How to Make Hair Grow Naturally

Understanding Hair Loss

Hair loss is normal. Everyday we lose about 125 hairs. Hair grows in cycles and at the end of each cycle hair falls out. As we get older, both men and women will experience some increase in hair loss. In men, it is referred to as male pattern baldness, technically known as Androgenetic Alopecia. The cause of this type of baldness is DHT. The hormone testosterone, which is produced by men and women can convert into DHT. DHT causes events to take place that restrict blood flow to hair folicles, shrinking their size, slowly making hair more thin and fragile until eventually they fall out and do not return. Men produce more testostorone than women and therefore have a greater potential to lose more hair than women. If baldness resulting from Androgenetic Alopecia has been present for a number of years there may be no way to restore hair growth.

Androgenetic Alopecia is the most common type of hair loss but there are several others: Traction alopecia - Constantly pulling on the hair will cause it to start falling out. Individuals with pony tails tend to do this quite often. Trichotillomania is loss of hair caused by constantly pulling and bending the hair. This is more common in children than adults. Iron deficiency - is a common cause of hair loss. Excessive fat intake - has been linked to increased incidences of male baldness. Hypothyroidism - one cause may be lack of sleep. Adequate amounts of rest promote healthy hair and hair growth , stress, radiation, chemotherapy, starvation or nutrition depleted diets, birth control pills, blood thinners, gout medication, sudden hormonal changes, fungal infections and ringworm
Make Hair Grow Naturally

Nutrition is a huge factor in healthy hair and hair growth. Studies show that the herbs saw palmetto and licorice root and the mineral zinc can block the destructive effects of DHT on the hair. It has also been found that well balanced, nutritional meals rich in vitamins, minerals and proteins and essential fatty acids are linked to healthy hair. A low fat and moderate calorie intake diet when combined with daily aerobic exercise have been found to lower testostorone levels and therefore significantly lowering DHT which causes hair loss.

It has also been found to lower insulin and stress levels which raise levels of a substance that binds to testostorone, preventing it from circulating through the blood. Only free circulating testostorone can be converted into DHT, causing eventual hair loss. A saturated acid known as Azelaic acid is 90% effective at inhibiting activity resulting in hair loss when combined with zinc. Pumpkin seed extract aids in the breakdown of DHT by the liver. Some unsaturated fatty acids such as gamma linolenic acid have been found effective in preventing hair loss.

Hair loss is a serious condition affecting millions. So many products on the market claim to be the answer to how to make hair grow but in many cases don't give the body what it needs to sustain it naturally. It is important to take the natural approach to hair growth, giving the hair what it needs to grow and be healthy through nutrition, exercise and plenty of rest.
Overlooked Causes of Stress

Remember that stress is anything that triggers the adrenal glands to produce more stress hormones. Blood sugar problems, difficulties with digestion and exercise cause the body to produce more stress hormones. Eventualy the adrenal glands become depleted and exhausted which leads to many other health issues.

Blood Sugar - Skipping meals is very unhealthy because it causes blood sugar imbalance. This effects our ability to focus and think clearly. The biggest problem it creates is a situation where the body holds on to calories because it is starved for energy, preventing the normal burning of fat. Low blood sugar forces the body to compensate by producing more hormones.

Difficulties with Digestion - Digestive difficulties such as hearburn, indigestion, bowel problems, bloating and gas are a serious problem. They cause imflammation and irritation in your stomach. Again, the adrenal glands take action producing a hormone that works as an anti-inflammatory to reduce the inflammation in the stomach. Eventually, they become over burdened which leads to adrenal gland exhaustion.

Exercise - Intense exercise has the potential of adding more stress to your body. The more intense the workout, the more stress hormones are produces. Low to moderate exercise is considered stress reducing. Jogging, dancing, swimmingand walking are great.

Moderate to intense workouts are beneficial if your body isn't dealing with a lot of stress from obvious sources. Your current health due to stress may make low to moderate workouts the best choice for you.

Recognizing where your stress is coming from is essential. If you have only been focusing on work, finances and relationships as the source of your stress, it may explain why you haven't been getting the stress relief you expected through your stress management techniques. These methods of stress reduction will do nothing for your blood sugar, digestion or intensity of exercise
Truth about Vitamin Tablets
There has been an ongoing debate for a number of years regarding the effectiveness of vitamin tablets. Some claim that vitamin tablets are a waste of money because they pass right through the body without being absorbed. In many cases this is true. Whole vitamin tablets have been found in elimination. Because this is a common occurrence It has been suggested that vitamin supplements cannot be absorbed by the body.

