Hair loss is not a condition you want to take lightly, especially if you know there are ways to help it. Normally, you will lose about 100 strands per day, which is just the regular cycle of your hair. However, any more than that will leave you worried. The condition is sometimes easy to address, and other times you may need to go out of your way to get more specialised treatment. And while male pattern baldness and other serious hair issues may dictate the need for a more serious approach, you should consider some lifestyle changes that are easy enough to improve overall hair health. Here are a few tips in that regard:
- Include more Zinc and Iron in your diet – these are two nutrients that are essential for good overall health and wellbeing, including having good hair. The minerals contribute to strong strands and follicles. Health researchers have linked several hair loss conditions to iron and Zinc deficiencies in people. That said, you can turn your attention to foods that are rich in iron and zinc if you don’t want to resort to supplements. Crabs, oysters, beans, cashews, chickpeas, pork chop and chicken breast meat are just a few of the examples that have a lot of zinc and iron to them. Eating more seafood, beans and leafy greens is all it takes to boost iron levels.
- Quit smoking – are you a smoker, or someone who often hangs around people who smoke? Then your hair might be in trouble. If your health is not an incentive enough to kick the habit, then you should consider the fact that smoking can also damage your hair. The smoke causes damage to DNA follicles. If you want to boost your health, start by quitting smoking and also be mindful of being around smokers.
- Grab a hat when staying outside for extended periods – overexposure to the UV rays of the sun can have a damaging effect on your hair, so you better consider a hat. This is all the more valid if your hair already has a problem, or you have male pattern baldness. But it is not just when you have weak hair that you should consider such protection. UV radiation has a way of damaging hair, making it lose proteins and become weaker over time. Simply wearing a hat when staying outside on a hot sunny day is enough to keep your hair protected.
- Don’t use extensive styling – over-styling your hair can harm its health, especially when you are overdoing it. Any styling method, which relies on twisting and straightening hair strands can damage the follicles over time and make hair more likely to fall. Other than that, it is important to consider the products that you use, since many of them contain dangerous chemicals, which can further damage your hair. Brushing and heating hair can be detrimental to its health so you should practice caution when you are doing your hair.
- Use methods to de-stress – there is a big connection between stress and hair loss. When you are stressed out, your hair is more likely to fall out. Stress-related hair loss is a thing, and it is called telogen effluvium. You will do well to minimise stress any way that you can, be it by engaging in more physical activities or perhaps practising the hobbies and things that you like.
Sometimes, all it takes are a few simple lifestyle changes, which can have a big impact on your overall health and the health of your hair.