3 Simple Ways To Promote Hair Growth

There are many different causes of hair loss – genetic patterns, chronic infections, autoimmune disease, toxicities such as heavy metals and mold, low thyroid function, adrenal dysregulation, and postpartum, to name just a few. Some hair loss is easier to correct than others, and of course, the underlying cause must always be identified and addressed for true correction to occur. I have found through my own experience with periods of hair loss, 3 simple ways to promote hair growth that are easy to do, and work really well.

Like I said, it’s imperative to try to identify the source of the hair loss. For men, it might be that excess DHT in the scalp is contributing; for others, low thyroid function can cause hair loss, so testing for those types of imbalances is important, and correcting levels. Nutritional deficiencies such as iron and protein deficiency can contribute to hair loss. Many of my Lyme patients experience hair loss as part of their illness, which does correct throughout treatment (some of that may be related to taking antibiotics and/or Candida); and I have seen heavy metal and mold toxicity cause hair loss too. Emotional stress can cause hair to fall out. From my perspective most hair loss is reversible if the underlying cause is a physiological imbalance that can be corrected. Genetic patterns of hair loss may be harder to remedy. And of course, most mums remember the postpartum hair loss, which tends to right itself over time naturally, but the following remedies can help that too.

1. Biotin
   Biotin is a micronutrient in the B vitamin family, sometimes called B7. It is a water-soluble nutrient, meaning that any excess in the body will be excreted in the urine, and it will not build up nor become toxic. As with most nutrients that help the hair, biotin can also help nails to grow with more strength, and improve the texture and health of the skin. It helps to improve the keratin infrastructure of the hair – that not only promotes more hair growth, but prevents loss by holding the hair strand in the follicle. So it prevents hair loss, improves the health of the scalp, and helps with stronger, thicker hair. I have found that quite high amounts of biotin are required to get this beneficial effect – 3000-5000mcg daily. I have used this biotin personally, it is mixed with coconut oil for better absorption.
   
   

2. Spirulina

   I found this one out by accident one day. I started taking spirulina just for overall health and energy, and a couple of months later noticed that my hair and nails were growing really rapidly! It makes sense, given that spirulina is packed with amino acids, vitamins and minerals, but it was a nice effect and I’ve recommended it to other people since then with similar results. Spirulina is a blue-green microalgae. It has between 55 and 70% protein, 8 essential and 10 non-essential amino acids, as well as high levels of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), beta-carotene, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, vitamin B12, iron, calcium, phosphorus, nucleic acids RNA & DNA, chlorophyll, and phycocyanin, a pigment-protein complex that is found only in blue-green algae. Spirulina can slow down hair loss being rich in copper and iron, and it certainly can accelerate hair growth. Gaia Herbs makes great spirulina tablets – they’re certified organic and tested to be free of heavy metals.
   
   

3. Essential oils of lavender and rosemary

   Essential oils can play a large role in helping with the health of the scalp, and influencing hair growth. Rosemary is the oil I have used for years to promote more rapid hair growth. A little bit goes a long way. I remember once in my early 20’s, wanting my hair to grow faster, so I added 10 drops of rosemary essential oil to my shampoo and rub-a-dub-dubbed. Oh boy did I feel sick after that – that was wayyyyyy too much to use. Lesson learned. But rosemary is great for boosting circulation in the scalp and slowing hair loss- it can also help slow the greying process.

   Lavender is also used for healthy hair. Not only is it a great stress-reducer, which can be a factor in hair loss, it is really good for the scalp and hair. One animal study showed that lavender increased the number of hair follicles, deepened the depth of hair follicles, and thickened the dermal layer. The Hair Loss Revolution has a great article about lavender and it’s benefit in hair loss. Click here to read their article Can Lavender Help With Hair Growth?

   Since jojoba oil soothes the scalp, helps unclog pores and encourages hair growth too, it is a great carrier oil for these other essential oils. You can massage a little into your scalp before showering. I love doTERRA’s shampoo and conditioner too – they are natural and contain essential oils for healthy scalp and hair. You could easily add a little extra lavender and rosemary to the shampoo bottle. You can find those here.
   
   

   Hair loss can be depressing and demoralizing – I’ve been there so I know. These are the things that I have found to be easy to incorporate into my daily regimen that have been very effective. They have the added benefits of being energizing and nourishing in other ways. If you try these, let me know how it goes for you, and if you have other things you’ve found to be helpful, please post them in the comments!