Elevate Your Beauty - Hair Loss 101

Losing some hair every day is normal but have you started losing more hair than usual, and you’re beginning to wonder why? Or perhaps you started chemotherapy and the process isn’t what you expected. Will your hair grow back again? Can you protect the hair you do have?  What are your options if your hair loss is permanent ?

Hair and scalp care education is an important element of self care. In this piece, we’ve outlined the main causes of hair loss (and hair loss myths), what you can do to prevent it, and the solutions we offer to help you feel great again.

Hair Loss Causes and Myths

There are a lot of hair loss myths circulating. Did you think that dying your hair causes hair loss? It’s a myth - it may cause substantial breakage, not loss (and that means it’s reversible).

Here are some other hair loss myths:

• Wearing tight hats causes hair loss
• Frequent washing causes hair loss
• Styling products cause hair loss
• Excessive testosterone causes hair loss
• Hair loss treatments don’t work
• Hair loss comes from your mother’s side of the family

While one of the leading causes of hair loss is a genetic condition called androgenetic alopecia, it can be found in both men and women. In men, this condition is also known as male-pattern baldness. Hair is lost in a well-defined pattern, beginning above both temples. Over time, the hairline recedes to form a characteristic "M" shape

Other causes of hair loss include:

• Hormonal changes - due to thyroid problems, pregnancy, childbirth, perimenopause and menopause
• Medical conditions - including alopecia areata, lupus, ringworm and trichotillomania
• Chemotherapy
• Medications – including some cancer, arthritis, depression, heart, gout and high blood pressure medications
• Overuse of vitamin and/or mineral supplements
• Scarring – chemical damage from hair treatments such as relaxers, permanents and hot oil treatments
• Excessively tight hair styling – over time can cause traction alopecia.
• Stress

Other risk factors that may contribute to thinning hair include a poor diet, significant weight loss and the natural aging process.

Hair Loss Prevention Tips

Don’t underestimate the power of self care in managing hair loss. Learn how to manage your stress with a technique that works for you, such as self reflection. Self reflection can also help you to understand how your everyday life may be causing your hair loss!

Here are some tips you can start today:

Manage your stress – spending time outdoors, meditating before you start your day, or trying mindfulness are some of the ways you can reduce stress:

• Speak to your doctor – find out if hair loss is a side effect of one or some of your medications
• Eat a protein rich diet - healthy choices include legumes, nuts, eggs, seafood, fish and lean meats
• Be gentle with your hair – use gentle hair styling products, natural or organic hair dye, and skip the heavy chemical processing like relaxers and permanents. Let your hair dry naturally.  Brush and style with care; don’t tug.
• Regularly shampoo your hair – keep your scalp healthy and clean
• Massage your scalp with oils – coconut, castor and olive oils are good for both your scalp and your hair
• Download our free Self Love & Reflection Workbook – dive deeper into self care for hair loss prevention
• Book an appointment with our Trichologist   - get to the root of your hair loss problem and begin an individualized treatment program
  

Elevate Your Beauty

No matter the cause of your hair loss, there are solutions. Our Trichologist will work with you and your doctor to create a comprehensive plan to suit your individual needs and help you feel great again.

During your consultation, our Trichologist will examine your hair and scalp using a trichoscope and give you a detailed explanation of your personal hair loss findings.  You will also receive professional recommendations to help you start feeling better right away.

After your initial consultation, if you’d like to pursue treatments or other options, we offer a variety of hair loss services. In the meantime, take care of yourself. Start here with our free Self Love & Reflection Workbook !