How to Help Prevent Unnecessary Hair Shedding
Signs of hair loss or excessive hair shedding can be a confronting experience. While ageing and genetics are among the common causes of hair loss and hair thinning, unnecessary hair shedding is often reactive. Healthy hair shedding is a natural process that occurs as part of the hair growth cycle, but if you are noticing more hair fall than usual, this could point to some nutritional imbalances or other lifestyle factors. We’ve compiled this guide to help you identify what might be causing your excessive hair shedding and equip you with the tools and products to manage this unnecessary hair fall.
What is hair shedding?
Before you can assess if you are experiencing excessing hair shedding, it’s important to understand that shedding is a normal aspect of the life cycle of hair. Each individual hair on your head is operating on an independent life cycle that is broken down into four phases:
1. Anagen (growing): this is the longest period in the hair growth cycle, typically spanning 3-5 years on average.
2. Catagen (transition): this is a brief period between the growing and resting stages that typically lasts around 2 weeks.
3. Telogen (resting): at this point, the hair has reached the end of its growth phase and enters a period of rest. This is approximately 3-4 months-long.
4. Exogen (shedding): the hair naturally sheds and is replaced by a new shaft, thus restarting the life cycle. During this phase it is normal to lose between 80-100 hairs per day.
How to stop hair shedding unnecessarily: 6 tips
Excessive hair shedding can occur when the growth cycle is disrupted. There are a number of factors that can trigger this disruption and lead to increased hair fall. These include:
• Stress
• Poor nutrition or diet
• Strained or weakened hair follicles (can be caused by excessive heat styling and hairstyles that place traction on the hair)
Thankfully, the above triggers can be managed with changes to diet, lifestyle and hair care habits. The Kérastase Genesis collection has been specifically formulated to target hair shedding, improve scalp health and strengthen hair to stop hair breakage that can contribute to excessive hair fall.
1. Eat a balanced diet
Iron and vitamin deficiencies can affect the health of your hair, so maintaining a balanced, nutrient-rich diet can help to regulate the growth cycle of your hair. Foods packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids, iron, protein, vitamin A, C and E may all play a part in a healthy hair renewal cycle and potentially stimulate hair growth.
Here are some of our tips:
- Fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and herring are excellent sources of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Eat plenty of spinach, broccoli and other iron-dense vegetables.
- Lentils are a good source of iron for plant-based eaters.
- Vitamin C can promote iron absorption1 so ensure you’re getting enough vitamin C-rich foods in your diet.
2. Adopt scalp treatments
Healthy hair begins at the scalp, and scalp circulation can play a large role in how to stop hair falling out. Gently massage your scalp each time you apply shampoo and bolster your scalp care with products that work to activate scalp circulation.
- Genesis Anti-Breakage Fortifying Hair Serum: this is a daily, leave-in anti-breakage fortifying hair serum that can be applied over 6 weeks. This potent anti-hair fall serum strengthens the hair at the scalp by re-anchoring hair follicles to enhance hair health and reduce hair shedding.
- Densifique Bodifying Scalp Treatment for Women: this scalp treatment promotes hair density, texture and fullness for women experiencing hair thinning. Use 1 vial over a 3 month-period (applying daily).
3. Use fortifying hair products
Using an anti-hair loss shampoo and anti-hair loss conditioner can help you establish a fortifying hair care routine to target excessive hair shedding. The Kérastase Genesis collection is formulated to boost fibre production and strengthen hair at the root.
- Genesis Fortifying Shampoo For Thick Hair is designed for thick, weak hair to restore moisture and prevent breakage that can lead to hair shedding.
- Genesis Bain Hydra-Fortifiant Shampoo For Thin Hair is a lightweight, ultra-clarifying shampoo formulated for thin, normal to oily hair to help prevent hair fall when brushing.
- Pair either shampoo with the Genesis Reconstructing Anti-Hairfall Conditioner to keep your locks nourished.
4. Let the hair rest
While you might love the look of a snatched ponytail or enjoy throwing your hair into a bun while you sleep, hairstyles that pull the hair and cause traction can create unnecessary strain on your hair follicles, particularly around the hairline. Trying varying your hairstyles throughout the week and opt for soft, loose hairstyles at night that won’t get pulled or tugged while you sleep.
The continual use of heat styling tools can also lead to hair breakage. This breakage doesn’t allow for the air to complete its natural life cycle, which might explain some of your hair shedding. Avoid heat styling tools when possible and always use heat protection when you do pick up a heat tool.
5. Reduce stress levels
Hormone imbalances can trigger increased hair shedding. While all genders have a mixture of estrogen (female hormones) and androgens (male hormones), androgens do not stimulate hair growth like estrogen does. When a person experiences a spike in androgen levels through heightened periods of stress, this can lead to hair fall. When we undergo chronic stress, our body also produces cortisol – our body’s ‘stress hormone’. Increased production of cortisol inhibits the natural hair growth cycle of individual hair follicles, leading to excessive hair shedding. Try and identify other contributing stress factors and reduce your stress levels to manage hair fall moving forward.
6. Seek professional advice treatments
If you find that you are unable to prevent excessive hair shedding with the help of fortifying, anti-hair loss products and lifestyle changes, it might be time to consult a medical professional, particularly a trichologist or dermatologist. If your hair loss rate is accelerating faster than your growth rate, this could be the result of a medical condition. Remember, hair loss and hair shedding are very common hair concerns that affect all genders, but the sooner you take action, the sooner you can improve the health of your hair.
*www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7607440
If you found this article on hair shedding helpful, learn more about what to avoid for thinning hair to keep your locks in pristine condition.
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