I have been dealing with hair fall on and off for many years. These remedies that I have mentioned are based on my own experience. Hope it’s helpful to you too.
Although I had hair fall for such a long time, the external hair care routine that I followed remained the same throughout and it really helped with new hair growth.
Trust me when i say this, I really do understand how easy it is for people to fall into despair and depression due to hair fall problems.:(
I personally struggled with hair fall for years all the way through 12th grade and college. 6 days of classes, crash courses on Sundays with no rest day will drain you mentally and physically.
I hope this article will help you in some way.
I have tried to note down everything that remembered, but if there’s anything I can help with feel free to ask me in the comments section below.
MY HEALTH REPORT
-
- Anaemic due to vitamin B12 deficiency, which means although i was taking iron supplements and iron rich foods they weren’t being absorbed into the body. 🙁
-
- Both vitamin B and vitamin D are essential for our body to absorb nutrients from the food that we have, which i certainly did not know.
-
- Cause for vitamin B12 deficiency was a side effect of hormone pills/contraceptive pills that was prescribed to me for irregular periods. Even the Dr did not warn me about this.
I was on supplements for 3 months.
I increased protein intake too, mainly by including mung bean sprouts.(Maagchi recipe)
It certainly took around 1.5 months to start seeing a noticeable difference in my energy levels and hair loss too.
If you are deficit in any of the below vitamins or minerals, It affects your hair growth and nails too.
- Protein
- Iron
- Biotin
- Vitamin B
- Vitamin D
- Vitamin E
- Sulphur
- Zinc
HAIR TREATMENTS
Although my hair fall problem was mainly health related, i did use hair masks and oils once a week to minimise the damage.
OIL MASSAGE
Massaging does stimulate and encourage blood flow to the scalp.
More nutrients and oxygen reach the surface of the scalp.
It also helps you relax and loosen up especially when you get it done by a professional.
Only once have i done it in a salon though. It feels so good when someone else does it for you and you can just close your eyes, relax and fall asleep.
- When doing a head massage, Flip your head upside down to increase blood flow to the scalp.
- Massage for 10 minutes with an oil blend of your choice.
- Cover your hair with a hot towel.
- Leave it on for an hour.
- Shampoo and condition as usual.
Check Out My Aloe Vera Hair Oil Recipe For Hair Growth
HAIR MASKS
Use any of these hair masks once a week.
The best homemade hair masks are,
- Rice water
- Egg And Oil (Mayo Hair Mask)
- Rosemary and Green Tea Rinse
- Henna Pack
- Oil
My favourites are, Fermented rice water once a month(Recipe Here) and Yao rice water(Recipe Here). You can read my experience and decide for yourself whether this would suit you or not.
Give it a try though.
I haven’t tried any chemical masks, shampoos and conditioners that come in the hair fall range So, I cannot comment on that.
- We get chlorinated water here so if it’s the same with you then, you have to keep it overnight before using it.
DANDRUFF PROBLEM
Scalp infections can also cause hair fall so, if you have dandruff, itchy scalp, boils and the like, You have to treat it before things get worse.
- Use an Anti Dandruff Prescription Shampoo like Kenozole, Cipla 8x or Scalpe+ twice a week. (All Reviewed)
Use the shampoo as recommended by the brand. Once dandruff is gone completely, use the anti-dandruff shampoo once a month or so to prevent recurrence.
- Anti dandruff shampoo’s tend to dry out your scalp and hence. may cause itching.
To prevent dryness and related itching, Make sure to apply oil or any other moisturising hair mask once a week.
If you are sweating a lot or working out, Use a gentle cleansing shampoo to take out sweat and dirt.
Always keep your scalp clean.
HEALTH PROBLEMS
These are the most difficult to pinpoint as there are a bazillion reasons for hair fall.
- Are You Tired All The Time With No Energy?
- Are Your Periods Regular?
- Do You Have Severe Period Cramps?
- Did You Gain Weight/Lose Weight For No Particular Reason?
The most common underlying problems in women are related to their hormones and haemoglobin levels.
Let us look in to each of the possible factors and try to rule them out.
1. PROTEIN DEFICIENCY
If you don’t get enough protein in your diet, your body may save protein by shutting down hair growth. women should get about 46 grams of protein per day, and men need about 56.
Chicken breast, 120gm (36 grams of protein)
Green peas (One cup contains 7.9 grams)
Quinoa (8 grams per cup, including all nine essential amino acids.)
