Woman with comb

There are ways for women to prevent hair loss.  So, what can women do to prevent hair loss?

Vitamins:

One of the most important things you can do for your health and your hair loss is taking vitamins. Many women do not get enough vitamins in their diet, specifically iron, zinc, and B vitamins.  These are the essential vitamins that may cause hair loss in women in particular.   A standard multi-vitamin taken daily will provide the correct amounts of these vital vitamins that may be missing from your diet.   One other important supplement is Omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential hair building blocks.  You can take an omega-3 supplement or you can eat more fish and nuts.

Protein:

Protein deficiency can be a cause of thinning hair and female hair loss.  If women are not getting enough protein in their diets, the body will cut off the protein supply to the hair.

Hair is actually considered a protein, so if your diet is lacking in protein, it will lead to thinning hair or hair loss.  To add protein to your diet, you do not resort to all red meat or any for that matter, but you should watch what you are eating.  Along with red meat, soy is a great source of protein, which has been linked to hair growth and hair strengthening.  Additionally, other sources of non-meat sources of protein include yogurt, dairy, nuts, beans, and eggs.  Your best bet is to add two servings of protein per day to help prevent hair loss.

Hair Care

Do not brush your hair while it is wet.  You may do this and not even realize it is causing problems.  If you wait till your hair is dry, you may immediately notice less hair loss.  If you have hair that is long and easily becomes tangled, you can use a detangler or leave in conditioner.  Additionally, the choice of brush is important.  A wide-toothed comb is better than a hair brush and certain hair brushes of better quality may be smoother on your hair.

Alcohol Products:

Alcohol may be added to your soaps, shampoos or conditioners.  It has been shown that alcohol can lead to brittle and dry hair.  With this breakage, your hair may also come out at the roots.  If you already have problems with hair loss, it will be vital for you to research your products for alcohol ingredients.  With all natural products available in most health care products, you should easily be able to find a shampoo with no alcohol.

Finally, if you have continued hair loss and are not sure why, you should see a doctor for prevention methods. If your primary physician does not have any ideas, you can consult a dermatologist.  Your hair loss could be attributed to hormonal changes or thyroid conditions, which can be easily monitored or treated by your doctor.

Woman enjoying a scalp massage

How the procedure works is first they take a strip of hair from the side or back of your head (this is where hair grows thicker and faster) and then they separate it into a follicular unit which is made up of one to four hairs. After that, they begin the task of transplanting each unit, one at a time to its new home, on the front or top of your head. The risks of having hair transplant surgery are minimal and include: excessive bleeding during and after the procedure, the risk of infection and scarring and the death of the follicles that were transplanted resulting in no new hair growth and a patchy appearance. Talking with your doctor about your complete health history will help eliminate most of these risks before you even begin the procedure.

Another option for reversing hair loss is topical creams and other pharmaceuticals. For women, these options have only begun to become available. The most popular choice in this category is a product known as Rogaine. While developed originally for men, rising hair loss in women has forced the company to develop an alternative option geared for women.

The product is easily attainable; it is available at almost any retail store you go to and the prices are more affordable than a restoration procedure. Rogaine is a topical treatment used twice a day. To apply it, they provide you with a dropper with which you administer the chemicals to the scalp and let it dry before using any products. Rogaine is made up of a chemical called minoxidil which is clinically proven to revitalize hair follicles and stimulate growth. While this option is great for most people, it should also be known that Rogaine is good at increasing the longevity and health of the remaining hair but it is not guaranteed to grow new hair.

The third option when it comes to treating hair loss is natural herbs, vitamins and changing your diet. The three are recommended together for a faster, more noticeable difference.

Many herbs are recommended for this treatment including coconut oil, nettle root and rosemary. There are different ways to apply them but all are recommended to be massaged into the scalp. Massage is beneficial because it stimulates the hair follicles and gets the blood flowing which increases your chance for more hair growth.

Vitamin B is a common recommendation when it comes to hair loss, but consulting with your doctor before using is advised because high doses or prolonged use can be toxic. Multi-vitamins are a great way to go because not only do they help encourage hair growth, they also help regulate and promote a healthier body.

Changing your diet is a key factor when going the natural route. Protein enriched foods like fish, soy and broccoli provide the nutrients needed to grow thicker, healthier hair.

Many options are available nowadays for restoring hair and it can easily become overwhelming. If you do your research, consult with your physician and factor in your budget, the path will become clear on which route you need to go to revive that beautiful, lustrous hair you once had.

Man Taking a Vitamin Pill

There are vitamins and extracts that can be specifically helpful to prevention of hair loss.

One of the first steps you can follow is to take vitamins on a daily basis.  If nothing else, a multi-vitamin with vitamins B, C and E are essential for healthy hair.

Along with a regular Vitamin B supplement, an important B vitamin is Biotin.  This supplement supports healthy hair, skin and nails.  The recommended daily dosage is 1500 mg per day.  This vitamin is available at your local pharmacy.  Additionally, biotin is included in many foods, such as brown rice, green peas, lentils, oats, soybeans and walnuts.

Other nutrients that serve as hair loss cures can include:

• Fatty acids:  such as primrose oil and flaxseed oil, which are said to improve hair texture.

• Vitamin B foods, such as beans, peas, carrots, cauliflower, soy beans and eggs, essential for hair growth.  For example, a proper Vitamin B3 dosage is 50 mg three times per day.

• Vitamin C:  helps with scalp circulation by maintaining capillaries that carry blood to the hair follicles.  A proper dosage would be 3,000 to 10,000 mg per day.

• Vitamin E:  has the important job of increasing oxygen uptake, which also improves circulation to the scalp.  This improves health and hair growth.  Vitamin E stimulates hair growth by enhancing immune functioning. A proper dosage would be 400 IUs daily.

• Zinc:  stimulates hair growth again by enhancing immune function, dosage of 50-100 mg daily.
• Coenzyme Q10:  again it is said to improve scalp circulation, while increasing tissue oxygenation.

Some other possible vitamins that keep hair healthy and prevent hair loss are copper, magnesium, and calcium.

There are also extracts that are can prevent hair loss.  A helpful extract for hair loss is saw palmetto.  It can be used in capsule form taken orally on a daily basis or in an oil extract or ointment.  In using the saw palmetto extract, you will follow a few easy steps.  First, you should warm it up in hot water or in the microwave for 10 seconds.  Next, you should gently massage the extract into your hair roots.  The oil in the saw palmetto is easily absorbed into the hair roots and prevents hormones from clogging hair follicles and destroying your hair.  The best use for this is to put it in your hair before going to bed and let it soak overnight, showering and rinsing it out in the morning.

Another extract is olive oil, which degreases your hair naturally and allows for better blood circulation to the scalp, which promotes hair grown or will fight male baldness.

These vitamins and extracts can help promote healthy hair and prevent continued hair loss.