Male and female pattern baldness is one of the most common hair loss conditions, and because it is driven by our genetics, it can be really difficult to treat. And in most cases, the longer you wait to take action, the harder it is to restore your hair’s thickness and health. However, there are steps you can take to stimulate new growth and keep your hair on your scalp healthy. If you are not ready to let nature take its course and lose (or maintain) this piece of your identity, here are 8 researched-backed ways to get fuller, healthier hair.
#1 Wash Your Hair Regularly
While this may seem straightforward, keeping your hair and scalp healthy is crucial for maintaining hair health and thickness. Without regular washing, we can get a severe build-up of oil and environmental toxins, which can inhibit growth and damage our hair shafts. Yet, it is important not to go too crazy with washing, as washing too frequently can strip our hair of its natural oils, which also protect our hair.
Generally, it is best to wash your hair 3-4 times a week, especially if it is long (this is unless you're using specialized shampoo with specific directions.) People with short hair can sometimes get by with washing more often because their hair shafts can get oily more quickly as they are closer to the scalp.
Quick tips:
- Washing your hair is warm water as opposed to hot water can help reduce fall out and prevent heat damage.
- Shampoo is for your scalp; regular conditioner is for your ends. When using shampoo, focus mostly on scrubbing your scalp as opposed to your hair. The hair shafts will get cleansed when you wash the shampoo off of your scalp.
When it comes to DS Laboratories conditioners, they are made for the scalp as well as they are formulated for scalp & hair health which pairs perfectly with your DS Laboratories shampoo.
#2 Your Shampoo Matters
While the ingredients list on the back of the shampoo bottle is daunting to read and understand, it is crucial to know what products are in your shampoo. Shampoos should contain ingredients that simultaneously cleanse, protect, and hydrate your hair. If you are regularly washing, but the ingredients in your shampoo are damaging, you are likely causing more harm than good for your locks.
When you are shopping for a shampoo, look for plant-based, raw ingredients that hydrate, nourish, and protect your hair. For example, shea butter, biotin, caffeine, and green tea are naturally beneficial sources for hair growth and health. Additionally, there are professional-grade shampoo products that can help stimulate hair growth by fighting follicular dysfunction and stimulating the scalp.
Now, when it comes to ingredients to avoid, you should keep a watchful eye out for the following ingredients:
- Sodium lauryl (or laureth) sulfate
- Coal tar dyes
- Formaldehyde
- Parabens
- Phthalates
#3 Treat Scalp Conditions
Did you know that the fungus, Malassezia, is one of the leading causes of hair thinning?
Malassezia naturally lives on our skin, but when it gets too overgrown, Malassezia can inhibit hair growth through oxidative stress. Malassezia can be treated with topical ketoconazole, which is an antifungal medication found in some shampoos, especially those that aim to help with hair loss.
Other common scalp conditions that can increase hair fallout and reduce hair re-growth rates include seborrheic dermatitis, dandruff, and dry scalp.
Healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp. So, if you have itching, flaking, or other signs of an unhappy scalp, you need to address those in order to see improvement in your hair. Fortunately, we can treat some of the most common scalp conditions with a medicated shampoo.
#4 Use Clinical-Grade Hair Growth Products
In the past, genetic hair loss was treated with systemic medication like finasteride (in males) or with over-the-counter medicated products like minoxidil. However, these medications can have side effects, which makes them unappealing to some people. Furthermore, when we stop using these products, hair loss typically continues.
Fortunately, there are hair re-growth products that do not have side effects. Hair re-growth technology has improved remarkably in the past few years. Of note, nanosome technology is used to deliver good ingredients found in hair re-growth systems. With nanosome technology, ingredients can penetrate deeper into your scalp and actually reach the follicles as opposed to just sitting on top of your skin.
#5 Avoid Coloring Your Hair
Despite its popularity among both men and women, hair dye is damaging to your hair and scalp.
Dyes use harmful chemicals such as bleach to help with color changes. However, these chemicals strip the hair of its natural protective barrier, making your hair weaker and more likely to break.
Some studies even suggest that hair dye exacerbates health conditions, including autoimmune diseases due to inflammation and oxidative stress. If you want the healthiest hair possible, it is best to avoid hair dyes.
If you do color your hair, repair is critical to scalp and hair health. We have just the perfect product to get your hair back to optimal health.
#6 Sunshine Is Not All Vitamin D
The information on sunlight recommendations can be so misleading. Yes, we need sunlight to process vitamin D in our skin, but too much sunlight can cause skin cancer in many individuals. Thus, because we are using so many protective measures to prevent skin damage, and because we are staying indoors more and more, vitamin D deficiencies are becoming more prevalent.
But what about sunlight on hair? Well, just like your skin, the harmful rays in sunlight (UVA and UVB rays) can damage your hair. Ultimately, you can experience fall out and breakage when you are frequently in the sun. However, this information should not prevent you from being outside. We all know the benefits of being outside in fresh air for our overall health and wellbeing. So, when the next opportunity to go outside arises, definitely head out but bring a hat along, or make sure to take breaks in the shade when you are able.
#7 Use a Heat Protectant When You Use Hot Styling Tools
Just like harmful chemicals in certain shampoos and dyes, heat can also be damaging to your hair. Hot styling tools, such as blow dryers, straighteners, heated curlers, and curling irons, can damage the keratin in your hair. However, those tools also give us a specific look we are aiming for, which can be an important part of how we express ourselves.
If you can, try to avoid using a hairdryer when possible and opt for naturally air drying your hair. But, if you prefer to dry your hair with a blow dryer, or you need hot styling tools to make your hair look the way you want, use heat protectant products to protect your strands. Most heat protectants contain silicone, which easily spreads over each hair strand when you quickly run your hands through your hair.
#8 Head Massages Go Beyond Relaxation
There’s nothing better than a good head and scalp massage. But studies show that the effects extend beyond making you feel good.
Massage generates heat, which causes blood vessels to dilate. Ultimately, this increases the amount of blood flow in tissues that you massage. So, when your scalp gets a massage, it can increase blood flow to your hair follicles, which in turn stimulates hair growth.
Fuller, healthier hair is achievable even if you have male or female-pattern hair loss. To get a head start (pun intended) on re-growing your hair and bringing health and fullness back to your locks, shop the entire line of DS Laboratories products for hair growth systems that actually work.
Use a stimuROLLER to help increase blood flow to hair follicles. It's the perfect tool stimulate hair growth and absorb current products you may be using.