What can you do to combat hair loss naturally?

Preventing hair loss: the basic principles

Whether temporary or permanent, hair loss is an issue that at some stage in life affects a great many people. While it may be pathological, it can also affect a person’s sense of well-being. Losing your hair can damage your self-confidence too.

To avoid this situation, follow our advice for stimulating growth and regaining a luxuriant head of hair: eat the right diet and take high quality nutritional supplements.

What causes hair loss?

There are several different factors behind hair loss including genetics, heredity or hormones.

Classic baldness or androgenic alopecia, for example, is particularly common in men as they get older. Alopecia areata, on the other hand, is an auto-immune condition that causes hair to fall out in patches, which can be very distressing.

In addition, changes in season, stress, poor diet, pregnancy … all affect skin appendages such as the hair and nails. These factors primarily act in two ways: they hasten the natural death of the hair, which then falls out, or they prevent it from growing.

Which elements are necessary for a healthy head of hair?

Though you can buy shampoos enriched with antioxidants or plant oils, we would once again stress that diet is the number 1 remedy..

In order for hair to grow healthily, it needs to be nourished – primarily with keratin, the protein of which it is mostly composed. To ensure good keratin production, the body needs vitamins, trace elements and various amino acids. Scientific research has shown that in the case of many of these elements, deficiency can lead to excessive hair loss (1).

The essential role of vitamin B8 (biotin)

Vitamin B8, or biotin, has a proven role in stimulating hair regrowth. (2) Nutritional supplements like Biotin or Keranat, are excellent sources, and the latter also includes powerful molecules such as miliacin and ceramides.

Bonus: nourishing your hair from within in this way can also have beneficial effects on your skin, and possibly your nails so it would be a shame not to try it.

Other vitamins with beneficial properties

The role of other vitamins has not been formally approved. Some people may find they need vitamin A for adequate sebum production and hair renewal. It is found in carrots, sweet potatoes, squash and offal, and at optimal levels in specially-formulated supplements (Carottol™).

Vitamins C and E are known for their antioxidant effects. Some studies therefore suggest supplementing with these vitamins in order to reduce oxidative stress, a significant cause of hair loss. (3) Vitamin C is found in all citrus fruits, strawberries, mangos and coloured fruits in general, as well as in peppers, etc (and in the supplement Liposomal Vitamin C). As for vitamin E, it is present in dried fruit and grains, vegetable oils and avocados (as well as in the supplement Natural E 400). (3)

And according to one study, vitamin D may help to create new hair follicles. Good sources are oily fish, egg yolk and dairy products (or a supplement like Vitamin D3 5000 IU). (4)

Trace elements necessary for healthy hair: zinc, selenium...

Certain trace elements with officially-recognised effects are also needed for healthy hair. They include zinc, an essential nutrient for hair growth and repair. It is found in foods such as oysters, wheatgerm, offal, seafood and shellfish. For an optimal intake, try a supplement such as Zinc Orotate.

And don’t forget about selenium (L-Selenomethionine), another mineral which clearly plays a role in maintaining healthy hair.

With regard to iron, it’s known that anaemia and its associated lack of oxygen can lead to baldness. Iron is found in red meat and offal, lentils, seafood and dried beans, or in concentrated supplements (such as Iron Bisglycinate). Before taking an iron supplement, however, consult your doctor to make sure you are definitely are deficient. (5)

As you can see, adopting a varied, balanced diet will help you maximise your chances of achieving and maintaining a luxuriant head of hair. Hair loss is a sensitive subject and it’s best to address it before it becomes a real problem. Before you consider a hair transplant, try natural solutions: a good shampoo, the right diet, high-quality supplements (for example, the excellent Daily Beauty, which combines a large number of hair-beneficial nutrients)... You might be really surprised by the results.