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Many people suffering from hair loss prefer not to use the strong drugs and medications that currently form the best available treatment options. They may have tried a range of treatments but found they did not work or perhaps suffered unpleasant side effects. What options are left for such people, especially if they do not wish to consider surgery?
There are a number of solutions available but the final decision will be strongly influenced by the amount of thinning that needs to be covered.
1. Creative styling – this is perhaps the easiest option but its success depends on how far your hair loss has progressed. Slight balding can easily be camouflaged by careful grooming but attempts at covering large bald patches can end up looking ridiculous. One option for men with extensive thinning is to shave the head completely but this is not for everyone.
2. Hair cosmetics – this can include anything from hair thickening / volumizing products to dyes and fibers that blend with existing hair. Once again, these solutions really only work if the area of scalp to be covered is minimal.
3. Head coverings – seen by many as a last resort, wigs and hairpieces offer a further option. Once an object of derision, hairpieces have improved beyond recognition in recent years, although the price you are prepared to pay will determine the realism of the final result. Wigs come in all shapes and sizes and can be made from real or synthetic hair, but be warned the best ones are very expensive.

Herbs hold an obvious appeal for many people because they support the body’s natural healing mechanisms to target the cause of the problem, as opposed to merely tackling the symptoms. It would be wrong to present herbal hair loss remedies as a miracle solution for all sufferers – there is however growing evidence to support the view that some herbal remedies offer real hope to many people.
Let’s examine the case for some of the more popular remedies to determine if they’re worth trying.
Ginkyo biloba – this popular herb is thought to improve blood circulation to the brain and skin. Herbalists believe that the increased flow of blood to the brain area delivers more nutrients to the hair follicle thus promoting hair regrowth. The recommended dose is 120-160mg of dry extract each day spread over three doses.
Green tea (Camellia sinesis) – it is thought that catechins found in green tea may inhibit the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase that converts testosterone into hair-unfriendly DHT. It is therefore believed to be effective in preventing and treating male pattern type baldness. You should drink several cups of green tea each day or take it in capsule form as instructed by the manufacturer.
He Shou Wu (Polygonum multiflorum) – also known as Fo-Ti, this Chinese herb has traditionally been used to reduce hair loss. It is found in many commercial preparations, or in tea and capsule form.
Pygeum (Pygeum africanum) – derived from the bark of an evergreen, it works in a similar way to green tea. It is widely used to treat prostate problems and male pattern baldness. Users should take 60-500mg per day in pill or capsule form.
Saw palmetto (Seranoa repens) – this is the current treatment of choice for many men due to its ability to protect the prostate, slow hair loss and encourage hair regrowth. It forms the core element of many commercially prepared hair loss treatments but can easily be obtained in its pure form. The recommended dose is a 160mg capsule twice each day, but make sure the ingredients are made from the berry extract not the dried berries themselves.
Stinging nettle (Urtica diocia) – this has long been favored as a means of preventing hair loss due to its ability to block the conversion of testosterone into DHT. It can be taken in pill or capsule form with an optimum dose of 50-100mg per day. It is particularly effective when combined with pygeum and saw palmetto.

Billions of dollars will be spent on hair loss solutions this year. Much of this money will go to waste. Ineffective products and misleading advertising are only partially to blame.  Many consumers are not using these hair loss products in an effective way. Fortunately there are a few simple ways that consumers can increase their chance of success. Following these guidelines will ensure that your money does not go to waste:
Start a Journal
People usually try several different hair loss products before they find something that works for them. Many use two or more products simultaneously. Keeping track of all this information can be frustrating and difficult. The best way to figure out what is working is to keep a journal detailing your progress. You should record all relevant information about the treatment process: when you started, the dosage, cost, and any side effects you experience. This documentation will tell you which products are effective, which ones are not, and allow you to make changes as you see fit.
Take Pictures
Noticing small changes in your hairline over time is extremely difficult. Taking pictures on a regular basis is the most effective ways to track your progress. Always photograph your head from the same angle, in similar lighting conditions. Use a digital camera for best results, most will automatically record the date and time for you. When combined with a treatment journal, these photos provide an invaluable tool that will allow you to judge the effectiveness of products you use.
Do Your Homework
The Internet is flooded with products claiming to cure and treat hair loss. Finding out which ones are legitimate can be a difficult task. When researching products online, beware of those that sound too good to be true. If the company has before and after pictures, examine them closely. If the images were shot from different angles, or in different lighting, be suspicious. These techniques are common camera tricks used to fool the eye, and the consumer. When a company claims their product has a “98% success rate”, look for documentation of their clinical study. If the clinical information they provide is vague, or even missing altogether, be wary.
If you follow these steps during your treatment, your chances of success are excellent. One last tip  – any successful regimen requires dedication. Whatever the treatment is, carefully follow the instructions from your doctor or the product manufacturer.

