How to Reduce Hair Shed

Everyone’s hair sheds now and again. As part of the hair cycle, it’s normal to shed anywhere from 50 to 100 hairs daily. But if you’re losing more than that, it’s important to take steps to reduce hair shed. Keep reading as we cover several ways to turn things around starting today.

Stay Away from Tight Hairstyles

Do you normally wear your hair in tight hairstyles? This could be the culprit behind your excessive shedding. Whenever your hair is pulled too tightly, especially over a long-term basis, this can put undue pressure on your hair follicles and result in strands falling out before they should.  

A good way to determine whether this is the problem is to look at where the shedding is concentrated. If your hairstyle of choice is a low ponytail, you may see thinning around the perimeter of your head. For tightly braided hairstyles, the thinning would be situated along your parts. 

Choose hairstyles that allow your hair to hang freely. Reducing follicular stress can reduce shedding in some cases.

Get Your Stress Levels Under Control

Those who are under long-term stress are at higher risk of increased hair shedding and even hair loss. A condition that is often seen with uncontrolled stress is telogen effluvium. It’s when many of your hair strands stop growing and fall out at the same time. This could explain the extra hair you see in your brush or comb.  

Here are a few things you can try to better manage stress:

• Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep every night.

• Whenever you’re starting to feel stressed, take some time for yourself.

• Eat healthy meals at regular intervals.

• Reach out to friends and loved ones when necessary.

Massage Your Scalp

Another way to reduce hair shed is to massage your scalp a few times a day. Doing so will increase blood circulation in your scalp, feeding your follicles and supporting their health. The best part about this remedy is that you don’t need fancy equipment or supplies. All you need is your fingers and 5 minutes.

For the best results, use only the pads of your fingers (not your nails) and do very small circular motions.

But if you want to take things a step further, consider essential oils, like rosemary oil. Just add a few drops of essential oil to your favorite carrier oil, apply the diluted mixture to your fingertips, and begin massaging your scalp. Focus on problem areas, but don’t be afraid to massage your entire scalp each time. It should take about 5 minutes to finish a single massaging session.

So, there you have it – how to reduce hair shed. In addition to these remedies, reach out to a dermatologist in your area. They have the tools and training to help you pinpoint the reason behind the shedding. They’ll then draft a plan of action to get your hair back to a healthier state. And if you haven’t already, we encourage you to check out Daily Dose to make your hair styling routine easier and promote hair health at every turn. We hope you found all the information you were looking for, and we wish you the best with your hair!

Author: Andrea Reyes

Andrea is a mother, wife, writer, and natural hair enthusiast of 15 years. Currently on her natural hair journey, she’s been trying countless products and techniques to understand and embrace her natural hair. She is the creator of NaturallyTextured.com, a new website featuring informative articles that share tips, tricks, and techniques aimed to help others learn to love their hair through proper hair care. She writes with the hope of making hair care easier to understand and implement.