Home Remedies for Hair Fall & Regrowth
Losing hair can be a difficult blow to your self-esteem and physical appearance. However, through shampoo, conditioners, growth supplements, and other care products purchased from usual outlets, hair loss can be effectively managed.
However, though these mixtures, serums, and supplements may rejuvenate the appearance of your hair, there are easy and accessible hair growth treatments you can try from the comfort of your home.
We’ll be looking through possible home remedies you can try to manage hair fall and regrowth. But first, a look at the factors that may be responsible for hair loss in the first place.
Causes of Hair Loss
Alopecia areata
This is a form of hair loss identifiable by round patches of missing hair on the scalp. In some cases, these patches can extend to other areas such as the beard, and have been known to impact the nails.
Alopecia areata is an auto-immune condition. This means it is caused by your body wrongly identifying hair follicles as dangerous outsiders and attacking them. When this happens, the hair growth cycle is compromised.
The growth stage (anagen phase) is shortened, causing the hairs to enter into the transition or second stage (catagen phase) prematurely. This causes the abnormal loss of anagen hairs.
However, while hairs are destroyed in the anagen phase, the hair follicle is spared which leaves room for regrowth.
Androgenetic alopecia
This is the most common form of hair loss, which you may recognize as male pattern baldness. It is caused by the body’s reaction to androgens — hormones which the body needs for sexual functions and other abilities. This type of hair loss can be inherited.
Androgenetic alopecia causes a shortening of the anagen phase of hair growth, and elongates the time it takes for the hair to begin a new phase of growth. This form of hair loss may happen anytime after puberty.
Telogen effluvium
If after a triggering event, you notice a dramatic loss of hair, there’s a chance you’re dealing with telogen effluvium. This form of hair loss is sudden, and usually occurs three to four months after a stressful event such as major trauma or illness, childbirth or other significantly stressful event.
The stressful event causes the loss of telogen hairs, which are hairs in the resting phase of the growth cycle. It is a temporary form of hair loss, and usually lasts around 6 months. However, chronic forms of this condition may last longer.
Traction alopecia
Taut ponytails and tight braids are common causes of this form of hair loss. Traction alopecia is the product of excessive pulling on the hair roots. This condition can cause an inflammation of hair follicles, broken hairs in the affected area, and a reduction in hair density.
While traction alopecia is reversible, and may be relieved by loosening the cause of the strain — chronic forms of this condition may be become permanent, while leaving scarring.
Home Remedies for Hair Fall and Regrowth
Even though finasteride and minoxidil are tried, tested and approved treatments for hair loss, it can be a tad difficult to keep up with the long-term usage requirements expected of these treatments.
Likewise, common side effects like irritation, redness, as well as less common outcomes like impotence, may lead to a search for different means to treat hair fall and encourage regrowth.
Some alternative options for hair growth include the following home remedies:
Pumpkin seed oil
Beyond decorative properties, pumpkins could benefit hair growth through oils derived from its seeds.
Pumpkin seed oil is believed to posses 5-alpha reductase properties. This means that it may be useful in preventing the activities of an enzyme needed by the body to make dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT is an androgen known to cause hair loss.
The abilities of this oil for hair growth were tested in a study carried out on 76 men with mild to moderate alopecia. They were to consume 400g of pumpkin seed oil over the course of 24 weeks. At the end of the study, those treated with pumpkin seed oil recorded a 40 percent increase in hair growth.
And it’s not just good for the hair — this oil has been reported to be useful in treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a condition that causes an enlargement of the prostate.
Green tea
Green tea has made the leap from night cap, to sport beverage, and a possible weight management option.
Thanks to a key ingredient — epigallocatechin gallate (EPCG) — it can aid in regrowth of hair and stopping hair growth arrest.
EPCG has 5 alpha-reductase abilities, which you'll remember makes it useful against androgens which may cause hair loss. It is also able to stimulate hair growth in the dermal papilla cells.
Offering further protection to the hair, EPCG contains antioxidant properties which helps shields the hair from UV damage, a known cause of premature greying, as well as brittle hair.
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Before/after images shared by customers who have purchased varying products, including prescription-based products. Customers were compensated for their testimonials. These customers’ results have not been independently verified. Individual results will vary.
Rosemary oil
Rosemary may get all the props for its chicken seasoning abilities — but a lesser known benefit is its potential for improving hair growth.
Through its essential oil, rosemary is able to promote blood flow to the hair follicles. This encourages a healthy supply of blood, oxygen and other nutrients the hair requires to grow.
It has such potential for treating hair loss and improving hair growth, a six-month study found rosemary oil to be just as effective as minoxidil for the treatment of androgenic alopecia.
Caffeine
For most people, coffee is a must-have to get the day started. However, with the potential to grow and improve the hair, this beverage just may become a hair growth necessity.
Caffeine has the ability to prevent anagens like testosterone from blocking hair growth. It is also able to encourage the lengthening of the hair shaft, and can promote a longer growth stage for the hair.
By increasing the duration of the anagen phase, the hair is given the opportunity to grow thicker and longer.
Applied directly to the hair, caffeine is able to manage hair loss caused by androgenetic alopecia.
Onion juice
If you can power through the irritation and not-so-great smell, the onions in your pantry could make for an effective treatment against androgenetic alopecia. It isn’t exactly certain how this works — there’s a chance that sulfur and other compounds present in the onion bulb are able to cause contact dermatitis on the scalp which stimulates hair growth.
Shop by treatment options
No matter the treatment plan, the best place to start is somewhere. Early action is the best hair loss prevention.
Closing off
Hair loss can be a pain to deal with, whether it is caused by genetic, hormonal, or other factors.
Thankfully, there are multiple ways to treat this condition, some lurking in the comfort of your home. Home remedies for baldness can be just as effective as medication and other formulations designed specifically to treat hair loss.
Whether using onion juice, rosemary oil, and others, there are multiple ways to stop hair fall through home made recipes.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information contained herein is not a substitute for and should never be relied upon for professional medical advice. Always talk to your doctor about the risks and benefits of any treatment or medication.