Hair, although merely strings of non-living protein, needs attention and exogenous and endogenous care. Specific day to day activities can be damaging to your hair. Simultaneously, particular routines may only be damaging in the long run. It is essential to know what to stay away from and what to follow religiously for a better healthier mane.

What causes hair to be unhealthy

It is essential to think of hair as a machine that produces strings of keratin. For one, it needs sufficient essential building blocks to produce undamaged collected protein strands. The Cuticle. A structure in the hair that prevents harmful substances from penetrating the hair strand may grow lacking the main ingredients to be competent to tolerate and protect harsh material from permeating through it. By such, hair that’s already weak due to lack of endogenous or exogenous care will be susceptible to further damage that can be permanent.

Moreover, hair growth follows a three-stage cycle that includes the antigen phase, the cartage phase, and the telogen phase. The antigen phase refers to hair growth whereas the telegenic phase refers to hair fall stage. Certain foods, either the lack of or over-intake of it, can manipulate the cycle shortening or speeding the growth phase, or extending the hair fall stage.

1. Nutrition

It is critical to supply your body and consequently your follicular units with important building blocks for it to produce proteins that are intact and competent to serve their initial function. Without necessary proteins and vitamins, hair growth may not completely halt; however, the protein structures produced will be missing essential components that would otherwise help protect the hair and preserve its health.

Moreover, proteins vitamins have the ability to regulate the hair growth cycle. Vitamins like vitamin A, are very essential for hair growth, however, when in excess the vitamin actually harms the hair.

It is advisable to take vitamins from food rather than pills. However, if that is not possible for you, then multivitamin pills can do. It is important to remember that vitamins in excess can reverse their initial function. To prevent this from occurring, run blood tests every 4 to 6 months to keep track of your vitamin intake.

2. PRP therapy

PRP therapy or platelet-rich plasma therapy is a treatment that relies on growth factors found in our blood. Our blood is a reservoir of important growth factors such as the VE growth factor, whose decrease clashes with hair loss. In this procedure, blood is drawn the standard way and centrifuged to separate PRP from other components. Later, the extract is injected into the scalp where the concentrate will initiate hair growth. Growth factors stimulate proliferation and elongate hair growth periods.

3. Styling

Since our hair is made of protein, stay away from heat as much as possible. Proteins denature with heat, and the damage is irreversible. Therefore, curling’s irons and straighteners should be avoided. If it is not possible for you to fully avoid the use of heat items for styling, try to at least decrease the temperatures.

Avoid tying your hair in tight ponytails or buns. Leave it to breathe at least 30 mines a day.

4. Genetic factors

The quality of hair varies from one person to another due to genetic differences. For some, hair is naturally thick while for others it could be thin. Most of those who suffer from hair loss experience the phenomenon in their late teens and early twenties. Both men and women alike, begin to shed their hair, although for men the degree of hair loss is harder. The secret cause behind hereditary hair loss is androgenic alopecia. Androgenic alopecia is hair loss due to a form of testosterone known as DHT. DHT leads to the premature closing of follicular units and is permanent. However, the issue is resolved by hair transplants.

Hair transplant relocates follicular units from areas of hair growth to regions of hair loss. Upon relocation, follicular units continue to initiate permanent growth in the area.

Healthy hair is a commitment that requires both exogenous care such as PRP therapy or hair transplants and avoiding heat; and endogenous care such following a nutritious diet. Masks that claim to reverse damage do not actually work. There is no proof of their effectiveness. Therefore, do not use unnatural products that claim to work.

Contact us if you would like to know more about hair transplants.