Is Your Hair Falling Out?

There's plenty you can do to hang on to what hair you have and encourage healthy regrowth without spending an arm and a leg for it. You can start by taking a look in your very own kitchen. If you are suffering from hair loss or baldness, apply a paste of hot olive oil, 1 tablespoon of honey, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder to the scalp before shampooing your hair. Let it sit for 15 minutes and then shampoo. A heat cap may be applied for deeper penetration. Even 5 minutes proved to be effective. Below are a few simple tips to follow to slow or reverse hair loss from the inside and out:

Air-dry your hair
Avoid drying vigorously with a towel. If you must use a blow-dryer, keep it on a low setting

Style when dry
Grooming wet hair can cause it to stretch and break so don't comb or brush your hair until it's dry.

Switch shampoos with the season
Change your brand of shampoo at the beginning of every new season--summer, winter, spring and fall to prevent some shedding.

Don't tease
Even women who aren't losing their hair should avoid teasing or back-combing. It is one of the worst things that you can do to your hair. Teasing breaks the hair and contributes to the appearance of hair loss.

Perm and color carefully
When perming and coloring your hair, follow product instructions carefully. Neither perms nor color causes hair to fall out but both, when done incorrectly, do cause hair to break. When the break is very close to the scalp, it can make you look as though hair has fallen out.

Get adequate protein
Eat a couple of 3 to 4 ounce servings of fish, chicken or other lean sources of protein every day, even if you're dieting. Protein is needed by every cell in your body, including the cells that make the hair. Without adequate protein, the cells in your body don't work efficiently and can't make new hair to replace old hair that's been shed.

Maintain iron levels
Since iron-deficiency anemia can also cause hair loss, make sure that you eat a well-balanced diet that includes a daily serving or two of iron-rich foods. Good sources of iron include lean red meat, steamed clams, cream of wheat, dried fruit, soybeans, tofu and broccoli.

Take vitamin B6
100 milligrams a day decreases hair-shedding in some people. Larger amounts can be toxic, especially over a prolonged time. If you prefer a hair, nail, & skin supplement, select a product which include nutrients such as beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin E, which protect skin, hair, and nails from free radicals. Beta-Carotene is converted in the body to Vitamin A, an essential vitamin for maintaining the health of skin and hair. Vitamin C, Zinc, and L-Cysteine support the integrity of hair, skin and nails.

Consistently implement these simple changes for several months and see what kind of results you get. A thorough medical exam, better diet, stress management, and medical treatment may easily spur regrowth.