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If you have lost a lot of hair lately, if you have more than two months with the same length or if you notice that there is nothing you have done to have more hair, it is likely that you are one of the many people who today d ´ía wonders: how to grow hair ? The truth is that answering this question is more complicated than it is believed, since before believing and starting a myriad of magic remedies it is important to know why hair does not grow.
The stress , chemical treatments, the use of abrasive products such as iron and hair sun exposure without protection are some of the factors that can cause hair loss, loss of nutrients in the hair follicles and stagnation in the growth of hair. Fortunately, there are many treatments that can help reverse these situations if you act on time and with the greatest dedication. If you want to know how to grow hair and show off a great coat, read this eHealth article carefully: we tell you everything you need to know!
Why is the hair not growing?
The dream of long and thick hair can be ruined by many factors, however, of all of them genetics are usually the most common. All hairs on the scalp have a lifespan of between 2 and 6 years and an estimated growth of 1.3 centimeters per month. If you notice that your hair has not significantly changed in length for several months, its useful life may be 2 years. Why? Because hair that has this time of life does not usually grow more than 30 centimeters long, while those that can live up to 6 years without falling out can measure up to five feet, seriously!
When a hair reaches the end of its useful life, it falls out and a new, stronger and more resistant one grows in its place. But for that to happen it is also necessary that your scalp has good blood circulation, that your hair does not have split ends and is healthy. So, if you have had long hair before and only now notice that it does not grow enough, you should take into account other factors that insist on hair growth and that we explain below:
Age and hormonal changes
The passage of time makes your hair grow weaker and fall more easily, this is due to the loss of elastin, a protein that keeps it flexible. Likewise, hormonal changes due to thyroid conditions or menopause can significantly affect the anagen phase of hair, which is nothing more than the growth phase.
Chronic stress
With the pace of life that most people lead today, stress is one of the most common causes of hair loss. Stress can cause negative alterations in the human body of any kind, from illness to inability to control emotions. Those who produce chronic stress often suffer from alopecia or lack of hair growth.
Shabby hair
In some cases the hair grows, but when it reaches a certain length, it falls out without completing its entire life cycle. This is very common and occurs when the hair is weak, dry and withered. The lack of protein in the internal part of the hair, dehydration and pigment changes can cause hair to lose elasticity, shine, shape and modify its internal structure. This is very common due to the abuse of hair dryers and straighteners, thermal tweezers, chemical treatments such as keratin, bleaching, use of ammonia dye, and unprotected sun exposure. It is very difficult for damaged hair to grow in a healthy way.
dermatological problems
Many times the hair does not grow because certain hair follicles have stopped providing the hair with the vitamins and nutrients necessary for it to grow in a healthy way and, therefore, the hair falls out during the growth phase. This can occur due to some type of alopecia or due to a lack of blood supply to the hair follicles of the scalp.
Nutritional deficit
Maintaining a diet low in vitamins and minerals considerably affects hair growth and hair quality. People with some type of malnutrition or anemia tend to have very weak hair that tend to fall out more easily before finishing their growth phase. Lack of iron and vitamin B and diets that cut out some food group can affect hair growth.
How to grow hair
Growing hair in a week or stimulating the scalp to make hair grow faster is impossible. Each hair goes through an anagen (growth) phase that can last between 2 and 6 years and, of course, the longer this phase lasts, the longer the length of the hair will be. Then the catagen phase occurs, in which the follicle stops its activity, growth is paralyzed and lasts 3 weeks. The life cycle of the hair ends in the telogen phase, a stage in which the hair falls out, the follicle rests for 3 months and then the growth phase begins again.
All the hairs on the scalp go through this process, but each one evolves independently, that is, while a hair is in the anagen phase, its neighbor may be in the telogen phase. Accelerating or slowing down this cycle is impossible, it would be like asking the body to digest food faster or dispose of toxins faster. However, we can do a lot to improve follicular activity, blood supply and hair health in favor of having much healthier hair that grows normally and remains elastic and resistant over time.
Tips for growing hair
Enjoying abundant, healthy and shiny hair is not an easy task, but it is not impossible either. Hair reflects a lot the internal health of our body and the care we offer to each strand. Here are a series of tips that will be of great help to strengthen your hair and stimulate healthier growth.
Platelet rich plasma
Blood is made up of white blood cells, red blood cells, plasma, and platelets. Platelets contain growth factors that intervene in skin cell biostimulation and activate proper blood circulation, among other benefits. The plasma rich in platelets with growth factors is widely used today to stimulate the activity of the hair follicles and offer more nutrients and vitamins to the hair through the blood.
