Beautiful and healthy hair is an ideal of beauty. Hair loss is therefore often very stressful for those affected. What really helps with hair loss? Whether medication, home remedies, or lifestyle: not every remedy helps against every type of hair loss. Learn here what you can do against hair loss. Read the best tips against hair loss!
Healthy, full, and shiny hair is considered attractive in our society. Therefore, well-groomed hair is an important part of appearance. Hair loss is therefore unpleasant for many sufferers and often even puts a strain on the psyche. Shampoos and medications promise improvement – but sometimes without success. What really helps against hair loss? Find out in this article!
To be able to treat hair loss, it is important to know the cause of hair loss. The most common types of hair loss are:
- Hormonal hereditary hair loss (alopecia androgenetica).
- Circular hair loss (alopecia areata)
- Diffuse hair loss
Home remedies against hair loss
In the drugstore and in the supermarket there are many supposed miracle cures against hair loss. The various ingredients are supposed to stimulate the hair roots and make new hair sprout. Some natural substances actually have the potential to influence hair growth. The best thing about it: you can easily make the home remedies yourself at home.
For some time-tested remedies, there is no scientific evidence, but quite a few positive experience reports. But not every home remedy is suitable for every type of hair loss. Therefore, if you are diagnosed with hair loss, it is better to discuss the use of home remedies with your doctor.
Hair tonic with nettle or birch leaves
Nettle is a popular home remedy for hair loss. The plant is also called “hair nettle herb”. It contains natural extracts such as silicates and certain proteins and fats. Special nettle hair tonic is therefore suitable for stimulating hair growth and blood circulation in the scalp, as well as ridding the mop of dandruff.
The hair tonic is available ready to buy. You can make the decoction yourself from 200 grams of fresh nettle with a liter of water. Boil the nettle for half an hour and then strain the plants. Gently massage the cooled decoction into the scalp after shampooing or in the evening before sleeping. You can also make hair tonic with birch leaves. Birch has a similar effect. Therefore, an application for hair loss and dandruff is possible.
Hair rinse with apple cider vinegar
Another home remedy for hair loss is a rinse with apple cider vinegar. The ingredients of vinegar help with an irritated, dry, and flaky scalp. Treatment with apple cider vinegar also provides shiny and healthy hair.
It is best to apply the apple cider vinegar like a conditioner: Rinse the hair with apple cider vinegar after washing. To do this, mix a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar with a cup of water and mix the mixture thoroughly. Leave the mixture on for a few minutes and rinse thoroughly with clean water.
Onion juice against circular hair loss
Onion juice is a secret weapon in the fight against hair loss. A study proved the effectiveness of the home remedy for circular hair loss and nutrient-induced hair loss.
To benefit, twice-daily application with fresh onion juice is necessary. Dab the juice on the bald spots on the head. In the study participants, hair began to sprout after about two weeks. After six weeks, most of them had grown new hair. Men seem to respond somewhat better to the juice than women.
Fenugreek seeds
The seeds of fenugreek are considered effective against diffuse hair loss. That is why fenugreek seeds are included in various dietary supplements. A study with 60 participants showed that regular intake of the remedy over a period of half a year improves hair growth and thickness. The effectiveness of the remedies containing fenugreek seeds was significantly better than that of the placebo group.
Aloe vera
A healthy scalp is important for healthy and beautiful hair. That is why aloe vera is considered a home remedy for diffuse hair loss. The components of the plant juice provide the scalp with moisture and soothe the irritated scalp. The hair roots also benefit from this. The contained beta-sitosterol is said to help with hair loss. To do this, apply the plant juice or a gel with aloe vera directly to the scalp and leave it on for up to three hours. Then rinse thoroughly with clean water. If used regularly, this is said to promote hair growth.
Coconut oil for the scalp
Strain dry scalp or dandruff the hair, care for the skin with coconut oil. The ingredients moisturize the skin. To do this, gently massage a teaspoon of the oil into the scalp and wrap your hair in a towel. After about half an hour, rinse your hair thoroughly with clean water.
Caffeine shampoos
Caffeine-containing shampoos promise to stimulate hair roots and scalp in such a way that hair growth is stimulated. In laboratory tests, caffeine had positive effects on hair growth – in female hair cells even more so than in male hair cells. But whether the results of the laboratory tests can be transferred to humans is unclear.
Prevent hair loss – what you can do
Can hair loss be prevented? There are several ways to promote the health of the hair and scalp. A healthy lifestyle is good for the whole body. You will feel fitter, healthier, and more comfortable. This won’t bring back the hair that has fallen out overnight, but with the right lifestyle, at least other confounding factors for hair loss can be eliminated.
