Though not every type of hair loss can be stopped, medications, supplements, and products are among many ways to help stop thinning hair and restore volume.Understanding the cause of your condition is important in helping to prevent hair loss.

1. Protect Your Hair

Adopting healthy hair habits is one way to prevent hair loss. Experts recommend:

2. Natural Products

Though more research is needed, studies show several oils derived fromherbs, seeds, or other natural products are effective for certain types of hair loss. These include:

3. Vitamins and Minerals

There’s still some debate about the exact effect of vitamin or mineral supplements on hair loss. However, researchers know that some of thesedeficienciescan increase the risk of androgenic alopecia (pattern hair loss). Boostingzinc, iron, vitamins D, C, B2 (riboflavin), B9 (folate), and B12, among others, may help.

ConsultationIf you’re thinking about vitamin supplements, talk to a healthcare provider. They can order a blood test to check your vitamin levels and help you determine the proper dosages. Too much of vitamins A and E andseleniumcan spur hair loss.

Consultation

If you’re thinking about vitamin supplements, talk to a healthcare provider. They can order a blood test to check your vitamin levels and help you determine the proper dosages. Too much of vitamins A and E andseleniumcan spur hair loss.

4. Medications

There are several medications for hair loss. Available over the counter (OTC) and applied to the scalp, Rogaine is a first-line treatment for both male- and female-pattern hair loss and potentially helpful forchemotherapy-related hair loss.Available with a prescription, another option is Propecia (finasteride), which comes in topical and tablet forms.

Female Androgenic Alopecia

5. Laser Therapy

Researchers foundlaser therapyeffective for treating hair loss. This treatment exposes affected areas to specialized light beams.This at-home therapy involves daily applications with low-level laser therapy (LLLT) devices like laser-emitting combs, caps, bands, or hand-held light-emitting diode (LED) devices. However, more research is needed.

6. Platelet-Rich Plasma

Plateletsare disc-shaped cells found in the blood that aid in clotting.Injections of platelet-rich blood plasmacan help prevent hair loss. To create platelet-rich plasma, a healthcare provider draws a blood sample and puts it in a machine called a centrifuge that spins it around rapidly. This process concentrates platelets in the sample and it is injected back into the patient.

How to Grow Your Hair as Fast as Possible

7. Quit Smoking

Alongside many other benefits,quitting smokingmay help preserve your hair. Researchers have more work to do, but there’s evidence this leads to earlier onset and more severe cases of pattern balding.

8. Dietary Changes

Since insufficient protein and iron can lead to hair loss, a healthcare provider may recommend boosting these in your diet.Foods rich inproteinand iron include:

Be careful of diets that force you to restrict calorie intake, as malnutrition can lead to hair shedding or rapid hair loss.

Adopting theMediterranean dietwas linked with a later onset of pattern hair loss.This diet emphasizes fresh vegetables, healthy fats, lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, olive oil, nuts, seeds, herbs, and spices.

9. Scalp Massage

10. Manage Stress

Stress or trauma can causetelogen effluvium, a rapid but temporary hair shedding.Healthy ways to cope with stress include:

What Doesn’t Prevent Hair Loss?

Wearing Hats

There are few connections between hat-wearing and hair loss. One study of identical twins found those who wore hats more often had less thinning above the forehead.However, tight-fitting hats may put extra stress on your hair follicles, which can impact hair loss.

Washing Too Much

While you may notice strands in the shower, washing your hair too often doesn’t cause hair loss.But be gentle when washing and drying, and watch forshampoo ingredientsthat can make your follicles more brittle.

Unique Circumstances

Chemotherapy

Along with otherside effects, some types of chemotherapy cause body-wide hair loss. Hairs from the head and other body parts start falling off rapidly about two weeks after starting treatment. However, you can expect hair to regrow two to three weeks after finishing, with the hair often finer at first. It may also be straighter or curlier than before.

