Are you finding more hair on your pillow in the morning? More hair in the shower after shampooing? Your part is widening? Hair shedding… a natural process, but a concern as we age and notice our hair thinning. While the causes are, at times, out of our control, there are actions we can take to minimize and reduce the amount of shedding we experience. I have identified five specific strategies that helped me gain control of my own changing hair. By putting each into action, you will undoubtedly notice a reduction in the amount of hair loss you notice over time. 

The 5 things we can control when it comes to hair shedding!

1. Hair Care Products

Hair care and products are weapons for hair shedding that are under your total control. In recent years it has become trendy to see how long you can go without washing your hair. The use of dry shampoos is at an all time high. Although daily washing may lead to dry scalp or overproduction of oil, infrequent washes combined with daily use of dry shampoo may instead create an unhealthy buildup of product, oil, sweat, and other residue impacting normal healthy hair growth. Not washing your hair often enough can also lead to dermatitis and dandruff. Rather than preventing hair shedding, the resulting buildup of scalp gunk may actually slow the healthy natural growth of your hair. If you develop an extreme case of dermatitis or dandruff you will undoubtedly experience hair loss as well. It is important to keep your scalp clean and healthy to provide the best environment for hair growth. Once you establish a healthy schedule for washing your hair, there are products that can improve the effectiveness of your hair care as well.

–Kevin Murphy Hydrate Me Wash and Rinse are two of my personal favorite products, as well as Unite 7 Seconds Shampoo and Conditioner.  Professional products are high quality, color safe, and free from unnecessary additives and damaging sulfates often found in drug store products. I always recommend starting with a hydrating product, which everyone needs. More specific products can be added later, based on your personal needs.

–Lennon Hair Serum has been a go to for my clients experiencing hair shedding. It’s all natural, plant based, and is directly added to your favorite daily shampoo. It hydrates and nourishes the scalp, helps dandruff and psoriasis, reduces inflammation, helps with bacteria, and detoxifies the scalp, supporting hair growth and halting the excessive shedding for my clients.

–Scalp brushes are a new product on the scene proving to be highly effective. The brushes remove extra build up on the scalp while massaging the scalp to create better blood flow. Use of a scalp brush promotes healthy hair growth. My personal favorite is The Score by Ensemble Hair.

–Body Mass Leave-in Plumping Conditioning Treatment is another product from my favorite Kevin Murphy.  Utilizing scientifically proven eyelash plumping technology, this product increases microcirculation to the scalp, offers heat protection up to 420 degrees F, and is sulfate paraben and cruelty free.

2. Health Care 

Direct daily hair care is an obvious practice for maintaining healthy hair growth, but your needs do not end there. It is critically important that your body be as healthy and balanced as your scalp. That goal begins by developing a relationship with a good healthcare practitioner of your choice. Your annual routine visits will help you identify deficiencies as they undoubtedly develop. Women are more likely to develop nutritional deficiencies than men. Bloodwork and other routine tests are important steps in your journey to not only overall health, but the health of your hair as well. Blood work can help to identify underlying causes of hair loss such as vitamin deficiency, hormone imbalance, thyroid disease, diabetes, and other autoimmune conditions. Bloodwork is essential in determining the cause of and prevention of hair loss. 

3. Stress Control

It is equally important to take care of your mind and spirit as it is your body. A key factor in hair loss is stress. Stress is the number one cause of aging to our precious bodies. Learning to manage stress is a critical component to continued healthy hair growth. It’s the common denominator you will find in all of my aging remedies. Regularly practicing relaxation techniques such as meditation, breathing exercises, and daily exercise will help to control the stress we experience in our daily lives. I personally use the Calm App for daily guided meditation and make time each day for an outside walk to unwind. 

4. Nutrition

Another factor we have total control over when it comes to hair health is what we eat. Proper nutrition is key to healthy hair.  Eating at least 1200 calories a day is a must to prevent and stop hair shedding. If your body doesn’t have enough caloric intake to fuel itself, one of the first organs to shut down to conserve energy is your skin. Diverting resources away from good skin blood flow will cause hair follicles to prematurely enter the shedding phase. With that being said, our hair follicles are mostly made of protein, and it’s recommended that you consume at least 100g of protein per day. That rounds out to about 30 grams of protein per meal (which is all your body can absorb in a three-hour time period). In addition to protein, it is essential that your 1200 calories contain proper nutrients that support healthy hair growth such as vitamins A, D, C, B12, B6, iron, folic acid, zinc, magnesium, and omegas (healthy fats). I personally try to include certain foods to maximize my nutritional needs. My favorites are fatty fish (omega fatty acids), eggs (protein and biotin), berries (vitamin C, antioxidants), spinach (iron, vitamin A), sweet potatoes (vitamin A), oatmeal (vitamin E, zinc, iron, folic acid), sweet peppers (vitamin C), avocados (vitamin E and healthy fats), nuts and seeds (vitamins E, B, zinc and fatty acids), beans (zinc, iron, biotin), and my personal favorite and ultra nutritious, a big juicy steak (iron, B6, B12, zinc, magnesium). In addition to a well-rounded diet, I recommend basic daily vitamin supplements to fill in the gaps, along with a daily dose of your favorite vitamin C to maximize absorption of other nutrients in your diet. Other fad hair supplements are not necessary unless recommended by your healthcare provider. We can overdo “hair growth” supplements, creating very expensive urine (LOL) and inadvertently creating hair loss (which I will explain in a future blog).

5. Hydration

Proper hydration is critical to support healthy hair from root to tip. Hydrate from the inside out! If you are dehydrated, your body will use the hydration you do have to support your critical organs, leaving your hair dry and brittle. Just like plants, hair hydrates from the root. Simply relying on hydrating shampoos and products alone will not create healthy hydrated hair. It is critical that your body receives adequate daily water intake to keep vital functions such as blood flow working properly. Keep in mind that hair follicles are the last to receive nourishment as our bodies take care of the most vital organs first. Fill up those Stanleys and drink plenty of water each day! When you think you have had plenty to drink, drink a bit more. We live in the desert! Your hair will thank you.

In spite of our aging, we have a great deal of control over the changes in our hair. Using proper hair care products, regular health care, managing stress, consuming a nutritional diet, and hydrating our bodies all have a direct impact on the health and appearance of our hair. Focus on the things we can do rather than stressing over things that are out of our control. Be your best and most beautiful self!