Balanced diet
An important building block for healthy hair is a balanced diet. Our body needs many different nutrients to keep all metabolic processes running smoothly. For strong and healthy hair, the body needs:
- Biotin
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Copper
- Iron
- Magnesium
- L-cysteine
- Vitamin A
- Vitamin D
Whole grain products and animal foods such as beef, pork, and poultry provide plenty of zinc. Dairy products also contain trace elements. Selenium is found primarily in meat, fish, nuts, and mushrooms. You consume copper when offal, meat, fish, cereals, legumes, and nuts are on the menu.
In general, you should eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Lean meat and fish are also important. Oatmeal, flaxseed, and nuts are suitable as healthy snacks.
Biotin for hair regrowth
Biotin is a water-soluble vitamin of the B group. It is involved in a number of metabolic processes and in the breakdown of certain fatty and amino acids.
If the body receives too little biotin from food, skin changes and hair loss occur. However, an undersupply of biotin is extremely rare. For example, those who eat a lot of raw eggs can develop a biotin deficiency.
- Beef kidney
- Egg yolk, chicken eggs
- Pork liver
- Yeast
- Oatmeal
- Wheat germ
- mushrooms
- unpolished rice
Biotin is also found in these products, although at a lower concentration:
- Spinach
- Brie cheese
- cottage cheese
- Whole wheat
- pork and beef
- carrots, tomatoes, apples
- Herring
- Cow’s milk
Biotin is also found in various dietary supplements, such as brewer’s yeast tablets. When taken regularly, these supplements can help maintain healthy hair. However, do not take supplements on suspicion.
Do zinc tablets help against hair loss?
Whether zinc tablets help against hair loss is controversial so far. Dietary supplements with zinc strengthen the immune system. Whether they also have a positive effect on hair loss has not been scientifically confirmed. However, a zinc deficiency is a possible cause of hair loss.
You should discuss whether dietary supplements with zinc are suitable for you with your doctor before taking them. He can recommend the right dosage and observe the effect of the tablets.
Build up healthy intestinal flora
A disturbed intestinal flora has various effects on the body. Among other things, skin and hair suffer when the balance of natural intestinal bacteria is disturbed. This is especially the case after taking antibiotics. Probiotics help to bring the intestinal flora into balance. They increase the number of “good” germs in the intestine and pathogens have less chance of spreading.
Probiotics are found in foods such as natural yogurt, kefir, buttermilk, sauerkraut and beet. So-called probiotic foods contain them in particularly high levels. These include probiotic yogurts, cheese, beverages, bread and baked goods. These foods help strengthen the immune system and provide a better overall sense of well-being.
Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is a good way to prevent hair loss. If you are doing well, it will show in your hair! It is true that new hair does not automatically sprout when you change your diet or exercise more. But in the long run, your entire organism will benefit. You will feel fitter, healthier, and more comfortable in your skin if you follow a few tips in your everyday life:
- Reduce stress, for example with relaxation techniques.
- Exercise regularly – preferably in the fresh air.
- Avoid toxins such as alcohol and nicotine.
- Eat a balanced diet with lots of fresh ingredients.
- Get sufficient and regular sleep.
- Use contraception without hormones, for example with condoms.
- Reduce the stress on your hair. Avoid tight braids or pulling your hair.
Natural body and hair care
To keep your hair long, strong, and healthy, use care products that are as gentle as possible. Avoid shampoos, conditioners, and conditioners with artificial fragrances and preservatives. A look at the list of ingredients will help you do this. Fragrances are often labeled “aroma” or “perfume.” Preservatives hide behind many different chemical names, such as propylparabens, Diazolidinyl urea, methylchloroisothiazolinone, or methyldibromo glutaronitriles.
Preservatives are mainly found in shampoos with high water content. This is because bacteria, viruses, or fungi easily settle in the water. Solid soaps contain inherently fewer preservatives and are therefore considered tolerable. If you do not want to give up liquid shampoo, make your own natural hair care from liquid soap and coconut milk. Mix the two ingredients in equal parts in an empty shampoo bottle. A teaspoon of coconut oil further enhances the conditioning properties.
It is better to avoid high heat, for example when blow-drying or straightening the hair, if you have hair loss. The heat damages the hair structure of the remaining hair.
Final thought – What is hair loss?
Experts speak of hair loss when more than 100 hairs fall out every day and fewer hairs grow back than are shed. The boundary between normal hair loss and pathological hair loss is fluid. When more than 60 percent of the hair on the head is missing in one or more places, doctors call it alopecia.
Hair loss either occurs continuously over a long period of time or occurs acutely – for example, in the course of an illness.
The older we get, the more pronounced the natural hair loss. One percent loss of hair per year is normal. Hair loss occurs equally in women and men. However, since hair loss in men is more socially accepted and they conceal hair loss less, the impression is created that men are more frequently affected.
