fall in winters. Wear your hair loose, even while going to bed.
3. Gentle Combing:In winters, hair is already dry and damaged due to lack of moisture in the air. Try and comb only when required and be as gentle as you can.
4. Have A Healthy Diet:Have a Healthy Diet: Include loads of vitamins and minerals in your diet by having fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts. Make sure you stay away from processed food, sugary items, and fatty food. This will help control hair fall.