Save 20% On Your First Autoship Order

Day
:
:
Online since 2002 |   866-316-0162

Articles and News

6 Ways To Stimulate Hair Growth

6 Ways To Stimulate Hair Growth
Shweta Chaubey

Did you know that the average person sheds 50 to 100 hairs daily? This hair loss usually goes unnoticed because each strand lost is replaced by a new one. However, there are conditions in which new hair growth does not occur, resulting in thinning hair or a receding hairline.

6 Ways To Stimulate Hair Growth

Tips for Stronger Hair Benefits
1. Over-the-counter hair growth products Help regain lost volume and make hair shiny
2. Homemade hair masks Provide deep conditioning, moisturization, and nutrition to damaged hair
3. Nutrition-dense foods Help stimulate hair growth
4. Vitamins for hair loss Improve immune health, and produce collagen and keratin
5. Home remedies Boost hair health without severe side effects
6. Shampoo and Conditioner for specific hair type Choosing the right products for your specific hair type is essential for better hair growth

What is hair loss? 

Hair loss, also known as alopecia, is the loss of hair, typically on the head. It is more prevalent among adults than children and can develop suddenly or over time. It may be temporary or permanent.

Signs of balding 

Obviously, losing hair is a sign of balding. However, several symptoms can be an early indication of hair loss, including the following:

1. Increased hair shedding

Excessive hair in your brush, comb, or sink while combing, brushing, or washing is not normal; it differs from normal hair shedding, which is a part of the hair growth cycle.

2. Thinning hair

A sudden and alarming change in hair volume and strength, especially around the crown or the top of the head.

3. Receding hairline

A receding hairline is one of the first signs of male pattern baldness, which means the hairline gradually moves back.

4. Widening part

A part on the top of the head that appears wider characterizes hair loss in women. The scalp may become more visible in areas where hair is thinning.

5. Bald patches

Areas on the scalp with missing hair, which can be small or large, smooth, or have some degree of scaling or redness.

6. A change in hair texture

A difference in the look and feel of hair, such as brittle, dry, or coarse.

7. Itching or scalp irritation

An itchy scalp goes hand in hand with hair loss. The itchiness may be a result of an underlying scalp condition or inflammation.

8. Excessive hair on pillows or clothing

Finding an unusually large amount of hair on your pillows, bedding, or clothing.

Effective Ways To Stimulate Hair Growth

There are various hair-thinning treatments available. Specific treatment depends on the cause of your hair loss.

1. OTC hair growth products 

Many readily available topical treatments and oral supplements can be purchased without a doctor's prescription. Topical therapies, which are applied directly to the scalp, include medicated gels, lotions, and foams. The most used hair growth products contain niacinamide and minoxidil, which help restore lost volume and make hair shiny.

2. Homemade Hair Masks

Natural hair masks have numerous benefits. They provide deep conditioning, moisturization, and nutrition. Hair masks repair and strengthen hair strands and stimulate growth. They also help prevent damage and protect the hair from environmental stressors and styling tools. Additionally, hair masks improve manageability, promote a healthier scalp, and relieve dryness or irritation.

Homemade Hair Mask For Dry Hair

Dry hair is prone to breakage. A lack of moisture can lead to weakness and brittleness. To regain shine and strength, use this easy-to-make homemade hair mask for dry hair.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • 1 ripe banana
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt

Preparing the Mask

  • Step 1: Mash the banana and form a smooth paste.
  • Step 2: Add the coconut oil, honey, and plain yogurt and mix well.
  • Step 3: Apply the mixture to the hair, focusing on the ends and particularly dry areas.
  • Step 4: Cover your head with a warm towel or a shower cap. This helps the mask penetrate your hair.
  • Step 5: Leave it on for 30 minutes to an hour, then rinse with warm water.
This natural hair mask provides moisture and nourishment for dry hair. Coconut oil helps to deeply condition and hydrate the hair strands, while bananas offer vitamins and antioxidants. All honey, especially manuka honey, has moisturizing and anti-inflammatory properties, and yogurt helps restore the hair's natural shine.

