How to Reverse Hair Loss

A hair in the head is worth two in the brush. Oliver Herford

Indeed, an individual who is going through a trichy follicular crisis in his/ her life would appreciate the complete implications of this profound piece of wisdom! No matter how low your level of vanity or conceit may be, sudden loss of large quantities of hair comes as an alarm! Sometimes, the reasons are known and you expect some loss or damage to hair after you've underwent rigorous parlor treatments that involve harsh chemicals and intense heat applications. At other times, you end up wondering what went wrong and why is your crowning glory so hellbent on abandoning your dome. Well, whatever the case, the question that flashes foremost in the mind is how to stop and reverse this damage. The subsequent paragraphs outline certain methods and guidelines that will enlighten you on how to naturally reverse hair loss by just making a few minor modifications in your diet, lifestyle and personal habits.

Ways to Reverse Hair Loss in Men

In case you're wondering, I choose to deal with men's and women's hair loss issues separately as the pattern of and reason behind such loss differ significantly in both sexes. Men are genetically programmed to experience some amount of hair loss after they cross a certain age. Well, the culprit is the male steroid hormone testosterone, an excess of which leads to thinning of hair on the head but encourages hair growth everywhere else on the body! Actually, it is not testosterone itself but its metabolized form DHT that does the mischief.

Since testosterone is the principal male sex hormone and is normally found in more quantities in men than women, this makes the guys somewhat predisposed to alopecia and hair thinning than women. Balding is one of the testosterone side effects that men just cannot run away from! Add hereditary male pattern baldness running through generations and there, you end up fighting a losing battle! However, there are natural ways by which you can at least slow down the recession of your hairline if not completely prevent it. Here are certain hair loss solutions which, if taken note of, could postpone the chrome dome effect.

• Watch what goes in! Avoiding caffeine, fast foods, junk and deep-fried stuff and reducing alcohol intake can go a long way in stopping the damage where it is. Including foods rich in proteins, B Vitamins, iron, calcium and other essential minerals strengthens hair roots and improves circulation which in turn results in reduced hair fall and encourages new hair growth. Drink lots of water, juices and other healthy, natural fluids to keep your system well hydrated and detoxified.
• Dump the Cancer Stick! Smoking is one of the foremost causes of hair loss and wrinkles! As the tar and nicotine eat you from within, this externally manifests as loss of hair, wrinkles and yellowing of skin, stained teeth - in short all the typical signs of aging that are shown in those anti-aging product ads! However, if you, in your right mind, still want to look and feel 50 when you're just 30 then sure - go right ahead!
• Been playin' too much lately? It has been scientifically proven that the more testosterone gets metabolized into DHT, the more you'll lose that crop on your head. When you indulge in self-stimulation, it triggers this testosterone-to-DHT metabolism more than the normal range, leading to increased instances of hair fall. I know it's unfair but you cannot keep two opposing parties equally happy at the same time - if you know what I mean!

Besides these general observations, men can also take refuge of DHT inhibiting medications but do make sure to consult a specialist before going for it. Also, the lesser chemicals you use on your hair, the less they'll fall. After all, retention becomes crucial when turnover is on such a sudden and massive scale!

Reversing Hair Loss in Women

It would be wrong to say that women do not lose hair as frequently as men do. It's just that the quantity lost is normally way lesser than men. The reasons behind hair loss in women are manifold - loss of nutrition, decreased estrogen levels after giving birth or when on the pill, frequent or harsh parlor treatments, extreme hair styling, going on fad diets, etc. Here are some very general female hair loss remedies that women should observe to stop hair loss and promote hair growth instead.

• Eat right! Make sure you include enough proteins, iron, calcium, vitamin A, B and C and other essential minerals in your diet. Starving yourself to lose weight or going on fad diets may wreak havoc to your body's nutrition absorption capabilities and your hair and skin are the first places where the ill effects of such nutritional disruptions show.
• Stay well quenched! Water, fresh fruit and vegetable juices, milk, buttermilk - consuming such natural and healthy fluids contribute towards the health and detoxification of your entire system and the effect can be seen in the form of lustrous hair and glowing skin!
• Stub out the stogs! Tobacco doesn't discriminate. No matter what age, social rung, profession, race or gender you belong to, smoking remains bad for one and all! And ladies, especially, you wouldn't want to invite those wrinkles and gray locks when you're still in your prime, would you?
• Loosen up! Avoid tying tight ponytails or braids at all costs! Style your hair simply so that both the strands as well as the scalp are relaxed.

In case the hair loss is hormone induced (increased testosterone levels or decreased estrogen levels), it's best to consult a specialist and religiously stick to the prescribed course. Reasons for hair loss can also be genetic in women. The medications are more or less the same for both men and women as the aim is to lower testosterone metabolism. Apart from these measures, remaining stress free (difficult, I know!) works just great!

For all of these measures to have any noticeable effect, the most important requirement is patience. You cannot expect to see positive results for a condition which as rooted as deep as your hormones or which has occurred owing to years of neglect and maltreatment. The first measure that you need to adopt when facing a hair loss situation is to completely abstain from intense parlor treatments and harsh chemicals. Keep your hair clean at all times but use herbal cleansing products or natural cleansing agents (such as soap nut) as much as possible.

When working on ways to reverse hair loss, one thing that all men and women need to incorporate in their daily routines is exercise. Since proper blood circulation plays a huge part in encouraging growth of new hair follicles and nourishing hair roots, indulging in some light exercise like yoga or aerobics for as little as 15-20 minutes everyday has long-standing effects on preventing further loss of hair and encouraging the growth of a new batch. Live healthy - that's the best way to keep those strands where they look their best!