Why do I shed more in autumn?
Over the past few weeks I have noticed my hair is shedding more than usual. I can see around 25 to 30 hairs on my pillow every morning, and a whole load more in the bath tub after my showers.
I won't lie, it is slightly concerning, but I am aware that autumn can be a brutal season for losing hair. In fact, after researching the subject of 'seasonal hair loss' it turns out this is very normal, and that is is perfectly natural to shed excessive amounts of hair at the end of summer season.
Come to think of it, I do recall severe hair shedding during this time of the year in previous autumns gone by, so it doesn't worry me too much. I guess it all depends on how quickly my hair grows as we enter winter. After all, winter is meant to be the best season for strong hair growth.
So what is seasonal shedding?
Seasonal shedding is when we shed more hair in certain seasons than others. According to my research, most of us tend to shed the most in the summer, but many of us, including me, shed more hair in autumn. It depends on each individual.
Humans operate much the same way as animals do - We shed during certain parts of the year in order to grow new 'fur' for other seasons. Hence why winter is usually a good season for hair growth.
Although quite severe, the shedding that I am currently experiencing isn't bad enough that it can be noticed, but if you suffer from pattern baldness, then any form of shedding isn't particularly good for your cause. Seasonal shedding can play havoc with a balding man (or women), so it is crucial you take the right steps in order to avoid more shedding than necessary.
How to prevent shedding
Unfortunately, stopping the pattern of seasonal shedding is near impossible, but there are ways in which you can minimise the amount of hair fall.
It really is a case of tightening up your hair care routine, and making sure your strands are getting the right minerals, nutrients, vitamins and care. A good, hair strengthening biotin or argan oil based shampoo is very effective solution for hair loss. I am always raving on about the OGX shampoo range - they're rich in ingredients and cheap in price - so be sure to check them out.
Also, make sure you are getting plenty of hair beneficiary vitamins into your diet on a daily basis. Many of you will know that I take the hair supplement, HR23+, which provides me with all the vitamins and minerals I need for better hair growth.
Finally, it should really go without saying, if you want healthy hair then you need to be living a healthy lifestyle. Your hair is no different to any other part of your body - the better you treat it the better it will grow! Eat well, live well, and see your hair benefit.
Where is the cure for male pattern baldness?
I was doing some reading on the topic of hair loss the other day, and apparently over 60% of men suffer from some stage of baldness by the time they reach the age of 40.
Now, I knew male pattern baldness was a common thing, but even I was surprised how high that stat was. It puts further emphasis on finding a cure for baldness.
So, even though there isn't a cure for alopecia, are we any closer to finding one? In this multi-billion dollar industry, let's take a look through some of the most potent treatments available for balding and thinning hair.
The only two drugs approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat hair loss are minoxidil (Rogaine) and finasteride (Propecia).
Minoxidil
A medicine that was originally used to treat high blood pressure, Minoxidil is now a mainstream brand that is listed under the more familiar name, Regaine (or Rogaine in the US). This topical formula has showed real signs of generating new hair growth in men and women suffering from thinning hair across the scalp. And although this was not effective for me personally, Minoxidil is a popular drug that can work on a small scale. The risks side-effects are high, but luckily they aren't too severe.
Finasteride
Finasteride, better known as Propecia, is an prescription oral pill that blocks DHT in men. This drug can prevent baldness occurring in men, providing they take the treatment during early stages of baldness, but the risks or side-effects are high - and what's more, the potential side-effects are pretty nasty. Erectile dysfunction, sever skin rash, and mental complications are just a few of the issues that come with Finasteride.
Dutasteride
Dutasteride is used to treat prostatic enlargement. While the FDA has not approved the drug to treat hair loss, physicians sometimes prescribe Dutasteride (branded as Avodart) off-label for male pattern baldness. Dutasteride works similarly to finasteride, but it may be more effective. Like finasteride, dutasteride inhibits the activity of type II 5-alpha reductase. However, dutasteride additionally inhibits type I of the enzyme. Blocking both types of the enzyme lowers DHT even more and reduces the risk of damage to hair follicles.
