Hair falling out is distressing, but there are steps you can take to help stop hair falling out and to help thinning hair look thicker.
Hair thinning or falling out is distressing, whether it’s due to stress, illness, menopause, chemotherapy or you’re simply prone to balding. By the age of 60, nearly 40 per cent of women will have experienced some form of hair thinning or hair loss, and while many men find hair falling out very upsetting, women often find it devastating. But there are steps you can take to actually help prevent and reverse hair thinning and falling out and also to help thinning hair look thicker.
#1 Improve your diet
A lack of minerals can cause hair loss, so eat iron-rich foods such as red meat, spinach, pumpkin seeds, turkey, branflakes and soya products.
Protein and zinc are also important. Foods with zinc include wheatgerm, pumpkin seeds, egg yolk and shellfish – so if you’re suffering from thinning hair or hair loss keep up your intake of these vital foods.
#2 Cold rinse your hair
Not everyone agrees that this works, but some hair experts claim that blasting thinning and fine hair with a cool or cold water final rinse will close the cuticle and help hair to swell slightly so that it looks thicker.
#3 Consider essential oils
Essential oils have long been touted for their natural benefits and they might just be the ticket to help your hair. Oils such as carrot seed, cypress, lavender, and rosemary – just to name a few – all have regenerative, soothing, and balancing properties that can improve the condition of the scalp and promote hair growth. Because essential oils are increasingly popular as a healthier alternative, these are easy to find online or in health stores. A few drops added to your scalp during your scalp massage is a great way to enhance your massage’s effectiveness and take advantage of all the benefits the oils have to offer.
#4 Ditch hair tools that use high heat
Heat is always hard on hair. It causes bonds within the hair strands to fracture, causing brittle hair that breaks and falls out. If you decide to use a hair straightener or curling iron, make sure not to leave it on one area of your hair for too long and move it every ten seconds or so. Also keep in mind that if you hear sizzling or burn your fingers, the heat setting is too high and you are also burning your hair. Try to let your hair dry naturally as often as possible and when you do use styling tools, make sure to use a heat-protecting spray that will lessen the damage the tools are inflicting on your hair.
#5 Consider a topical medication
Minoxidil, the active ingredient in Rogaine, is an over-the-counter medication that can be applied to the hair in liquid or mousse form. The medication works by stimulating the hair follicles and promoting regrowth in as little as six months. If six months seems a little long for results, you can also use a hair-thickening spray in the meantime that coats the existing hair and gives the appearance of a more voluminous mane. The cheapest I could find is Kirkland Signature – you can find it at Costco or on Amazon – see below.