Cooling Cap TherapyApplying compresses to cool the scalp during chemotherapy may help preserve hair. Although more research is needed, researchers found this to prevent hair loss and allow hair to regrow quicker in cancer patients.

Cooling Cap Therapy

Applying compresses to cool the scalp during chemotherapy may help preserve hair. Although more research is needed, researchers found this to prevent hair loss and allow hair to regrow quicker in cancer patients.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy for cancercan also cause hair loss, typically around treated areas. In these cases, regrowth takes longer, anywhere from six to 12 months after stopping treatment. If the dosages are high, the hair affected may grow back thinner or not at all.

Postpartum

Hormonal Imbalance

Changes in the levels of several hormones can be at the root of hair loss. These include:

Weight Loss Surgery

Uncontrollable Risk Factors

Autoimmune Diseases

Autoimmune diseases, in which the immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles or skin cells, can also cause hair loss. Alopecia areata, for example, causes permanent hair loss on the scalp, nose, ears, eyebrows, and other parts of the body. In addition,psoriasiscan affect the scalp. Once the latter clears, the hair often grows back.

Hair-Pulling Disorder

Some people experience uncontrollable urges to repeatedly pull out hair ortrichotillomania, sometimes even eating it. A type ofobsessive-compulsive disorder(OCD) more common in young adults or children, the repeated behaviors can cause patches of the scalp to become bald.

Summary

Though some types of hair loss can’t be stopped, there’s a lot you can do to prevent it or slow its progression. Everything from genetics to medications to hormonal changes can lead to hair loss.

Depending on the underlying cause, prevention strategies can include dietary and hair care changes as well as medications or supplements.

24 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Tips for management.Panahi Y, Taghizadeh M, Marzony ET, Sahebkar A.Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: A randomized comparative trial.Skinmed. 2015;13(1):15-21.Ibrahim IM, Hasan MS, Elsabaa KI, Elsaie ML.Pumpkin seed oil vs. minoxidil 5% topical foam for the treatment of female pattern hair loss: a randomized comparative trial.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(9):2867-2873. doi:10.1111/jocd.13976Ezekwe N, King M, Hollinger JC.The use of natural ingredients in the treatment of alopecias with an emphasis on central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia: a systematic review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(8):23-27.Wallace TC.Health effects of coconut oil: a narrative review of current evidence.J Am Coll Nutri. 2019;38(2):97-107. doi:10.1080/07315724.2018.1497562Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A.The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss: A review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019;9(1):51-70. doi:10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6Suchonwanit P, Thammarucha S, Leerunyakul K.Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: A review.DDDT. 2019;13:2777-2786. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S214907Nestor MS, Ablon G, Gade A, Han H, Fischer DL.Treatment options for androgenetic alopecia: Efficacy, side effects, compliance, financial considerations, and ethics.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(12):3759-3781. doi:10.1111/jocd.14537Johns Hopkins Medicine.Platelet-rich plasma injections.Kavadya Y, Mysore V.Role of smoking in androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review.Int J Trichology. 2022;14(2):41-48. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_59_21Gowda D, Premalatha V, Imtiyaz DB.Prevalence of nutritional deficiencies in hair loss among Indian participants: results of a cross-sectional study.Int J Trichology. 2017;9(3):101-104. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_48_16Fortes C, Mastroeni S, Mannooranparampil T, Abeni D, Panebianco A.Mediterranean diet: fresh herbs and fresh vegetables decrease the risk of androgenetic alopecia in males.Arch Dermatol Res. 2018;310(1):71-76. doi:10.1007/s00403-017-1799-zEnglish RS Jr, Barazesh JM.Self-assessments of standardized scalp massages for androgenic alopecia: Survey results.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019;9(1):167-178. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-0281-6Asghar F, Shamim N, Farooque U, Sheikh H, Aqeel R.Telogen effluvium: A review of the literature.Cureus. doi:10.7759/cureus.8320Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coping with stress.Gatherwright J, Liu MT, Amirlak B, Gliniak C, Totonchi A, Guyuron B.The contribution of endogenous and exogenous factors to male alopecia: A study of identical twins.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013;131(5):794e-801e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0b013e3182865ca9Punyani S, Tosti A, Hordinsky M, Yeomans D, Schwartz J.The impact of shampoo wash frequency on scalp and hair conditions.Skin Appendage Disord. 2021;7(3):183-193. doi:10.1159/000512786National Cancer Institute.Hair loss (alopecia) and cancer treatment.Freites-Martinez A, Shapiro J, Goldfarb S, et al.Hair disorders in patients with cancer.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(5):1179-1196. doi:10.3389/fonc.2019.00733American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss in new moms.American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Who gets and causes.Zhang W, Fan M, Wang C, et al.Hair loss after metabolic and bariatric surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Obes Surg. 2021;31(6):2649-2659. doi:10.1007/s11695-021-05311-2American Academy of Dermatology.Thinning hair and hair loss: Could it be female pattern baldness?United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS).Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder).

