People think of hair loss as a purely male problem, but the truth is that it affects a third of women too. This may not come as a surprise to anyone who’s ever panicked about baldness after seeing all their hair clogging up the shower drain, or the amount of broken strands on the bathroom floor after just a quick brush.
But how to know if you’re truly experiencing hair fallout? According to Dr. Ailynne-Vergara, MD (of ThankYourSkin.com), “the first sign of hair loss may be broken hairs around your hairline, or thinning hair where your hairstyle pulls too tightly.” This is especially true for ladies who favor a high ponytail! But in time, “the continuous pulling can damage your hair follicles,” Dr. Ailynne-Vergara warns. “If you damage your hair follicles, your hair cannot grow back, so you can develop permanent hair loss.”
Uh-oh! The good news is that there’s a very special ingredient you can be using on your scalp to fight this problem.
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Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has emerged as a shining star in the beauty/wellness world in recent years. Touted as a miracle ingredient that cures everything from dry skin to stubborn makeup removal, it's no surprise that coconut oil also works wonders for your hair, too.
Dermatology studies show that it's packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E, making it ideal for dry skin or itchy scalp. It is also high in lauric acid-a type of staurated fat-that works to reduce inflammation and treat acne.
Thanks to these diverse health benefits, coconut oil ultimately works to strengthen hair and nourish the scalp. Because it reduces breakage, hair is smoother and can appear healthier, which expedites the lengthening of your strands over time.
Additionally, incorporating coconut oil into your haircare routine creates an ideal environment for hair growth. The vitamins and essential fatty acids help to remove sebum build-up from hair follicles, which further speeds up growth. Once build-up is removed, the coconut oil is able to better penetrate hair cuticles, allowing it to work more effectively.
So now that we know coconut oil can help give us the Rapunzel-like hair of our dreams, what's the best way to use it? Though there are a number of ways, the most popular is via a hair mask. You can purchase one at your local drugstore, or opt to go the DIY route-if you're feeling adventurous! To do so, comb a generous amount of coconut oil through the middle of your hair to the tips, then wrap in a bun and voilà! Let it do its thing for a few hours, before rinsing and washing as usual.
Alternately, coconut oil works great as detangler. Comb a dime-sized amount through just-washed hair to help you work out the tangles.
There you have it-thick, healthy hair is just a container of coconut oil away!
