When you notice symptoms like hair loss and brittle hair, you immediately think of damaged hair follicles. Damaged hair follicles can occur for various reasons, including a poor diet, a lack of vitamins and poor haircare practices. Too much exposure to the sun, inappropriate heat styling tools and some medical problems can also contribute to hair loss.
Damaged hair follicles can be a tricky problem, no matter what the cause. If the damage to your hair follicles proves to be irreversible, as is sometimes the case, then they won’t produce new hairs. Keep reading to learn what causes hair follicle damage and how you can protect yourself against it.
What Exactly Is A Hair Follicle?
The hair follicle is the skin’s epidermis that contains a tunnel-shaped structure. Hair begins to develop at the base of a hair follicle. Protein cells make up the hair root, sustained by the blood that flows through adjacent blood veins. Hair grows out of the skin and hits the surface when more growth occurs. The oil that nurtures the skin and hair is produced in the sebaceous glands around hair follicles.
What Is A Damaged Hair Follicle?
Hair growth, which occurs in three phases, is controlled by the hair follicles. These follicles also determine your hair type. When follicles are compromised, your hair development cycle slows down.
Hair follicles become damaged when they aren’t properly nourished. They become increasingly thin until they eventually fall off your head. When this happens, you lose hair and develop baldness.
What Causes Hair Damage?
We have seen that hair is damaged by a lack of proper nutrition. Other causes include hormone imbalances, exposure to harsh temperatures and over-styling. The latter takes in such unhealthy habits as the overuse of heat styling tools and excessive brushing.
How To Protect And Fix Your Hair Follicles
It’s critical to act swiftly when it comes to preserving your hair follicles from harm. Put simply, the longer you wait to address hair follicle damage, the more difficult it will be to repair the damage and protect your hair.
Since hair follicle damage is due to several factors, there is no one-size-fits-all solution to protect your hair. That said, the techniques below can help you protect your hair and promote healthy hair production.
Avoid Tight Hairstyles
You are more likely to harm your hair follicles if you use cornrows, extensions, or a slicked back across your scalp. Switch to a haircut that exerts less pressure on the roots of your hair and eases the tension on your hair follicles. Similarly, you should disregard harsh hold gels, waxes and other hair products that might cause harm to your hair.
Wash Your Scalp To Eliminate Build-up
Cleaning your hair regularly is essential for more than just the overall appearance of your hair. It also keeps your hair and scalp follicles healthy by preventing the accumulation of oil and dead skin cells on the scalp. If you have an oily or greasy scalp, you might need to wash your hair more frequently.
To keep your scalp and hair in perfect condition, use a shampoo specially designed to boost hair development. Make sure the solution is chemical-free to reduce further harm.
Eat A Healthy Diet
Consuming a well-balanced diet can help your hair follicles get the nourishment they need for healthy hair development. The best high-nutrient foods are fish, eggs, avocados, almonds, red meat and leafy greens. Certain hair growth supplements can also provide your body with the nutrients it requires to nurture healthy hair follicles.
Use Leave-In Conditioners
You can apply a leave-in conditioner to repair damaged hair follicles. Although products differ, you typically leave a deep conditioner on your hair for 20–30 minutes. This helps with smoothing and sealing hair cuticles. It also helps retain moisture balance. Do this regularly to completely repair hair follicle damage.
Apply Essential Oils
You can use certain oils on your hair to condition it. This prevents hair damage caused by recurrent inflammation and drying.
Oils can also protect the hair from harsh substances by filling the gaps between the cuticles. Coconut oil, for example, can help in the reduction of protein loss in both damaged and untreated hair. Coconut oil is superior to vegetable oils because of its low molecular weight, which allows it to penetrate the hair shaft more easily.
Conclusion
Hair follicles are essential for hair growth. When follicles suffer damage, they fail to generate hair, and your hair production cycle slows down. Use the strategies above to repair and prevent hair follicle damage but consult a dermatologist if you have any specific problems or home remedies don’t work.
The hair restoration experts at Vinci Hair Clinic are here to help if you are experiencing hair loss or thinning. Book a free, no-obligation consultation today and take that first step on the road to better hair!
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