Not only health problems and deficiency symptoms lead to hair loss, but also certain styling and care mistakes that we make almost every day. We reveal which habits promote hair loss.
Alopecia is the technical term for hair loss, which is usually caused by heredity, deficiency symptoms or hormonal fluctuations. It is not uncommon for care and styling habits to be to blame for hair loss. We reveal what you should avoid if you want full and strong hair.
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Am I already suffering from hair loss?
Individual hairs fall out every day when washing, exercising or combing. But when do you start talking about hair loss? “From a medical point of view, hair loss is when a person loses more than 50 to 100 hairs a day . If there is a suspicion that more hair is falling out than normal during the day, a doctor should definitely be consulted to clarify the underlying cause of the hair loss,” says Dr. Murat Dağdelen , specialist in plastic and aesthetic surgery and founder and medical director of DiaMonD Aesthetics in Düsseldorf. In an interview, the expert explained to us how hair loss occurs and what you can do about it.
These habits cause hair loss
1. Tight braids
Even if it is very practical in everyday life to tie a ponytail or a bun, you should always make sure that you do not pull the braid too tight. “With some hairstyles, such as wearing a constantly tight braid, the hair roots become crooked and permanently damaged over time . This means that hair that grows back becomes finer in these areas and can become inflamed or scarred. Ultimately, new hair does not grow back on scarred roots ,” says Dr. Dadelen. A hairstyle that is too tight can therefore have a negative effect on hair growth and the scalp. Wear your hair loose from time to time and treat it to an extra portion of care if you wore it in a braid during the day. For example, you can massage in a revitalizing hair tonic.
2. Wrong hair washing
Do you wash your hair every morning? Then this is where the error lies. Washing your hair too often can dry it out and make it brittle. Especially if you use so-called “cleansing shampoos”, which are supposed to have a deep-cleansing effect. Strong shampooing also throws the scalp out of balance and increases hair loss. However, if you don’t want to do without your morning ritual, then make sure that you use the mildest possible shampoo and wash your hair as gently as possible.
3. Stress
Yes, you read that right. Not only can you damage your hair with your care routine, but also with stress. “In a few cases, illness, high stress and deficiency symptoms are also triggers for hair loss. Women’s hair, in particular, is sensitive to stress, which is due to genes: women’s hair is much thinner and more fragile than men’s hair, ” says Dr. Dadelen . In addition, the androgen level usually increases in stressful phases , which promotes hair loss. In addition, there is a tendency towards an unbalanced diet in times of stress, which then gives your hair the rest.
4. Dye hair
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a tint or highlights – anyone who regularly dyes their hair with artificial hair color damages their scalp and hair roots , which in turn can lead to hair loss. The reason for this are the toxic ingredients contained in the dyes. In the meantime, however, there are also many natural variants such as henna or vegetable colors that are gentler on the hair.
5. Too much heat
You just don’t have the time to air dry your hair? Maybe you should consider it anyway. The strong hair dryer heat is not so good for your hair – especially not if you are already suffering from hair loss. Incidentally, it is even more taxing on the damaged hair if you use curling irons and straightening irons, as these are in direct contact with your hair.
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