Are You Losing Your Hair? 

With about 100,000 to 150,000 hairs on your scalp, losing about 50-100 hairs every day is normal. However,ifyouseebaldpatchesorlotsofthinning,youmaybeexperiencinghairloss(alopecia). The causes of hair loss are many. When hair loss begins suddenly, the cause may be due to illness (a major surgery, high fever, severe infection, or even the flu), poor diet and nutrition (a diet low in protein and iron or a crash diet leading to weight loss of 15 pounds or more), prescription medicines (which treat arthritis, depression, gout, heart problems, high blood pressure, glaucoma, ulcers, Parkinson‟s disease, or high doses of Vitamin A), hormonal changes and imbalances due to pregnancy, childbirth, discontinuation of birth control pills or the onset of menopause.

If hair loss is gradual and becomes more noticeable with each passing year, a person may have hereditary hair loss or androgenetic alopecia. This kind of hair loss, also known as male/female pattern baldness is the most common. Hair loss can be the first sign of a disease. About 30 diseases, including thyroid disease, Polycystic ovary syndrome, anaemia, ringworm of the scalp, and eating disorders cause hair loss. By treating the specific disease, hair loss may be stopped or reversed. Other causes of hair loss include radiation and chemotherapy from cancer treatments, stress (e.g., from experiencing a traumatic event such as the death of a loved one or divorce), and lack of adequate sleep.

The following hair care practices can cause hair to fall, become dry or break:

• Frequent or improper use of hair styling products with harsh chemical ingredients— products for bleaching, permanents, dyes, relaxers, gels and hair sprays (Try to avoid these.);

• Daily shampooing and conditioning (Instead, space out your hair washes to every 2-3 days for proper regulation of natural hair oils.);

• Frequent use of devices such as curling irons, blow dryers and flat irons (to straighten hair) on high heat (which boil the water in the hair shaft. Instead, air dry your hair and if you have no time, use blow dryers sparingly on the “warm” rather than “hot” setting);

• Hair styles that pull on hair such as tight ponytails, cornrows or braids;

• Too much combing or brushing (e.g., 100 strokes or more a day)

• Use of hairpins, clips and rubber bands that hold hair too tightly (Instead, use smooth ball-tipped hairpins and fabric bands that fit loosely.);

• Brushing & combing wet hair (Wet hair is three times weaker and more likely to break, so instead gently towel dry and then detangle your hair using a wide-tooth comb and then brush the dry hair just once or twice in the morning or night to stimulate the circulation in your scalp.);

• Taking hot showers, which strip protective oils from your hair (Instead, take showers just a bit warmer than your body temperature.).

Applying herbal hair oils such as coconut, olive, almond or amla (gooseberry) can increase the tensile strength of hair, reduce frizziness, prevent breakage and by coating the hair, form a protective layer for the hair shaft. Oils moisturize (coat and seal the hair shaft from root to tip to prevent loss of moisture), condition and nourish the scalp with amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins and minerals. Further, adding essential oils like cedar wood, thyme, lavender or rosemary to these oils further stimulates hair growth by increasing blood flow to the scalp. Since it‟s not recommended to apply essential oils directly to the scalp, apply to the hair after adding a few drops of the essential oils to the base oils.

In one study, a daily scalp massage with the essential oils of rosemary, thyme, lavender and cedar in a carrier mixture of jojoba and grape seed oils showed more hair growth for one group after 7 months than a second group who used only the carrier oils. In another study published in The Journal of Dermatology, Japan, 20 of the 23 people who applied onion juice to their scalps twice a day saw hair growth in six weeks.

A study in the Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine, USA, reported that hair growth improved for men taking an herbal extract of Saw Palmetto daily. Some studies have shown that this herbal supplement may be just as effective as the prescription drug Finasteride, for treating hair loss, without its side effects. Male and female pattern baldness has been linked to the conversion of the male hormone testosterone to DHT (dihydrotestosterone); Saw Palmetto disrupts the formation of DHT. In another study, 100 percent of people who supplemented with Methylsulfonylmethane (naturally occurring in cow‟s milk and leafy vegetables), which aids in the production of keratin (a protein in hair) showed reduced hair loss and increased growth in only six weeks.

Healthy Hair Tips:

• Keep stress under control by taking stress management classes, yoga, spending more time with loved ones, dancing, calming music and, most importantly, by getting adequate sleep).

• Eat a balanced diet high in fruits, vegetables, protein (When the body does not get enough protein, it rations the protein by shutting down hair growth,), iron, Omega-3 & 6 fatty acids, vitamins especially Vitamin A, Vitamin C (for the healthy development of collagen that surrounds the hair strands), Vitamin E (to nourish damaged hair), B-complex vitamins and minerals.

1. Some top food picks for hair are: Walnuts--rich in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids, biotin and Vitamin E, B Vitamins and copper;

2. Sweet potatoes & carrots (Vitamin A);

3. Eggs--a great source of protein, Vitamin B12, Omega 6 fatty acids and the key minerals zinc, selenium, sulphur and iron;

4. Spinach and leafy vegetables such as broccoli, kale and Swiss chard are rich in iron, beta carotene, folate and vitamin C;

5. Lentils are teeming with protein, iron, zinc and biotin;

6. Greek yogurt is high in hair-friendly protein, Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acid), and Vitamin D or just low-fat yogurt or milk, which are also great sources of whey protein and calcium, a mineral important for hair growth;

7. Blueberries, kiwis and strawberries are rich in Vitamin C;

8. Green peas are a good source of iron, zinc and B-group vitamins.

Sources:
http://www.aad.org/dermatology-a-to-z/diseases-and-treatments/e---h/hair-loss/who-gets-causes.
http://www.vogue.in/content/oiling-really-good-your-hair.
http://juanaaman.hubpages.com/hub/What-Makes-Herbal-Oils-the-Best-Hair-Loss-Cure-Treatment http://www.advancednaturalmedicine.com/hair-renewal/treatments-for-hair-loss.html http://www.dermatol.or.jp/Journal/JD/full/029060343e.pdf
http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/saw-palmetto
http://www.hairsentinel.com/saw-palmetto-for-hair-loss.html
http://www.care2.com/greenliving/12-natural-remedies-that-boost-hair-growth.html?page=1
http://hair.allwomenstalk.com/natural-remedies-to-make-your-hair-grow-faster
http://www.onegoodthingbyjillee.com/2013/10/13-natural-remedies-to-reduce-hair-loss.html
http://www.webmd.com/beauty/hair-styling/top-10-foods-for-healthy-hair?page=1
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-06-01/beauty/29755718_1_hair-loss-hair-growth-walnuts