24 Sources

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Tips for management.Panahi Y, Taghizadeh M, Marzony ET, Sahebkar A.Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: A randomized comparative trial.Skinmed. 2015;13(1):15-21.Ibrahim IM, Hasan MS, Elsabaa KI, Elsaie ML.Pumpkin seed oil vs. minoxidil 5% topical foam for the treatment of female pattern hair loss: a randomized comparative trial.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(9):2867-2873. doi:10.1111/jocd.13976Ezekwe N, King M, Hollinger JC.The use of natural ingredients in the treatment of alopecias with an emphasis on central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia: a systematic review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(8):23-27.Wallace TC.Health effects of coconut oil: a narrative review of current evidence.J Am Coll Nutri. 2019;38(2):97-107. doi:10.1080/07315724.2018.1497562Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A.The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss: A review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019;9(1):51-70. doi:10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6Suchonwanit P, Thammarucha S, Leerunyakul K.Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: A review.DDDT. 2019;13:2777-2786. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S214907Nestor MS, Ablon G, Gade A, Han H, Fischer DL.Treatment options for androgenetic alopecia: Efficacy, side effects, compliance, financial considerations, and ethics.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(12):3759-3781. doi:10.1111/jocd.14537Johns Hopkins Medicine.Platelet-rich plasma injections.Kavadya Y, Mysore V.Role of smoking in androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review.Int J Trichology. 2022;14(2):41-48. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_59_21Gowda D, Premalatha V, Imtiyaz DB.Prevalence of nutritional deficiencies in hair loss among Indian participants: results of a cross-sectional study.Int J Trichology. 2017;9(3):101-104. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_48_16Fortes C, Mastroeni S, Mannooranparampil T, Abeni D, Panebianco A.Mediterranean diet: fresh herbs and fresh vegetables decrease the risk of androgenetic alopecia in males.Arch Dermatol Res. 2018;310(1):71-76. doi:10.1007/s00403-017-1799-zEnglish RS Jr, Barazesh JM.Self-assessments of standardized scalp massages for androgenic alopecia: Survey results.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019;9(1):167-178. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-0281-6Asghar F, Shamim N, Farooque U, Sheikh H, Aqeel R.Telogen effluvium: A review of the literature.Cureus. doi:10.7759/cureus.8320Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coping with stress.Gatherwright J, Liu MT, Amirlak B, Gliniak C, Totonchi A, Guyuron B.The contribution of endogenous and exogenous factors to male alopecia: A study of identical twins.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013;131(5):794e-801e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0b013e3182865ca9Punyani S, Tosti A, Hordinsky M, Yeomans D, Schwartz J.The impact of shampoo wash frequency on scalp and hair conditions.Skin Appendage Disord. 2021;7(3):183-193. doi:10.1159/000512786National Cancer Institute.Hair loss (alopecia) and cancer treatment.Freites-Martinez A, Shapiro J, Goldfarb S, et al.Hair disorders in patients with cancer.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(5):1179-1196. doi:10.3389/fonc.2019.00733American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss in new moms.American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Who gets and causes.Zhang W, Fan M, Wang C, et al.Hair loss after metabolic and bariatric surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Obes Surg. 2021;31(6):2649-2659. doi:10.1007/s11695-021-05311-2American Academy of Dermatology.Thinning hair and hair loss: Could it be female pattern baldness?United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS).Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder).

Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Tips for management.Panahi Y, Taghizadeh M, Marzony ET, Sahebkar A.Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: A randomized comparative trial.Skinmed. 2015;13(1):15-21.Ibrahim IM, Hasan MS, Elsabaa KI, Elsaie ML.Pumpkin seed oil vs. minoxidil 5% topical foam for the treatment of female pattern hair loss: a randomized comparative trial.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(9):2867-2873. doi:10.1111/jocd.13976Ezekwe N, King M, Hollinger JC.The use of natural ingredients in the treatment of alopecias with an emphasis on central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia: a systematic review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(8):23-27.Wallace TC.Health effects of coconut oil: a narrative review of current evidence.J Am Coll Nutri. 2019;38(2):97-107. doi:10.1080/07315724.2018.1497562Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A.The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss: A review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019;9(1):51-70. doi:10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6Suchonwanit P, Thammarucha S, Leerunyakul K.Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: A review.DDDT. 2019;13:2777-2786. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S214907Nestor MS, Ablon G, Gade A, Han H, Fischer DL.Treatment options for androgenetic alopecia: Efficacy, side effects, compliance, financial considerations, and ethics.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(12):3759-3781. doi:10.1111/jocd.14537Johns Hopkins Medicine.Platelet-rich plasma injections.Kavadya Y, Mysore V.Role of smoking in androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review.Int J Trichology. 2022;14(2):41-48. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_59_21Gowda D, Premalatha V, Imtiyaz DB.Prevalence of nutritional deficiencies in hair loss among Indian participants: results of a cross-sectional study.Int J Trichology. 2017;9(3):101-104. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_48_16Fortes C, Mastroeni S, Mannooranparampil T, Abeni D, Panebianco A.Mediterranean diet: fresh herbs and fresh vegetables decrease the risk of androgenetic alopecia in males.Arch Dermatol Res. 2018;310(1):71-76. doi:10.1007/s00403-017-1799-zEnglish RS Jr, Barazesh JM.Self-assessments of standardized scalp massages for androgenic alopecia: Survey results.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019;9(1):167-178. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-0281-6Asghar F, Shamim N, Farooque U, Sheikh H, Aqeel R.Telogen effluvium: A review of the literature.Cureus. doi:10.7759/cureus.8320Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coping with stress.Gatherwright J, Liu MT, Amirlak B, Gliniak C, Totonchi A, Guyuron B.The contribution of endogenous and exogenous factors to male alopecia: A study of identical twins.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013;131(5):794e-801e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0b013e3182865ca9Punyani S, Tosti A, Hordinsky M, Yeomans D, Schwartz J.The impact of shampoo wash frequency on scalp and hair conditions.Skin Appendage Disord. 2021;7(3):183-193. doi:10.1159/000512786National Cancer Institute.Hair loss (alopecia) and cancer treatment.Freites-Martinez A, Shapiro J, Goldfarb S, et al.Hair disorders in patients with cancer.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(5):1179-1196. doi:10.3389/fonc.2019.00733American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss in new moms.American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Who gets and causes.Zhang W, Fan M, Wang C, et al.Hair loss after metabolic and bariatric surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Obes Surg. 2021;31(6):2649-2659. doi:10.1007/s11695-021-05311-2American Academy of Dermatology.Thinning hair and hair loss: Could it be female pattern baldness?United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS).Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder).

American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Tips for management.

