Everyone wants healthy and luxurious hair, but there are things you may be doing in your daily life to contribute to poor hair health. If you notice that your hair starts to look dull, lacks shine, or is beginning to thin in certain areas, you’re not alone. Men and women of all ages struggle with various types of hair-related challenges.

Thankfully, there are strategies you can use at home to enhance your look and improve the wellness of your hair and scalp. In this guide, we’ll tell you why it’s important to take good care of your hair, as well as the signs of healthy vs. unhealthy hair. We’ll also explain how to improve hair health during your everyday routine, so you can enjoy optimum hair and scalp health.

Healthy, full hair enhances your overall appearance and makes you more confident. Unfortunately, poor hair health affects your general wellness. Dehydrated and dry hair can become brittle and start to break, and when breakage occurs, it can be difficult to grow your hair or keep it looking full. An unhealthy scalp can also contribute to hair loss or make it difficult to grow new hair in the future.

There’s a big difference between healthy and unhealthy hair. Typically, healthy, well-hydrated hair looks both lustrous and shiny. If you have good hair health, natural oils will keep each layer of your hair from becoming too dry or brittle. It’ll also resist tangling and snarling, which helps to prevent breakage. When your locks don’t retain enough moisture through natural oils or through the help of hair products, they’ll begin to look dull and frizzy. Unhealthy hair won’t grow as long or as fast as hair in excellent condition.

Healthy hair is associated with looking full and thick from the front of the head to the back. There are no patches or thin areas. While thickness of hair does vary depending on your genetics, it will continue to grow at the same rate all over your scalp when it’s healthy.

Dehydrated hair is just one contributor to poor hair health. A possible symptom of unhealthy hair is thinning or loss. Some people are susceptible to hair loss such as androgenetic alopecia because it is genetic and runs in their family. However, symptoms like hair loss, dull hair, or thinning can also be linked to other common lifestyle considerations.

Additional factors that contribute to having poor hair health include:

• Age: The potential for poor hair health increases with age. Hair follicles get smaller. Sebum production also declines, which decreases moisture.
• Gender: Both men and women are susceptible to poor hair health. This includes the potential for thinning and loss. However, men are more likely to see more rapid and significant hair loss.
• Stress: Stress symptoms that occur due to significant life changes or burnout can lead to thinning and hair loss. It is also possible to experience poor hair health due to emotional or physical trauma.

Other causes of hair loss can be mitigated by changes to your lifestyle. You can start by considering what you eat, as well as whether you’re getting enough vitamins and minerals. Getting the right amount of sleep can help to reduce stress and enhance overall wellness, while exercising increases blood flow in the body. You should also know how smoking contributes to poor hair health and hair loss.

Some causes of hair loss and poor hair health may require a doctor’s advice. However, there are certain lifestyle issues that can also lead to unhealthy hair. By and large, these can be controlled and monitored at home. First, consider your regular diet. Without the right vitamins, minerals, and nutrients in your meals, your scalp won’t receive what it needs to help your hair grow.

According to Medical News Today, your hair and scalp need 13 different vitamins to stay strong and shiny. These include the basic vitamins A, C, D, E, and K. You’ll also need to eat a variety of foods that are rich in the B-complex group, which includes the vitamins B2, B3, and B12. Vitamin D is also linked to hair health and hair loss and can be found in whole grains, low fat milk, and fortified orange juice. Get your B-complex vitamins from eggs, nuts, and soybeans. Dark leafy greens, carrots, and cauliflower are also excellent dietary sources.

If you smoke cigarettes, you may want to know the answer to the big question: Does smoking cause hair loss? Unfortunately, smoking does damage hair. The chemical nicotine, which is found in all types of cigarettes, is known to restrict blood vessels and reduce the degree of blood flow throughout the body. This includes the scalp, which needs plenty of blood flow to stimulate healthy hair growth.

Without the right amount of blood flow, hair follicles can’t get the nutrients and oxygen they need to survive. When you smoke regularly, you may notice that your hair is thinner than usual or begins to fall out. Thankfully, stopping smoking can reverse the damage to blood vessels and get your hair growing again.