Homemade Hair Mask For Curly Hair

Curly hair can be challenging to manage. First, it can vary in texture, density, and curl pattern, ranging from loose waves to tight coils. Second, curly hair is prone to breakage and dryness, which can lead to thinning hair. A homemade hydrating hair mask will moisturize those curls and stimulate hair growth.

Here's a simple homemade hair mask recipe that you can try -

Ingredients:

  • 1 ripe avocado
  • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • 1 tablespoon of honey
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil

Preparing the Mask

  • Step 1: Mash the avocado.
  • Step 2: Add coconut oil, honey, and olive oil and mix to form a paste.
  • Step 3: Apply the mask starting at the roots and work down to the ends of your hair.
  • Step 4: Gently massage the scalp for a few minutes to enhance blood flow to the roots.
  • Step 5: Cover your head with a shower cap and let the mask sit for 30 minutes.
  • Step 6: Shampoo with lukewarm water.

This hair mask contains ingredients that can help moisturize and strengthen your curls, which may contribute to healthy hair growth over time. Avocado provides essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals that promote hair growth. Coconut and olive oil help moisturize and protect the hair, while honey adds shine and helps retain moisture.

If your scalp is irritated or inflamed, add some aloe vera gel to the mask. Aloe vera has anti- inflammatory and antimicrobial qualities that help calm the scalp.

Homemade Hair Mask for Oily Hair

An oily scalp can contribute to thinning hair due to excess sebum production. This clogs hair follicles and weakens the hair shaft, which can lead to inflammation or infections. Extra oil makes hair greasy and clumps it together, increasing the risk of breakage. Using a natural hair mask and managing an oily scalp can help minimize hair loss and stimulate hair growth.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tablespoons of bentonite clay
  • 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel
  • Water

Preparing the Mask

  • Step 1: Mix the bentonite clay, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, and aloe vera gel.
  • Step 2: Add some water to the mixture, stirring well until you achieve a smooth paste-like consistency.
  • Step 3: Apply the hair mask directly to your scalp and roots, focusing on the oily areas.
  • Step 4: Massage your scalp for a few minutes to stimulate circulation and promote oil balance.
  • Step 5: Leave the mask on for 20–30 minutes to allow it to absorb excess oil and impurities.
  • Step 6: Rinse your hair thoroughly with lukewarm water.

Bentonite clay helps absorb excess oil and impurities from the scalp, while apple cider vinegar and lemon juice help balance the scalp's pH levels and control oil production. Aloe vera gel conditions the hair. Hormonal imbalances or genetics can also cause oily hair. If you're experiencing persistent oily hair or scalp issues, consult a dermatologist or trichologist for a proper diagnosis and treatment plan.

3. Foods For Hair Growth 

Sometimes, there is no underlying reason for hair loss. Often, improper diet or vitamin deficiency can be the cause. The following foods have been shown to control hair loss and ensure healthy and strong hair.

Eggs

Protein is the building block of hair, while biotin produces keratin, which strengthens the hair and controls hair loss. Eggs are a great source of protein, biotin, and other nutrients like zinc and selenium, which are also responsible for healthy hair.

Fatty Fish

Salmon, herring, and mackerel are fatty fish that are great sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 supports hair growth and enhances its density. Fatty fish is also a source of protein, selenium, and vitamin D3, which is essential for hair growth.

Soybeans

Soybeans are rich in hair growth compounds such as spermidine, which shifts hair follicles into the growth or anagen phase. Experts suggest the longer a hair follicle stays in the anagen phase, the longer it grows.

Meat

Meat is a rich source of protein, which is necessary for hair growth and for repairing damaged follicles. Red meat is also the richest source of iron, which helps the red blood cells deliver oxygen to hair follicles.

4. Vitamins for hair loss

Nutrient deficiencies are one of the major reasons behind unexplainable and sudden hair fall or thinning.

