Hair loss can be a really frustrating problem. And what’s worse is that it can affect anyone regardless of age, gender or race. It can be caused by a multitude of things such as stress, nutritional deficiencies, post-partum shedding, alopecia (traction or areata), medication, illness and many other problems. While it’s important to know the causes of your hair loss, it’s also important to recognise the signs so you know what to look out for! In my experience, it’s much better to start treating the problem early on rather than when it’s severe. Here are some hair loss signs you should be looking out for:
Your Hairline/ Edges
This is probably the most noticeable area of hair loss because it’s right in the front. When people look at your face, they see your hairline. A receding hairline is usually as a result of traction alopecia (this is hair loss as a result of tight hairstyles). It can also be the most obvious point of post-partum shedding. The main ways to combat thinning edges are to keep them moisturised and make sure your hair styles aren’t too tight. Another remedy that works very well is to use a nourishing oil to stimulate growth and massage the area. I like to use the Nature’s Locks Reparative Hair Growth & Sealing Oil.
Breakage
Excessive amounts of breakage can be a sign of hair loss. Most of us get a little bit of breakage. But if you’ve been taking proper care of your hair and you’re getting more breakage than you usually do, something might be wrong. It may be worth going back to the drawing board and seeing if you’re routine or products are really working for you. You may also want to think about incorporating some hair vitamins to strengthen the strands. In my experience, breakage is usually a result of dryness so keeping your hair moisturised is essential.
Thinning Hair/Ends
This is one that I find a lot of people tend to ignore! Yes, sometimes thinning ends are just a result of split ends but sometimes they are a result of actual hair loss. And you tend to see this a lot when it comes to nutritional deficiencies, particularly an iron deficiency or zinc deficiency. If you think this may be the culprit, I suggest seeing your doctor to run a blood test to make sure all your vitamin and mineral levels are where they should be! Also a more balanced diet is always helpful! Remember your ends are the weakest parts of your hair so they need extra love.
Excessive Shedding
This one points to the reason why you should KNOW your hair and play close attention to your hair. For example, if you know how much your hair typically sheds during every wash day, if you are consistently noticing that you’re shedding more than usual, there might be something else at play so it’s something to really keep an eye on. There are many ways to combat shedding including eating a more balanced diet, using tea rinses and doing scalp massages.
