Sometimes, hair loss occurs because of factors that are beyond your control, such as hormonal problems, genetics, or illness. But other times, your hair can become brittle, damaged, and prone to breakage, leading to visible hair loss. You may be able to prevent some hair loss and damage by taking steps to keep your hair and scalp healthy, such as taking dietary supplements, healthy scalp treatment, altering your hair care regimen, or seeking professional help to promote healthy hair growth.

Change Your Hairstyle

Certain hair accessories — including hairpins, clips, and rubber bands — can cause extensive hair breakage when they are used to hold your hair tightly in place. Tight ponytails, cornrows, or braids can also create tension on your hair and cause it to break and appear thin. For healthy hair, experts recommend minimizing the use of hair accessories and not continuously wearing hairstyles that pull on your hair. And when you do use hair accessories, select hairpins with balled ends, clips with rubber padding, and fabric hair ties instead of rubber bands.

Consume More Iron

If your diet doesn’t include enough iron, it could cause your hair to fall out. Your doctor can check this with a blood test. If you are iron deficient, an easy fix to help prevent hair loss is to increase the amount of dietary iron you consume. Good sources of iron include organ meats, clams, oysters, iron-fortified cereals, beans, pumpkin seeds, and spinach. But don’t take an iron supplement without talking with your doctor — too much iron can be harmful.

Limit Brushing for Healthy Hair

Dermatologists say that vigorous grooming of your hair — such as following the old recommendation to brush it 100 strokes every night — can damage your hair and cause it to break off. If you excessively brush your hair and it appears thin or shaggy, try limiting how much you brush your hair. Often, the best way to improve the health of your hair is to leave it alone as much as possible.

Let Your Hair Air-Dry

High heat from blow dryers can be extremely damaging to your hair and leave it susceptible to breakage. When you hold a blow dryer close to your wet hair, it can actually boil the water in your hair shaft, which can cause your hair to be brittle. Rubbing wet hair vigorously with a towel can also lead to breakage and thinning. To reduce your risk of hair damage and help prevent hair loss, let your hair air-dry when possible, and limit your use of heated styling tools.

Take Biotin Supplements

Biotin is a B vitamin that is sometimes used to help reduce or prevent hair loss. Some people do not get enough biotin in their diet, resulting in biotin deficiency. Scientific evidence indicates that taking biotin supplements may help alleviate hair thinning if you have a biotin deficiency. Talk with your doctor if you suspect that you are deficient in biotin. He can assess your symptoms and determine whether biotin supplements may help you.

Source: Everydayhealth