7 Ways to Deal with Thinning Hair ...

1. Protein Please

One of the most important ways to deal with thinning hair is to be sure your diet isn’t the culprit. If your diet is lacking important vitamins, minerals or protein, then your hair will start to suffer pretty quickly. One thing you should make sure you’re getting plenty of is protein. Protein is essential to healthy hair growth, maintenance and strength. Hair is made of collagen fibers which are derived and made from easy to absorb proteins. Many vegans may struggle with getting enough easy-to-absorb sources of protein. Grains and beans aren’always the best source, which means vegans should turn to foods like hemp, chia, sprouted brown rice protein, and pea protein instead. These are all fantastic, easy- to- absorb plant-based sources of protein. For omnivores, the best options for your hair include fish, eggs, organic Greek yogurt and organic, raw whey protein from grass fed cows. These are better sources of protein for your body than meat, which is harder to digest for some, making it harder the body to absorb protein. This isn’t the case for everyone, but may be for some. If you’re lactose intolerant, don’t turn to vegan sources of yogurt for the same protein benefits. Most non-dairy sources of yogurt and milk lack protein and you should seek another vegan option instead.

2. B Vitamins

Another key nutrient source for your hair is B vitamins. Eating plenty of Vitamin B rich foods is the best way to prevent hair from thinning. These include avocados, nuts, seeds, nut and seed butters, organic Greek yogurt, eggs, fish, chicken( organic is best), nutritional yeast and whole grains. Oats are particularly a good source, and gluten-free oats are available if you’re gluten-intolerant. B vitamins help hair to grow, and help prevent it from breaking and thinning. Biotin, an important B vitamin is one of the best vitamins for your hair and you can take it as a supplement alongside your Vitamin B rich foods.

3. Eat Fat

Yes, I’m telling you to eat more fat! I’m a huge advocate of healthy fats in a woman’s diet, and just hate all the “low fat” talk we hear. Sure, you don’t want to eat fat all day long in large amounts, but fat is so good for you! It’s especially great for your hair too, so long as you stick to the healthy fats, of course. Fat can help your hair grow, help it to stay shiny, and help keep it from breaking and thinning. One important issue with fat that many people forget, is fat helps your body absorb vitamins and minerals. Without fat, all the healthy foods and vitamins in the world won’t help you. It’s best to eat a little fat every time you eat, or even more than a little. The best sources of fat for your skin, hair and weight, are raw nuts and raw seeds, raw nut and seed butters, raw coconut butter and coconut oil, unsweetened shredded coconut, avocados, olive oil, hemp oil, fatty fish like salmon, and even butter from grass-fed cows in small amounts.

4. Get a Checkup

After you’ve made sure your diet is healthy, you should also have a good check up with your doctor for health issues that might be causing your hair to thin. I found that when I wasn’t getting enough calories, my hair started thinning majorly. As I started to eat more calories, specifically healthy fats and protein, I found it wasn’t hard at all for my hair to grow back thicker. Luckily, I had no medical issues, but if you eat plenty of calories and enough of the right nutrients above, and find your hair is still thinning, check in with your doctor. There may be health tests he can run such as thyroid tests that can verify an underlying health issue isn’t to blame.

5. De-stress

Did you know that too much stress can make your hair thin? We all joke about being so stressed our hair falls out, but it’s actually very true. Too much stress actually taxes the adrenal glands, and pumps excess cortisol into the body, which breaks down proteins and vitamins that can cause your hair to thin. It’s an ugly cycle that’s hard to break. To make sure you’re not stressed to the point of your hair falling out, be sure you unwind each day. I find that making sure I get enough rest, doing yoga, taking walks, long hot showers, and eating well all help me to do this. Even just a few minutes of silence during the day in small doses can help. You can also take supplements such as magnesium, a calcium/magnesium complex, and a B vitamin complex to combat stress too.

6. Styling Smarts

If you are harsh on your hair while styling it, this may be another reason your hair is thinning. One tip that I’d give every gal out there trying to deal with thinning hair, is to stop pulling on it so much during brushing and combing while it’s wet. Your hair is more susceptible to damage when it’s wet than any other time. It took me years to finally start listening to this piece of advice from my hairdresser, but I’m so glad I finally did. Now, I comb my hair just once to detangle it when wet, then dry it with my dryer for just about 2 minutes to get rid of the excess water. I also don’t tug on it with a comb or brush while doing this. My hair starts to look slightly wavy at this point, and then I just pin it on top of my head and let it air dry. After it’s dry completely, I can brush it and style it however I want. I’ve noticed fewer strands falling out just from doing this, and it’s made a huge difference in my hair’s health and growth process.

7. Antioxidants

If you’re eating enough healthy fats and proteins, then you’re off to a good start nutritionally, but I’d also advise you to look at your other foods to make sure you’re getting enough antioxidants in your diet. Certain foods like carrots, sweet potatoes, blueberries, acai berries, goji berries, raw cacao ( raw chocolate powder or nibs), blackberries, spinach, kale, red bell peppers, Swiss chard and fresh herbs are all some of the richest source of antioxidants you can consume. These foods are brimming with Vitamin A in the form of beta-carotene, which is essential to your hair and skin’s health, or many of them are rich in Vitamin C, another top antioxidant for your hair and skin health. Berries are loaded with anthocyanins which are fantastic for your whole body and are some of the most antioxidant rich compounds you can consume. A diet rich in antioxidants is key to heart, skin, and hair health, not to mention brain and body health. Load your plate up with antioxidants, protein and healthy fats each time you eat. You’ll likely notice beautiful hair, skin and nails in no time. As a bonus, your energy will be sky high too!

Now, let me hear from you ladies! If you’ve ever found a trick to helping your hair stay nice and thick, or to help keep it healthy, I’d like to hear how. What’s your best hair tip for preventing thinning, breaking or splitting?