According to the American Hair Loss Association, 85% of men above 50 years of age are balding. 40% of them will have had noticeable hair loss by the time they turn 35. Aging, genetics, and medical conditions are the major causes of hair loss in men. If you find that your hairline is receding or your hair is becoming thinner, be comforted that you can reverse it.
Hair loss affects men differently, with some embracing it fully. However, if you are worried about hair thinning, shedding, or loss, then it is worth reading on for tips that will help put a stop to it.
1. Use prescription medications
You can use approved over-the-counter or prescription drugs to treat hair loss caused by male pattern baldness. Treatment for hair loss is clinically proven to synergistically recover hair follicles, increase blood flow to the scalp, and block the DHT hormone that makes hair shrink and fall off.
The medication is taken orally as pills or applied on the scalp in liquid or foam form to preserve hair and even regrow it. After consistent use as per the doctor’s instructions, your receding hairline will have shown great improvements in about 12 months.
2. Watch your diet
To boost your health, ensure that your diet contains high protein foods, fresh fruits, herbs, vegetables, and nuts with selenium. Nutrients like zinc are important for hair regrowth, iron for a healthy scalp, biotin for hair strengthening, and vitamins for healthy hair follicles. Healthy protein prevents hair loss since hair follicles are made from a protein called keratin.
Take enough water to ensure that the hair shaft has adequate moisture. You can also take diet supplements to help supply the body, scalp, and hair with the much-needed nutrients for healthy hair.
3. Have scalp massages
Massaging the scalp stimulates blood flow to the scalp and hair follicles, promoting healthy hair and regrowth. You can use natural oils like coconut, rosemary, wheat germ, almond, jojoba, or pumpkin seed oils. Gently massage the scalp for 20 minutes every one to two times a week to protect your hair against protein loss by increasing blood flow to the hair follicles.
Stress causes hair loss too, and scalp massages can help lower its levels for happier hair. If possible, massage your scalp daily, and see it make all the difference to your hairline.
4. Change hair products and care routine
Some of the chemicals in gels, styling and relaxing products have been proven to contribute greatly to hair loss. The gels stay trapped on the hair follicles, preventing the growth and regrowth of hair. Natural hair styling products are most recommended as they contain fewer chemicals. Regular cleaning with a mild shampoo leaves the scalp clean and healthy.
Air drying the hair is preferable, as straightening and curling irons damage the hair shaft making the hair shed excessively. Avoid tight ponytails and braids that pull and strain hair at the roots making it shed.
5. Use a laser comb
Treating hair loss using laser combs has received FDA approval, seen to increase hair density significantly after 26 weeks. It is believed that applying a low-power laser comb three times a week has an antioxidant effect on the hair follicles. Laser treatment may also stimulate epidermal stem cells, helping improve hair density in people having hair loss due to chemotherapy or genetic hair loss.
6. Have a hair transplant
When the hair loss is quite significant, a transplant is ideal. There are many techniques to doing this. The hair transplant process entails taking hair follicles from the sides or back of the head regions that are DHT-resistant and then grafting them onto the balding area of the scalp. The advanced methods involve stimulating regrowth in the balding area using hair stem cells, allowing for repeat transplantations when necessary.
Endnote
Hair loss is natural, but you do not have to accept it as your fate if there is something you can do to stop it. Explore the options available to you, and get your crowning full and thick again as you did in your younger days. Some lifestyle changes and hair care routines may be all that you need to turn things around.
