Addicted to All Things Pretty

Noticing a few strands of hair in the sink or on a hair brush is normal. Sometimes however, a woman may find her hair coming out in clumps or notice her hair thinning. She may even have completely bald patches on her scalp. For many women this can be a cause of anxiety, embarrassment or even fear.

What Causes Hair Loss?

There are several reasons a woman’s hair may be thinning. Chemicals in hair products, hormonal imbalances caused by pregnancy or menopause, exposure to radiation, a side effect of cancer fighting drugs, poor diet, or simply stress.

Pattern (Photo Credit: ISHRS.org)

Determining the reason for hair loss is the first step in treating the condition. If an underlying disease is to blame, it should be the primary concern. Addressing the condition may be the answer to restoring hair growth. Many commercial hair products contain chemicals to strip hair. Over time this can cause damage and hair loss. Organic products made with natural ingredients can restore necessary oils and help to repair the follicles. Avoiding bleach or chemical hair dyes can also prevent damage that may cause hair to break, making the hair look thin and unhealthy. While synthetic hair products may not cause hair loss, they do nothing to protect and maintain the health of the hair and should be avoided.

Treating Hair Loss Through Diet

Eating an improved diet may help to curb hair loss. Eliminating sugar laden junk foods, alcohol, and highly processed foods in favor of organic fruits, vegetables and whole grains. A high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet will improve overall health including the hair. A diet deficient in some vitamins and minerals could also be the culprit. An iron deficiency may cause anemia which in turn could cause hair loss. Eating iron rich foods such as red meat, eggs, leafy greens, beans, and broccoli along with vitamin C rich foods can help the body absorb the iron.

B12 in Clams (Photo Credit: Wikipedia.org)

Vitamin B12 has also been shown to be important for hair growth. B12 is only found naturally in animal products such as meat, dairy and eggs. B12 is often artificially added to some cereals or can be taken as a supplement.

Herbal Treatments

Herbal teas have many health benefits and may help in preventing hair loss or simulate regrowth. Some studies have shown green tea may help to regulate hormones in the bloodstream preventing hair loss caused by hormone imbalance. Rosemary tea also helps to improve circulation and could help to stimulate follicles to grow. Other herbs that assist in regulating hormones are wild yam, chaste tree berry and dong quai. Taken together they may help to remedy hair loss caused by hormone imbalance.

Wild Yam (Photo Credit: Wikiperdia.org)

Essential Oils

Essential oils are standard ingredients in most bath and body products such as bath oils, lotions, some types of soap, and are also used for aromatherapy. Create an oil blend consisting of a few drops of essential oils from thyme, cedarwood and lavender mixed with grapeseed oil. Massage this mixture into the scalp, making sure to pay special attention to the thinning or bald areas for several minutes each night. Over time the hair should show marked improvement in volume, thickness and shine. In today’s society a full head of luxurious locks is synonymous with health, youth and virility. Hair thinning and loss can be very traumatic and emotionally impactful for women. While most natural remedies are safe and easy, if a woman is experiencing a dramatic loss of hair there may be an underlying condition that should be addressed with a hair transplant physician. More often though the cause of hair loss is temporary and may be treated in a natural and homeopathic way.

Disclosure:  This is a compensated post and the opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Addicted to All things Pretty.