The fact that you’re losing hair doesn’t mean that your beautiful locks are doomed forever. It doesn’t mean that you should shave it all off and wear scarfs everywhere you go. If you know how, you can recover your hair and reverse whatever balding might have occurred.
Women notice hair loss in their 50s or 60s, and it usually is a sign of aging. It is more common in men, and three times more men are likely to go bald than women. However, this doesn’t mean it is entirely not a concern for women, as they can also experience Female Pattern Hair Loss(FPHL). Measures have to be taken to prevent, cure or reverse it if signs are seen.
Balding, also known as Alopecia, is the situation where hair is lost from the top of a person’s head, that is to say, the scalp. Hair loss specifically referring to loss of hair in women is called Androgenic Alopecia. Alopecia Totalis is total, complete balding.
What You'll Learn
Balding and Ayurveda.
As age draws on, there is an increase in dominance of vata dosha. The vata dosha, being the hair dosha, leads to drying of the scalp, and this drying leaves the hair follicles exposed and vulnerable. Eventually, they can get damaged. When this happens, it is only a matter of time that hair begins to fall out. Aside this, pitta fire can also cause inflammation to the scalps from inside if it is in excess. On top of that, if kapha too is in excess, the extra oil produced can clog up the hair follicles and suffocate the scalp.
More details on the hair structure and hair loss can be seen here.
Causes of Hair Thinning and Balding.
- Malnutrition: The hair doesn’t get a lot of nutrients from the body’s general circulation, and the little it does get must be well-packed. If the little that reaches the hair is not rich in the right nutrients, then the follicles will malfunction. For example, if there’s too little protein in the diet, the hair strands are not built well enough. On the other hand, too much vitamin is also a challenge. The right nutrients in the right proportions is essential. This is another reason it is essential to maintain a balanced diet.
- Overtreating Hair: If too many chemicals are lathered onto the hair in the form of shampoos, relaxers, perms, etc, it begins to damage the hair, irritate the scalp, and unbalance the follicles. Using natural products is recommended any day to avoid this.
- Tight Hairstyles: When hair is worn too tight, they irritate the scalp and in the long run, damage the follicles.
- Pregnancy and Child Birth: Usually, hair falls out at a rate of 50-100 strands daily, which is normal. During pregnancy however, hormones keep hair in the telogen stage of hair growth, and hair cannot fall out at all. As a result, the hair seems fuller. At childbirth however, as the hormone composition of the body reverts back to pre-pregnancy levels, the hair that has been kept from falling now begin to fall out in clumps. So, if you’re experiencing hair loss right after a childbirth, you need not worry much. If there’s no other underlying cause, it will stop eventually, and revert back to the 50-100 strands a day.
- Hereditary: sometimes, hair loss is hereditary. Someone who is losing hair might have had an aunt or sister or even mother who also has or had similar issues.
Other things that could result in hair loss.
- Poor circulation of blood to the follicles and anemia.
- Inflammation that affect the scalp can also lead to hair loss, such as seborrhea, eczema, psoriasis, etc.
- Uncontrolled stress and high fever.
- Eating disorders.
- Medications that disrupt the hair growth cycle.
- Pulling hair, obviously. For a person that is into the habit of pulling out their hair, the follicles will be injured, and might not grow out another hair. If it does, there’s the chance that the new strand of hair will be thinner and finer, leading to hair thinning. The hair can also be gray when it grows back.
Topical treatments for hair loss and balding.
- Hair Transplant: Hair transplant involves removing follicles from the healthy parts of the scalp where there is enough hair, and implanting them in the bald region. The issue here however, is that, balding usually occurs throughout the scalp, and there might not be enough donor follicles. Aside this, it is expensive, causes scarring, and the certainty of its efficiency varies widely among individuals. It works well in some, while it doesn’t in others.
- Laser Treatment: Laser uses focused high intensity light on the scalp to stimulate circulation.
- Minoxidil(Rogain): It’s an approved drug for treating balding. It takes long before you start seeing results. If you stop using it however, before long, you will find that your hair is falling out again, going back to the way it was. That means you would have to use it for the rest of your life for it to remain effective. The problem with that is that it cost an arm and a leg, and it will turn out to be an undesirable liability. Rogain can also cause the undesirable effect of growing beards.
- Wigs: the use of wigs is purely cosmetic, whether partial or full wigs, and they can quickly hide those patches.
Sure Methods to Restore and Keep your Glorious hair with Ayurveda.
1. Boar Bristle.
Since the 19th century, this has been found to be a tremendous hair care product gifted by nature. It naturally conditions the hair, improves the texture of the hair, and stimulates the scalp. Aside this, being multipurpose as it is, it saves you a lot of cash on other hair products.
2. Emu oil.
Emu oil is gotten from the flightless bird, emu, which is a not too distant relative of the ostrich and kiwi birds. This oil is extracted from the fat off the back of this emu bird. It is an extremely valuable oil with tremendous benefits, beyond its terrific hair care capabilities.
3. Bhringraj Oil.
Bringhraj(false daisy) soothes the scalp and nourishes the hair follicles. You can recover bhringraj oil from the leaves by grounding the dried leaves to powder and heating with coconut oil for thirty minutes. When ready to use, apply it to scalp and leave it for half an hour so it can be absorbed and then wash it away. Another benefit of Bringhraj oil is that it is useful for treating various other problems associated with skin and hair also.
4. Amla.
Amla again? Yes, amla again. It is that valuable. Amla oil, when massaged into the scalp, helps boost blood circulation in the scalp. This leads to an increased supply of nutrients to the follicles, and to the hair in turn. It also takes care of dandruff, balances pH, and performs antioxidant function due to its richness in vitamin C.
5. Brahmi.
It takes care of a variety of hair problems including hair loss, bristle hair, dried scalp/hair, dandruff. As a bonus, it relieves stress and clears the mind. Massage the scalp with brahmi oil and see the wonderful results.
All these are natural remedies that will leave you with no side effects and are well worth a try.
Lifestyle for a full head of Hair.
You will love these top foods and lifestyle tips to prevent hair fall, together with these below:
- Do not pluck at your hair.
- Use hair masks rich in essential oils.
- Avoid wearing hairstyles that strain your scalp with tight braids or ponytails.
- Regularly massage the hair and scalp to ease circulation.
- Avoid harsh chemical products. It is advisable, in fact, best, to stick to natural products alone, such as those provided by Medhya Herbals.
- Use natural shampoos, i.e. shampoos made from natural products.
- For cosmetic purposes(i.e, while you are taking the other measures to regrow your hair), you can wear your hair in a body wave to make your hair appear thicker and hide the patches or make other hairstyle that can achieve similar results.
- Exercise regularly and have sufficient sleep.
Diets to avoid losing hair and going bald.
- Take a balanced diet with sufficient proteins to build up your hair cuticles and appropriate amount of vitamins.
- Indulge in cucumbers for their abundance of vitamins A and C that pacify the pitta dosha and promote healthy hair growth.
- Pumpkins and leafy vegetables are very useful too.
- Yoghurts, peppemint, coriander, etc.
Before you go, here are more tips for a healthy skin and hair:
