5 Natural Remedies To Stop Hair Shedding

Hair shedding can become  bothersome if its excessive. If it is excessive then you would want to try and stop it before it leads to noticeable hair loss. The average person loses between 50-150 strands of hair per day. This of course is going to vary depending on age, growth cycle and regular hair maintenance.  If you hair isn't getting the t.l.c.  that it needs you may be inclined to see more shedding. Whether your hair is naturally fine and oily or coarse and porous you should have some sort of routine hair regimen to try and prevent shedding from occurring. 

When I first started to notice abnormal hair shedding it was about three years ago and at the time I was chemically relaxing my hair. Slowly my crown and hair line begin to almost vanish as my hair shed heavily everyday. I decided to stop using chemicals and allow my hair to simply be "natural". After lots of long hours on Google and tons of money spent on various hair products I finally realized that mother nature had the answer to my prayer. I needed my hair to grow back and I didn't want to put any more chemicals in my hair. I had heard the horror stories of some painful treatments that people endure when experiencing hair loss and I did not want to fall victim to that.

The following are very simple, inexpensive, painless ways that you can prevent or reduce excessive hair shedding. Keep in mind that hair sheds naturally, but if you begin to notice your hair is becoming thin or bald spots appear then you might want to spring into action. Because these are natural remedies results may vary and you have to patience. With continued use she should notice a difference in your hair over time.

There are no harsh chemicals so these treatments can be used as little or as much as you want.  Make sure that you don't have any allergies or negative drug interactions from any of the items listed below. As always check with your physician or dermatologist if you have any questions about using any of the remedies listed below. This information is not meant to take the place of any medical advice or treatment.

5 Natural Remedies To Help Prevent Or Stop Shedding And Hair Loss

Black Tea Rinse- Bring 2 cups of distilled water to a boil, remove from heat and add in 10 black tea bags. You may allow to steep over night (use air tight container) in the refrigerator or for at least 4 hours. After washing your hair and before conditioning pour the tea over your hair from root to tip (may need to double your ingredients for mid-back length or longer hair) squeeze access water from hair, add your normal conditioner and wear a plastic cap for at least 1 hour. Do this at least once every two weeks to help reduce shedding.

• Black Tea has been known to reduce or block the formation of the hormone DHT (Dihydrotestosterone) which can be found in the oils of the scalp. This particular hormone causes hair loss.
• Stimulates hair growth.

Castor Oil (yes the laxative)- Apply castor oil to the scalp 2-3 times a week. Castor oil is heavy and thick so for those with oily scalps and hair you have to use it sparingly.  In this case you can add it to your shampoos, deep conditioners or use it as a hot oil treatment. This truly has been a life save for me when my hair was thin and balding (see pic above) I added castor oil to everything I used, I still do today and my hair is thick and healthy.

• Strengthens hair shaft preventing breaking and shedding
• Stimulates growth
• Conditions the scalp

 Aloe Vera And Raw Honey- Fresh aloe vera from the plant itself is always best, but organic or natural aloe vera gel or jelly can be bought online or from any health food store. Mix 1/2 cup of Aloe Vera gel with 1 teaspoon of honey(regular honey can be used as well). Massage on scalp for about 3-5 minutes and allow to remain with a plastic cap about 30 minutest to an hour. People often wonder, "why a plastic cap?"  Body heat causes a "green house effect" when a plastic cap is used. The pores of your scalp open up thus allowing the roots or your hair to absorb anything that you have on your scalp. An improperly nourished hair root can lead to hair loss.

• Aloe vera gel is nutrient rich and moisturizing. When the scalp is massaged blood flow to he scalp is increased and the pores are opened allowing the aloe vera gel to be absorbed.
• Both honey and aloe vera gel have anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties so if hair shedding or hair loss is caused by a poor scalp environment or improper PH balance of the scalp this will help to eliminated that issue.

Grape seed, Peppermint, Basil Scalp Massage Oil- Scalp massage oils have been very beneficial since I've "gone natural". Not only are they relaxing but also help to "feed your roots" the nutrients they need to survive. To make this scalp stimulant, you will need at least 8 oz. of the grape seed oil. Make sure the oil you purchase is organic and cold pressed. Cold pressed basically means that in the process of extracting the oil from the grape seed, no heat was used. When you use heat it actually destroys some of the medicinal properties of what is being extracted. So again make sure you look for organic and cold pressed. It may be a bit more expensive but it is definitely worth it, after all it's your hair. Next you will need undiluted, uncut essential oils of peppermint leaves and basil leaves. To make this simple massage oil you will need 20-30 drops of each into the 8 oz. of grape seed oil and voila you have a very stimulating and effective oil to use for hot oil treatments, deep conditioning (add 3-4 teaspoons in your conditioner before applying it) and scalp massages. You might want to start out with the least amount of peppermint oil 20 drops. Peppermint oil can be strong and irritate the skin if too much is used; 30 drops work for me so that is what I personally use.

• Basil essential oil great for oily scalps and promotes hair growth, stimulates the scalp, strengthens the hair shaft and provides antioxidants for the scalp and follicles.
• Peppermint essential oil also stimulates the scalp in turn generating new cell growth and increasing hair follicles. It also has antiseptic qualities which help to keep the scalp clean and free of bacteria or fungus which can also kill the hair root and cause hair loss.
• Grape seed oil acts as a carrier oil for the essential oils since they should not EVER be applied directly to the skin, the grape seed oil acts as a carrier for the peppermint and basil. It is also light and quickly absorbed into the skin. The vitamin E and linoleic acid present in grape seed oil helps to strengthen hair.

Apple Cider Vinegar Rinse- Each hair shaft is covered and protected by cuticles. Imagine the scales on snake; now imagine if each of those individual scales were lifted away from the body of the snake.This is what happens when the cuticles of our hair shafts are open. When we shampoo or wet our hair, the cuticles open up. When the cuticles open the hair becomes coarse, dry and brittle.  Apple cider vinegar not only removes build-up and cleanses the hair shaft, but it also closes the cuticle. If your hair cuticles remain open, it can lead to split ends and split ends lead to breakage. By sealing the cuticles after each wash you are basically securing your hairs protective outer layer. Not to mention apple cider vinegar is a great antiseptic, removes excess oil from the scalp, adds shine to your hair  and restores your scalps PH balance which is vital in hair growth. Your scalps PH balance should be between 4.5 to 5.5. This is why using natural remedies and hair care products is very important to me.

Simply take two cups of warm distilled water (not hot, so be careful) add in 1/4 cup of apple cider vinegar after washing or conditioning hair simply pour the water from root to tip. Making sure your scalp is covered, make sure you massage it into you scalp as much as possible. You can either rinse the mixture out with cold water or you can leave it in. The smell of vinegar will dissipate in a few minutes. 

In conclusion I am such a HUGE fan of nature and I think it is important  to reach for natural remedies first before we spend tons of money on harsh chemicals and or painful treatments. I never would have known that I could grow back my hair as fast and well as I have over the years. The picture that you see above was from last year and my hair has grown by leaps and bounds since then. If you use any of the treatments above please try to use all natural and organic products only. Stay tuned to my other articles because I will be sharing more tips on how to care for your hair with nature.

Remember, I am only sharing what has worked for me, this information is not a replacement for medical advice and these things will not treat, prevent or cure any disease.