Hair Loss in Women: Causes, Prevention & Home Remedies

Introduction

Tresses undoubtedly have a direct impact on everyone’s style and personality, be it men or women. This crowning beauty, when falls off, makes one skip a beat and is even considered a traumatic experience! Many people have a fear of going bald due to excessive hair loss. Shedding off around 100 hairs in a single day is normal, but any number larger than that required attention. Excessive hair loss is a serious issue that can cause worries and tensions, thereby affecting an individual's self-esteem, especially women. However, with the proper diagnosis and treatment, excessive hair fall can be cured by following simple and natural home remedies. 

India-specific statistics on Hair Fall

The following are some of the important statistics that show the hair fall problem of India only:

• The age of onset of this baldness pattern has come down to 21 years, and the research has shown combined effects of genetics and external factors for this.

• 40% of India's population suffering this loss includes women, and the primary cause is hormonal imbalance.

• Almost eighty-five percent of the adult male population would suffer from pattern baldness.

women are not in this alone

• 3-4% of children suffer from fungal infections that contribute to hair loss.

• Almost 1 in 7 men suffer from baldness due to a gene, which can increase prostate and heart problems in the future.

• Causes of Hair Loss in Women

  Some of the major reasons of Hair Loss in Women are:

  • Imbalance in hormones

  Most women experience hormonal imbalance after crossing thirty years of age which becomes a major reason for hair loss. This happens mainly because of the excessive conversion of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Apart from estrogen (primary female hormone), other hormones such as testosterone, DHEA, etc., are also synthesized in a woman's body. With the progressing age, the androgens start getting converted into DHT. 

  • Nutritional deficiencies

  The absence of certain nutrients such as proteins, iron, zinc, vitamin D, and copper in the diet can cause hair loss. 

  • Polycystic Ovary Disease (PCOD)

  Women suffering from PCOD experience imbalanced hormones, which results in more than normal levels of androgens. Due to this imbalance, hair starts growing on the face and body, while the hair on the head sheds off. Other complications of PCOD include acne, ovulation problems, weight gain, etc. 

  • Thyroid Disease

  The abnormal production of thyroid hormone disturbs the hair growth cycle. Along with hair loss issues, thyroid disease can also cause weight loss or gain, heat or cold sensitivity, and heart rate alteration. 

  Also Read: Top 6 ways to reduce the risk of Thyroid Disease

  • Oral Contraceptives and Other Medicines

  The hormones present in oral contraceptives suppress down the ovulation process and can cause thinning of hair. Sometimes, when a woman stops taking oral contraceptives, then she experiences hair loss. Many other drugs, such as medicines for heart disease, hypertension, depression, and arthritis, can also cause hair fall. 

  • Stress

  Extreme stress may also result in loss of hair, premature graying and also disrupts the growth of new hairs. One should try to minimize the stress by practicing relaxation activities such as meditation, exercise, yoga, and scalp massages. These will help in minimizing the stress and hair loss as well.

  Also Read: Top 6 Tips for good Mental Health

  • Beauty Products

  Too much treatment on the hair can lead to hair loss as the hair styling products and hair colors are loaded with toxic chemicals. Likewise, nearly all shampoos have Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) - a proven toxic chemical that adversely affects the immune system and can also corrode hair follicles and stops hair growth.

7 ways to Prevent hair fall in Women

Following are 7 tips through which you can control your excessive hair fall:

1. Healthy Diet and Exercise

When you eat a balanced and healthy diet, it does good to your overall body, including your tresses. Your locks need all the nutrients, precisely, lots of protein (e.g., lean meat, eggs, fish, dairy products, beans, lentils, soya, etc.) and iron (e.g., meat, beans, nuts, dry fruits, green leafy vegetables, etc.). Along with having a balanced diet, you should also exercise regularly.

Also Read: Top 6 Must-eat food you require in Pregnancy  

2. Oiling Hair

Massaging the scalp and hair with any oil increases the circulation of blood and nourishes the roots. Try to have a good head massage once a week with any warm oil, whichever is suitable for your scalp. Rinse off the oil from your hair with a mild shampoo after two or three hours.  

3. Avoid hot water

Hot showers are undoubtedly very soothing, but it dehydrates the hair strands. Hot water also washes off natural oils from the scalp and makes the hair dry, brittle, and easily breakable. Opt for lukewarm water for washing hairs. 

4. Avoid wearing tight hair bands

Pulling your hair strands and tying them tightly with a hairband makes it weak from the roots and causes damage. Always use hair ties that are not too tight. You should also not tie your hair while sleeping.

5. Avoid combing wet hair

When wet, our tresses are more fragile and prone to breakage. Therefore, you should let them dry naturally before making any hairstyle.  

6. Trim your tresses regularly

A good trim near the tips of the hair every seven to nine weeks helps in maintaining good and healthy hair. Damaged hairs are brittle and have a straw-like texture; chopping off the ends can promote hair growth and remove split ends.

