Gone are the days when baldness was associated with old age. With changing lifestyles and added stress, balding can occur at any age and is being seen among youngsters and old people alike. And no matter how common it is, a balding head sure is a nightmare for whoever is experiencing it. Studies suggest that losing 100 strands a day is normal and anything above that needs to be looked into and treated. Hair transplants and other medical procedures are always an option, but in this post, we tell you ways to treat balding and promote hair growth at home.
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What Causes hair Loss?
There are multiple factors that can lead to baldness and it can happen at any age. Poor nutrition, stress, overexposure to sun and pollution, hormonal imbalance, iron deficiency, scalp infections and burns or injury, medical conditions and genetic history are among the reasons for your hair follicles to weaken and inevitable hair loss to take place.
Types Of Hair Loss
These are different categories of hair loss and these are dependent on age, gender and cause for hair loss. Read on to know about the different types of balding patterns.
- Female Pattern Baldness
- Male Pattern Hair Loss
- Alopecia Areata
- Scarring Alopecia
- Toxic Alopecia
Female Pattern Baldness
This one rarely leads to complete baldness, however the thinning of hair is visible to the naked eye. It’s usually associated with the genetic makeup of a person and can happen at any age.
Male Pattern Hair Loss
As the name suggests, this is most commonly seen in men and is identified by bald spots on the head and/or a receding hairline.
Alopecia Areata
This starts off as just a hair loss problem and eventually leads to bald spots in certain areas. This may or may not lead to 100% hair loss.
Scarring Alopecia
This kind of Alopecia also results in bald spots however these are caused by some sort of a scalp injury, infection or burn.
Toxic Alopecia
This kind of baldness/hair loss is usually temporary in nature. It’s caused by prolonged and severe illness, a very high fever or even certain strong medication that could end up weakening your hair follicles.
Tips To Help Promote Hair Growth
Want that little extra to help transform your hair from good to great? Here is a list of some easy-peasy tips to promote hair growth. Have a look!
Massages for the win
Regular scalp massages with or without oil promote blood flow to the scalp. This encourages hair growth if done regularly and in the right way. However, bear in mind that over-massaging the scalp can also damage the roots and cause breaking of hair. Limit it to once or twice a week for about 10-15 minutes every time.
Head stands
This is another great way to direct blood flow to the scalp and promote hair growth. Doing this every day in the morning also refreshes your mind and body, and has multiple other health benefits.
Pop them vitamins & nutrients
Lack of iron in the body can cause hair loss. You can either take iron pills or amp up the intake of spinach and other iron-rich foods. For optimum hair follicle health, you also need Vitamins A, B, C and E. So, load up on them, ladies.
Wholesome diet
Our body needs a good amount of protein to help with hair growth. So make sure you gorge on chicken, eggs, legumes, milk and other foods to make up for the protein intake your hair is asking for. Eating fruit and drinking 2-3 litres of water is another must.
Limit smoking and drinking
Excessive smoking and drinking is believed to slow down hair growth and cause hair loss too. Make sure to keep these habits under control as they can lead to drying of scalp and hair to the point of making it unhealthy and brittle.
Oils That Can Help Cure Baldness
Growing back hair is not easy but certain oils help in stemming further loss. Given below is a list of all such best oils for bald scalp that helps to regrow hair.
Olive oil
Use virgin olive oil on your hair twice a week for the best results. Heat the oil and massage it on the scalp for 5-10 minutes. Leave this on for a minimum of one hour before you shampoo your hair. Olive oil is believed to counter the effect of hair loss hormones and it helps keep the scalp infection-free, thereby aiding hair growth.
Castor oil
Heat some castor oil and apply it on your hair 2-3 times a week. Lightly massage it into the scalp so that the fat in it nourishes the scalp and gives it the right amount of hydration. This will also help cure dandruff and thereby promote hair growth.
Pumpkin seed oil
Mix one teaspoon of pumpkin seed oil with one teaspoon of either coconut oil or olive oil and leave it on your hair overnight. Do this at least once or twice a week. Pumpkin seed oil is known to treat male pattern hair loss. This oil boasts of nutrients like carotenes and tocopherols among others that keep the scalp healthy and aid hair growth.
Jojoba oil
Leaving some jojoba oil in your hair for 4-5 hours before rinsing it and doing this once or twice a week helps those suffering from balding. It’s rich in Vitamin E that tackles the oxidative stress which is believed to be one of the primary causes of hair loss. This oil is known to treat non-hereditary pattern balding.
