Did you use to have thick hair that was full of volume and body? Are you constantly having to clean out your hairbrush? Is your hair dry and brittle? If you answered yes to any of these questions, this one’s for you.
I first noticed I was losing CHUNKS of my hair about a year ago. I talked to doctors about it, and it could be related to anything between stress and having COVID-19 in the past. Stress, of course, is the most “common” cause of hair loss. However, I wasn’t buying it. My hair used to be down to my butt and broke hair ties. Now I’m able to curl it in just one layer; therefore, I decided to do some of my own research and trial and error.
Common causes of hair loss
According to the American Academy of Dermatology (ADD), hair loss can be a symptom of far more things than just stress. I know college can be crazy, but I have not been losing my mind in stress for over a year. It can be several things including hereditary, age, medication you’re taking, a hormonal imbalance, wearing your hair up too much, too little iron or protein, etc. After taking these reasons into account, I started my trial-and-error process and have seen significant improvement. Here are some ways to thicken your hair back up.
1. Change your shampoo and conditioner
This might seem like an obvious solution, but with so many options it can get overwhelming on which ones to buy. Here are some good options to start with. They can get fairly expensive, but there is a wide range starting from the OGX Biotin & Collagen Extra Volume Extra Strength Shampoo from Ulta ($8.99), to the Nioxin kit ($45), which is what I have been using for about three months, and I have already noticed a difference. The hard part about this is that it’s a very slow process; you won’t be able to tell a difference until a few weeks in with the new shampoo and conditioner.
2. Use a leave-in conditioner
The Nioxin kit that I mentioned before actually has a scalp and hair leave-in treatment. After you’re done washing your hair, you put the foam in the roots, massage it around and leave it in! In addition to this, there are leave-in conditioner sprays such as the Kristen Ess brand found at Target. Not only does this make it easier to brush through your hair, but it adds a shine and soft texture after the hair is dry.
3. Use a wide-toothed comb instead of a hairbrush
I find the comb (especially a wooden one) to be an essential hair tool if you want to get rid of tangles from wet hair. It reduces damage and breakage to your hair that can be caused by brushing too hard or too quickly with a regular hairbrush. The wide spaces in the comb glide through your knots smoother than the bristles of a brush would. It’s usually better to start from the bottom and comb from underneath the tangles instead of above, so you don’t end up pulling at the roots of your hair. This is beneficial for all hair types but especially curly hair.
4. A scalp massager is lifechanging
You can literally get a scalp massager on Amazon for super cheap. It offers so many benefits for your scalp and hair when used in the shower with your haircare products. It exfoliates your scalp, which gets rid of product buildup and dead skin; reduces tension/stress; helps you produce less dandruff and allows the hair products you use to be applied evenly throughout your head.
5. Hair skin and nails vitamins
Lastly, the change I made that helped grow back my hair, is to take daily hair skin and nails vitamins. The vitamin gives you Biotin which is crucial for metabolism regulation and function of the nervous system. The nutrient is also essential for healthy hair, skin and nails.
I missed my thick hair, and, by making these changes, I can already see baby hairs coming in at my scalp to replenish the ones I lost. We’re too young to be worried about thinning hair! Get your thick and luscious hair back!