If your regular diet does not meet your nutritional needs, your doctor may prescribe vitamins for hair growth. Vitamins A, B, C, D, iron, and zinc contribute to improving immune health, providing oxygen to the hair follicles, fighting hair loss-causing bacteria, and producing collagen and keratin.

5. Home remedies for hair growth 

With no severe side effects, home remedies to stimulate hair growth are often a sought-after treatment plan.

  • Coconut oil lubricates the hair shaft and prevents breakage. It also enriches the microbiome and makes the scalp and hair follicles healthier.
    Massaging coconut oil into your hair will help minimize protein loss by distributing fatty acids, such as lauric acid, that penetrate the hair shaft and make hair stronger.
    You can use coconut oil before or after washing your hair. If your hair is oily, massage it with coconut oil overnight or for a few hours before shampooing.
  • Onion juice - Onion juice promotes hair growth and treats patchy hair loss due to alopecia areata. It can also enhance blood circulation and improve the keratinocyte growth factor, a crucial mediator for hair growth. Apply freshly squeezed onion juice directly to your scalp and hair. Leave it on for 15 minutes, then shampoo as usual.

6. Shampoo and Condition

Pick a gentle shampoo that suits your hair type and massage your scalp gently to improve blood circulation. Rinse well to remove any shampoo residue. When conditioning, focus on the lengths and ends of your hair while avoiding the scalp. Look for conditioners with strengthening ingredients and use them as directed to prevent weighing down the hair. Don't skip conditioning, regardless of your hair type. Limit the use of hair styling tools to minimize damage.

Home remedies and hair care tips may not be enough to regrow lost hair due to a medical condition such as androgenetic alopecia. Consult your dermatologist to find the reason behind your hair loss and proceed with the prescribed treatment for the best results.

What causes hair loss? 

What causes hair loss
 

There are many reasons for hair loss. Let's look at the most common causes:

1. Hormonal changes

Hormonal imbalances caused by pregnancy, childbirth, menopause, or thyroid disorders can lead to temporary or long-term hair loss. Postpartum hair loss is often temporary, and most women regain their normal volume within a year or so.

2. Nutritional deficiencies

Insufficient nutrition, such as iron or zinc deficiency, can cause hair loss. Poor nutrition can also affect the health and growth of hair follicles. Hair loss gradually stops when the body is provided with sufficient nutrients.

3. Medications and Medical Treatments

Chemotherapy, blood pressure medications, antidepressants, and hormonal therapies are some treatments that may lead to temporary or permanent hair loss.

4. Lifestyle

A hectic work schedule or extreme stress and anxiety can cause hair loss. This is often temporary and stops once the root cause of the stress is addressed.

5. Aging

Hair growth slows down as we age, and the hair follicles may become less productive. This can result in thinning hair or hair loss in both men and women.

6. Medical conditions

Several health issues can cause hair loss, for example:

Alopecia Areata 

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that attacks the hair follicles, causing small to large bald patches that might lead to complete hair loss. It can affect the head, eyebrows, beard, eyelashes, or other body parts.

Scalp Psoriasis 

Scaly patches on the scalp characterize another autoimmune condition, scalp psoriasis. This condition leads to accelerated growth of skin cells, resulting in a buildup of thick, red patches on the scalp. These patches cause itchiness, discomfort, and flaking. The exact cause of scalp psoriasis is still unknown. However, it is believed to be a combination of genetic factors and an overactive immune response.

Anagen Effluvium 

This type of hair loss happens suddenly and quickly during the hair's growth phase. It may result from chemotherapy, radiation therapy, exposure to toxins, or severe illnesses. The main symptom is rapid and widespread hair loss all over the scalp.

Telogen Effluvium 

This temporary hair loss occurs when there is a disruption in the hair growth cycle, typically due to stress, illness, medications, or hormonal changes. The main symptom is increased hair shedding, which affects the entire scalp. Hair usually grows back on its own once the underlying cause is resolved.

Androgenic Alopecia 

Also known as female pattern or male pattern baldness, this type of hair loss is a hormonal or genetic condition that usually starts with thinning hair or a receding hairline in men. While there is no cure, there are treatments that can help slow down hair loss or promote hair growth. These include medications, hair transplants, low-level laser therapy, and hairstyling techniques.

