Hair Fall 101: Save Your Strands In Need & Improve Your Hair Growth

Noticed your hair falling out? Whether you’ve spotted more hairs than normal on your pillow, in the shower drain catch or on your clothing, it’s easy to panic when you notice your hair thinning at a faster pace than normal. If you thought your hair loss problem was unique and that it is rare, you are probably not aware of a dozen others who suffer from the same. It’s very common and it can happen to anyone, be it a 25-year-old working professional or a 40-year-old housewife. For most women, common reasons for hair loss include hormonal changes or imbalance, the effect of over-consumption of certain medicines, and/or deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body. Here are five beauty nuskhe on how to stop hair fall in rainy season and make your tresses long and strong.

What Causes Hair Fall?

1. Heredity

For women with healthy hair, their broken hair follicles are replaced by new growth similar in size and nature. However, if there is a hair loss history in the family, the new hair is often brittle and thinner. Genetics is one of the most common reasons for hair loss.

2. Hormonal Changes

Hormonal imbalance is one of the recurring hair loss causes in women. There is a hormone behind male hair loss: dihydrotestosterone (known as “DHT”), which your body delivers as a result of testosterone. DHT influences your hairline by scaling down hair follicles, making the hair quit growing as it would otherwise.

3. Stress

Stress is a leading reason for hair loss as it often leads to excessive falling of hair over a period. You might find some strands on your cushion, on the bathroom floor or in your hairbrush, all because of stress.

4. Thyroid

Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism are major hair loss causes. Your thyroid helps in strengthening the root hair, helping your body keep up with the regular hair fall and if it isn’t functioning as it should, the hair strands lost may not be completely supplanted by new ones.

5. Deficiency Of Iron

Iron inadequacy causes hair loss. Women often experience iron deficiency during their periods, making this type of hair loss very normal in the premenopausal stage of a woman’s life.

6. Rapid Weight Loss

Getting fit gradually won’t harm your hair, it’s when you reduce the intake of calories and micronutrients to the least that it pressures your body and triggers impermanent hair loss.

7. PCOS

Poly-Cystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is a leading reason for hair loss as women have it produce higher levels of androgens than others which causes hair to grow on the face and body. This also leads to thinning of hair on the head.

8. Ageing

Hair fall is a natural outcome of ageing. As we age, the rate of hair growth slows down. Hair strands also become thinner and less pigmented (this is due to the depletion of melanin). Many hair follicles also stop producing new hair strands.

9. Sun Damage

UVA and UVB rays can damage your hair just as much as they do your skin. This damage can result in split ends, brittleness, discolouration, thinning, and frizziness. 

10. Smoking

Smoking can really cause hair loss. The chemicals in your cigarette shrink blood vessels and reduce the flow of oxygen and take a toll on the circulation in your body. This affects your hair follicles that need oxygen, nutrients, and minerals(received through the blood) to produce healthy hair. Smoking also compromises your immune system, making your scalp – among other things – more susceptible to a bacterial or fungal infection.

Concerned about hair loss? Here are 7 tips to control your hair and 5 desi nuskhe to stop hair fall instantly.

Watch this video to learn 3 life-saving hacks for hair growth that actually work!

5 Bad Habits That Are Making Your Hair Fall

1. Tying a tight or high ponytail: When you tie a high ponytail, your hair is pulled tightly. This can cause damage like hair breakage and also a headache. In some cases, it can also lead to permanent hair loss. 

2. Shampooing your hair instead of just cleansing your scalp: The ends of your hair shouldn’t be shampooed unless they have product build-ups such as hair sprays or oil. Shampoos are scalp cleansers and you use them only there to get your hair all clean. 

3. Using a blow dryer or hot styling tools: Hairstyling tools strip down your hair of its natural oils and protein by breaking down its hydrogen bonds. What you can do instead is use heatless methods to style your hair.

4. Towel drying your hair: Drying your hair incorrectly can lead to damage. What you can do instead is wrap your hair with a cotton t-shirt just until it soaks the water completely and your hair isn’t dripping wet. After that, you can leave it to air dry.

5. Keeping your hair oiled overnight: Oiling your hair is important for nourishment. There are a lot of fatty acids in it that are important for hair cuticles. But it has to be done right otherwise it can cause hair fall. Oiling your hair and leaving it overnight can also cause zits on your face and make your skin acne-prone. Oiling your hair for 1-2 hours before hair wash is enough.

Natural Remedies To Combat Hair Fall

1. Hibiscus Hair Mask

Hibiscus offers extraordinary healing properties and can be used for tackling several common hair problems. Hibiscus flowers contain amino acids that produce keratin and provide the hair with the necessary nutrients, thus preventing breakage and promoting hair growth. The ingredient also helps in treating dandruff and itchy scalp. 

Here is how you can use hibiscus for strengthening hair roots and promoting hair growth. This remedy will also make your hair nourished and more manageable. 

You Will Need:

• 1 hibiscus flower
• 3 to 4 hibiscus leaves
• 4 tablespoons of curd (dahi)

Method: 

1. Grind the hibiscus leaves and flowers to make a fine paste.
2. Add in the dahi and mix well to get a smooth consistency.
3. Apply the mixture to your scalp and hair and let it sit for an hour.
4. Shampoo your hair with lukewarm water. 
5. Use the remedy 1-2 a week.

2. Onion Juice Scalp Remedy

Onion juice contains sulphur, which is believed to be useful in preventing hair thinning and breakage, thus promoting hair growth. It also helps reduce hair fall by increasing the blood supply to the hair follicles. 

