Everyone deals with hair issues. That’s why it seems as though there are an infinite number of hair products designed to treat different concerns. Hydrating hair masks exist for people with extremely dry hair. Styling creams exist for people who have flyaways and want to tame frizz. Hair oils exist to add shine and make fried ends look healthier — you get the gist.
Have you been down the hair care aisle one too many times and spent more money than you care to admit? Here are five signs it may be time to seek professional hair help.
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You’re Experiencing Hair Loss
Hair loss is a common struggle faced by many individuals. And more often than not, when hair loss begins, it’s not an easy fix. You might have to do more than pick up a few products from the drugstore to truly stop hair loss. Any medical expert will more than likely tell you to seek out a prescription strength treatment for your hair loss. For example, topical minoxidil is a great option.
Minoxidil is a medication that comes in multiple forms, most commonly a topical serum or foam. It is used to slow hair loss and increase hair growth. When applied to the scalp, this solution works by reversing the miniaturization of hair follicles, increasing blood flow around follicles, encouraging follicles to move to the growth phase, and extending the growth phase.
It will take time to see results with hair loss treatment, usually about 4-6 months. However, with patience and consistency, your hair should start growing back.
2. Your Hair Won’t Grow
If you’re taking minoxidil and seeing a significant reduction in hair loss but not much hair growth, consider other solutions. There are several ways to stimulate hair growth if just one treatment isn’t cutting it. You can consult with a medical professional or even a professional hairstylist. They might recommend vitamins and supplements to help with hair growth.
Just like any other part of your body, your hair needs essential nutrients to be healthy. Biotin, one of the B vitamins, is known for its ability to strengthen hair and nails and promote growth. But there are other nutrients for hair growth, and understanding the role that each plays is important. For example, vitamin C protects hair from oxidative stress, which is linked to hair loss. Additionally, omega-3 fatty acids provide nourishment to hair follicles, promoting a healthier scalp and potentially reducing the occurrence of dry and brittle hair.
A well-balanced with plenty of vitamins, nutrients, and lean proteins can provide your hair with the building blocks it needs to grow. If you’re struggling with a vitamin deficiency, especially iron, talk with a medical professional about supplement options.
3. Your Hair is Damaged
A number of factors can damage your hair. From heated styling tools to environmental factors, you put your hair through more than you think. Over time, the way you take care of your hair and what you expose it to can cause damage.
Hair damage can present itself in many ways. Split ends, breakage, dull texture, frizz and flyaways, tangling, and dry, brittle hair are just a few telltale signs. If your hair is damaged and you think it’s beyond repair, it may be time to seek professional help.
Hair salons offer services that can help repair damaged hair. Deep conditioning masks and bond repair treatments are both great options for reversing hair damage and revealing healthy strands. Hair masks deeply condition the hair because they contain hydrating ingredients that make it stronger. Bond builders repair broken and damaged protein bonds to reverse damage from heat styling or excessive coloring.
4. Your Hair Can’t Hold a Style
The inability to style hair is a frustrating, common hair issue that many people experience. For a variety of reasons, you may have limp, flat hair that won’t hold a style. No matter how many styling products you use, the problem can still persist. This is when you may want to enlist professional help.
Professional hair treatments can tame your locks so that they behave the way you want them to. A Brazilian blowout, for example, smooths and straightens the hair. A keratin smoothing treatment de-frizzes and cuts down on styling time. No matter the issue, consult with a hairstylist to find the right treatment. They may have recommendations you’ve never heard of.
5. Your Hair is Lacking Volume
If you’ve ever had thick, healthy hair and it starts to thin out, it’s not a good feeling. Hair can start thinning for a number of reasons: genetics, hormonal changes, medications, and aging to name a few. Thinning hair can leave you wishing for fuller, more voluminous hair.
If you want a quick fix to make your hair look fuller, consider getting extensions. Extensions are a great solution while you focus on restoring the health of your real hair. Oftentimes, extensions are viewed as a solution for one thing: to lengthen hair. However, they have many other uses. They can also help you achieve dimensional hair color with zero damage. Additionally, hair typically looks healthier with extensions in.
Pro tip: Ask your stylist about take-home products to help you achieve volume. Volumizing shampoos and conditioners, texture sprays, volumizing mousse, and velcro rollers are all great for giving hair the appearance of more volume.
Whether you’re losing hair, have damaged hair, or just need better products to use at home, seeking professional hair help is sure to boost your confidence. Don’t let hair issues get you down; instead, get to the root cause. Soon enough, you’ll love your hair and love how you feel.
