As mentioned in our previous blog post, "How to Stop Your Hair Loss," there are many factors that can contribute to hair loss:
Genetics
Your Diet & Overall health
Hormones
Stress
Damage or stress to the hair follicle through burns, scarring, or overly tightly pulled hairstyles such as braiding or ponytails.
Additionally, I mentioned previously that several of my clients believe their hair loss is contributed to by a few myths, such as shampooing your hair, and using hot water when cleaning your scalp. I feel like both of these statements are missing a bit of additional information. So, let's debunk these two myths.
Shampoo: Shampooing your hair doesn't cause hair loss, but using shampoos that aren't suited for your hair type, as well as using products with inferior ingredients, can contribute to thinning hair. I can't stress this enough. The statement "shampoo causes hair loss" is completely false. In fact, the opposite is true. Not shampooing your hair can lead to scalp inflammation and follicles clogged with dirt and oil. If you are one of those people who have dandruff, avoiding shampooing can lead to a buildup of Malassezia yeast on the scalp. So, what exactly is Malassezia yeast? It is a common fungus on human skin, and these infections are attributed to humidity, oily scalp, sweating, and a few other factors. If left untreated, it can cause buildup, seborrheic dermatitis, and potentially lead to thinning hair.
Shampooing with Hot Water: Shampooing with hot water is damaging only when you are using EXTREMELY hot water. A certain amount of warm to low-heat water is necessary to open up the follicles. It also aids in breaking up dirt and oil in your hair. Extremely hot water can cause inflammation, scalding, and lead to scarring. When this occurs, hair loss can happen. Therefore, you can use warm water, just as long as it's not scalding hot.
So, if shampooing doesn't cause hair loss, what products should we use, and what ingredients should we avoid?
Finding a shampoo that's right for your hair type:
Not everyone's hair is the same. Some people have coarse curly hair, some have wavy, and some have thin fine hair. You might be a person who has a very dry scalp/hair, overly oily hair, or you might fall somewhere in between. As a result, what shampoo you use and how often you use it will depend on your personal needs. So let's explore some options.
Curly coarse hair needs moisture and generally needs to be shampooed less frequently. If you have curly course hair, a moisturizing shampoo is recommended. If your hair and scalp are oily, you need to shampoo more often and use a shampoo formulated for oily hair. How often you wash your hair depends on how oily your hair is. As a general rule, if your scalp is oily, if it clumps together, or looks wet while dry, it's time to shampoo. If your hair is dry, breaking, or frizzy, you might be using the wrong shampoo or washing your hair too often.
Shampoos and Ingredients to Avoid: If you are experiencing hair loss or are concerned about it, stop using cheap drug store shampoos! These shampoos are full of fillers, waxes, preservatives, and inferior cheap ingredients that can cause inflammation and clog your follicles. So read the labels before you buy. Here are a few ingredients to try to avoid:
Sulfates: They increase skin sensitivity and strip hair of their natural oils, causing dryness.
Parabens: They increase the risk of skin cancer.
Phthalates: They are dangerous to the environment and cause hormonal disruptions.
Formaldehyde: It is carcinogenic and easily absorbed by the skin.
Dimethicone: It prevents moisture from entering the hair and clogs pores over time.
Retinyl palmitate: Causes itching, scaling, and peeling.
Alcohol: Makes your hair dry and brittle.
Toluene: Can hamper the immune system and cause congenital problems.
Additionally, we want to avoid roughly towel-drying the hair after shampooing or combing the hair roughly, and you want to use a good conditioner suited to your hair type. In short, it's important to keep your hair and scalp healthy, hydrated, and clean to prevent hair loss. The key is making sure you have products that are right for you. How frequently use them is based on your hair type and personal grooming needs. Follow these steps and make the necessary changes, and you'll see a difference in the health of your hair.
Stay tuned for more information on hair loss products and treatments. In the meantime, feel free to email me your questions or leave a comment below.
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