With the rise in vaping, some people wonder if eCigarettes have the same negative impact on hair follicles. Since vaping is newer than smoking regular cigarettes, there still needs to be more research on the topic. However, preliminary research suggests it has the same effect on blood vessels and blood flow as traditional smoking. When in doubt, steering clear of smoking altogether can contribute to the healthy, full, and shiny hair you desire.

Now that you know more about unhealthy hair and how to prevent it, you’ll be empowered to start on the road to healthier hair. Thankfully, there are many strategies you can use to help get you there. First, talk to your doctor if you think you are having trouble keeping your hair healthy or if you have the signs of a common hair loss condition, such as male pattern baldness. Reduce stress by eliminating unnecessary activities and demands from your schedule. You can also try doing relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, or meditation.

You may also want to make an appointment with a physician if you have a medical condition or are experiencing rapid hair loss. It’s also essential to quit smoking and eat healthier. In addition to caring for your general wellness, try drinking more water. While your hair may start to look better, your entire body will also stay more hydrated. You can also choose a trendy hairstyle to make your mane look thicker. Each of these activities are simple to try, but men and women who have hair thinning or loss may be interested in a different strategy.

When your hair won’t improve with dietary changes or reduced stress, you can address unhealthy hair on a different level. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT), also formerly known as low-level light treatment (or LLLT), can help treat hair loss and promote hair regrowth in people who suffer from hair loss due to heredity. Alternatively, it can be used to revitalize damaged hair follicles.

Laser technology has been used since the 1960s to treat a variety of conditions, such as alopecia and chronic pain. When it comes to hair health specifically, the red light used in photobiomodulation or low-level laser therapy has been shown to be effective in energizing and stimulating cells within the hair follicle, which makes it an ideal option for both men and women who are living with hair health challenges or for those who have male pattern baldness. Best of all, this type of treatment has no reported adverse side effects, does not require the use of any medications, and is physician recommended to treat hair loss.

Now that you know more about photobiomodulation therapy, you may be interested in incorporating the technology into your wellness plan. Some of our most popular options are our therapy caps, which help reverse signs of hair loss, offering a drug-free option for men and women looking to promote hair regrowth. Our CapillusPro^TM is an FDA-cleared, clinically-proven laser therapy cap to treat hair loss. The photobiomodulation, aka low-level laser technology, in the laser therapy cap will also work to improve the health of your hair follicles, penetrating your scalp more effectively devices on the market that feature only Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

Plus, each of our laser therapy caps looks just like a regular hat, so you can wear it anytime. This includes downtime at home or when you’re on the go. No matter where your work, family, or hobbies take you, you can receive the laser therapy you desire. You won’t need to wear it for long—six minutes per day is all you need to promote healthier hair follicles and help regrow hair. Use it while you check emails, make a phone call, or have a cup of coffee. You’ll also enjoy a comfortable, flexible fit, and various levels of follicle stimulation, from 410 to1360 mW of total light therapy output.

No matter which laser therapy cap you choose, there are ways you can enhance your results. Our line of Cap+^® Hair Care Products for overall scalp health is the perfect complement. These clinical hair therapy products use high-quality hair care ingredients to cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize hair for enhanced scalp wellness. As you begin to use these products, you can also shop our Cap+^® Volumizing Keratin Brush, which includes cosmetic products that provide instant coverage and fuller hair in seconds. Conceal areas of thinning to enjoy a healthier look as soon as possible.

SHOP OUR LASER THERAPY CAPS & HAIR CARE PRODUCTS

No matter your age or gender, everyone needs to make lifestyle changes from time to time. Before poor hair health starts to affect your quality of life or your confidence, it’s time to take action. Vast improvements have been made in the field of hair growth and hair loss, which makes laser therapy caps and low-level laser therapy so exciting. Best of all, our laser therapy cap, hair care products and brush for applying keratin hair fibers make it easier and more convenient than ever to get the hair you’ve always wanted.