Are you among the many people who find their hair in their brush, pillows or on the floor?
Hair loss? first of all, don’t panic!
We all lose an average of 50 to 100 strands of hair a day, so it’s most likely that your hair loss is physiological.
Something can be done about it, so let’s take a look on how to keep your hair strong and healthy.
Spring and autumn, the unfriendly seasons for our hair
“Everyone loses hair in spring, what are you worried about?” The classic comment heard when the seasons change, but have you ever wondered about the reason behind it?
Popular beliefs are often based on true concepts, and this applies to hair loss too. During the spring season your hair is renewed and this is the main cause of hair loss. It is a natural process that makes room for new hair to grow and lasts for a couple of months.
The same thing happens in autumn, but in this case the explanation is of an anthropologist nature. According to a number of studies, it is an aspect inherited from primitive mammals, as the top of the head is, in fact, comparable to an animal’s coat. This is why, as the seasons change, this is the area in which most hair is lost.
The solution starts from the inside
We often only intervene on the hair itself, however the first way of making our hair more healthy is checking what we eat. In fact there are substances that boost the well-being of our hair, so it’s highly recommended to add them to our diet.
When this is not possible, we can turn to taking supplements. The most useful supplements are:
- A number of amino acids: in particular L-cysteine and Methionine. Hair mainly consists of keratin, a protein which is particularly rich in sulphur-containing amino acids, including Methionine and L-cysteine. Sulphur-containing amino acids are also found in meat and fish, but have a low content in pulses, which are often used as an alternative source of protein.
- A traditional herbal solution which is worth a mention is millet, which helps improve the condition of hair and nails. Millet is a gluten-free cereal, rich in food fibre, protein and mineral salts, including phosphorus, iron and potassium.
- Vitamins and minerals: taking micronutrients is also another way of keeping our hair healthy . Selenium, for instance, keeps your hair healthy, whilst copper contributes to maintaining the colour of your hair. Biotin, part of the Vitamin B range, is also useful.
What else can I do?
- Reduce stress: we all know that stress is enemy no. 1 for our body in general, but how many of us actually do anything to reduce it? Maybe the time has come to take action, and your hair is telling you the same thing.
- Try integrating some lotions that act directly on the roots of the hair making it stronger. Choose lotions that not only strengthen your hair, but also improves its appearance.
- It is not true that to reduce hair loss you should wash it less frequently!
This is an old wife’s tale and is, in fact, the opposite to the truth: washing your hair less frequently can lead to a build-up of excess sebum which can make your hair greasy and block its correct circulation. Find the right shampoo for your hair and scalp, which respects its pH and wash it frequently.
- Your hair needs to breathe too. Improving the oxygenation of the scalp can, in fact be very effective; include massaging the scalp as part of your hair care routine; circular movements all over the head, for instance, improves circulation.
Hair loss: a spot of patience is also recommended
Patience and consistency must be your new mantra. Don’t expect to see improvements during the first few weeks, hair takes time to grow. Be consistent for at least 3 consecutive months, the life-cycle of the hair.
If there is still no improvement after trying the various solutions above, you may need more specific treatments so we recommend you contact a specialist in trichology.
Curated by Dr. Laura Rubini
