Our bodies are literally covered with hair. With the exception of our palms and the soles of our feet, there is hair everywhere on our bodies. Sometimes it can become a nuisance such as when it’s in the form of pubic hair. Other times, we want it to grow and look healthy, such as when it’s in the form of the hair on our heads.
It’s fairly easy to let the hair on your head grow. All you have to do is care for it and let the follicles do their job. For some people, however, it’s not that easy. Almost everyone, at one point or another, has suffered some form of hair loss. If treated right, hair loss can go away pretty quickly. But in some cases, it’s a serious condition and calls for some serious treatments.
One very common belief is that shaving your head helps with the condition. Is it really true? Or is it just an old wife’s tale that we’ve been hearing since ages. We believe it’s time to bust a few myths. Does shaving your head help hair loss? Shaving your head does not help in your hair loss problem. It has no impact on hair loss because hair grows from within the skin and is governed by your cellular makeup. Shaving only removes the visible hair that is attached to the follicle.
Therefore, it is safe to say that shaving your head does not help hair loss. For those of you planning to give it a try for the sole purpose of combatting hair loss, there’s no use. It won’t make your hair grow healthier and stronger than before. All it will do is make your hair appear to be stronger, since shaving it off will give your hair blunt tips, giving an illusion of strong, voluminous hair. It should be noted that a few short hairstyles help camouflage hair loss since there is less hair falling and it is not noticeable as such.
Why oh Why?
We’ll talk about how to combat the issue of hair loss, but before we delve into the matter, we need to understand the reason behind hair loss. You can’t really treat a condition without knowing its cause, can you?
The primary composition of hair is a type of protein called Keratin, which is produced in the hair follicles in the outer layer of the skin. The job of the hair follicle is to make new hair cells and push out old hair cells, at the rate of about an average of 6 inches every year. So basically, what you see in the form of hair are actually strands of dead keratin cells.
An average human head has around 100,000 to 150,000 strands of hair loss around 100 strands each day. It’s pretty normal to see a few loose strands while shampooing or brushing your hair. The many strands of hair on your head are going through a different life cycle; growth, resting and shedding. At one point in time, around 90% of the hair follicles are in a growing phase. This growth factor can be influenced by a number of factors such as gender, age, and overall health. With people with a hair loss issue, the rate of hair growth slows and strands shed quicker than new ones can emerge.
It is not quite clear why certain hair follicles have a shorter growth period than others. Though there are certain factors that may be attributed to the condition:
Hormones
Certain hormonal imbalances can trigger some serious complications in the body. One such hormone is the male androgen called Dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This hormone is found in both men and women and causes alopecia, or severe hair loss, due to the hair follicles’ response to it.
Genetic makeup
Every person’s DNA is different and so are the attributes that they inherit from their lineage. Sometimes, the only reason for male pattern baldness can be due to their gene pool.
Stress
Hair goes through a programmed life cycle; growth, resting and shedding phase. Stress can alter the natural process and push the hair cycle into the shedding phase, resulting in hair loss.
Unhealthy Diet
Not maintaining a healthy diet has been extensively linked with hair loss. There are certain nutrients that the hair follicles require in order to promote healthy growth. After all, you must treat the issue from within, where the follicles lie.
Illnesses and Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions such as thyroid disease, diabetes, anemia, and lupus cause hair loss. Often, when the underlying cause is treated, the hair loss goes away too since they are both related.
Poor Hair Care
As is with every part of your body, hair requires care too. Not properly washing your hair and treating it with harsh chemicals such as sprays and dyes can all contribute towards your hair getting weak and falling off.
Hair Loss Remedies
So what is shaving your head can’t help hair loss? There are certainly other treatments and medications that you can try to prevent, or more realistically, slow down the process of hair loss.
Invest in Good Hair Care Products
Sometimes all your hair requires is a little love and care. Maybe the reason for your hair fall is a product that isn’t suiting you. Pay attention to what you’re using and adjust it accordingly. Try the Laritelle Organic Shampoo (Amazon) made specifically for hair loss prevention with a follicle-stimulating agent that will foster hair regrowth.
Scalp Massage
All of those who’ve ever gotten a good massage know the power it holds. They feel wonderful and can aid in treating hair loss too. Massaging the scalp helps regulate blood flow and stimulate the hair follicles to grow out beautiful, healthy hair.
A Well-Rounded, Balanced Diet
We’re all aware of the importance of a good, balanced diet. Cutting down even one essential nutrient from your diet can result in serious issues and deficiencies. Missing out nutrients such as protein can actually foster hair loss since hair is made up of protein. Therefore, incorporating protein in your diet is crucial, especially when you’re suffering from hair loss. Try adding iron-rich foods, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, as well as high-protein foods and see the difference for yourself. Limiting your intake of sweets is an added bonus and will help you achieve results faster.
Keep a Check on Your Stress Levels
Along with a good diet, steer clear of all the worries and stress that are preoccupying your mind. Fretting over things, and worrying about your hair loss will worsen it. Trust us. Make it a habit to do regular exercise, and start practicing yoga.
Quit Smoking
Smoking is known to have a direct relation with hair loss, along with facial wrinkles and premature greying of the hair. It might be a good idea to try and quit smoking because of this and all the other negative health effects it has.
Biotin
Biotin is a vitamin found in small amounts in foods such as milk, eggs, nuts, and onions. It has proven to be beneficial for hair loss, brittle nails, and many such issues. We recommend the Amazon Elements Biotin 5000 mcg (Amazon) supplement for effective hair loss treatment.
Natural Remedies
There is always a natural cure for every ailment out there. The only issue is that these remedies are rather slow and we are very impatient. One of the best remedies for hair loss is a miracle concoction made out of gooseberry, soapnut, and acacia concinna that works absolute wonders. Make a juice out of the three and wash your hair and scalp with it every day. Leave it on for a while for the follicles to absorb the goodness and start working to grow healthy, strong hair, just as you desire.
Hair Transplant/Laser Treatment
If all else fails and you are adamant about getting your hair back, try these medical procedures such as hair transplants and laser treatments. Just make sure to go to a practitioner you know and trust.
Get a Checkup
If the issue persists, it’s always good to consult with your doctor. They might prescribe you medications that might treat the issue. Also, as discussed above, some medical conditions such as thyroid disease, diabetes, anemia, and lupus, to name a few, can trigger hair loss and treating the underlying issue can cure hair loss too.
Flaunt It!
Don’t worry if even after trying all the above remedies, you’re not achieving your desired results. It’s totally okay! Work with what you have and flaunt it with confidence. Trust us, the best feature one can have is confidence in themselves. You can also shave your head just for the heck of it and for not dealing with the issue of hair loss. No hair means no hair loss. So many celebrities rock the look! There’s The Rock, Vin Diesel, and Jason Statham. Who’s your favorite?
