How to Avoid Hair Fall When It's in Your DNA

So, your mom has thin hair and your dad is balding. It sounds like you got the short end of the genetic lottery stick. Unfortunately, by its very nature, hereditary hair loss is not something you can dodge. However, you can hold it off and keep your hair healthy for many years by avoiding unhealthy haircare habits and some external factors. Here are some tips on how to avoid hair fall so you can keep your hair stronger and longer even if genetic hair loss is inevitable.

While hereditary hair loss is more common in men, women can also experience it. Female pattern baldness stems from genetic or hormonal influences, which dictate how old you’ll be when you start losing your hair, how fast you lose it, and the pattern or extent of hair loss. According to the American Academy of Dermatology, some genes cause hair follicles to shrink and eventually stop growing hair in this type of hair loss.

For women at risk, this may begin at the age of 30 and become noticeable at 40. It can also worsen after menopause. However, hair thinning is also a typical side effect of aging, and most women over 50 will experience some degree of hair loss, hereditary or not. Luckily, the severity of thinning isn’t as bad in women as it is in men, and lost hair is usually replaced, albeit with thinner and less pigmented strands.

Your best bet against hereditary hair loss is fortifying your hair so that you don’t get premature or unnecessary hair loss from other causes. The AAD notes that hair loss is when something completely stops hair from growing. In this case, it’s hereditary.

Therefore, it’s essential to avoid subjecting your hair and scalp to other factors that can cause hair loss. These include immune system issues, medications, harsh products, bad hair habits, and other illnesses. The AAD notes that in the case of non-hereditary hair loss, the hair will not grow unless the cause stops. To keep as much of your hair as long as possible, follow these tips on how to avoid hair fall:

Look out for stressors. Intense stress and pressure such as divorce, loss of a job, or even something joyful like childbirth, can trigger hair loss. According to the AAD, when the stress stops, the shedding will also stop, and most people regain normal fullness in six to nine months.

Take it easy on the chemical treatments. Hair coloring, perming, straightening, and other chemical treatments not only damage your hair cuticle but also damage your hair follicle if done incorrectly or too frequently. If you’re genetically predisposed to hair loss, minimize these treatments or invest in an intensive hair care regimen to strengthen your hair. Dove Hair Fall Rescue+ Keratin Tri-Silk Serum Shampoo cares for both the hair and scalp to help prevent hair fall. It fortifies each strand from root to tip with DynaZinc Complex to prevent shedding.

Stop pulling on your scalp. Sometimes hair falls out because you are pulling it out, plain and simple. It’s one of the causes of hair fall in women. According to the AAD, wearing these tight ponytails or headbands too often can lead to traction alopecia, a form of permanent hair loss. Choose loose hairstyles and gentle hair accessories to avoid damage and pulling at your hair and scalp.

Have a balanced, hair-friendly diet. Consume foods rich in biotin, iron, protein, or zinc. These include eggs, fish and shellfish, lean meats, whole grains, dairy, and nuts. 

Keep your scalp happy. Scalp infection is another common cause of hair loss. Keep your scalp healthy by practicing good hygiene and seeking medical help once you notice an infection. Check if your scalp has scaly, inflamed areas on the skin.

If too much of your scalp starts to show, use TRESemme Root Touch-up Spray for Dark Brown Hair for instant root coverage. Simply spray on the root areas, lightly blend with the hair with a fine comb, and allow to dry.

Follow these expert recommendations on how to avoid hair fall and help strengthen your hair even with imminent genetic hair loss.