HR23+
Natural vitamins are becoming the most popular choice of hair loss treatment. Why? Because they work! HR23+ is the latest in a long line of hair health supplements that seem to be taking the market by storm. Multi-vitamin supplements cater for many of who have vitamin/nutritional deficiencies. Supplements like HR23+ contain key hair beneficiary ingredients that can prevent the pattern of hair fall and promote the rate of hair growth.
It's August, so that means it's Hair Loss Awareness Month
I can't quite believe it's been a year since the last National Hair Loss Awareness Month. Time really does fly when you're losing you hair!
August always fills me with anticipation and optimism. It's the time of year when all the hair loss treatments, products and services come together to help hair loss sufferers all over the world. This is the month when hair loss sufferers like me feel like we are really understood, and we do not feel alone.
If you are experiencing baldness, particularly early stages, then you really should be getting as much as you can out of National Hair Loss Awareness Month. You'll see plenty of offers, news, information sources and discounts on all the latest and very best treatments available.
If you can't spot an offer or discount on your favourite brand, then it is likely just haven't seen it. It's always worth contracting the company to see if they are doing any deals for Hair Loss Awareness Month. It really doesn't hurt to ask.
The next four weeks should fill you with positivity - after all, there are millions of people around the world who are in exactly the same position as you are in. Hair loss is such a difficult topic to talk to people about, so having more information readily available for you over the coming weeks is a real bonus, and something you should seriously take advantage of.
What offers and deals have I found?
As many of you will already know, I take HR23+ hair supplement, and they currently have a 20% discount running on their products, which will expire at the end of the month. So hurry up and bag your discounted supply ASAP.
I've also taken advantage of a cheeky little offer of buy 2 get 1 free on the OGX shampoos at Boots. These shampoos, particularly the Biotin & Collagen addition, are just fantastic, and incredibly beneficial for hair growth. And what's more, they're all priced well under £10. I'm not sure this offer has anything to do with Hair Loss Awareness Month, but it's there anyhow, so take advantage of it if you can.
I've not had much of a chance to find any other great deals, but I shall continue my search when I get a bit more time this week. I understand SkalpUK has some sort of deal going for their services, which could well be worth checking out, and I imagine there will be other special offers going from leading hair transplantation surgeries.
One thing's for sure, I'll keep you updated as and when I discover exciting discounts and bargains to be had. To keep up to date with Hair Loss Awareness Month, definitely follow the trends #NationalHairLossAwarenessMonth #HairLossAwarenessMonth.
How to get the best out of your hair during summer
Hair shedding is very common, especially during spring and summer seasons. As humans, we tend to shed more during the hotter months of the year - a bit like animals shedding their fur.
Many people often ask if they should alter their hair care routine during shedding season. In my case, yes, I do tend to make a few minor tweaks to my routine in order to get he very best out of my barnet.
Summer hair care routine
Ok, so like I said, the changes are minimal, but they do seem to work for me. Firstly, I tend to take Biotin supplements during the summer months. I already take Biotin via HR23+ hair supplement, but I do take the extra dosage when hair shedding reaches its peak.
Biotin (Vitamin B7) is an excellent human growth agent that helps improve the condition, strength, rate and speed of hair growth. I do see it as an excellent vitamin to take during a period when your hair is at its weakest.
Wash your hair less often
I actually only wash my hair with shampoo about twice a week in the summer period. We tend to sweat a heck of a lot more in the warmer climate, so it's not particularly ideal. I actually wash my hair with warm water five days a week, but I only use shampoo about twice a week.
Weaker strands will benefit from less shampooing and conditioning, so, if you can, avoid over-washing, to keep your hair looking and feeling fuller.
Use sun factor on your locks
I always, without fail, use 30+ SPF on my hair during summer. I use an anti-grease sun factor cream and gently rub it into my locks until fully absorbed. This offers my hair excellent protection from the sun throughout the whole day.
One of the main causes of hair damage is the ultraviolet rays from the sun - therefore it is essential that you give your hair full protection with a good SPF solution.
So, my good friends over at Oxford BioLabs have released a new styling cream, based on the same principles as their other products.
