Hair loss is quite common, not only for men but also for women. In fact, some estimates show that more than 50% of women will experience hair loss at some point. About 30 million women in the US today have female-pattern hair loss.
So, if you are are one of those people trying to figure out how to manage your hair loss, we have some tips for you. We've partnered with UluRx, experts in hair thinning, to share some of the facts about it and ways you can deal with it.
You can read more about Melanie Elaine (the founder of UluRX)'s journey here and her own personal experience with hair loss and regrowth.
Did you know that the average person loses 50-100 hairs a day? If you start to notice you're losing more than that, then you might want to start thinking about prevention tactics.
What causes hair loss? Lots of things: genetics, stress (which has increased since the pandemic), medications, health conditions (thyroid, lupus), hormones (especially menopause), pregnancy, birth control, hairstyles, heat styling, and over-processing the hair.
Did you also know that your hair grows 1/2 an inch a month? Many people assume it grows back much faster than that, but it's really quite slow. So, it takes about 3 months to see a difference in hair growth.
Are there any home remedies to help hair loss? We watched Melanie Elaine's onion juice hair mask video on YouTube (the jury is out!) and there are loads of aloe vera, mayo, coconut milk and other home remedies you can find. Most don't do a whole lot (so don't get your hopes up) but there's no harm in trying.
What works the best? For prevention, keeping your hair healthy and hydrated helps eliminate environmental or hairstyle loss (ditch that ponytail holder!). But for treatment, the best bet is monoxidil, a proven hair regrowth medication that acts as a vassal dilator to increase blood flow to your hair follicle.
There are also lots of supplements with biotin, which can work for some people. As with all hair regrowth treatments, you will need to keep taking it. The hair regrowth will halt when you stop.
And yes, diet can help as well. Eliminate alcohol (which can increase hair loss) and add healthy foods like avocados, leafy greens, fatty fish and nuts to your diet with hair supportive compounds such as iron, folate, vitamin c, magnesium, and potassium.
As Melanie says, "Women in our 40's, 50's and 60's in our society are effectively dismissed. We are the secret resource that has not been tapped. We know that women cannot feel successful in relationships and in the workplace unless they feel good about themselves. We are here to empower women -- to look their best, feel their best and coach them into absolutely being their best."
So, make sure you take care of your hair from the inside AND outside and you'll have tresses that will be the envy of all.