The truth is that a healthy digestive system has no problem absorbing nutrition from any source as long as it can be broken down in the stomach. People don't like swallowing horse pills so manufacturers try to make tablets as compact and easy to swallow as possible. The problem this creates is a tablet that is so tightly bound that it cannot be disintegrated and absorbed before it passes through the body.

A good test to see if a vitamin tablet will absorb in your stomach is to try to take a small bite out of it or put a crack in it with your teeth. If it feels like a rock you know it's not going to be absorbed in your stomach. You will find some manufacturers have pharmeuceutical grade vitamin tablets. This means they have been proven to completely breakdown in your stomach within 1/2 hour.

There is a lot of infommercial hype about liquid vitamins being more absorbable than vitamin tablets or capsules. This is true only in the case of the poorly manufactured vitamin tablets that go right through the body. The truth is liquid vitamins may be absorbed more quickly but not more effectively.

The advantage of taking liquid vitamins is not having to swallow pills. The disadvantage may be the taste.This is the first step to choosing effective vitamin supplements. When you have found a company that has a highly absorbably product the next step is to make sure the product contains vitamins from quality sources in adequate amounts per dose.
Supplements & Vitamins for Hair Loss

Vitamin deficiency can be a cause of hair loss, and getting enough of the right vitamins is a very effective hair loss treatment.

People deficient in B vitamins are more likely to have thinning hair, or lose their hair completely. Taking a vitamin B complex daily--particularly one containing B6 and B9 (also known as folic acid) can help preserve the hair you have and put that receding hairline on hold.

Another way to approach the balding issue is to try to improve circulation to the scalp. Vitamin E and CoEnzyme Q-10 aid in this, by increasing oxygen uptake. Also, taking a daily vitamin C supplement will help maintain blood flow to the hair follicles in your scalp, which is very important for healthy hair.
Essential fatty acids like flaxseed oil, primrose oil, and fish oil will keep hair strong, and prevent dry, brittle hairs that break off or split easily. The amino acids L-Cysteine and L-methionine will also better the texture and quality of your hair and boost growth naturally.

Hair Loss Herbs

Herbal hair loss treatments can also be very effective. Specific herb supplements make a great addition to your vitamin regimen, working together to help stop hair loss.

* Algae and seaweed are high in minerals and antioxidants that help prevent balding.
* Gingko biloba increases the blood flow to the brain and skin, bringing extra nutrients to the scalp that will help nourish your hair follicles.
* Ginseng regulates cell metabolism, which may slow hair loss.
* Stinging nettle supplements work to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT (which is the main cause of male pattern baldness).

Essential Oils for Hair Loss

In a recent study, the topical application of essential oils was shown to improve alopecia in almost half of participants, with no side effects. Not only do the particular properties of certain oils used help stimulate growth, but so does massaging the scalp daily (in the application of those oils). As an added bonus, your hair will always smell great!

Add 3 to 4 drops of each of the following to 4 oz of a carrier oil like jojoba, grapeseed, or almond, and massage into your scalp once a day:

* Cedarwood
* Thyme
* Lavendar
* Rosemary

Note: Test a small amount of this mixture on your inner wrist to monitor for allergic reactions before use.

Tips to avoid Hair Loss.

Hair loss is primarily caused through the lack of blood supply to the hair follicle. In order to help prevent hair loss and to counteract mild hair loss, the following actions can be done :-

1) Gently massage your scalp on a daily basis. This should be done in such a manner as to increase the blood circulation without breaking the hair.

2) Add a couple of drops of Rosemary and Black Pepper essential oils to your shampoo bottle. Approx 10 drops rosemary and 5 drops black pepper to each 100ml of shampoo. Both of these products are available from your local health store. These products are vasco dilators and stimulants that will encourage blood circulation to the scalp.

3) A couple of minutes a day with your head lying lower than your heart is also a way to improve circulation.

Avoid any rough towelling, intense heat or hair styles that pull on your hair. Brush gently so as not to break or pull out hair, but at the same time so that the brushing action also massages the scalp.