7. Avoid heat and chemical treatments

Undergoing rigorous hair treatments such as perming, straightening, coloring are not gentle enough on your locks. Also, avoid using a blow dryer, curling iron, straightener as much as you can. Giving heat treatment to your wet hair makes them brittle. If you really want to style your hair through heat treatment, start with a fortifying leave-in conditioner and then finish with a protective spray. Using too many hair styling products can also harm the hair and cause thinning in the long run. Opt for natural home remedies for healthy locks instead of chemically loaded synthetic products.

8 Natural Remedies to Treat Hair Fall in Women

Ladies Following are the 8 Natural Remedies and Its direction of use that can be easily included in your lifestyle :

1. Egg mask

Eggs are rich in protein, phosphorus, sulfur, iodine, selenium, and zinc. Together they promote hair growth.

• Direction for use: First of all, take only egg whites in a clean bowl and add one teaspoon of honey and olive oil. Beat it for quite some time to make a smooth paste and apply it all over the hair strands covering roots and tips as well. Keep it for twenty to thirty minutes, and then wash it off with a mild shampoo. 

2. Green Tea

Green tea has abundant antioxidants that promote hair growth and prevent hair loss.

• Direction for use:According to your hair's length, take one or two cups of hot water and soak two-three green tea bags in it. Allow it to get cool for some time, and then pour it all over your tresses and scalp while massaging it gently. Keep it for about an hour, and then wash it off with cold water.

3. Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera boosts hair growth and is an effective remedy for the skin and hair. It helps reduce the scalp problems such as flaking and itching.

• Direction for use:Take a fresh stalk of Aloe Vera and extract out its pulp with the help of a spoon in a bowl. Apply the pulp on your scalp and hair and leave it for around 45-60 minutes and then wash it with normal water. Follow this 3-4 times a week for better results.

• 4. Amla

  Amla, also called Indian gooseberry, is very effective for stopping excessive hair fall. Amla is loaded with vitamin C, which makes the hair follicles strong, thereby diminishing hair fall. It also has exfoliating and anti-inflammatory properties, which helps in promoting hair growth, prevents premature graying, and maintains a healthy scalp.

  • Direction for use: Mix amla powder with lime juice to make a thick paste. Gently massage it on your hair and scalp. Keep it for about an hour by covering it with a shower cap to avoid drying. Wash it with cold water afterward.

  5. Coconut milk

  Coconut milk is loaded with essential fatty acids, which increase the rate of hair growth and diminished hair fall.

  • Direction for use: Take a medium-sized coconut and grate it. Add a cup of water and cook it on low flame for five minutes. You can also blend the coconut with water to get coconut milk. Strain it and add one tablespoon of fenugreek seeds (methi) and black pepper powder to the milk. Apply this mixture to your hair, including the scalp. After 20-30 minutes, wash it off with a mild shampoo.

  6. Beetroot juice

  Beetroots are a rich source of vitamin B6 and C, potassium, betaine, manganese, etc. All these nutritional compounds are necessary for healthy and thick hair. Beetroot also helps in keeping the scalp clean by acting as a detoxifying agent.

  • Direction for use: Boil 6-7 beetroot along with its leaves in two or three cups of water. Grind it with a few fresh henna leaves. Apply this paste on your head and leave it for around 15-20 minutes. Rinse it with lukewarm water.

  7. Onion juice

  Onion juice has anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties that help in fighting against scalp infections. Onion is also rich in sulfur which promotes blood circulation in the head and scalp. A good circulation of blood promotes hair growth and reduces hair fall.

  • Direction for use: Squeeze out the onion juice by grinding it in a mixer grinder with a bit of water. Dip cotton balls in this juice, apply it all over your scalp and leave it for about 15-20 minutes. Rinse it by using baby shampoo and cold water.

  8. Fenugreek seeds

  The most effective home remedy to stop hair fall is the use of fenugreek seeds (methi daana). It repairs the hair follicles and also promotes the re-growth of hairs.

  • Direction for use: First, soak the methi seeds in water for a night. Grind it in a mixer grinder to make a smooth paste and apply it all over your scalp and hair. Keep it for about thirty minutes, and then rinse it with cold water. There's no need to use shampoo for washing this paste; plain water will be fine. Follow this method 2-3 times a week to get noticeable results and reduced hair fall. 

  Also Read: 16 Home Remedies for Glowing Skin

  Word of Wisdom

  Hair is indeed a crown glory for females, and losing its beauty and luster is really a painful thing. If you want to improve the quality and quantity of your hair, follow the above-mentioned points regularly. You can be creative with these remedies, mix them up as you like, or follow a different remedy every week. Just remember that the treatments are natural, which will slowly improve your hair health, and you will observe the noticeable results in a few months. It is essential to take out some time once or twice a week for self-care and focus on providing nourishment to your hair to get the thick, long, and shiny tresses you want. Be positive and do your best to maintain a happy and healthy lifestyle