MIND-BLOWING MYTHS

ABOUT HAIR LOSS YOU NEED

TO STOP BELIEVING
Over the last decade, there has been increasing information about the hair care
topic, especially regarding hair loss and hair growth. However, such information
redundancy has not stopped misinformation from spreading, certain myths about
hair loss along with hair treatments have been perpetuated for far too long.
Through this document, we aim to scientifically explain those myths and debunk
them once and for all.

HERE ARE 7 MYTHS ABOUT HAIR LOSS

YOU NEED TO STOP BELIEVING
# 1 YOU CAN STOP HAIR FALL
IMMEDIATELY
Although every person suffering from hair loss would love nothing more than an
immediate and miraculous end to their hair fall problems. Unfortunately, it simply is
not possible. Hair growth and hair fall may seem simple, but in reality, these
processes are way more complex than how we perceive them.

The hair growth cycle consists of four distinctive phases: anagen (growth phase),
catagen (transition phase), telogen (resting phase), and exogen (shedding phase).
Anagen is the growth phase during which there is active cell division and noticeable
hair growth. The hair growth stops in the catagen phase, and the outer root hair
sheath starts to shrink. The resting phase, which can last about three months, is
characterized by the resting hair follicles and a club hair formation. During exogen or
the shedding phase, the resting hair reaches its terminal position in the follicle and
finally detaches, resulting in the shedding. How long each phase lasts will vary from
person to person and depends on various factors.

We should acknowledge that when your hair enters the resting phase, the shedding
will eventually take place and continue until old hair strands are all replaced by new
ones. That is an unstoppable cycle! Nevertheless, whilst old hair is in the resting
phase, new hair begins in another cycle’s growth phase. Instead of wishing for a
magical immediate stop for hair fall, what you can do is focus your efforts on the
growth of new hair.
# 2 HAIR GROWTH CAN TAKE PLACE
WITHIN SHORT TIME
If you are hoping for new hair to spring up within a week of starting your new hair care
regimen, please be well aware that nothing will come of that wishful thinking. Hair
growth, as mentioned above, is a cyclical and slow process. During the anagen phase,
cells in the hair root divide rapidly, and new hair fibers are produced. However, your
genes will play a key role in how long your hair growing phase will last.

Throughout hair cycling, about 90% of all follicles are in the anagen phase. They can
remain in this phase anywhere from 2 to 8 years. That is what determines the even-
tual length and growth of your hair. The longer the hair stays in the anagen phase, the
longer it will grow. It usually takes about one month for your hair to grow 1 cm in size
during the anagen phase of the growth cycle. That should explain why setting the
goal to have your hair grow in a week will only cause you disappointment.

# 3 HEREDITARY HAIR LOSS (ANDROGENIC

ALOPECIA) IS CURABLE
Hereditary hair loss is associated with the genes inherited from parents to their
offsprings, which can happen to both men and women. This type of hair loss usually
begins after the age of 30 but may occur much sooner in others. Some may start
suffering from hair shedding just after puberty!

According to Harvard Medical School, 4 out of 10 people will suffer from hair loss
owing to their genetics. It means that a large number of people have to live under the
influence of androgenetic alopecia. It is also asserted that hair loss due to genetic
factors cannot be regenerated significantly. As it is in your DNA, there is little that
can be changed about it.

However, the good news is that there are treatment options that could slow down
the progression of hair loss, or even stop it from getting worse. Certain types of hair
loss will require certain types of treatments, but the key is to take action as soon as
you address the symptoms to prevent irreversible damage. You will also need
extreme patience and discipline during the procedure.
# 4 THERE IS ONE ULTIMATE SOLUTION
TO TREAT HAIR LOSS
Briefly speaking, there is no single
solution to treat every type of hair fall.
Since diverse underlying factors
could lead to hair loss, not to mention
the complexity of this problem in
different hair types, one best hair loss
treatment is only an illusion.

Treatments for hair loss should be

based on a personalized approach
rather than recklessly applying solu-
tions from other people to yourself.
Besides genetic factors, emotional
trauma, hormonal changes, poor
nutrition, or simply inappropriate
hairstyles could also end up causing
hair shedding. The best strategy is to
identify your personal root cause of
hair loss and act upon that
information.

