No man wants to lose his hair; that is a fact. No matter how distinguished it makes him look, he will dread every hair he finds in the sink, try every prevention product under the sun, and hide under a hat when all else fails. The good news is that there is a way to prevent hair loss, or at least decrease its speed. Experts have it narrowed the effective guidelines down to seven tips, some new and some old. So quit wasting your money and stick with what works.
If you are at risk for hair loss due to genetics, keep your hair short. When the hair is longer, there is more stress on the hair follicles. A strand of hair may not seem to have much weight at all, but the extra weight of longer hair pulls tremendously. Also, longer hair simply needs more attention. Brushing, blow drying, and styling all damage the follicle, putting you at greater risk for hair loss.
Take care of your scalp. Wash your hair regularly with a gentle shampoo, and be sure to rinse thoroughly. If you use product in your hair, wash and rinse every single day. The products may contain damaging chemicals. If you are sans product, wash and rinse every day. Scalp hygiene is important, but washing hair when it is still clean puts unnecessary stress on the follicles.
Stick to a healthy diet. Even taking a multivitamin specifically for men can improve the quality of your hair and ensure its longevity. Our bodies are programmed to send the nutrients where they are most needed, and unfortunately, hair is low on the totem pole.
Learn to relax. Life is filled with inevitable stressors. Try as you might, it will always be there. The best thing you can do to preserve your hair is to learn how to deal with the stress. When the body is stressed, hormones are released as coping and defense mechanism. These hormones contribute to hair loss. So, if you are stressing about your hair loss, stop it. You are only making it worse.
Most hair loss drugs are just playing on the vulnerability of those interested, but minoxidil is a product that actually works. In either an oral or topical form, it relaxes the walls of the blood vessels to increase the flow of blood. The result is the promotion of hair growth and the decrease of hair loss. Scientists are not sure exactly how this drug works, but the results cannot be denied. Minoxidil is available in hair regrowth products such as Rogaine.
Another effective drug is Propecia. It works by blocking the enzyme that creates the hormone that causes hair loss. It’s somewhat of a roundabout method, but it is effective. About 80% of men saw improvements. However, for many men, it takes about 3 months before results can be noticed. Propecia works best for those suffering from hereditary male pattern baldness.
Finally, consider a lasercomb. This recently FDA-approved piece of machinery is an at-home form of a laser treatment. A lasercomb is exactly how it sounds; it as an electric comb with light therapy to stimulate a healthy scalp and hair. By stimulating the cells in the scalp and hair follicles, they are prompted to grow back healthier, stronger, and thicker. These results can be seen in as little as six weeks. Also, unlike other topical treatments, the lasercomb reduces dandruff and shows no sign of scalp irritation or redness.
Through some combination of these seven tips, you can preserve the hair you have, grow back hair that was lost, and prevent ever losing it again. When it really boils down to it, hair loss is not the end of the world; it is the end of your perceived youth. Hold on to it as long as you humanly can.