Diagnosing hair loss 

To diagnose the cause, your doctor will ask you questions about your hair loss and overall health. They will examine your scalp and may gently pull on your hair to see how many strands come out. Blood work to check for deficiencies or other factors causing hair loss will also be ordered. Sometimes, a small sample of the scalp is taken for further examination. Once the cause is identified, the doctor will create a treatment plan.

Professional Hair Loss Treatment

1. Prescription Drugs 

Finasteride (aka Propecia) is the most prescribed drug for controlling androgenetic hair loss and male pattern baldness. Many people have reported that this drug stimulates hair growth.

2. Hair Transplants 

A hair transplant is a surgical procedure that removes hair follicles from balding-resistant areas (such as the back of your head) and transplants them to the balding scalp. Because most hair loss occurs on top of the head, this type of transplant is most likely to benefit people with inherited baldness. However, this method may not help people with scarring alopecia.

3. Surgical Treatments 

Ever-evolving technology has devised many new hair loss treatment options, such as micro-needling with PRP. However, many are still in the early testing phases, and more research is necessary to determine their effectiveness.

Laser Therapy

Inflammation can occur in conditions like alopecia areata. Laser therapy can reduce the inflammation of hair follicles and stimulate hair growth by encouraging the bulging of epidermal stem cells in the hair follicle and shifting them into the growth phase.

Microneedling for Hair Growth

This therapeutic hair growth treatment uses small, fine needles to create micro punctures in the scalp, boosting collagen production and triggering hair growth. Microneedling has been found to stimulate hair growth in conditions such as androgenetic alopecia.

Studies have shown that microneedling monotherapy increases total hair count compared to topical 5% minoxidil. Combining microneedling and topical minoxidil or platelet-rich plasma can improve the overall treatment and reduce the frequency of microneedling sessions.

 

Disclaimer: All content found on our website, including images, videos, infographics, and text were created solely for informational purposes. Our reviewed content should never be used for the purpose of diagnosis or treatment of any medical conditions. Content shared on our websites is not meant to be used as a substitute for advice from a certified medical professional. Reliance on the information provided on our website as a basis for patient treatment is solely at your own risk. We urge all our customers to always consult a physician or a certified medical professional before trying or using a new medical product.


HPFY Shweta Chaubey

Shweta Chaubey

LinkedIn Profile

 

Shweta Chaubey, has been a Health Products For You contributor since 2021. An advocate-turned-writer, her desire to create meaningful and positive content has brought her to HPFY and what better than writing ...

Continue reading

Trending Articles

Enteral Feeding: The What, When, and How

Shweta Chaubey

When traditional oral intake is not feasible, enteral feeding comes into play. It supports nutritional needs of individuals recovering from an injury or surgery. Dive into this informative article and learn what, when, why, and how of enteral feeding and ensure optimal patient care.

Using the Carpal Solution Carpal Tunnel Wrist Support

Kevin Cleary

Looking for a non-invasive option to manage carpal tunnel symptoms? Experience relief from constant tingling and pain with this Carpal Solution Wrist Support. Read this article to know about the unique features and benefits of this wrist support brace designed to deal with CTS and find why it is one of the most reliable wrist braces available on the market.

Top 5 Best Reviewed Nebulizers of 2023

Kevin Cleary

Need an effective and affordable nebulizer? Look no further, in this article we offer 5 of our best reviewed nebulizers that are loved by our customers. Click to read more and find the perfect nebulizer for all your respiratory needs.

10 Best Overnight Adult Diapers

Shweta Chaubey

Worried about nighttime leaks? Say goodbye to leakage with our ten best overnight adult diapers and wake up refreshed and dry.

Five Best Cervical Traction Devices of 2023

Taikhum Sadiq

Neck pain can wreak havoc on your otherwise healthy life. Traction device improves your cervical health and overall well-being. Read more to find our best cervical traction devices designed to curb the stiffness and discomfort of cervical muscles.