July 15, 2022
Natural Remedies for Thinning Hair and Balding
Whether you’ve just started noticing your hair isn’t as thick as it once was or if you’ve struggled with hair loss for years, it’s a frustrating experience that can undermine your self-esteem. But thinning hair and balding aren’t just something that you have to learn to live with. There are remedies, treatments, and procedures to help restore your hair and your confidence. Today we will go over some natural remedies that can help slow or reverse thinning hair.
What Causes Thinning Hair?
Before we can know how to combat it we first have to understand what causes our hair to thin in the first place. Since it usually happens gradually it’s hard to determine exactly what the cause of hair loss is sometimes. There are many factors that play a role in hair loss including chronic stress, sun damage to the scalp, nutritional deficiencies, styling damage, normal age-related hormonal changes, medical conditions like hypothyroidism, side effects of medications, and genetics. Some of these factors are beyond your control while others can often be remedies. Talk with your healthcare provider to help determine if there are any health-related causes for your hair loss that can be remedied before employing the remedies we’re about to discuss.
Natural Remedies for Hair Loss
After you’ve explored the potential causes of your hair loss and addressed any that are within your ability to control it’s time to begin looking at natural remedies that strengthen your existing strands and promote new growth.
Scalp Massage- Scalp massage doesn’t just feel good. It also stimulates circulation in your scalp to increase blood flow to the hair follicles. This delivers more oxygen and nutrients to the follicle which can strengthen your hair or even wake the follicle up from its resting phase to get it growing again. Add in follicle stimulating essential oils like peppermint, rosemary, and lavender to further enhance growth and fight against scalp fungus and dandruff.
Exfoliate and Detox Your Scalp- Exfoliate your scalp? Absolutely! Your scalp is simply skin with a whole lot of hair follicles. It can accumulate dead skin cells, dirt, and debris just like any other skin on your body. These things on the scalp can clog follicles and hinder hair growth. Mix ½ cup each of aloe vera gel, raw apple cider vinegar, and bentonite clay. Apply this mixture to your scalp and allow it to sit for 10 minutes to soften buildup and draw out toxins before giving your scalp a good scrub and rinse. Follow your usual hair care routine.
Boost Your Intake of Proteins, Vitamins, and Minerals- If you want your hair to grow you have to feed it what it needs, from the inside. Your hair is almost entirely made up of proteins, so make sure that you are eating plenty of lean proteins like chicken, fish, low-fat dairy, and legumes. These will also boost your intake of iron which your body needs to carry oxygen to your hair follicles. Vitamin C-rich foods like berries, bell peppers, and citrus fruits will help your body produce collagen which is a protein that is an essential building block of healthy hair. If you’re vegan or vegetarian, load up on healthy plant proteins like beans, chickpeas, lentils, quinoa, and tofu.
Stay Well Hydrated- Growing hair is considered by your body to be a nonessential function. When your body senses dehydration it shuts down those functions it doesn’t deem essential to life. So being chronically dehydrated can contribute to thinning hair. Make sure you’re getting the recommended amount of water for your body weight daily to make sure your body has what it needs to bring all systems online and start growing hair again.
You Need Your Beauty Sleep- Our bodies repair themselves and grow new cells while we’re asleep. This includes growing hair. So if you aren’t sleeping well and getting enough rest, hair growth will suffer. Most healthy adults need between 7-9 hours of sleep each night. If you’re having trouble sleeping, speak with your doctor about ways to get more shut-eye.
Stop Heat Damage – A hat works wonders in protecting your hair and scalp from the sun, but what about your styling routine? The heat from styling tools and blow dryers causes damage and stress to the hair and scalp as well. Try to avoid heat damage by air drying your hair and opting for no-heat hairstyles whenever possible. If you must heat style or blow dry your hair use the lowest heat setting available and apply thermal protectant before you begin.
Change Your Shampoo – Don’t just grab the cheapest bottle of shampoo off the shelf. Look for natural, chemical-free (especially sulfate and paraben-free) products containing biotin, keratin, and hair nourishing amino acids. While you’re at it, swap out the rest of your hair care products for more gentle and natural products as well.
Trim Your Hair – When hair is thin, the extra length can weigh it down. Maintaining the right length can give the look of more body and fullness. This will not only keep your hair looking its best but a trip to the salon is often relaxing which will reduce stress levels that can impact hair growth.
If you’ve already tried everything and it still hasn’t helped, it’s time to consult the hair loss professionals at the Hair Restoration Institute. We’ll evaluate your hair loss and work with you to develop a plan to restore your hair and your confidence. You can find us at 8009 34th Ave S, Suite 1225 in Bloomington, MN, or call 612-588-HAIR (4247) for a private, complimentary consultation with one of our caring hair loss experts.