When people think of hair loss, most often it is balding men that come to mind.  However, women lose hair as well.  Although hair loss is less known in women, there are many options for prevention and treatment as with men.  Sometimes the cause for hair loss is heredity – in both men and women – and other times the causes differ.  Most often with women, hair loss occurs due to hormonal changes.  A few months after giving birth, starting birth control pills, or ending menopause are various ways in which hormonal levels in women change.  These changes lead to symptoms, including hair loss.  Even though not all women suffer hair loss due to hormonal fluctuations, there are enough cases that triggered the markets to provide hair loss prevention and treatment options for women.  In fact, hair loss in women is relatively common and more and more of these women are choosing to take action against hair loss by purchasing products that help prevent and/or treat hair loss.
On the market, there are products for hair loss geared toward men and women.  For example, a hair loss prevention product for men, like an oral pill, may be offered to women in a lesser dosage.  Hair loss vitamin supplements are available and are generally the same for men and women, considering that the nutrients that produce hair productivity – growth, repair, and healthiness – are similar in both men and women.  Often times, if the cause of hair loss for a women is a change in hormones, altering the hormonal level may stop the hair loss.  For example, when taking birth control pills, after a few months, women may notice hair loss.  By not taking those pills, or switching to a brand with lower amounts of hormones, the hair loss may be prevented.  This may also work for women who lose hair after having a baby.  Once the body adjusts to the hormonal changes after a pregnancy, the hair loss may naturally stop.  However, preventing hair loss, sometimes even in these cases, may not occur naturally.  This is when hair loss prevention products help or hormonal regulations, such as pills and vitamins.
Overall, hair loss in men seems to be socially acceptable, whereas in women, it seems not to be as socially acceptable.  Therefore, having available hair loss prevention and treatment products may help those women who are suffering from hair loss gain a sense of relief.  Even as hair loss in women becomes known – becomes a common thing in society as many women suffer from hair loss – it may not reach the same socially accepted standard as male baldness and hair loss.  The outcome, then, being that many of these women with hair loss will find means to treat this condition, rather than ignore the issue.  Since the majority of hair loss in women is reversible, finding treatment and dealing with hair loss is generally a relatively easy task for women; and therefore, in most cases, they do not have to face the notion of becoming bald versus men who may not be able to reverse hair loss.
With the multiple types of treatment and prevention of hair loss, along with the fact that most cases of hair loss in women are reversible, many women are able to overcome hair loss, or at least attempt to overcome hair loss.  Therefore hair loss in women may be a temporary condition, occurring during different phases of life – from young adulthood to old age – and may be caused by different sources – hormonal or heredity.  Generally, women dealing with hair loss are doing so due to hormones and these women are able to find treatment.  Those women suffering with hair loss due to genes may have a more difficult time in preventing hair loss.  No matter the cause of the hair loss certain actions may be taken to prevent further damage to the hair, including using hair chemicals and tools, like hair dryers and curling irons, in moderation.  Seeing as there are multiple factors in maintaining a healthy head of hair, women attempting to avoid or treat hair loss would benefit to watch out for harmful actions, like high stress and hair chemicals.

Our ancestors did not have the benefit of today’s scientifically researched drugs, but they often found natural remedies that worked just as well. Herbal remedies have been used for centuries to treat everything from premenstrual syndrome to high blood pressure. Men experiencing the first signs of baldness often looked to natural cures as well, and some of the herbal remedies have surprising results.
A group of dermatologists in Scotland tested an herbal remedy with great success, helping over 40% of their patients with a mixture of essential oils containing cedarwood, lavender, rosemary and thyme. In this double blind study, the group using the essential oils showed improvement in 40 percent of the subjects, while only 15% of the control group noted an improvement.
So, would you be interested in trying out aromatherapy as a hair loss solution? If you’d like to experiment with this, mix three drops each of lavender and rosemary oil with two drops each of cedarwood and thyme oils. Add this mixture to 4 teaspoons of grapeseed oil and one-quarter teaspoon of jojoba oil. Rub the mixture into your scalp for two minutes nightly, then use a warm towel to wrap your head.
If you’re not experiencing baldness yet, but your hair doesn’t look healthy, you may want to try a mixture of lavender and bay essential oils to stimulate blood flow to the scalp and help circulation to the area. About six drops of each oil should be added to ½ cup of a good carrier oil, like almond or sesame oil. Warm the mixture slightly and rub into the scalp. After letting the mixture penetrate the scalp for 20 minutes, shampoo with your normal shampoo. For additional benefit, you may want to add up to 4 drops of bay oil to your normal shampoo.
Of course, you won’t see a whole new head of hair after just one or two treatments. However, repeated use will most likely provide you with better looking, fuller hair. You’ll also experience the positive benefits of aromatherapy and scalp massage as well, feeling more relaxed and ready to face the day. Aromatherapy may just be the hair loss solution that you are looking for!