It's funny, as it was only the other day that I was thinking about how cool it would be to have a styling cream that could also help prevent hair loss and thinning hair. The question is, does this stuff actually work?
I will definitely not be purchasing this, as I am not a big fan of TRX2 products. Many of you will know how unsuccessful the pills were, after I took them for nearly nine months! So, this post is not a review of this styling cream, as such.
I tried to find the list of ingredients in this formula, but it does not state this information on their website. If any of you have bought this product, then please list the ingredients in the comments section below. I will then be able to give my in-depth views on this formula.
I have actually looked into creating anti-hair loss styling creams, using a wide range of additives, including Minoxidil, but the problem is, like with any anti-baldness formula, it needs to absorb into the scalp for the very best results.
Hair styling creams do not absorb into the scalp, instead they just hug the hair strand and then get washed out. So, if you think about it, packing a styling cream with a bunch of anti-hair loss ingredients is actually pointless.
Topical foams, serums and shampoos are more effective for preventing baldness because they actually absorb into the scalp upon application. This is why a styling cream could not work as an anti-balding treatment.
There isn't any logic to using this styling cream, unless of course you love the texture and shine that it gives your hair. But at over £20 per pot, it'll be the most expensive styling product you are ever likely to purchase.
If you want my honest opinion, then I would label this product as nothing more than a gimmick - just another money-maker to add to the existing line of TRX2 products on offer.
If you have used this styling and 'thickening' cream by TRX2, then I would love to hear your honest feedback. Please leave your thoughts and reviews in the comments section below.
What is the best hair supplement I have tried?
I frequently get asked what hair loss treatments I rate the best. So, I have decided to split my answer into a couple of categories, starting here with my top rated hair supplements.
I'll be covering topical solutions (shampoos, serums, lotions etc.) in my next post, but here I shall give you guys a run down of the best hair supplements I have tried for my hair loss.
My rating of each supplement is based on how effective they were in the prevention of hair fall and the stimulation of hair growth. Just remember, these are my opinions only, and results will vary with each individual. What might work better for me, may not work as effectviely for you.
Biotin 10,000mcg
Biotin is used in pretty much every decent hair supplement on the market, and if you're serious about enhancing your hair, you should really consider getting yourself a bottle of Biotin pills.
Using Biotin, my hair grew faster and stronger, which was great, but it still didn't solve my hair loss problem - I was still experiencing hair fall, therefore I knew this wouldn't be a long term solution for me.
Even though Biotin wouldn't cut it on its own, I was still keen to keep it in my diet, as it would surely pair up well with a DHT blocker...
Biotin ratings:
Effectiveness: 2/5
Safety: 3/5
Affordability: 5/5
Score = 10/15
Saw Palmetto
...and that brings me to my next supplement - Saw Palmetto. Even though more tests are needed, Saw Palmetto has shown to be a DHT blocker.
I started using Saw Palmetto a while back, and I can honestly say it has worked pretty well for me. I definitely noticed less hair falling out from using it, but there was still room for improvement.
This is the point I started searching for multi-vitamin supplements that contained Saw Palmetto and Biotin, along with other hair beneficiary ingredients that could help prevent hair loss and encourage better hair growth.
Saw Palmetto ratings:
Effectiveness: 3/5
Safety: 3/5
Affordability: 4/5
Score = 10/15
Nutrafol
I tried Nutrafol a while back, and from looking at the ingredients list, I kinda knew what to expect from this American supplement, I thought I'd give it a try anyway.
Containing ingredients like saw palmetto which have worked excellent for me, I only used this supplement for a few months, as I was already happy using a different product that was working well for me at the time.
Although I didn't notice much change in my hair in the way of growth, I was pleased to see that it seemed to help the prevention of hair fall. I gave this product a rating of 3/5, but perhaps I should have used it longer in order to give it a fairer trial. Overall though, it could be a viable option for your hair, but be warned, it is very expensive.
Nutrafol ratings:
Effectiveness: 3/5
Safety: 5/5
Affordability: 2/5
Score = 10/15
Viviscal
Ok, so I only rated Viviscal 2/5, and looking back that does seem rather harsh. This is a good supplement with some really great ingredients in it.