The bottom line is if you want to effectively reduce hair loss, come up with a
personal plan instead of seeking the best hair loss solution out there. Also, you may
need to stick to your plan for a while to visualize any noticeable results.
# 5 NATURAL HAIR CARE OPTIONS CANNOT
DO ANYTHING FOR HAIR SHEDDING
Currently, there are various options to treat hair loss, including synthetic and
natural choices. Yet, one widely prevalent misinformation is that only chemical
treatments will be beneficial and effective. We are pleased to tell you research
has proved this to be wrong.

Besides synthetic medications to

treat hair loss, herbal remedies and
nature-derived products have
become increasingly popular. Many
popular natural remedies for your hair
thinning issues have been
scientifically proven to work. Did you
know that beyond being common
herbs in the kitchen, onion and garlic
are also beneficial for hair regrowth?
The application and massage of
natural remedies like coconut oil and
aloe vera are also shown to help stop
hair fall and promote hair growth.
Want to know some more names?
Turmeric, pumpkin oil, ginseng,
licorice, and beetroot are also proven
in research to carry nutrients that can
protect and nourish your hair.
Similarly, by harnessing the benefits
of natural ingredients, nature-derived
products can also work effectively in
fighting hair loss and enhancing hair
growth.
# 6 ALL HAIR FALL TYPES LEAD TO
BALDNESS IN MEN
Baldness can be the most pressing concern for men when they start to lose hair.
Don’t fret! You can rest assured that not all hair loss leads to baldness. As
mentioned above, many factors could influence your hair problem, and hair
baldness is majorly caused by genetic reasons.

For hormonal or reactive reasons, once you find out the root cause of your hair
condition and apply an appropriate treatment that addresses that cause, things will
eventually get better. There will be less hair shedding, and new hair will emerge to
replace those strands that are lost prior.

Even when you have to confront genetic hair loss, there are still ways to stop its
progression or slow down the process to a point where it no longer feeds fears of
baldness. The critical point is that you have to act soon when it is still in the early
phase. And remember, the more stress you put on yourself, the worse your
condition will become.
# 7 TAKE SUPPLEMENTS IMMEDIATELY
WHEN YOU NOTICE HAIR SHEDDING
“What should I do to stop my hair from falling out?” might be one of the most
common questions given to doctors. Although research has shown the association
between nutritional deficiency and various types of hair loss, immediately taking
dietary supplements when noticing hair shedding could result in a worse situation.

Once again, you should look into the underlying cause of your hair thinning and
refer to consultation before deciding on taking any supplements. Be careful, as
studies have pointed out that supplementations may generate further harm to your
hair when there is no nutrient deficiency. Furthermore, which nutrient deficiencies
you could be experiencing and how you make up for those deficiencies are also
important matters to take into consideration. Thus, consulting with an expert is
very crucial. That way, you can ensure that the supplements prescribed for hair loss
are tailored to your individual needs and specifically cater to your hair problem.
CONCLUSION
We have all grown up with multiple superstitions, myths, and false beliefs about hair.
Just because all these misbeliefs have been out there for such a long time does not
mean that they can be considered scientific facts. We hope our myth-busting
information could help set the record straight so that your hair care journey can be
stress-free, and you can be better prepared to get the most out of your hair
potential.

DISCLAIMER:
All content is for informational purposes only. This document should not be used as a substitute
for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice.

This article is medically reviewed by Dr. Mariyam Fatima MBBS

References

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• “Female Pattern Baldness (Androgenic Alopecia): What You Should Know.” Healthline.
• “Hereditary hair loss PRINTA A A Also known as androgenic alopecia.” WebMD.
• “Ten tips to grow your hair naturally.“ Healthline.
• “What Are the Four Stages of Hair Growth?” Healthline.
• “Women hair loss, causes, treatments and solutions.” OnHealth
• Hosking, A. M., Juhasz, M., & Mesinkovska, N. A. (2019). Complementary and alternative treatments for alopecia: a comprehensive review. Skin appendage disorders, 5(2), 72-89.
• Ruszczak, Zbigniew (2012). "Hair Disorders and Alopecia". In Elzouki, Abdelaziz Y.; Harfi, Harb A.; Nazer, Hisham M.; Stapleton, F. Bruder; Oh, William; Whitley, Richard J. (eds.). Textbook of
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• Sharquie, K. E., & Al‐Obaidi, H. K. (2002). Onion juice (Allium cepa L.), a new topical treatment for alopecia areata. The Journal of dermatology, 29(6), 343-346.