Hair Loss Prevention: 10 Tips To Stop Your Hair From Falling Out

Are you noticing clumps of hair falling out every time you take a shower? Is your hairbrush filled with loose strands? Do you notice thinning around your temples or forehead? If you are seeing the signs of hair loss, it’s perfectly understandable to be distraught. Many of us get attached to our hair, and expressing ourselves through our hairstyles. Plus, losing hair is often associated with aging or illness, so if your hair is starting to fall out more and more, it’s time to address it. Thankfully, there are many things that you can do to prevent hair loss, and take good care of your hair and scalp, for years to come.

While it is normal to lose a few strands, as your body replaces old hairs and hair follicles with new ones, losing large clumps of hair on a routine basis isn’t normal. How much hair loss is normal? According to dermatologists, most people lose between 50-100 hair strands every day. Those with shorter hair don’t tend to notice it as much as those with longer hair, as these collect more easily in shower drains and on clothing.

In the cycle of hair renewal, there is a growth phase and a resting phase. Approximately 9% of hair is in the resting phase at any given time, which means they are ready to be shed. So, some hair loss is normal and healthy, but excessive hair loss is cause for concern.

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of individual conditions that could contribute to hair loss, but for the vast majority of healthy people, it comes down to just a few things: genetics, diet, and hair care habits/behaviors. It’s always a great idea to try to uncover the root cause of your hair loss, especially if you are at high risk for certain diseases (see tip #7), but regardless, everyone can benefit from implementing these 10 tips.

Here are our top 10 tips for hair loss prevention.

1. Eat a nourishing diet

If your cells and tissue aren’t getting adequate nutrients, your hair is likely to be thin, brittle, or fall out more easily. Remember that your hair, like your skin and nails, is a reflection of your dietary choices in the recent past. To strengthen the hair, increase your intake of healthy fats like avocado, salmon, eggs, olive or coconut oil, and nuts. Make sure you’re getting enough protein. And beef up your intake of deeply-colored, antioxidant-rich foods like berries and leafy greens. 

2. Don't comb your hair while wet

After you’ve showered and washed your hair, or anytime your hair is wet, it is particularly susceptible to damage. Wet hair is filled with moisture, and can easily snap if brushed. Only brush or style your hair after it’s fully dry. 

3. Avoid harsh chemicals in products

There are many hazardous ingredients in haircare products these days, such as sulfates, parabens, propylene glycol, chemical fragrances, and more. These can irritate the scalp, compromise the hair shaft, and lead to breakage or damage to the follicle itself. If you’re looking for a shampoo to prevent hair loss, make sure it’s made with natural ingredients! Give our Scalp Soothing Shampoo a try.

4. Go gentle with heat styling or tight styles

Your hair is a delicate fabric, and should be treated as such, if you want it to last a long time. Things like blowdrying and heat styling can cause brittleness and breakage in the hair, so avoid it if you can. If you simply cannot, look for a natural heat-protecting product. Tight hairstyles also place tension and strain on the hair and follicles, so give yourself a break from the tight ponytails and cinched braids.

5. Try scalp massage

One of the major causes of hair loss is poor circulation to the scalp and hair follicles. You can stimulate blood flow to the scalp, while nourishing your skin and hair, with a simple self-massage. Try to gently massage your scalp for a few minutes every day, maybe with a couple of drops of essential oils like rosemary, peppermint, or grapefruit for a nice boost for hair regrowth!

6. Check for medication side effects

One potential side effect of certain prescription or over-the-counter medications is hair loss or hair thinning. Some of these effects are temporary, and some longer-lasting. Most don’t show up until after you’ve taken the drug for a while. There are dozens of medications that cause hair loss, so it couldn’t hurt to check into this, or talk with your healthcare provider.

7. Address underlying health conditions- thyroid/hormones, diabetes, high bp, etc

Your outside is a mirror of your inside. The appearance of your hair, skin, and nails is a great indicator of your overall state of health. If you’ve noticed worsening hair loss, it might be time to get checked for things like thyroid disease or other hormonal imbalances, diabetes, high blood pressure, and other metabolic issues. Professional medical advice for other conditions can be an effective hair loss treatment in and of itself!

8. Pamper your scalp and hair

If you have particularly sensitive hair, thin hair, or brittle hair, and can’t seem to slow your hair loss, it may be time to increase your pampering. Many people swear by silk pillowcases, as these dramatically reduce the friction on your hair while sleeping. And instead of drying your hair with a scratch towel, consider investing in a gentle microfiber hair towel or wrap, to avoid further damage.

9. Boost your upper circulation

Scalp massages are just the beginning, when it comes to improving blood flow in the head. It’s important that you do this on a systemic level too! Exercise is the best way to increase circulation, and things like inversions (where your head is lower than your heart) are especially effective. You can also take herbal supplements, like Our Botanical's Brain and Neural, that have been shown to boost head and neck circulation. 

10. Use products specially designed to prevent hair loss

If you want to prevent or reverse hair loss, there are many great products on the market to choose from. When you want the best conditioner, serum, or shampoo to prevent hair loss, brands like Amplixin are a great choice. It's important to look for all-natural, gentle ingredients, and features like DHT-blocking botanicals. With consistent use, hair growth products like our Scalp Soothing Shampoo and Energizing Conditioner and similar products like our Intensive Biotin Serum can make a huge difference in the fullness, softness, and volume of your hair.

Finding clumps of hair in your bathtub drain, in your hairbrush, or on your pillow can be discouraging, but it doesn’t mean that going bald is inevitable! Stop your hair from falling out, by implementing these 10 tips. And of course, the more you make these tips into daily habits, the better chances you’ll have at maintaining a lush, healthy mane that you can be proud of.