With every passing year, along with the candles on your birthday cake, you’re also blowing away dreams of long and luscious hair. If you think it’s just the men who must battle receding hairlines with passing age, let us tell you ladies, you may have to deal with it too. But you are far from alone. Research says more than 50% of women are significantly affected by hair loss due to inexplicable reasons. If you’re lost trying to zero in on the exact reason for sudden hair loss, don’t worry we’ve got your back. You can now figure a roadmap to the happier part of tress town.
• Reasons For Hair Loss #1: Vitamin B12 Deficiency
You may be a picky eater but your food choices could cause your cells to struggle, resulting in hair loss. So much for being choosy, eh? Cobalamin or Vitamin B12 helps in production of oxygen-rich red blood cells that nourish hair follicles and promote healthy hair growth. A serious deficiency of this vitamin may be the hidden reason for hair loss in women.
What can you do about it?
Think you don’t have enough of the B12 power? You can find solace in fish, poultry, dairy and eggs. But vegetarians, here’s some bad news for you. This hair-friendly vitamin is generally found in meat-based foods. Now for the good news. Since switching to meat is not an easy option, you can opt for dietary supplements to ensure you don’t miss out on your daily dose of Vitamin B12.
Nykaa recommends: GNC Vitamin B12 1000Mg Times-Release (90 Capsules)
• Reasons For Hair Loss #2: Stress
Lucky for you this one is temporary and can be put to a halt as soon as you get your mess in order. Extreme stress triggers your body’s natural defense mechanism and pushes your hair follicles into resting phase. You don’t want them resting now, do you? Try to get through whatever has been stressing you out and your hair growth cycle should resume to normal once again.
What can you do about it?
Now we know it would be plain useless telling you to stress less about your impending breakup or career inertia. What you could do instead have a relaxing bath at the end of an upsetting day, so you don’t lose your sleep over it. Scented candles, essential oils or bath bombs, whatever does the trick for you. Basically, this is your reality check if you’ve been underestimating the impact of a good pampering bath.
Nykaa recommends: Nyassa Dead Sea Salt Rejuvenating Bath
• Reasons For Hair Loss #3: Hereditary
You’ve always been meticulous when it comes to your hair care regime, only to notice bald patches and realize that life is unfair? It’s probably in your DNA. Hereditary hair loss starts with thinning of hair that eventually goes on to complete baldness on parts of scalp.
What can you do about it?
We know you want to hear otherwise but you can’t really put a complete end to this kind of hair loss. That said, you can surely reduce the rate of hair fall with treatments prescribed by your trichologist. Besides that, you could also slow down hair loss with over-the-counter drugs or simply massage your scalp with a dedicated anti hair loss oil.
Nykaa recommends: Richfeel Aroma Oil For Hair Loss
• Reasons For Hair Loss #4: Hormonal Imbalance
You know how hormones can throw you zit surprises right before your weekend getaway? Well, they can also be responsible for the gradual thinning and loss of hair? When testosterone converts to DHT, this bad hormone goes on a rampant spree, damaging hair follicles and stunting hair growth, thus proving to be the key reason for hair loss. This usually happens when hormones are on an overdrive during menopause.You know how hormones can throw you zit surprises right before your weekend getaway? Well, they can also be responsible for the gradual thinning and loss of hair? When testosterone converts to DHT, this bad hormone goes on a rampant spree, damaging hair follicles and stunting hair growth, thus proving to be the key reason for hair loss. This usually happens when hormones are on an overdrive during menopause.
What can you do about it?
Along with the shift in hormones, your nutritional needs also change which makes incorporating a well-balanced diet even more important to deal with hair loss. Look out for iron and calcium dense foods like leafy greens, eggs, milk and cheese. You could also try dietary supplements. And yes, don’t give in to the temptation of the upcoming Ladies Night at that club
Nykaa recommends: Inlife Hair Support Supplement (60 Veg. Capsules)
• Reasons For Hair Loss #5: Iron Deficiency
Iron is so crucial to keeping your body strong and running. And you thought, they named him Iron Man because of his suit? Severe iron deficiency or Anemia pushes your body into survival mode, which translates to reduced oxygen supply to your scalp. The good news here is that hair follicles don’t get entirely damaged and so the right treatments can normalize hair growth again.
What can you do about it?
Firstly, if you aren’t sure if lack of iron is the key reason for excessive hair loss, get a Ferritin level blood test done so you can be sure. If your iron levels are low, it’s a wakeup call to make changes in your daily diet. Now what are these foods that you have been picking on? Meet: Broccoli, Lentils, Oysters, Spinach and Soybeans. Oh yeah, and dark chocolate can get you there too. To keep the hair factory on your scalp going, you could consider iron supplements as well.
Nykaa recommends: HealthVit Folic Acid 400 Mcg 60 Tablets
• Reasons For Hair Loss #6: Over Styling
Love all the compliments pouring in, don’t you? But if you knew what frequent braiding and tight are doing to your hair, would you still love them the same? Vigorous hairstyles, such as cornrows, braids and pigtails are one of the hair loss causes. They put your hair under constant strain and result in localized scalp trauma.
What can you do about it?
Try letting your hair down often and save the complicated hairstyles for more important occasions, because not every date is worth stressing your hair follicles over. If you still have to go for tight hairstyles, you could try investing in elastic bands without metal links so the damage is lesser.
Nykaa recommends: Invisibobble Hair Ring - Crystal Clear - Pack Of 3
FAQs
1. What is the best hair loss treatment?
Certain medications, such as the Minoxidil and the Finasteride are clinically proven as effective hair loss treatments for women. But these drugs are advised to be taken with the prescription of a licensed doctor. You can also try ayurveda for hair loss but this could keep you waiting for quite some time.
2. What deficiency causes hair loss?
Low intake of Vitamin D, Vitamin B7, Vitamin B12, Vitamin A, Iron and Zinc can all be the causes of hair loss in women. Ensure your daily diet accommodates these nutrients in sufficient quantities.
3. What are the best ingredients for hair loss treatment at home?
There are a bevy of home remedies for natural hair loss treatment in women. The main hair loss fighting ingredients include Aloe Vera, Licrorice Root, Onion, Garlic, Coconut Milk and Egg.
4. Is homeopathy treatment for hair loss effective?
Homeopathy treatment involves medicinal doses of DHT inhibitors to keep hair loss in control. Moreover, this treatment can help prevent relapse of hair loss in the long run without any unwanted side-effects. So yes, you can consider homeopathy for hair loss but be ready to wait it out.
