As a woman, losing your hair isn’t an easy topic. If you spent your glory days with a full hairline and shiny locks, adjusting to your new reality can be incredibly stressful. But know that you’re not alone: “Forty percent of women have visible hair loss by the time they are age 40”, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. So what to do about it?
Well, your first instinct might be to start inspecting your scalp in front of the mirror with micro-level obsession. The only problem is that this behavior only leads to more anxiety. Instead, be proactive about the situation. And in case you’re wondering, we will NOT be talking about Rogaine for Women. As Healthline explains, these chemical-based hair growth remedies work by “partially enlarging hair follicles and elongating the growth phase of hair”, leading to more hair coverage. The downside, unfortunately, is that these drugs can have unhealthy side effects.
For healthier options, we’ll review the best natural solutions for women with thinning hair.
Try a new haircut
For mild hair thinning, you can disguise your receding ares with a flattering new cut. It’s a subtle trick that refreshes your overall look, while also distracting from your problem areas.
The power of a new cut
From blunt layers to a bob cut, there are tons of hairstyles that hide hair loss. The idea is to make your hair seem bouncier and more dynamic, which creates the illusion of more fullness.
Generally, haircuts falls under three categories: layered, one-length or a combination of both, says Dwayne Ross, a celebrity hairstylist. Layers are a popular choice for adding depth and motion. You can even talk to your stylist about blow drying techniques to achieve more lift at the roots. These styling maneuvers will fluff-up your hair in the spots you need, helping you feel more confident about your overall look.
Try natural solutions
In our era of health-consciousness, more women look for natural alternatives to hair growth serums. Many scalp treatments actually contain artificial and potentially harmful ingredients like minoxidil – a notorious medication that causes hair to grow unnaturally. Although these products are effective in the short term, they can destabilise the body’s hormonal balance and immune system.
Since these drugs aren’t physically sustainable, there’s a desire for natural remedies that are safe for people with chemical sensitivities or autoimmune diseases. Here are some of the leading natural solutions for women with thinning hair.
Hair building fibers
Who doesn’t love shortcuts? Take the easy route to thicker-looking hair with hair building fibers. It’s a temporary fix that uses micro flecks of natural Keratin over your scalp to conceal thinning patches. After applying the product, you can comb your hair to evenly disperse the fibers and achieve a more natural effect.
Toppik Hair building fibers are widely known for providing a realistic result. The fibers are designed with a static charge, creating a magnetic effect that tightly binds to even the finest human hair strands. As a result, they won’t clump, move, or collapse onto the scalp and look unnatural.
Volumizing hairspray
Try faking your fullness with a volumizing hairspray. This treatment gives a temporary boost of volume by coating your hair shafts, building the density of each strand.
According to hair expert, Alicia Leo, StriVectin’s product development senior manager, “Most volumizing products contain ingredients that create ‘hold’ to lift hair away from the head.” This lifting effect allows hair strands to have bounce and weightlessness. These volumizing products also include oil-absorbing compounds to control sebum that may weigh down hair, explains Leo. By coating and strengthening the hair cortex, the strands appear plumper—and viola, more height and body!
Yet, for ladies seeking more serious bald-spot-coverage, this option might be too subtle. Since you can’t expect a miraculous transformation, you might fair better with cover-up solutions like hair fibers or a darkening spray.
Darkening spray
When you’re thinning at the roots, a darkening spray may be your saviour. Holding the spray bottle 10-12 inches from your head, you’ll release a coloured mist that matches your hair shade.
To protect your existing hairs, look for a spray that’s made from natural ingredients. These versions contain hydrating agents that condition your hair, helping to promote new growth. A popular natural formula is there Bumble and Bumble Hair Powder. It adds mega volume, enhances texture and absorbs excess oil, delivering a soft, matte finish.
Natural lotions & supplements
When cosmetic cover-ups aren’t enough, you need to take the pharmaceutical route. We’re talking about nutritional supplements and organic topical treatments.
Over the last few years, there’s been countless breakthroughs in natural hair loss remedies. By knowing more about what causes thinning hair, researchers have improved existing holistic approaches to cure thinning hair. Through both diet and lifestyle changes, women can treat the source of their scalp problems, deep down at the cellular level.
The leading natural hair growth programs for women usually includes three key steps: scalp cleansing, dietary supplements and scalp lotion. Although the products and formulas may differ slightly between brands, the overall philosophy remains the same. So it helps to do some research and read reviews to decide which brand will work for you. It’s recommended to stick with dermatologist-tested programs such as Nutrafol or the Tricovit programme.
Shampoo less often
It’s possible to over-shampoo. On average, women should only wash their hair once to twice a week. Sorry to any clean freaks, but excessive cleansing can actually worsen hair thinning.
The dangers of over-shampooing
We all love a rich lather, but you can have too much of a good thing. Washing your hair too often will suck moisture from your scalp. By depleting the natural oils from your hair follicles, you’ll be left with a dry scalp – itchy, flaky and uncomfortable.
In the worst cases, your scalp can get so dry that hair won’t grow. Think about it: just as soil needs water, your scalp needs hydration to grow hair. Otherwise, your hair follicles can get congested with dandruff and other impurities, creating a toxic bio-cocktail of bacteria. Under these unhealthy conditions, your roots can’t grow hair well. The strands will get weaker and limper, growing more fragile through each growth cycle.
As you can see, there’s no one-shot remedy for thinning hair. There’s tons of tricks and treatments– some more high-maintenance than others. Ultimately, the best option depends on your commitment level and the demands of your daily routine. You can also talk to your dermatologist or visit a local hair clinic to treat thinning hair.
