When it comes to overall health, hair is something that gets overlooked often but, if it’s not looked after, can lead to major physical appearance changes and can have a major impact on self-confidence.
About a quarter of men start losing their hair before the age of 21, while about 85% of men over the age of 50 will deal with some form of hair thinning or hair loss. While these problems are normal, there are things that you can do to improve your situation, mitigate hair loss, and even start to regrow your hair
Ensure You’re Getting Proper Vitamins & Nutrients
There is a long list of vitamins and nutrients that will help anyone improve their hair health. A few that you should focus on include:
- Vitamin A
- B Vitamins (B6 and B12)
- Vitamin D
- Protein
- Zinc
While there are more that you should ensure are in your diet, this is a great starting point as these help with things like oxygenation of the scalp, improved hair growth, hair moisturization, and more.
Some foods that are rich in vitamins and nutrients like these include fatty fish, almonds, leafy greens, carrots, sweet potatoes, whole grain, and more. Also, make sure that you are getting outside to get some sunlight (Vitamin D) on that scalp as well!
Be Gentle With Your Hair
Overstyling, sleeping with wet hair, even combing wet hair are all things that can damage hair follicles and the scalp in general. Similarly, don’t be overly aggressive when drying your hair as it can damage hair follicles. You want to ensure that you are also using shampoo and conditioner properly. Everyone is different, but, generally speaking, most people don’t have to wash their hair each and every day – people with extra dry hair likely only need to wash 2-3 times a week.
Along with shampooing, make sure that when you condition your hair you aren’t rubbing your scalp. Conditioner is meant for the hair follicles and tips of the hair, be sure to also wash thoroughly to ensure there is no lingering conditioner in the hair.
Drink More Water
This tip is something that most people don’t consider often enough when thinking about their health in general. Your hair roots will soak up the water in the body which can help boost hair growth and improve health overall. If the body isn’t getting enough water, your roots may start suffering and it can lead to dry and brittle hair follicles.
Everyone’s water intake is different, but it is recommended that men drink almost 4 liters of water a day.
Counteract Hair Loss
There are a number of hair loss products on the market to help men (and women) who are dealing with hair loss problems. Along with topical solutions that exist like Rogaine, Propecia, and hair loss shampoos, there are other products like low-level laser therapy caps that are available to help hair regrowth begin.
In addition to these less-invasive hair growth strategies, hair transplants are another way that you can work to overcome hair loss. However, these can cost a lot and it will likely take some time before you see results.
Be Careful with Hot Showers
Yes, we know, hot showers can be nice and relaxing. However, they can lead to problems with hair health as they will strip out the natural oils of the hair that these follicles need. If you are truly serious about improving your hair health, try to stick with lukewarm showers. Or, if you are too committed to taking hot showers, just limit your time in the shower and don’t overexpose your scalp to the heat.
Overall, there are a lot of hair care strategies, hair loss mitigation techniques, and hair growth products available to help ensure that your scalp stays healthy and your hair stays flowing. Be sure to branch out and try new techniques, everyone is different and some combination of the above methods may be your best bet for keeping your hair healthy.
Photo by Carlos Magno on Unsplash