You Will Need:

• Half onion 
• A cotton swab

Method:

1. Put the onion in a blunder to extract its juice.
2. Use the cotton swab to apply the onion juice to your scalp.
3. Leave it on for 30 -50 minutes and then wash your hair with water.
4. Use this remedy twice a week. 

3. Coconut Oil 

Another answer to how to control hair fall in the monsoon is the regular use of coconut oil. Oiling is one of the most important steps in an effective monsoon hair care routine. Loaded with essential fatty acids and proteins, coconut oil helps nourish the scalp and strengthen the hair. It is a great remedy for dryness and frizz. It is also a great nail growth supplement and a reliable solution in case you are wondering how to grow nails naturally.

You Will Need:

• 2 tablespoons of warm coconut oil 
• Juice of 2 lemons
• Juice of 1 orange juice

Method:

1. Mix the ingredients together in a bowl.
2. Apply the mixture to your scalp and hair.
3. Give yourself turban therapy.
4. After an hour, wash your hair using mild shampoo. 

4. Aloe Vera Solution

Is there anything this magical ingredient can’t do? Aloe vera offers an array of hair health benefits. It is packed with alkaline properties that can stimulate hair growth by balancing the PH levels of your hair. Moreover, it helps in keeping your scalp cool and clean. 

You Will Need:

• Aloe vera gel/pulp

Method:

1. Apply the aloe vera pulp directly to your scalp.
2. Let it sit for an hour or two.
3. Wash it off with lukewarm water.

Note: You may also consider starting your day by consuming a spoonful of fresh aloe vera juice with lukewarm water. Mixing aloe gel with your hair oil or shampoo is also a great remedy for healthy and strong hair. 

Click here for 30 DIY hair masks to make every day a good hair day!

5. Fenugreek (Methi) Scalp Mask

Being high in nicotinic acid and protein, fenugreek seeds for hair may prove to be extremely beneficial for treating problems like dandruff and hair fall. 

You Will Need:

• ½ a cup of fenugreek seeds 

Method:

1. Soak the fenugreek seeds in water overnight. 
2. Grind the seeds to make a paste.
3. Apply the paste to your scalp.
4. Let it sit for 30-50 minutes before washing it off.
5. Use this remedy once a week for the best results. 

Find here 5 DIY hair recipes to strengthen your locks and 10 hair-thinning mistakes to avoid.

5 Effective Hair Fall Control Tips That Can Come To Your Rescue

1. Shampoo as and when required: Understand your hair and scalp type before you choose your shampoo. Also, the frequency at which you wash your hair makes a lot of difference. People having hair with dry scalps should avoid over-washing, while people with oily locks should wash them at least three times a week. Shampoos with sulfate, paraben, and silicone must be avoided.

2. Conditioner: Conditioners help in making hair smooth and repair damaged locks with the help of amino acids. Use a conditioner free from sulfate and parabens to lock moisture in your locks and improve your hair’s volume.

3. Massaging the scalp with oil: Remember your granny forcing you to oil your hair frequently? Oiling has two-fold benefits-improved blood circulation and nourishment of roots. Regular oiling with suitable hair oil can prevent excessive hair loss. They were right when they said to trust your elders!

4. Eat a nutritious diet: Add lean meat, fish, soy, rainbow veggies and other protein-rich foods in your meals. Not only do these make for a healthy and yummy diet, but they also aid the growth of new hair. 

5. Avoid brushing wet hair: Though combing wet hair is easier, hair is at its weakest when wet. Avoid combing/brushing wet hair because the chances of hair loss are maximum at that time. If you wish to detangle your hair, use a comb with wide teeth.

5-Step Hair Care Routine To Fix Your Hair Fall Problem

1. Oil before hair wash: A couple of hours before you wash your hair, apply oil to your hair and massage for about 10 to 15 minutes. Oiling helps hydrate the dry scalp and improve blood circulation, which results in improved hair growth.

2. Shampoo: Don’t cut back on hair washes because you’re afraid of losing hair in the shower. Hair hygiene is really important for healthy hair. Brush your hair before a wash to avoid tangles and breakage. Also, pick a shampoo that targets your hair concern which works towards fighting hair fall and leaving your hair soft and smooth.

3. Conditioner: Use a conditioner after you wash your hair. Not using a conditioner can leave your hair and scalp dry, which is one of the primary causes of hair fall. Use a conditioner, which makes your hair smooth as well as strong and works like a dream on damage and breakage-prone hair and leaves it shinier than ever.

4. Air drying: Skip the hairdryer and air dry your mane whenever you can. Heat makes your hair weak and brittle and thus contributes to hair fall. While you dry your hair, flip your hair upside down to boost blood flow and stimulate the growth of dormant hair follicles. Brush your hair gently when damp.

5. Hair massage: Every night before bed, give yourself a dry massage by tipping your head forward and massaging your head with your fingertips. It stimulates blood circulation and makes hair stronger, not to mention, improves sleep too, which helps speed up hair growth. 

If there is one hair concern that has bothered every woman at some point or the other in her life, it has to be hair fall. No one likes to see chunks of hair on the floor, on the pillow and in the drain after every hair wash. As heartbreaking as this situation can be, don’t have to lose hope just yet. Follow these simple hair care routines and bring back the gorgeous glow of your hair!

Love your lustrous locks and think that your hair care routine is the bomb? Here’s a quiz to test if you really know what’s good for your mane and tresses.