Worried about bald spots or receding hairlines? Can’t shake off the feeling that your hair isn’t as thick as it used to be? You’re not alone. Lots of factors can lead to inexplicable bouts of hair loss. And as we grow older, we will all experience thinning hair. The good news? Sometimes all you need to make hair look thicker is the right haircut (and hair scissors) and these super simple hair tips.
1.Turn off the water heater
Hot showers can damage your hair, causing more split ends and hair loss. If you can’t stand cold water, use lukewarm or tepid water, or protect your hair with a shower cap. After shampoo and conditioner, rinse your hair in cold water to seal the cuticle.
2. Don’t shampoo every day
Overshampooing dries out both your hair and scalp. Aside from contributing to hair fall, it will make your hair dye fade faster and make your hair look dull. Alternate regular shampoo with dry shampoo, or style second-day hair in a ponytail or braid.
3. Stop rubbing your hair with a towel
Hair is at its most fragile when it’s wet, so you risk damaging your hair each time you towel-dry. Instead of rubbing your hair vigorously, gently wrap your hair in a towel and squeeze out the excess moisture. We also like the Goodie Quick Dry Paddle Brush, which has microfiber bristles that absorb water.
4. Use a clarifying shampoo
Hair follicles can get clogged with residue from shampoo, conditioner and styling products. Clarifying shampoos helps clear out your scalp and make room for hair growth. However, these formulas can be drying, so use only once a week (if you have a very greasy scalp or style your hair often) or once every two weeks if you have normal to dry hair.
5. Finger-comb your hair
Combs and brushes can flatten your hair and make it look thinner. After removing tangles, style your hair with your fingers – fluffing up hair while incorporating a volumizing product.
6. Avoid heavy styling products
Waxes and heavy-duty gels can weigh down your hair strands. If you notice that your hair tends to flat in the middle of the day, try switching to another styling product. AT your next hair appointment, you can also ask your hairstylist for recommendations on what you should use for your hair texture and style. te
7. Do an apple cider vinegar rinse
Apple cider vinegar acts like a natural clarifying shampoo. It gets rid of residue, neutralizes your hair and scalp PH levels, and is full of nutrients that help promote hair growth. Your hair will also be shiny and have more volume!
Do an apple cider rinse once a week. Just mix a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar into a basin of water. Use this to rinse your hair after shampoo and conditioner. Let the vinegar solution “sit” in your hair for about 10 minutes and wash with water.
8. Get a haircut and hair color
A good haircut can help your hair look thicker, especially if it’s done by an experienced stylist with the right hair cutting scissors. Some popular techniques are layers and undercuts. Strategically placed highlights can also add depth and dimension, which will help it look full. If your hair is very thin, look for a stylist who understands fine hair and will use special hair scissors and techniques to add volume and texture.
9. Treat yourself to an at-home hair mask
While salons offer deep-conditioning treatments, you can mimic the results at home for mere pennies! You can make a DIY hair mask with ingredients that are already in your kitchen: extra virgin olive oil or coconut oil, overripe avocados or bananas, apple cider vinegar, eggs, lemon, etc. All you need is a plastic shower cup and an old towel to cover your hair and protect your clothing while you wait for the mask to penetrate your hair and scalp.
You can also buy hair masks. Many of them cost less than $10 for a jar, though there are premium brands that contain ingredients like argan oil or plant extracts. Check your favorite beauty sites or online sellers, and get it delivered to your doorstep. Then apply the mask, and sit back and watch Netflix. Nothing could be easier!
10. Use volumizing or thickening shampoos
While these hair products may not show very dramatic results, they can be part of a total haircare routine that can help fight hair loss and hide the first signs of thinning hair.
Thickening shampoos contain polymers that temporarily plump up hair to make it look full. Many of them also contain ingredients that nourish the scalp for healthier and faster hair growth. Look for ingredients like keratin, argan oil, or plant extracts that are rich in antioxidants.
11. Get a scalp treatment
Hair masks and hair treatments nourish the strands; scalp treatments detox and purify the scalp, and infuse it with nutrients that can encourage healthy hair growth. You can find them in beauty stores, too. Another alternative is hair and scalp oils, which you leave in overnight. For best results, massage them into your scalp with your fingers. This helps the product penetrate the scalp and boosts circulation, too.
12. Manage your stress levels
Stress increases your hormone levels, which can affect your hair follicles. Usually, it takes about 3 months before you actually see the changes in your hair growth and quality, but why wait? If you’re going through a lot of stress, start taking a hair supplement or use a shampoo that fights hair loss. Better safe than sorry!
13. Protect your hair and scalp from sun damage
Scalp is like skin, and can get damaged from constant heat and sun exposure. When this happens, your hair follicles (and hair growth) can be affected. Look for hair products that have UVA and UVB protection, or use a sunscreen spray on your scalp. If you’re outdoors from the peak hours of 10 am to 3pm wear a scarf or hat. If you are swimming in a pool or beach, protect your strands from both sun and the salt/pool chemicals with a swimming cap.
14. Get silk pillows
If you tend to toss and turn at night, the friction of your hair rubbing against your pillows can cause hair to break and fall. Try switching to silk pillows!
15. Don’t sleep with your hair wet
As we said earlier, wet hair is very fragile. Dry it before going to bed, by squeezing it with a towel and then air-drying. Don’t braid or tie damp hair, too! At this stage, any pulling will make it break and worsen thinning hair.
16. Make sure you’re getting enough protein
Sometimes, hair loss can be caused by even supposedly “healthy” diets. If you’re vegetarian, or have been munching mostly on salads to lose weight, you may lack protein and Vitamin B. Your body needs these to produce healthy cells – including hair and skin! That’s why people on extreme diets often have dull skin and brittle hair.
If you’re avoiding meat and fish, get protein from beans, soy products like tofu or soy milk, nutritional yeast or liquid aminos.
17. Take an iron supplement
Iron deficiency is one of the most common causes of hair loss. Stress, heavy periods or hormonal fluctuations like pregnancy and menopause can affect our body’s iron levels. You can take iron supplements, or load up on iron-rich food: green leafy vegetables, quinoa, liver, shellfish, and beans.
18. Avoid crash or extreme diets
A healthy “hair diet” can’t be isolated to just a few vitamins or even a vitamin supplement. Your body needs a combination of nutrients, and any imbalance will show up in the way you look or feel. That’s why fad diets (like the Ketogenic Diet) and very low-nutrient diets where you get less than 1,500 calories a day can lead to hair loss and thinning hair. They also mess up your metabolism and lead to long-term weight gain, so really… what’s the point?
19. Check your medication
Some maintenance medications can affect your hormone levels, which will trigger or worsen hair loss. Try talking to your doctor about the side effects, and possibly switching to another formula if you are already noticing severe hair loss or bald spots.
20. Get a thyroid test
Sometimes, hair loss can be your body’s way of telling you that there’s a bigger problem! Since hormones are the biggest factor in hair growth, you may want to check if you have hormone or thyroid issues.
