Is your hairline beginning to recede? Is your hair thinning out and you don’t know why?
Hair loss can be attributed to a variety of reasons from poor diet to side effects from medications, illness and the effects of aging.
But the biggest cause of hair loss is caused by Androgenetic alopecia. This condition is genetic and found in both men and women.
Androgenetic alopecia stems from a testosterone byproduct called dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This testosterone offshoot minimizes hair follicles until the follicles no longer grow hair.
But don’t fret. With the advancement of hair loss restoration technology, people are finding solutions to hair loss.
Here are some effective treatments for a fuller, healthier mane.
1. Hair Replacement Surgery
If you want to replace your hair quickly, you can always opt for a hair transplant. In the old days, hair transplants consisted of unnatural looking plugs that doctors inserted into the scalp.
But today, methods look more natural. Hair specialists can take a hair strip from areas on your head (strip method) that have more hair like the back of the head.
After the doctor surgically removes the hair, they can implant the hair into the scalp where hair is sparse.
Another option is follicular unit extraction (FUE). In this process, grafts are individually done. If you’re completely bald, you can receive FUE extractions from body hair.
The healing process for FUE treatments takes 3-5 days to heal which is faster than the strip method.
The strip method hair loss restoration treatment mentioned above takes around 10 days to heal. However, the strip method and FUE have similar regrowth rates with the strip method growing a little more quickly.
2. Minoxidil Hair Loss Restoration Treatment
Minoxidil is a treatment that’s been on the market for decades. You might recognize its brand name: Rogaine.
Minoxidil is an FDA-approved drug for hair loss that’s used by both men and women. The process of hair growth is slow and it helps retard hair loss as well.
People who use Minoxidil products have seen hair grow on the crown area of the head more often than around the hairline.
A word of warning: The medicine must be used consistently. If you stop using the medication, it’s likely you’ll lose the hair you attempted to spare.
Side effects of the medication include itchiness and chest pains. However, minoxidil is also available in a pill form that claims to treat high blood pressure.
3. Finasteride (Propecia)
Originally created to prevent prostate cancer, Finasteride, also known as Propecia, is an FDA-approved medication that treats hair loss. But does Finasteride work?
Yes. This hair loss restoration drug works by halting the production of the male hormone androgen dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Propecia must be taken for one’s lifetime. If you stop the medicine, hair loss will begin in less than one year.
Some men who take Propecia experience sexual side effects such as a lack of desire and impotency during intercourse.
4. Essential Oil Scalp Massage
There’s nothing like a good scalp massage. Scalp massages make the hair grow when hair follicles are stimulated. And using essential oils such as rosemary, thyme, and lavender for a scalp massage can prevent balding and hair from thinning.
Here’s how to perform an essential oil scalp massage:
- Add 3 drops of rosemary, thyme or lavender oil to your base olive, almond or coconut oil
- Gently massage the mixture into the scalp
- Place a shower cap or plastic bag over your hair to keep the moisture in and the oils absorb into the hair
- After an hour, shampoo your hair with a gentle shampoo
Perform this hair remedy weekly. It’s not only refreshing, relaxing and fragrant, but it will also help stimulate hair growth!
5. PRP Therapy
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy (PRP) is a hair loss restoration treatment where the blood is extracted from an individual, processed and then injected into the person’s scalp.
This therapy has been used since the 1980s for muscle and ligament healing. PRP therapy treatments activate natural hair growth and sustain the growth by boosting the supply of blood to the hair follicle.
They also encourage hair regrowth. The therapy also increases hair thickness along the hair shaft. Sometimes PRP is combined with the use of medication and other hair loss procedures.
6. The Keranique Hair Regrowth System
The Keranique Hair Regrowth System is a women’s hair restoration treatment. It’s an FDA-approved treatment that doesn’t require painful procedures. The Keranique Hair Regrowth System contains three steps to the treatment:
1. Keranique Scalp Stimulating Shampoo
- Shampoo strengthens hair follicles and thickens the hair
- It promotes scalp microcirculation that stimulates hair growth
2. Keranique Volumizing Conditioner
- The conditioner adds volume to fine hair
- It defends hair against breakage and enforces the strength of the hair
- The system improves hair manageability and increases body in the hair
3. Keranique Hair Regrowth Treatment
- It’s made for women looking for long term solutions
- Helps repair severe hair loss.
- The system helps strengthen weak hair follicles and reactivates shrinking hair follicles
7. Capillus Laser Hair Regrowth
You may have heard of Capillus Laser Hair Regrowth and wondered if it’s safe. Here’s more info about the safety of the treatment.
The Capillus is a laser therapy device that’s emitted by laser technology. You wear a cap on your head that prevents the progression of hair loss as a result of Androgenetic alopecia.
It needs to be worn for approximately six minutes per day. If you begin the use at the earlier stages of hair loss, it’s possible to grow hair that has started thinning and it can thwart future hair loss.
The Final Word on Hair Loss Restoration Treatments
You now know seven hair loss restoration solutions to regrow your hair follicles and make your hair stronger, healthier and thicker.
Know that hair loss from Androgenetic alopecia worsens with time. The sooner you start treatment, the more effective the treatment results are likely to be.
Looking for more educational posts on how to have healthy hair? Check out more hair and scalp health posts on our Harcourt Health blog. Or discover a range of topics on Men’s Health, Women’s Health, sex, relationships and more.