I think I was so miserable at the time of using this, after my dreadful experience using TRX2, that perhaps I never really gave Viviscal a fair chance. I also discovered an effective solution at the time of using Viviscal, therefore I didn't complete the three months trial that I had intended.
Anyway, even though both products are similar in additives and performance, I have rated Viviscal slightly ahead of Nutrafol based on the price. Viviscal is much more affordable and they also offer multi-pack deals, which Nutrafol doesn't seem to do. I would recommend Viviscal if you suffer from early stages of baldness.
Viviscal ratings:
Effectiveness: 3/5
Safety: 5/5
Affordability: 3/5
Score = 11/15
Procerin
I cam across Procerin quite early on in my hair loss journey, and I was initially really impressed with these tablets. They seemed to be working a treat during the first two to three months, which I was absolutely delighted about.
With a generous dosage of Saw Palmetto, Procerin was definitely reducing the pattern of hair loss. I noticed much less hair on my pillow every morning, and less hair in the shower too. My hair didn't appear thicker in any way, but the rate of hair fall was definitely less.
However, after about three months, my hair started falling out again, which was devastating to say the least. In the hope it might have been natural shedding, I continued to use Procerin for another three months, but I still seemed to be losing hair.
Now, I still rate this supplement highly because it did work during certain periods of using it, but for whatever ever reason, the results didn't last the distance. However, I would consider using Procerin again in conjunction with Biotin, if I did not have the alternative that I am using now.
Procerin ratings:
Effectiveness: 3/5
Safety: 4/5
Affordability: 4/5
Score = 11/15
HR23+
My number one supplement for treating hair loss is, without question, HR23+ hair health capsules. This supplement has been the most effective treatment for my hair loss problem, and I discovered it at a time when I was really getting desperate.
Based on a key formula of hair growth agents and DHT blockers, this seemed like the perfect solution I was looking for. The ingredients are not revolutionary, but I was familiar with most of them anyway.
I have been using HR23+ for a couple of years now, and it has done just about everything possible for my hair. It has slowed down the rate of hair fall to the point where I just don't lose any more hair. I genuinely believe that HR23+ has halted my blading completely. My hair has never looked thicker and better than it does since I started using this supplement. I am very pleased with it, and I would obviously recommend it to anyone in the same situation as me.
HR23+ ratings:
Effectiveness: 4/5
Safety: 5/5
Affordability: 3/5
Score = 12/15
I shall be going through the best topical solutions in my next post, so stay tuned...
I was browsing through a few hair loss forums the other day, and during a thread on the subject of Finasteride (branded as Propecia), I came across a drug called Dutasteride, which is branded by the name of Avodart.
Now, I must confess, I hadn't ever heard of this drug, that apparently can be used to treat hair loss very effectively. So, I Googled it straight away to see what information I could dig up on this mysterious pill.
Dutasteride is considered an effective hair loss treatment for hair loss and thinning hair, but not without its potential side-effects. Dutasteride, unlike Finasteride, is not FDA-approved. Therefore it cannot market itself as a treatment for pattern baldness.
Dutasteride is actually a medication used to treat benign prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate), but side-effects included new hair growth on patients suffering from Alopecia. I guess you could put this product in the same category as other hair loss treatments that were kind of discovered accidently.
Dutasteride was developed by GlaxoSmithKline and is a 5α-reductase inhibitor which prevents the conversion of the androgen sex hormone testosterone into the more potent dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Side-effects?
Now, with all that said, it's time to look at the negatives - the side-effects! Unfortunately the side-effects are similar to that of Finasteride, which is the reason I have never actually tried Propecia, so this has kind of burst my happy bubble, somewhat!
Typical side-effects that you can expect to experience from taking Dutasteride will include sexual dysfunction, prostate cancer risks, and severe skin irritations.
If, like me, you aren't keen on risking the side-effects, you are probably best off avoiding Dutasteride and opting for something more natural, without the risk of any nasty surprises.
I'll bring you guys more on this pill once I get a further understanding of the research, testing and results.