Nuts (5 or 6 grams of protein)
Beans (1 cup of kidney beans contain about 13 grams)
Chickpeas (Contains 7.3 grams of protein in just half a cup.)
Tofu (Contain about 15 and 20 grams per half cup)
Soy beans (Contains 8.4 grams of protein per half cup.)
Leafy greens (Two cups of raw spinach contain 2.1 grams of protein)
Greek yogurt (24 grams of protein)
Milk (8 grams of protein.)
Egg (One large egg contains 6gms of protein)
90 grams of Soya Chunks has 56 grams of protein and 19 milligrams of iron. If you are on a budget this may be an option for you.
2. HORMONE IMBALANCE
Just as pregnancy hormone changes may cause hair fall, so can going off birth-control pills and switching from one birth control pill to another.
It may cause telogen effluvium, and it may be more likely if you have a family history of hereditary hair loss.
The change in the hormonal balance that occurs at menopause may also have the same result.
Consult a Gynaecologist for appropriate treatment if you have irregular periods, severe cramps or even for advise on birth control pills.
3. POLYCYSTIC OVARY SYNDROME
Poly cystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is caused by an imbalance in male and female sex hormones.
An excess of androgen’s can lead to ovarian cysts, weight gain, hair thinning, diabetes, changes in your menstrual period and infertility.
Male hormones are over represented in PCOS, so women may also experience more hair on the face and body.
Treating PCOS can correct the hormone imbalance and help reverse these changes.
- The common treatments include diet, exercise, and potentially birth control pills, as well as specific treatment to address infertility or diabetes risk.
4. ANEMIA
The normal HB level for women is 11.5 – 16.
In addition to hair loss, other symptoms of anaemia include fatigue, headache, dizziness, pale skin, and cold hands and feet.
- I used to take iron syrup with vit B12 and vit D(Once a month) as both are essential for better absorption of nutrients. My levels rose from 10 to 11.8 in just 1 month(Prescribed by a doctor)
A simple CBC blood test will tell you whether you are anaemic or not by checking your haemoglobin levels.
5. THYROID PROBLEMS
Hypothyroidism is the medical term for having an under active thyroid gland, that is not enough hormone production.
The Thyroid gland in your neck produces hormones that are critical for your metabolism as well as growth and development and, when there is not enough hormones, it can contribute to hair loss.
Thyroid hormones TSH, T3 and T4 values can be easily checked with a simple blood test.
If that is causing your hair fall, Once your thyroid levels return to normal, so should your hair too.
6. VITAMIN B DEFICIENCY
As i mentioned earlier, My vitamin levels were too low that it affected the overall absorption capability of the body.
I took vitamin B12 tablets for 2-3 months to finally address the real issue behind my hair fall.
FOODS THAT CONTAIN VITAMIN B
Include whole grains, Milk and Cheese, Eggs, Beans and Lentils, Dark leafy veggies and Fruits like bananas, avocado and anything under the citrus category.
Cauliflower and avocado have Biotin vitamin B7 in it.
Sweet Potatoes and Mushrooms have vitamin B5
Spinach has Vitamin B6
Peas, Sweet potatoes and corn has vitamin B3
Mushroom and broccoli has vitamin B2
Spinach, lettuce and beans has B1 in it.
7. STRESS
As with hair loss due to physical stress, this hair fall will eventually stop.
Stress doesn’t directly cause hair fall but, aggravates a problem that is already there. 🙁 While it’s not known if reducing stress can help your hair, it can’t hurt either.
Take steps to combat stress and anxiety, like getting more exercise, friend groups, therapy, or getting more support if you need it.
My brother uses music to reduce stress while my husband swears by ASMR meditation. Try the Free Meditation Videos available on YouTube.
I use workout DVD and yoga to deal with stress.
Sitting still and meditating doesn’t go well with me as i get irritated and restless. 🙂 I am trying my best though.
CONCLUSION
If your family has hereditary balding consult a doctor for precautions. You need special treatment designed for such cases.
Make changes in your diet, eat more protein
Take Vitamin tablets if you are deficient especially Vitamin B,D and iron
Include some form of exercise to boost blood circulation
Do an warm oil treatment and massage your scalp
Keep yourself hydrated
Stop drinking, Smoking And reduce caffeine intake
Reduce stress elements and find peace within your mind
Use an Anti dandruff Shampoo to deal with dandruff
Reduce styling your hair and applying heat.
Consult a doctor if nothing works