Hair is much more than fibrous strands, it is the crown that gives your face a beautiful frame. It is that outfit, that no matter how hideous you dress up, makes heads turn amongst a crowd. A good set of thick, lustrous and healthy hair can definitely give your personality a powerful aura. Unfortunately, if you are someone losing hair or facing hair thinning, we feel you! We understand more than just a medical issue, it is a massive blow to one’s confidence and self esteem.
Hence, this article will help you understand the stages of hair fall & why time is hair !
Men and Women both suffer from a common type of progressive hair loss known as Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA). This is usually genetically inherited and progresses with time. Here are the 2 scales to find out at what stage of hair loss you are currently on.
Norwood- Hamilton Scale:
This scale classifies the stages of male pattern baldness.
Stage 1 - No visible hair loss
Stage 2 - Slight temple recession forming an “M” shape
Stage 3 - Deeper recession or early thinning at the crown
Stage 4 - More noticeable bald spots at the front or crown
Stage 5 - Larger balding areas with a thin strip of hair between them
Stage 6 - The bridge of hair between the front and crown disappears
Stage 7 - Severe baldness, leaving hair only the sides and back
Ludwig Scale:
The Ludwig Scale is used to classify female pattern hair loss stages, which is different in terms of pattern. Female thinning and hair loss starts with widening of the partition in a diffuse manner rather than bald spots.
It progresses through 3 stages:
Stage 1- Mild thinning on the crown with a slighter wide part
Stage 2- Increased thinning, with noticeable scalp visibility
Stage 3- Severe thinning, significant scalp exposure but preserved frontal hairline
Unlike men, women are less likely to experience complete baldness. Yet, early treatment is always better to treat hair loss, rather than waiting for the shedding to progressively get worse. The earlier the treatment, the more likely you are to get your hair back.
1. Early Thinning- Is it just normal shedding?:
Hair naturally sheds 50-100 strands per day. The problem arises when you dismiss more shedding as normal shedding. Normal shedding means hair grows back at an equal rate of the amount of hair fall. When you start noticing a widening part, receding hairline and empty temples without any signs of regrowth, then you might be facing hair loss.
2. Noticeable hair loss- The warning signs?:
Your forehead appears slightly larger as your temples thin out , hair at the top starts losing density making scalp more visible. You might start seeing more hair in your shower drain and pillow . The scalp becomes more visible when wet or in bright light.
3. Advanced thinning- the struggle for volume:
In advanced stages of hair fall, the scalp visibility becomes harder to ignore. Density significantly decreases and styling the hair for volume becomes difficult. In women, this shows up as a widening part and in men, it shows up as an m shaped hairline. Hair generally starts looking flatter during this stage. Hair follicles are still active and therefore, it's a good time to start early treatment to get back maximum of the lost hair.
4. Bald patches & severe thinning:
This phase makes hair fall more prominent & harder to conceal. There are noticeable empty areas and the scalp is visible even in normal lighting. The new hair that grows out of the roots is weak and thin. Hair loses its natural pigment and looks faded & lacklustre. Taking action to stop hair from shedding and focussing on growth is of the utmost importance here.
5. Balding- is there a way back?:
There is extensive hair loss, with most of the crown and frontal scalp exposed. Only sparse hair remains. There is little to no regrowth, and whatever new hair grows is extremely thin & weak. Shedding is slow but lost hair is not replaced.
What are some natural ways to escape the matrix of hair fall?
Nourish your scalp - Use a mild, sulfate free shampoo with natural ingredients to avoid stripping your hair off its natural oils and to be as gentle with it as possible. Try scalp stimulating oils such as rosemary or peppermint oil to encourage fresh growth and strengthen roots.
Improve your diet- Eat a diet rich in protein, biotin and iron to stimulate stronger hair from within and to create an optimal internal environment for hair growth. Omegas can improve density and shine. Vitamin D helps form new hair follicles.
Reduce stress- Practice relaxation techniques like yoga and meditation to reduce stress and cortisol levels. Dancing and other aerobic exercises are great for improving blood circulation in the body.
Herbal & ayurvedic remedies- Use herbal remedies like massaging bhringraj and amla oil onto the scalp to stimulate follicles and promote new growth. Aloe Vera gel can help soothe the scalp and reduce dandruff due to its cooling tendency, helping improve scalp barrier.
Reduce use of heat styling tools- During hair fall, your hair is at its weakest and your roots aren’t the strongest to handle all the pulling and tugging caused by heat styling tools like straighteners and curlers. Avoid use of these tools as much as possible and let your hair naturally air dry.
Get enough sleep - A bad sleep schedule can raise cortisol levels, which can directly kill your hair follicles. Lack of rest can disrupt the hormonal balance of your body and cause your hair to shed.