Panahi Y, Taghizadeh M, Marzony ET, Sahebkar A.Rosemary oil vs minoxidil 2% for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia: A randomized comparative trial.Skinmed. 2015;13(1):15-21.

Ibrahim IM, Hasan MS, Elsabaa KI, Elsaie ML.Pumpkin seed oil vs. minoxidil 5% topical foam for the treatment of female pattern hair loss: a randomized comparative trial.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(9):2867-2873. doi:10.1111/jocd.13976

Ezekwe N, King M, Hollinger JC.The use of natural ingredients in the treatment of alopecias with an emphasis on central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia: a systematic review.J Clin Aesthet Dermatol. 2020;13(8):23-27.

Wallace TC.Health effects of coconut oil: a narrative review of current evidence.J Am Coll Nutri. 2019;38(2):97-107. doi:10.1080/07315724.2018.1497562

Almohanna HM, Ahmed AA, Tsatalis JP, Tosti A.The role of vitamins and minerals in hair loss: A review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019;9(1):51-70. doi:10.1007/s13555-018-0278-6

Suchonwanit P, Thammarucha S, Leerunyakul K.Minoxidil and its use in hair disorders: A review.DDDT. 2019;13:2777-2786. doi:10.2147/DDDT.S214907

Nestor MS, Ablon G, Gade A, Han H, Fischer DL.Treatment options for androgenetic alopecia: Efficacy, side effects, compliance, financial considerations, and ethics.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2021;20(12):3759-3781. doi:10.1111/jocd.14537

Johns Hopkins Medicine.Platelet-rich plasma injections.

Kavadya Y, Mysore V.Role of smoking in androgenetic alopecia: a systematic review.Int J Trichology. 2022;14(2):41-48. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_59_21

Gowda D, Premalatha V, Imtiyaz DB.Prevalence of nutritional deficiencies in hair loss among Indian participants: results of a cross-sectional study.Int J Trichology. 2017;9(3):101-104. doi:10.4103/ijt.ijt_48_16

Fortes C, Mastroeni S, Mannooranparampil T, Abeni D, Panebianco A.Mediterranean diet: fresh herbs and fresh vegetables decrease the risk of androgenetic alopecia in males.Arch Dermatol Res. 2018;310(1):71-76. doi:10.1007/s00403-017-1799-z

English RS Jr, Barazesh JM.Self-assessments of standardized scalp massages for androgenic alopecia: Survey results.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2019;9(1):167-178. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-0281-6

Asghar F, Shamim N, Farooque U, Sheikh H, Aqeel R.Telogen effluvium: A review of the literature.Cureus. doi:10.7759/cureus.8320

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Coping with stress.

Gatherwright J, Liu MT, Amirlak B, Gliniak C, Totonchi A, Guyuron B.The contribution of endogenous and exogenous factors to male alopecia: A study of identical twins.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2013;131(5):794e-801e. doi:10.1097/PRS.0b013e3182865ca9

Punyani S, Tosti A, Hordinsky M, Yeomans D, Schwartz J.The impact of shampoo wash frequency on scalp and hair conditions.Skin Appendage Disord. 2021;7(3):183-193. doi:10.1159/000512786

National Cancer Institute.Hair loss (alopecia) and cancer treatment.

Freites-Martinez A, Shapiro J, Goldfarb S, et al.Hair disorders in patients with cancer.J Am Acad Dermatol. 2019;80(5):1179-1196. doi:10.3389/fonc.2019.00733

American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss in new moms.

American Academy of Dermatology.Hair loss: Who gets and causes.

Zhang W, Fan M, Wang C, et al.Hair loss after metabolic and bariatric surgery: A systematic review and meta-analysis.Obes Surg. 2021;31(6):2649-2659. doi:10.1007/s11695-021-05311-2

American Academy of Dermatology.Thinning hair and hair loss: Could it be female pattern baldness?

United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS).Trichotillomania (hair pulling disorder).

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