Hairfall is one of the most common problems experienced by both women and men. And while  multiple factors – genetics, pregnancy, medication etc. contributes to hair fall, you can not only limit (if not control) your hair fall but also reverse it with a lifestyle change!

The science behind hair fall

Our hair goes through 4 different stages during the hair cycle – from the point of cells in the roots divide to form the shaft of the hair (anagen) to the point where the roots regress, and growth stops (catagen) to resting phases (telogen) to the death phase of the hair (Exogen) during which hair sheds from the scalp.

It is a continuous cycle of follicles developing into hair before eventually dying. So what does this have to do with hair fall? What people commonly refer to when they say that they have hair fall is a decrease in hair density due to an imbalance in the ratio of these phases – which causes them to lose hair density. And as we mentioned above, hormones, age, and environmental stress play a key role in determining when and how this ratio gets disturbed.

We cover five of the most common controllable factors that can help fight hair fall.

Excessive Stress

Research suggests that severe stress – physical, mental or emotional – pushes large numbers of hair follicles into a resting phase. It may also lead to the body’s immune system attacking the hair follicles. This causes the weakening of hair, and they tend to fall out even during combing or washing. Simple hacks such as exercising and massaging the scalp every other day will help rebalance the hair growth cycle.

Chemical Products

The off-the-shelf products available in the market are laden with chemicals – sulphates, parabens – you name it. And the chemicals only help serve the purpose of the companies – maintaining their profit margins, packing the product better, and only improving the shelf life of substandard products. The top 3-4 ingredients used by these brands have NOTHING to do with hair. These products induce undue stress on the roots and eventually result in damaged hair and an imbalanced hair growth cycle.

We strictly suggest moving away from these chemical products and going back to our roots – using only natural products (which by the way can also be made at home) So the next time you want to pick that fancy shampoo at the supermart, do check their ingredient list!.

Nutritional Deficiency

Scientifically, low levels of iron, zinc, vitamin B3, and protein have been linked to various hair problems. And hence having a nutritious diet becomes very important because Healthy Diet = Healthy Hair!

Overprocessing hair very frequently

Using heat treatments like ironing, curling etc or chemically treating your hair like rebonding, keratin, colouring etc damages the cuticles and more often than not causes hair damage which gradually leads to hair fall. We suggest staying away from all chemical treatments as much as possible. In case you do wish to indulge in vanity, we suggest using only natural colours. And while you may not get the brightness that you may desire, the benefits of having good hair will greatly outweigh the downsides of desire.

Tight Hairstyles too often

Wearing the hair in tight pulled-back hairstyles can cause a phenomenon called ‘Traction Alopecia. You can develop this condition if you often wear your hair in a tight ponytail, bun, or braids – more so if you use chemicals or heat on your hair. This causes the hair follicles to become weak & the hair to fall out. Sometimes if not attended to, the hair loss can also be permanent!

By paying attention to these five simple factors, you can find your way back to healthier and voluminous hair.