How to Prevent Hair Loss for Black Women: Tips for Keeping Your Hair Healthy for Years to Come!
Are you witnessing those around you start to lose their hair? Or, perhaps you're just stressing over the possibility that balding could be your future. Either way, you can take a deep breath and relax - we're here to help!
It's entirely possible to prevent hair loss for black women. And in this in-depth article, we'll cover exactly how to prevent hair loss for women of color. Really, it's as simple as feeding your hair the inputs it needs to stay healthy for years to come - taking care of your nutrition, avoiding harmful products or harsh styling, and undergoing regular scalp treatments.
Before we share these prevention tips with you, allow us to explain what causes hair loss in the first place.
A Brief Overview of What Causes Hair Loss
To understand how to prevent hair loss for women of color, we first need to talk about what could contribute to your hair falling out down the line. And, we recently wrote a complete guide on what causes black women's hair loss if you want the full scoop. But, we'll give you the cliff notes below.
Hair loss is caused by a variety of factors. It could be stress, genetics, or diet-related. It could even be your hair care habits - like washing too frequently or using toxic products on your hair and scalp.
But one of the most common causes of hair loss in black women is traction alopecia - which is sustained damage to the follicles from certain hairstyles (e.g., tight braids). This constant pulling of your hair follicles leads to hair fall later on in life - while you may not notice anything in the present day.
Now, knowing all the likely culprits for hair loss or hair breakage, is it even preventable? Or, is hair loss just an inevitability for some women? Find out below...
Is it Possible to Prevent Hair Loss for Black Women?
Yes - it's definitely possible to prevent hair loss for black women. After all, the primary causes of hair fall can be avoided with proper preventative measures.
Many are under the impression that hair loss is genetic - and if it's in your DNA, you're out of luck. We're here to challenge that - as hair loss runs in our families as well, and yet, we maintain healthy, full hair on our heads.
While it's true that hair loss is genetic, that doesn't mean you have to just put up with it if it runs in your family. And frankly, many of the people who blame their hair loss on genetics are actually suffering from one of the other causes we mentioned above.
The point is, you can take steps to decrease your likelihood of hair loss in the present day. In fact, the earlier you start, the more likely you are to avoid hair loss in the future. So, with that said, keep reading to discover the best ways to prevent hair loss for black women.
How to Prevent Hair Loss for Women of Color
Ready to learn how to prevent hair loss for women of color? There are quite a few ways you can ensure you keep your hair healthy and luscious for years to come.
Whether you're just stressing about the possibility of hair loss or you've begun noticing the early warning signs of female hair loss - you are in control of your own fate.
So, let's start by talking about your African American hair.
Realize That Your Afro Hair is Unique
Love it or hate it, your afro hair is unique. Thus, the approach you take to caring for it must be unique to your lineage as well. That's why we wrote an article breaking down the main differences between black hair vs white hair.
Your hair is thick, coarse, and prone to dryness (hair types 3 & 4). But, the vast majority of recommendations and treatments are tailored to thin, oily hair - types 1 & 2. If you use solutions tailored to a white hair type, you are doing your hair a disservice.
So - with all that said, read our article on how to care for natural black hair - it's a great starting point if you aren't sure what your hair needs. You should also consider how to treat dry scalp in African American hair. This is a common situation for women of color.
We also have an article addressing how long it takes African American hair to grow if you are curious about how long it will take you to restore your hairline if you wait too long to take action!
Knowledge is power, and once you have a better understanding of how to take care of your hair, you'll be well on your way to promoting black hair growth. Then, you should assess your diet.
Eat Foods That Encourage Healthy Hair & Avoid Foods That Contribute to Hair Loss
You are what you eat - and the foods that make up your diet directly correlate to your hair health. This is also true for your skin health, mental health, and overall wellness! So, it's worth considering whether the foods you eat regularly are doing you more harm than good.
A diet that consists of sugar, dairy, and gluten is one that can contribute to hair fall. These are common compounds in the American diet, but they must be avoided if you want to keep your hair on your head. And frankly, removing these from your diet will help you feel better in more ways than one!
Simultaneously, you need to add new foods to your diet that you may not already be eating. Eating foods rich in iron, zinc, and Vitamins A and B can prevent hair loss for black women. Consider incorporating spinach, salmon, and eggs into your diet regularly!
You also need antioxidants to help protect your hair follicles from being damaged by free radicals. You can get these through pomegranates, strawberries, blueberries, citrus fruits, and other organic fruits and vegetables.
Avoid Harmful Products/Styling Practices
Many chemical-laden products on the market today are not suitable for African American hair textures, because they contain ingredients that can cause breakage and excessive shedding. It's best to avoid chemical relaxers, dyes, bleaches, and heavy styling products like pomades and gels unless absolutely necessary - these can all contribute to hair fall in women of color. You should also take note of the ingredients in shampoo that cause hair loss.
In addition to avoiding certain products, you should also be wary of the way that you handle your hair when styling it. Avoid using heat tools or brushing too vigorously as this can contribute to breakage. The more natural you can be in your hair styling, the better.
Also, try to keep your hairstyles on the simpler side; complex updos can put a lot of stress on your roots which can prevent healthy growth from occurring. If you do want to stick with braids, we recommend you loosen them up a bit at least.
Another piece of advice to prevent harming your hair with your habits is to prevent overwashing. How often should black hair be washed, though? Generally, you should shampoo your hair once or twice a week to prevent dryness, and condition it after every wash.
Do Hair Serum Treatments to Protect Your Scalp & Strengthen Your Hair
Finally - if you want to maintain healthy, strong tresses or reverse the early signs of hair loss you've seen, you need to be proactive - and start using a hair serum. What's hair serum, exactly? This is essentially liquid gold for your scalp! It contains a potent dose of ingredients your hair follicles need to stay rooted and grow strong.
But, as mentioned earlier, your black hair is unique - and the serum you use should be specially formulated for your afro hair. What is the best product for African American hair growth, though? At Rennora Beauty, we have just what you need.
This product is specifically tailored for African American women and will help protect your strands from breakage, damage, and other risks of hair fall. Plus, the ingredients are all natural so you don't have to worry about putting any harsh chemicals on your scalp. Just ancient herbs that are proven to protect your hair and encourage new growth!
It's helped countless black women prevent hair loss - but the real magic is in how it has helped women suffering from hair loss turn things around. Take a look at the results yourself and make your own decision - but we think you're going to agree, this is an absolute necessity along your journey to prevent hair loss for black women!
Wrapping Up Our Guide on How to Prevent Hair Loss for Black Women
Whether you're just fearful of a future without hair, or you're starting to see the initial signs of hair loss in real time - you don't need to sweat it any longer. While this is certainly a challenge, it's not one you're incapable of overcoming.
Now that we've provided you tips on how to prevent hair loss for women of African American descent, the only thing left to do is put them into practice. So - what are you waiting for? Make some lifestyle changes and start undergoing regular hair serum treatments with Rennora Beauty to keep your hair beautiful for years to come!