What Causes Hair Loss

What Causes Hair Loss

Hair is a filament-containing bio material that grows from follicles found in the dermis. Proteins, accounting for 91% of composition, raw  elements, amino acids and bonds work together in forming hair fiber and  make up chains found within the cortex of the hair.

Your hair says a lot about your overall health. When the body goes into crisis mode, hair growth is stunted to redirect energy to other cells throughout the body. So hair loss is often times the first sign of trouble. While age is definitely a factor of hair loss, other factors, such as hormonal imbalance, emotional stress, medications and hair care products can also lead to thinning of the hair and even male pattern baldness. The best way to get to the root of the problem is to determine the underlying cause.

Causes of Hair Loss

Emotional Stress.

This causes the body to produce an accelerated amount of adrenaline and testosterone, in addition to  DHT, a stronger variant of testosterone. The increased production of these hormones can sometimes cause the hair to fall out due to the resulting hormone imbalance. So Relax!!

Hair Loss after Pregnancy.

I get this question asked a lot: “Kosia, my hair is falling out in clumps in the shower and I have all these short pieces around my hairline; please tell me it will come back. Relax! of course it will - remember your hormones are in disarray after that precious baby you just had. Once everything is back to normal it will re-grow naturally after a few months.

Medications.

A variety of medications can result  in hair loss for women. Perhaps the most common is birth control so check the side effects of your medication to see if that is a contributing factor.

Extreme Hair care.

 We all take pride in our hair; coloring, blow drying, the usage of flat irons, curling irons and hot rollers, tight pony tails holders, etc.

If it can not be avoided make sure you give your hair a break from it and regularly give your hair a hot oil treatment or a conditioning treatment with natural products.

We should also stop or limit the use of aerosol sprays, styling gels, chemical straighteners and dyes that not only damage the hair follicles, but also cause irritation of the scalp. If you're experiencing hair loss as result of extreme hair care, your first order of business is to ditch the products that are damaging your hair. If hair growth is not restored within a few months, treatment may be necessary.

Healthy hair maintenance should be a proactive and not a reactive practice.  Do not wait until the hair is extremely damaged before seeking the help.

People that can help.

Endocrinologist : hormonal 

Dermatologist : scalp infections, auto immune conditions like alopecia. 

Nutritionist : adjusting an improper diet can prevent future problems and improve overall quality of hair.

Cosmetologist ( Stylist): hair and scalp conditions.

Homeopath: a homeopath will address any emotional stress leading to hair loss. Homeopathic remedies are noninvasive and have zero side effects. 

Acupuncturist: acupuncture will stimulate points of energy in the body; they will combine bodywork with herbal remedies to restore lost hair and prevent future loss.

Hair care 101.

I want you to stop reading now; go to wherever you keep your, brushes, combs, blow dryer… and all styling aids. Ok! Now let’s make sure they are clean. First make sure the vent at the back of your hair dryer is unclogged as when it is, it makes the dryer very hot which is not good. Cleaning your tools can prevent irritations caused by unclean items. In addition, cleaning your heated tools will prevent the hair from smelling like burned hair that often occurs during at home use.

Alright; next tip: massaging your scalp with shampoo and conditioner. Do this for about 40 seconds before washing it out. If you have oily hair, repeat the process once more (with the shampoo, not the conditioner). When you massage the top of your head, the circulation increases and it also helps prevent dandruff. Use a sulfate and paraben free shampoo.

Try to wash your hair on the coolest setting that is comfortable or at least try giving it a final rinse of cool water. This seals the hair cuticles (the outermost layer of the hair shaft) and locks in moisture, making it shinier. Hotter water may be used occasionally to wash hair – especially if you have very oily or dirty hair. Either way, try rinsing in the coolness for the finale.

Note: if you can, try not to wash your hair every day, as this will strip your hair of its natural oils. 

Pour conditioner into your hand and rub from the tips of your hair to the roots. If you want softer and silkier looking hair, leave the conditioner in your hair for a few minutes before you rinse it off.

Avoid wringing your hair with a towel after you get out of a shower. Wet hair is more fragile, and wringing it could cause your hair strands to break of fall out. In addition, avoid brushing your hair while wet. Wet hair is stretchier and has a tendency to break for this reason as well. Also, don’t brush too much; get a wide tooth comb and use it lightly. When you do brush, try a natural bristle brush like a boar bristle brush. These brushes distribute oils throughout your hair to make it softer and shinier. 

An excellent idea is mixing in oils to your conditioner, such as Moringa Oil, or demo Kosia Naturals Growth and Repair serum which has a combination of oils best mixed to repair your hair with intensive treatment. Leave this serum on for 1 to 2 hours then rinse thoroughly; you can also light shampoo and condition afterwards. Your hair will thank you!

Don’t forget: go easy on styling products. Styling products can dry your scalp so try not to use often. If you must, make sure to apply product directly to the strand near the ends and not the scalp. Also limit styling to under four times a week.

Keep in mind: accessories are great. Clips and barrettes can compliment beautiful hair! Elastics come fabric covered as well, which prevent breakage and tangles.

Eat healthy foods that will kep your hair strong and lustrous; essential fatty acids, especially omega-3 fatty acids, promote healthy skin, hair and nails. You should eat some of these foods every day… salmon, tuna, mackerel – these fish fall into this category as well as flax seed oil, soybean oil, mustard oil and tofu. Sunflower sees, pine nuts, brazil nuts, pecans, walnuts and almonds are also great. Vitamins B-6, B-12, and folic acid are also important to your hair. You can always take a multivitamin to get more of these nutrients, but you can also add foods rich in these vitamins to your diet!

Vitamin B-6 can be found in bananas, potatoes, both white and sweet, and spinach; Vitamin B-12 can be found in meat, poultry, fish and dairy products. Folic acid can be founds in citrus fruits, tomatoes, whole grain and fortified grain products, beans and lentils. Plant based oils, including evening primrose, borage and black currant seed oil, are good sources of gamma linolenic acid. Eating protein also promotes healthy hair, so include fish, chicken, eggs and/or soy into your meal.

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