By making some simple lifestyle changes, you can enjoy happy and healthy hair on your big day, and if your hair is thinning here’s how to treat it!
Trichologist Sally-Ann Tarver reveals her secrets to getting hair looking thicker, glossier and back to its best.
1. Eat more protein
Increasing the amount of dietary protein you eat can help to encourage hair growth. A reasonable portion of meat or fish every day can make up around half of your 45g quota. Try adding up how much protein you consume daily for a week to get a feel for how much you really need – you may surprise yourself as to how little you really consume.
2. Loosen up
Constantly pulling your hair into a tight ponytail, wearing hair extensions and excessive blow-drying will cause strain on your hair follicles and could cause traction alopecia. Choose a loose hairstyle rather than a tight up-do, avoid having hair extensions and give your hair a break from excessive styling.
3. Listen to your body
Thinning hair can be caused by thyroid conditions, particularly hypothyroidism which is seen in postmenopausal women. Left untreated, the condition can cause hair to thin and become dry. Other symptoms include weight gain, dry skin and tiredness. This condition is best monitored and treated by your GP.
4. Up the vitamins
Nutritional deficiencies such as low B12 and Vitamin D can slow down hair growth and they can cause hair thinning. Dietary B12 deficiency can be easily resolved by increasing your intake of meat, fish, eggs, dairy and by taking a good quality B Complex. Vitamin D deficiency is on the rise and definitely a test to ask your GP for if your hair is declining.
5. Try laser phototherapy
Laser phototherapy offers a lotion-free, pill-free method of improving hair structure and growth with no side effects, scalp irritation or damage to hair structure. The Theradome LH80 Laser Helmet floods your scalp with photons to energise your hair follicles. It’s easy to use; you just put it on your head every other day for 20 minutes. Laser phototherapy stimulates blood circulation, nutrients and oxygen to the hair follicles and helps to produce stronger, healthier, faster growing hair. Theradome is available at www.theradomeforhairloss.co.uk.
6. See a trichologist
Don’t ignore the signs that your hair has started to thin. If your ponytail has got noticeably thinner and you’ve started to see your scalp at your hairline, consult an expert and book an appointment with a trichologist. They can help you determine the cause and set you on the right track to regaining your hair.
7. Increase your iron
Life gets more stressful the older you get and any busy lives, heavy periods, being a vegetarian or blood donor can lead to low serum Ferritin, which is the protein that stores iron in the body. Low iron is one of the most common causes of hair thinning, try to reboot hair from the inside-out by including lean red meat in your diet or take an iron supplement such as Florisene.
8. Look after your scalp
A healthy scalp equals healthy hair. There are a few products on the market that may help your scalp stay healthy and encourage growth. Mediceuticals and Philip Kingsley both offer a range of scalp-specific products formulated to moisturise, sooth and hydrate.
9. Don’t skip conditioner
If you don’t use conditioner, over time hair can become de-hydrated, which can then lead toit becoming damaged and brittle. Look for lightweight conditioners that contain panthenol and glycerin that moisturise and keep fragile hair strong.
10. Live healthy
Unhealthy people who live on fast food, don’t exercise, drink, smoke and party excessively rarely have great hair. Your hair is a reflection of your health, diet and wellbeing – a healthy lifestyle will naturally make your hair look healthy too.
Article Credit: Bride Magazine