Is your wallet getting as thin as your hair thanks to pricey pills and potions promising to save your strands?
You’re not alone. In the US, more than 80% of men and nearly half of women will face significant hair loss in their lifetime, fueling a multi-billion-dollar industry selling quick fixes that don’t always work.
But before you empty your pockets, know this: There are a few simple everyday steps that one trichologist says can help protect your hair and keep it it looking fuller.
William Gaunitz, a certified trichologist and founder of Advanced Trichology, shared five easy, effective ways to support scalp health and fight hair loss from home.
He also gave The Post a heads-up about three popular hair hacks that could actually wind up doing more harm than good.
#1. Soak up some sunlight
“Get out in the sun for 15 minutes with no sunscreen to get a balanced amount of vitamin D3,” Gaunitz advised.
Vitamin D is essential for creating the cells that develop into hair follicles. Studies suggest a deficiency may contribute to issues like excessive shedding and female pattern hair loss.
But if you’re staying out longer than 15 minutes, don’t forget the SPF — even a small amount of time under a strong UV index without protection can lead to a sunburn.
#2. Eat a balanced diet
“This one thing is more important than anything else,” Gaunitz stressed.
If you don’t eat animal protein or follow another special diet, he warned there’s an “extremely high” chance you’ll drain your nutrient stores unless you carefully replace them with other sources.
“Discover your blood type and eat accordingly,” Gaunitz recommended. “That is a great way to understand what your body needs.”
#3. Check your gut health
“If you have any consistent problems, like constipation, diarrhea or acid reflux, it is possible that your nutrient supply absorption may have been compromised,” Gaunitz said.
That means your body might not be absorbing nutrients properly even if you’re eating right — and those nutrient issues can impact your whole body, including your hair.
#4 Don’t skip shampoo days
“Wash your hair at a minimum of every 48 hours with a healthy shampoo that has some type of antimicrobial oil in it, like grapefruit seed, rosemary, tea tree or thyme,” Gaunitz suggested.
Keeping microbial overload in check gently and consistently is key to managing your scalp’s delicate microbiome without damage, he explained.
#5 Massage your scalp daily
Before you hit the shower, try the scalp-over-skull massage technique. It’s believed to boost blood flow to hair follicles, break up mild calcification under the scalp and help clear out excess sebum, an oily substance crucial for hair growth that can be harmful if it builds up.
“This can drastically improve scalp health,” Gaunitz said. “You can also use a gua sha tool and massage the scalp with the edge, which requires less effort but is still marginally effective.”
What to ditch from your routine
Some “hacks” are doing more harm than good. Gaunitz said to skip these three.
#1. Dermarolling daily.
This handheld microneedling device may seem like a quick fix, but “dermarolling at home daily is a bad idea because it can create scarring and trauma on the scalp, little micro infections, and in many cases will actually make your scalp worse,” Gaunitz warned. “Like anything, it should be done properly by a professional.”
#2. Skipping wash day.
“The number of times I’ve heard somebody say that they were told by their stylist that they saw online that you shouldn’t wash your hair, and that’s why your hair is falling out, is absurd,” Gaunitz said. “If your scalp is unhealthy, or you are shedding in any way, you need to be shampooing regularly,” he added.
Sebum on your scalp harbors bacteria, fungi and other bodily excretions. Removing this buildup is crucial to preventing further inflammation, Gaunitz said.
“Wash your hair daily or at least every 48 hours by scrubbing the surface of your scalp,” he advised.
#3. Slathering garlic juice, onion juice or undiluted rosemary oil directly on your scalp.
“Although there are benefits to each of these, applying them directly to the scalp alters the microbiome,” Gaunitz said.
“You should not use them on their own except with a purpose, and they should not be used undiluted.”
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