Every strand of hair on your head has a lifespan between about 3 to 5 years. Hair follicles have a cycle of active growth, transition, and rest. Hair loss occurs when your hair’s growth cycle is disrupted.
Hair loss is most commonly caused by your genetics and becomes more common in men and women with age. The second most common cause is telogen effluvium. This condition occurs when more of your hair enters the rest cycle, during which it falls out.
Telogen effluvium can be caused by:
- stress
- pregnancy
- medication side effects
- other underlying health conditions
If you’re experiencing hair loss that leads to bald spots, patchiness, or large clumps of hair coming out, you should see your primary healthcare doctor or a dermatologist for a diagnosis.
Whether your hair loss is the result of a chronic or short-term health condition, you can take action to protect the hair you have. Keep reading for tips on keeping your hair healthy and strong.
How to prevent hair loss and improve hair health
You can follow a few hair hygiene tips to improve your overall hair health and possibly prevent hair loss.
1. Avoid hairstyles that pull on the hair.
Hair is flexible, but research shows that your hair can only be stretched so much before becoming permanently damaged. Hairstyles like cornrows, tight braids, and ponytails can pull your hair away from your scalp and loosen the bond between your hair and scalp over time.
2. Avoid high-heat hair styling tools.
Using heat to style your hair leaves your hair follicle dehydrated and vulnerable to damage. Hair dryers, hair straighteners, and curling irons can all damage your hair over time by causing moisture in your hair shafts to expand.
3. Don’t chemically treat or bleach your hair.
Chemically treating hair with methods such as bleaching damages hair by splitting protein molecules called keratin. If you’re concerned about hair loss, limit your use of dyes, highlights, peroxide treatments, and perms.
4. Use a shampoo that’s mild and suited for your hair.
The purpose of shampoo is to cleanse your hair of dirt and excess oil. Over washing with shampoo can potentially harm your hair. Sulfates and some other ingredients have been linked to frizz, scalp dryness, and fragile hair.
There’s no evidence that any specific ingredients in shampoo cause hair loss, but they might contribute to less than ideal hair health. If you notice your hair is overly dry or frizzy, try a shampoo that’s as close to all-natural as possible.
Most shampoos for hair loss cost less than about $30 and aren’t covered by insurance.
