By Nutritional Therapist
Losing your hair, while it can happen naturally for a lot of people, can be nonetheless devastating, especially when it happens to women.
Hair fall reasons in females can be due to a number of reasons, from stress and medication to hair loss after pregnancy and genetics or hormones.
If you feel like the part in your hair is widening, you find bald spots, or you’re shedding hair more than normal (or more than 125 hairs a day), then you could be experiencing hair loss and it’s a good idea to see a dermatologist to help get to the route cause of your hair loss.
However, there are natural ingredients for hair growth and thickness that could help. So, if you’re looking for ways to help promote hair growth naturally, then read on. We’re going to look at home remedies for hair growth and thickness, as well as possible ways for how to stop hair loss and regrow hair naturally.
Hair fall reasons in women
For many of us, our hair is our crowning glory. We spend time and money cutting, styling, and preening our hair to make us feel beautiful. So it can be truly heartbreaking when you start noticing more hair fall than usual.
But what are some hair fall reasons in women?
Signs of hair loss in women
You might notice a gradual thinning of your hair (which can happen naturally with age due to hormone changes and going through menopause), or sudden hair loss. Some signs include:
- Bald spots
- Overall thinning – in men, it tends to be a receding hairline while women generally notice their part widening.
- Losing handfuls of hair when brushing or washing
- Full loss
There are four types of alopecia, which is a word referring to hair loss, and this can be caused by anything from genetics and hormones to stress or immune system issues. The four types of alopecia are:
- Alopecia areata: this is a patchy hair loss that happens suddenly on your head or body.
- Androgenetic alopecia: also known as female-pattern baldness or hair loss caused by genetics or family history. This is the most common form of hair loss in women and can hit at pretty much any age.
- Traumatic alopecias: this can be caused by hair styling practices or stress, such as using chemicals in the hair or illness.
- Cicatrical alopecia: a condition that causes irreversible hair loss through scarring.
While there is evidence that certain medications (such as minoxidil) and treatments (including red light therapy) can help hair loss in women, there are also studies that show how natural ingredients for hair growth and thickness can help.
How to stop hair loss and regrow hair naturally
It’s amazing to think that ingredients found in Mother Nature could help prevent or even stop hair loss, and could promote healthy hair growth. Food for healthy hair is becoming increasingly popular as well as topical methods such as essential oils. Let’s look at some of the most tried and tested natural ingredients for hair growth and thickness and the best oil for hair loss and regrowth.
Rosemary oil
Rosemary oil for hair loss is used to not just help reduce shedding, but to boost healthy hair growth. It’s been found to stimulate new hair growth and might help treat conditions such as female-pattern baldness.
Rosemary oil is easy to find and should be applied topically to your scalp either daily or a few times a week. If you’re using rosemary oil neat, you should always mix it with a carrier oil to avoid irritation to your scalp. Combine a few drops with a carrier oil such as argan or jojoba oil and give your scalp a soothing massage.
You can also try making rosemary water for hair growth by boiling fresh rosemary in water, waiting for it to cool and then spraying it on your hair daily.
Coconut oil
Coconut oil is a great source of protein and has the ability to reduce the loss of protein in damaged hair by penetrating the hair shaft. It can also help reverse the effect of harsh chemicals found in some hair products.
A few times a week, massage two tablespoons of the oil into your scalp. You can either leave it on your scalp or wash it off after a couple of hours.
Peppermint oil
There are several peppermint oil for hair benefits which could help with hair loss. Studies have shown that refreshing peppermint oil can promote hair growth, balance oil, calm inflammation, increase hair thickness, and widen blood vessels (which in turn can lead to healthier hair follicles).
It’s recommended to work best on oily scalps, and should always be mixed with a carrier oil, much like with rosemary oil. Let the solution sit on your scalp for up to an hour then shampoo and condition as normal. You could even mix a few drops in with your shampoo and conditioner.
Fenugreek
The plant compounds in fenugreek may interact with a chemical in your body called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This chemical, if attached to your hair follicles, may result in hair loss. Fenugreek has been found to possibly slow down the ability of DHT to attach to your hair follicles, resulting in a decrease in shedding.
Fenugreek for hair loss is also beneficial as the seeds contain high levels of protein and nicotinic acid, which helps prevent hair fall and dandruff.
Pumpkin Seed Oil
Pumpkin seeds are a superfood and contain a wide range of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and protein which are essential for healthy hair.
They also contain an active ingredient called cucurbitacin, which blocks the action of an enzyme that converts testosterone to DHT – a hormone that causes hair loss. You can take pumpkin seed oil capsules orally or apply the oil directly to your scalp and leave it for 12 to 24 hours before washing it out.
Onion Juice
OK, this might be a smelly one to get used to, but the benefits of onion juice for hair loss are worth it. Onion juice is thought to improve blood circulation, helping promote hair growth and improve the health of hair follicles. It can also provide extra sulfur to support strong and thick hair.
Squeeze the juice out of blended onions (hold your nose) and apply the juice to your scalp. Leave it in as long as you can before washing it out.
Green Tea
Green tea is rich in polyphenols and antioxidants that can both promote hair growth, and the compounds can have a productive effect on the dermal papilla cells, which has the potential to reduce hair loss.
Help Your Hair Loss Naturally
If you’re looking for ways to promote hair growth naturally, remember the key is to be consistent and patient.
Like with most things, you won’t see results overnight, and it might take months to notice an improvement. Take the time to care for and nourish your hair and always seek support if you feel you need it. Check out the natural hair loss on Quinowa and let us know how you get on.
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