No matter what gender you are, everyone would like to have the hair of their dreams. Unfortunately, people of all ages and genders experience hair loss, which can be frustrating, devastating, and embarrassing for some people. Check out the following hair growth remedies.
Whether you’re new to thinning hair or baldness or have been searching for this perfect natural remedy for a while, it’s understandable that you want a way to naturally regrow your hair for lush locks.
However, like most things worth doing, natural hair growth does not happen overnight, and it is essential to keep in mind that each person’s underlying cause of hair loss may be different.
There is no magic pill that can make your hair loss go away or instantly regrow hair growth; it’s really about finding what works for you and moving on from there.
So, let’s talk about some of the most common causes of hair loss for both men and women, and go over some natural remedies that people who have experienced hair loss have found very helpful.
Table of Contents
Causes of hair loss
There are multiple conditions that can cause hair loss, from iron deficiency to thyroid conditions.
What are some specific reasons that men can lose their hair?
Diet
A diet deficient in certain nutrients such as protein or iron could make hair thinner.
Medicines
Certain medications used to treat arthritis, high blood pressure, cancer, heart problems, and even depression can cause hair loss.
Stress
Physical or emotional stress can cause hair loss, as can a traumatic incident.
Healthy conditions
Sudden hair loss could be related to alopecia areata, which is an autoimmune disorder in which your body attacks the hair follicles and causes them to fall out. It usually occurs in childhood and may resolve on its own, but hair loss may return.
And what about the causes of hair loss in women?
Genetics
This also applies to men, but having a family history of hair loss or hair thinning could mean that you are more likely to develop the problem.
Stress
Again, this goes for both men and women. Stress can be emotional or physical, as your body may have a nutritional deficiency or a disease that you may not be aware of.
Hormonal imbalance
It’s time to take a blood test: hormonal imbalances can influence the quality and growth of hair, and female hormones can be affected by taking oral contraceptives, by pregnancy and even menopause.
Lack of iron
Iron plays an essential role in the health of your hair. You could also have another deficiency, such as a vitamin B12 deficiency, which can be determined by a blood test.
Thyroid problems
An overactive or underactive thyroid can affect hair growth, and addressing this underlying cause can help you remedy thinning hair or baldness.
So, can you really make your hair grow back?
It really depends on what is causing the hair loss and it can vary on an individual basis. For some people, it is certainly possible to reverse hair loss. For others, it may not be so.
Those with male-pattern baldness, a condition related to genetics and hormones in which hair begins to regress at the hairline and crown, may or may not be successful in remedying hair loss.
While male pattern baldness can be slowed down or reversed in some cases, once the hair follicles become small enough, which they eventually do in male pattern baldness, new hair is unlikely to grow back.
However, just because hair is unlikely to grow back doesn’t mean it’s impossible. Of course, correcting the underlying condition of hair loss can help people who may have a deficiency or who need to make certain lifestyle or diet changes to improve their hair growth.
Hair growth remedies
These are the seven remedies for hair growth, to maintain it and make it grow back.
1. Get enough protein
Your hair is, surprisingly, made of proteins, that is, a specific protein called keratin. Getting enough protein is a key component of proper hair growth.
Whether you are on a plant-based diet with the occasional animal product or are totally vegan, it is certainly possible to get enough protein to support your hair growth.
2. Exercise
Move on! Exercise improves blood flow, removes toxins, and promotes overall health, including hair. If you haven’t yet incorporated regular exercise into your routine, now is the time to do it.
3. Massage the scalp
Try a scalp massage with your fingers or a tool and massage the entire head for about 10-20 minutes every day. Massaging the scalp can help remove toxins, improve circulation, and reduce inflammation. Research shows that a manual massage is a simple way to improve hair growth.
4. Supplements to help hair grow
Some tentative research shows that keratin supplements can improve air quality, but not necessarily growth. Biotin, a B vitamin, has been shown to help improve hair growth when used as a supplement.
Other vitamins and supplements may also help, including:
- Vitamin C can support collagen production. Others have also found results when taking collagen supplements.
- Omega-3 and omega-6 supplements can help thicken hair and reduce hair loss, according to research.
- Zinc deficiency can also play a role in hair loss, and you may consider supplementation under the guidance of your healthcare professional.
5. Oils
There are certain oils that can influence hair growth, although they may not work for everyone, depending on what is causing the hair loss. Applied topically, peppermint oil has been shown to improve hair growth.
In other research, rosemary oil worked as well as the drug Minoxidil for hair loss. Essential oils like these should always be used diluted in a carrier oil like avocado, coconut, or jojoba oil for best results.
6. Herbs
Some people have reported success with the use of specific herbs for hair growth, including gingko, ginseng, aloe vera, nettle, and saw palmetto. How you use these herbs and with what concentration you and your experienced herbalist will need to determine!
7. Food
Diet can have a major influence in supporting healthy hair growth, especially nutrient-dense foods that contain many vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and proteins. Some of the best foods for hair growth include:
- Eggs
- Spinach
- Wild fish
- Berries
- Avocado
- Nuts and seeds
What not to do
In general, you will need to find several things that work in combination with each other, rather than trying just one remedy on its own. When done together, some of these tips have the potential to significantly increase hair growth.
Ingredients to avoid when looking for natural hair growth remedies include sulfates, parabens, and synthetic fragrances, which can irritate the scalp. They are often found as “fragrances” or “perfumes” and can include up to almost 4,000 chemicals.