Mustard oil
Mustard oil is known to have antibacterial properties. It not only nourishes the scalp to the fullest but also adds oodles of moisture to the hair and treats any infection or irritation of the scalp. Apply warm mustard oil on your scalp 2-3 times a week for noticeable results.
Hair Packs That Reduce Hair Loss Problems
With a busy schedule, taking time out to get your hair treated can be a hassle. But trying home remedies for hair growth is an efficient and smart way to reduce hair problems. Here is a list of all such natural hair growth remedies that you can try!
- Aloe Vera is always a good idea
- Nothing beats the egg and yogurt combo
- Magical Methi
- Show love to your tresses with apple cider vinegar
- Onion juice is a hero
Aloe vera is always a good idea
Take an aloe vera leaf and split it into half. Scoop out the gel from inside the leaf and apply it directly onto the scalp and on the hair strands. Leave this on for about 30 minutes and rinse it off with room temperature water. Do this at least twice a week to achieve satisfactory results. Aloe vera gel soothes a dry scalp, maintains its pH level and promotes hair growth.
Nothing beats the egg and yogurt combo
No other ingredient aids hair growth better than eggs! Beat and egg, add a spoonful of yogurt to it and a few drops of honey. Apply this on your hair and scalp and leave it on until it’s dry. This nourishes the scalp and hair follicles, makes it glossy and cleanses it well too. Use this hair pack twice a week and you will thank us.
Magical methi
Use 2-3 tablespoons of fenugreek powder and add enough water or buttermilk to it to make it a paste-like consistency. Apply this all over your scalp and hair and leave it on for about 40-50 minutes before washing it off with a gentle shampoo. Fenugreek contains precursors of hormones and other proteins and nutrients that help you get a head full of hair.
Show love to your tresses with apple cider vinegar
In a cup of water add 2-3 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar. Massage it onto the scalp for 5-7 minutes and rinse it off with cold water. Do this twice a week as this will remove any dirt or microbes that are coming in the way of hair growth. Apart from this, ACV also balances the pH level of the scalp and this is how you can regrow hair on the bald spot.
Onion juice is a hero
Add some honey to the juice of one medium-sized onion. Apply this on your scalp with the help of a cotton ball. Let it sit on your scalp for about 20-30 minutes after which you can wash it off with a mild shampoo. This helps regenerate hair roots, and the honey added to it works beautifully to treat hair loss. Focus on the bald spots when applying this as it can help the regrowth of hair in that area. Repeat this home remedy twice a week.
Effective Ways To Prevent Balding
Looking for easy ways to prevent balding? Here is a list of all such effective ways for you. Have a look!
Comb it right
Combing and detangling your hair is important but make sure to not over comb it. Using a comb that hurts/irritates the scalp is also a no-no. All this weakens the roots of the hair and leads to hair loss. Use a wooden wide-toothed comb and gently comb your hair 1-2 times a day, we say.
Organic shampoos over chemical-based ones
Opt for organic shampoos with the least chemical elements in them. Overuse of chemicals on the hair and scalp can lead to dryness of hair and an irritated scalp that comes in the way of healthy hair growth.
Give your hair some rest from tight ponytails
Tight, sleek ponytails and buns look fab, however do leave your hair free and easy often too. The constant tugging and pulling of hair can weaken the roots and leads to hair fall.
Avoid hot water
Hot water on the hair and scalp is directly responsible for weakening of hair follicles followed by hair loss. Use lukewarm water or cold water on your hair always to maintain a healthy scalp and good level of hair growth.
Stay away from too much heat styling
Straighteners, blow dryers and curling rods can work wonders for your hairstyling. However, overuse of these can lead to weakening of the hair, dryness and hair loss. If you must use them, make it a point to use a heat protection spray on your tresses beforehand.
FAQs
Can balding really be reversed with the help of home remedies?
Recognising the type of hair loss you have and which home remedies work well for your hair is the key. Make sure to do the treatments consistently and give it some time to see if it leads to hair regrowth.
At what stage should I be worried about balding?
Losing more than 100 strands a day is believed to be the first red flag. Best is to nourish the hair well, eat healthy foods and take your vitamins to not reach a point where you need to be concerned about your hair.
How much time does it take for home remedies to work?
TBH, home remedies aren’t a quick solution to the hair loss problem. In all likelihood, you will not see immediate results. However, if done the right way and in a consistent manner, you should see your hair health improve in a matter of months.
