Many people think that hair loss and thinning hair is exclusively linked to family genetics. The truth is, there are way more causes for these two problems and some of them are our fault. We’ve comprised a list of everyday life habits that may be costing your hair’s health. Check them out!

1. You’re Too Stressed Out 
Each person has their own way of dealing with stress. Stress may stem from an everyday life situation or a traumatic experience. These stressors can disrupt the hair growth cycle and ultimately cause hair loss. It’s best to relax and relieve stress by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and in most cases the lost hair will eventually grow back. Hair loss can happen from six weeks to three months after a traumatic experience.

2. Hot Showers 
When you get home from work, school, etc, the first go-to to relax is taking a hot shower, right? However, these hot showers may be bringing more harm than benefits. The hot water dehydrates not only the skin, but also the hair strands because it washes away your hair’s protective oils, causing brittle, dry hair. Also, the hot water makes the scalp’s pores work even harder to replace what’s been lost, making hair strands more likely to shed. To maintain healthy hair, take the temperature down a little bit and take warm or cool showers instead.

3. Not Washing Hair Often Enough 
Dry shampoo saved your life when you didn’t have enough time to wash your hair that busy week with 5 meetings, right? Oh yeah! Dry shampoo may be convenient but it might not be that great for your hair after all. When you have applied too much product to your hair and haven’t washed it away, it clogs the hair’s pores and it can make difficult for the hair to grow. So, skipping shampoo for a day is not bad, but try not to let it become a habit. Try washing your hair every two days.

4. Mishandling Wet Hair
Some people think after the shower is the perfect time to brush the hair and get rid of all the tangled knots. However, there’s no worst time to mistreat your hair. When the hair is soaked in water, the protective cuticle is raised and therefore the hair is more fragile and likely to break. The best advice here are to comb the hair before entering the shower, dry the hair gently with a soft towel but don’t rub it and if you can’t help combing your hair after the shower, comb it gently with a wide-tooth comb.

5. Styling Tools
Styling tools are great for your looks but not so much for your hair. The scorching temperatures applied to hair when using blow-dryers or flat irons can damage the protective cuticle and the proteins (hair is made of protein) present in your hair, which makes it more likely to break. Try limiting the use of styling tools 2 to 3 times a week and apply a heat-protectant spray before each use.  

6. Tight Ponytails or Up-dos
Ponytails, braids, and up-dos are a life saver when you’re running late, but styling them too tightly can be harmful to your hair. The last thing you want is breakage or scarring, so try wearing your hair down as much as possible and if you feel like wearing a braid or ponytail, make sure it’s not too tight.

7. Sun Exposure
Having sun-kissed highlights is always beautiful and natural, however, too much exposure to UV rays damage the hair since they take away the hair’s elasticity and strength by weakening its cuticle. A good idea is to wear hats that protect your hair from the UV rays or a leave-in conditioner with sunscreen.

8. Bad Diet
Eating too little or too much is never good. Too little food forces the body to direct its food to vital functions, such as breathing and heart beating, and not to hair growing. Eating too much of a specific food or vitamin can also deregulate the body, therefore messing up hair’s growth cycle. Eating healthy is key to having healthy hair since it reflects your health. Eating a diet rich in protein since the hair is 90 percent made of it. If you don’t know exactly how to structure your diet, do not hesitate in contacting a specialist doctor that can help you on your planning.

9. Certain Medications
Some medications to depression, high blood pressure, anxiety and so forth are known to cause thinning hair or hair loss. Even everyday medications such as birth control or thyroid replacement drugs can cause hair loss. The best advice here is to talk to your doctor and ask about alternatives that might decrease the effects of the medication on your hair’s health.

No matter the cause of your thinning hair, Transitions can help you find a hair loss solution that works for you. Visit Transitionsindy.com for a FREE analysis today!





SOURCES:
http://www.prevention.com/beauty/hair/11-bad-habits-make-your-hair-thinner/taking-certain-medications
http://www.grandparents.com/health-and-wellbeing/beauty-and-style/causes-hair-loss
http://www.thefashionspot.com/beauty/315739-avoid-hair-loss-and-breakage-9-bad-habits-that-are-hurting-your-hair/