Can over shampooing cause your hair to thin? Before we jump into the answer to that question let’s go over a couple other factors that can cause your hair to thin.
Causes
Thinning hair can be caused by a variety of changes going on within the body that we cannot control like:
–Family history (heredity). The most common cause of hair loss is a hereditary condition that happens with aging.
–Hormonal changes and medical conditions.
–Medications and supplements.
–Radiation therapy to the head.
A very stressful event.
–Hairstyles and treatments.
As you just read, thinning hair can stem from hormonal changes, changes in medications, or it can simply be hereditary. The leading cause of age-related balding in men is genetics.
Thinning hair can also be related to improper maintenance and hair care- i.e Washing your hair!
Washing the hair too much or using damaging products can lead to thin, dry hair. Although thinning hair can be frustrating and hard to combat, there are small changes one can implement into their hair-care routine to maintain thicker, healthier hair. If you have thinning hair, you’ll want to start with the basics: figure out how often you should be shampooing.
How much is too much?
Most people with thinning hair tend to wash their hair more as thin hair essentially does a poorer job at “hiding” grease than thicker hair might. In turn, said people are shampooing their hair more often. No matter how thin your hair is, washing it every day is absolutely too often!
When it comes to shampoo and conditioner, a lot of non-natural brands use chemicals that are strong detergents that are much stronger than need be. They strip the hair of its natural essential oils, causing the scalp to overcompensate and produce more oil.
Strong detergents such as sulfates have the ability to break down proteins and other cellular structures in the hair, causing breakage and thinning. Switching to organic or natural brands will help the hair retain some of its essential oils rather than completely stripping it, thus allowing you to wash it more often without worry if need be.
Scalp & Hair Types
So how often should you be shampooing your hair in order to slow the thinning process? To determine how often you should be shampooing, take a deeper look into what kind of skin and scalp you may have. Determining this can steer your research in the right direction to figure out how often someone with your skin type should be washing their hair.
Although the scalp is a little different from the rest of the skin, it is the same in many ways. If you think about it, as mammals we do have hair all over our bodies. The scalp, like the rest of the skin, contains sebaceous glands that excrete oil (sebum) to avoid over-drying of the hair and scalp. These glands are directly connected to the hair follicle, which is why the hair absorbs the grease directly.
For someone with normal to dry hair, there should be no reason to shampoo the hair more than once or twice a week. There may be exceptions where grease builds up in the hair cannot be avoided (such as exercise) which causes one to wash their hair more frequently. However, it still should not be washed every day. Remember, especially if you are not using all-natural shampoo, the hair is being completely stripped of its essential oils with each shampoo. The oil (sebum) is excreted to protect the hair, which is why shampooing every day leaves the hair more vulnerable to damage. If you have normal to dry hair, try shampooing only once or twice a week with a thickening shampoo to counteract the thinning process.
For someone with oily skin and hair, the answer becomes a bit hairy (pun totally intended). The overall goal is to get any unwanted grease out of the hair with less shampooing and less chemical exposure. Because people with oily hair may have to wash their hair 3 or more times a week in order to keep it clean and professional, it becomes even more important for them to avoid harsh chemicals in their hair products
Synthetic chemicals are not only present in shampoos but in hairsprays, mousses, heat protectants, and straightening treatments as well. Swapping the products loaded with synthetic chemicals out for all-natural products will allow people with hair that is oily to wash it more often (three or four times a week) while also combatting the thinning process.
Harmful Hair Loss Shampoo Ingredients
Some of the common and most used ingredients are given below which can make a problem for hair.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
Sodium lauryl sulfate creates problems for hair follicles. It has toxic effects on the human body. Sodium lauryl sulfate, can fade hair color and strip your strands of natural oils, dry hair should definitely avoid it.
This sulfate creates lathering foam, some people love to play with that but it’s not good for your hair.
Parabens
Parabens are used to prevent the growing number of bacteria in shampoos and cosmetics. Parabens have been linked to increasing the growth of cells which cause breast cancer.
Sodium Chloride
Sodium chloride is also known as salt, which we mostly used in cooking. Companies also use sodium chloride in shampoos and conditioners to make them thicker, but it is already been proven that salt makes sensitive scalps dry and itchy, which will eventually lead to hair loss.
Fragrances and Colors
Most of the companies who use fragrance and color in their shampoo, do so to make them look and smell great. When you see ingredients like these on labels, keep in mind it contains thousands of hidden chemicals. Some of the ingredients are very harmful, not only for your hair but also for your general health. Some ingredients in fragranced cosmetic products are even linked to issues with the reproductive system, asthma and cancer.
Dimethicone
Dimethicone acts as a protective layer on the surface of the hair, it stops the nutrients and moisture from coming in. It also blocks the pores on the scalp and can cause skin irritation. Companies use dimethicone in their shampoo to make your hair appear more greasy or more moisturized.
Tips for combatting hair thinning:
1. Deep conditioning treatments
Of course, there are more steps you can take other than altering how often you shampoo your hair. There are all-natural deep conditioning treatments available in salons and retail stores that work by infusing the hair with vitamins and minerals it may be lacking. There are also treatments like these that are aimed at people with thin hair that contain thickening agents on top of these nutrients.
2. Vitamins and supplements
Incorporating a more balanced diet may also help reverse hair loss or thinning. Often our body sends us signs when something is wrong, and hair thinning may be one of them. If we are not getting or producing a sufficient amount of vitamins, it can affect the growth of our hair. Hairdressers and doctors alike often recommend taking a biotin supplement to induce hair and nail growth. Other supplements may help as thickening agents as well, such as fish oil, iron, and zinc.
3. Stress management
Did you ever notice that presidents tend to have thicker, fuller hair at the beginning of their presidency compared to their final months in office? That is because increased stress levels can also lead to hair thinning. As mentioned previously, hair thinning can be caused by a hormonal change, and the excretion of stress hormones over a long period of time is definitely one of these changes. One should also be mindful of the stress-induced habits they may have that involve touching, playing, or pulling on their hair. Over time, these small repetitive actions could really take a toll on the hair.
To avoid thinning hair being the root of your stress, decipher what type of hair and scalp you have like we talked about above and make changes to your beauty routine accordingly – and don’t forget to swap those chemical-ridden products for organic, natural ones while you’re at it.
Final Thoughts
Eventually you get to the point where your thinning hair is becoming a lost cause, and one day you’ll be staring in the mirror wondering if you should just shave it all off or try some chemical hair loss shampoo, or even think of going the expensive route and get a hair transplant. I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to resort to any of those options!
ManHair, located in Jacksonville, Fl., is the leading hair loss solution for men. Instead of getting frustrated with shampoos that may not work and that aren’t permanent; or getting an expensive hair transplant that comes with a whole bunch of disadvantages, instead you can get a Men’s Hair Replacement System– and the best part, it’s instantaneous! You walk in with thinning hair and leave with a customized, luscious full head of hair!
Now, this isn’t a toupee or wig…this is something WAY BETTER! It’s undetectable, customizable, 100% Human Hair and the ManHair team is there with you every step of the way. Learn more by clicking here and then set up your FREE in-home consultation with us today!