What does it consist of? To carry out this treatment, a blood sample is extracted from the patient, which is subsequently placed in a centrifuge. When the fluid is centrifuged, it is possible to separate its parts and thus obtain platelet-rich plasma. Once the plasma of the person is had, a specialist in dermatology will proceed to inject said substance into the scalp to stimulate hair growth and new hair growth through the activation of the follicles and blood supply.
Many are the people who have managed to deal with hair loss through treatment with platelet rich plasma. This technique also offers more hydrated hair, with greater shine, more elastic, strong and resistant to external factors that can mistreat it, such as the sun.
Attend an endocrinologist
Faced with hair loss and growth stagnation, it is important to rule out any nutritional and hormonal disorders. For this reason, if you consider that you have less and less hair and you notice that you have not grown hair for more than six months, we suggest you make an appointment with an endocrinologist to prescribe a series of tests to determine what may be happening in the organism that is affecting hair growth.
Healthy nutrition
Diets, stress and the fast pace of life in which we live today mean that we pay very little importance to what we eat. In food we find everything our body needs to function properly, so do not hesitate to increase the consumption of foods rich in iron and vitamin B to stimulate hair growth. Beets, watercress, spinach, asparagus, red meat, tree tomato, clams, mussels and nuts with an excellent option. Likewise, in case of presenting some type of important vitamin or mineral deficiency, it is vital to consult with your GP about the possibility of consuming a supplement that counteracts said deficiency.
Cut your hair
It may seem ironic that to grow hair you have to cut it, but it is true. The bobby pins and split ends make it easier for the hair to expel the internal protein that keeps it strong and healthy, therefore, it shrivels and begins to open to the roots. That is, hair with split ends is hair about to fall out. For this reason it is vital that you avoid this condition by cutting your hair at least once every two months. You will see that little by little it recovers and, best of all, it will grow with a healthy appearance.
Don’t abuse shampoo and conditioner
Cleaning the scalp is very useful to stimulate blood flow and activate follicular function. However, abusing products that contain abrasive ingredients such as sulfate or sodium can be counterproductive for the health of your hair. For this reason, it is advisable to wash the hair interday and apply a portion of conditioner the size of an almond only from the middle of the hair to the whores.
By washing your hair every day you are removing the natural sebum that the scalp secretes to keep the strands hydrated and strong, which causes the strands to be withered and brittle.
Avoid harmful habits
Sometimes we do not pay attention to the care we offer to our hair, for example, do you dry your hair more than once a week, do you use the iron frequently? Do you detangle your hair in the shower? Excess heat from products such as the iron or the dryer can damage your hair so much to the point of burning it, and a burned hair will not grow correctly. Ideally, you should prefer the dryer over the iron, use it at most once a week and not stick your mouth to the strands.
Also, the way you style your hair can affect its shape and composition. If you comb the hair while it is very wet it is easier for you to pull and break it. The ideal is to detangle it when you have removed the moisture, using a wide bristle comb and starting at the ends until you reach the root.
Another habit that can damage the hair is the excessive use of tails and hooks, as these accessories tend to break the hair, leaving short hairs on the surface of the head that are sometimes considered frizz. And, it does not hurt to remember that bleaching, coloring and straightening treatment are the worst thing you can give your hair if you want it to grow.
Treat your hair well
The use of products that stimulate hair health, such as styling creams, years of cream and strengthening ampoules is very useful so that your hair can grow healthy and with an enviable appearance. It is essential that each product you apply to your hair corresponds to your hair type: oily, dry or mixed. Using rich professional masks and ingredients like vitamin B5 goes a long way to stimulate stronger hair growth.
And at home?
Although home remedies are the least dangerous, they are of great help in maintaining healthy and hydrated hair. Of so many magic solutions that abound on the Internet, we must say that the olive oil mask is an excellent alternative to hydrate the hair and make it shine naturally. The ideal is to moisten the hair with olive oil before washing it and count 30 minutes. Once the time has passed, you can rinse your hair as usual. Applying this mask once a week will give you important results.
Hair loss?
If you notice that your hair falls out very frequently, you leave strands on your pillow and you have a patch or very light area on your scalp, do not hesitate to make an appointment with a dermatologist. There are some types of alopecia that can be reversed if the person is treated on time.
Hello Readers, I am Nikki Bella a Psychology student. I have always been concerned about human behavior and the mental processes that lead us to act and think the way we do. My collaboration as an editor in the psychology area of Well Being Pole has allowed me to investigate further and expand my knowledge in the field of mental health; I have also acquired great knowledge about physical health and well-being, two fundamental bases that are directly related and are part of all mental health.