We all like shiny smooth and healthy hair and we want our hair to be beautiful, shining, silky and strong. Even if we have good hair, they break so much and along with that one has to go through so many other problems like dandruff dryness, frizziness, split ends and what not that the hair doesn’t remain very smooth and pretty for a long time causing us to get worried and also spend so much on various chemicals to make them look amazing and beautiful again. We think they fall because they are weak or because of environmental conditions. But there are different reasons.
What is Hair Loss?
Hair is made up of a protein called keratin that is produced in hair follicles in the outer layer of skin. As follicles produce new hair cells, old cells are being pushed out through the surface of the skin at the rate of about six inches a year. The hair you see is actually a string of dead keratin cells. The average adult head has about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs and loses up to 100 of them a day; finding a few stray hairs on your hairbrush is not necessarily cause for alarm.
Phases of Hair Life Cycle
About any time, 90% of the hair on a person’s scalp is growing. Each follicle has its own life cycle that can be influenced by age, disease and other factors. This life cycle is divided into three phases:
- Anagen –Active hair growth that lasts between two to six years.
- Catagen –Transitional hair growth that lasts two to three weeks.
- Telogen – Resting phase that lasts about two to three months. At the end of the resting phase, the hair is shed and a new hair replaces it and the growing cycle starts again. As people age, their rate of hair growth slows.
Some Natural Treatments
- Eat foods that are complete proteins. Hair is primarily protein, and strong, healthy hair comes from “the inside.” Make sure you are getting enough vitamins, minerals, and high-quality protein. You should try for a variety of sources of complete protein, which contain all the essential amino acids (protein building blocks).
- Eat foods rich in B vitamins. You should also ensure that you eat a diet high in B-complex vitamins. Your body needs B vitamins to promote healthy hair follicles and healthy hair growth.
- Avoid shampooing too often. Frequent shampooing can strip hair of natural oils. Frequent shampooing doesn’t really cause hair loss, but if you are stripping the oils from your hair, it can make the hair more fragile and likely to break. Many professionals advise their clients not to shampoo daily, but instead recommend 2-3 times a week.
- Avoid shampoos that are loaded with chemicals, such as sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), parabens, and ammonium chloride, especially if you have thin, fragile, or treated hair.
- Also, remember not to “over condition” your hair. Conditioners can weigh down the roots of the hair and damage the hair follicles. Use a conditioner 1-2 times a week and avoid using conditioner on the scalp.