35+ Hacks To Help Strengthen Hair And Prevent Hair Loss

Hair. We all have it, we all want it to look good, and none of us want to be bald. There are some hair care habits that most people have picked up over the years that aren’t actually good for our hair, and some of these habits might be surprising to hear. Ever dried your hair with a bath towel or brushed it when it’s wet? How about using a plastic comb or lounging around in the sun with no hat? There are many ways that we can damage our hair, but luckily, there are also many ways to save it from ourselves. So buckle up, hair lovers. It’s time to learn a thing or two about your lovely locks in this list of hair loss prevention hacks.

Don’t Wash Your Hair Every Day

While the frequency of how often one should wash their hair is greatly dependent on a person’s hair type and scalp texture, as well as how oily the hair gets and, of course, personal hygiene preferences, washing too frequently is never healthy.

Washing your hair every single day strips the hair of its natural oils and can cause a dry, itchy scalp and damaged, dull hair. That being said, don’t wash too infrequently either – you don’t want to have greasy and dirty hair. A good balance is washing every 2-3 days, and always after you sweat or go to the gym.

Don’t Tie Up Your Hair When It’s Wet

Something that you might be doing simply out of habit is tying up your hair when it’s wet – and that’s so bad for your hair growth! Hair is far more fragile when it’s wet, so it is more prone to breakage when you tie it up.

The reason hair is more fragile when wet is because the hydrogen bonds in your hair are weaker when they are wet – which means the elasticity in damp hair is higher, which can cause it to stretch and snap.

Remove the Nozzle From the Dryer

According to one of the world’s best-known stylists, Michael Van Clarke, “Your nozzle unnecessarily concentrates the heat and can lead to excessive damage.” That means that if you want to blowdry your hair, it is more advisable to remove the nozzle.

He also advises people trying to grow their hair to “keep a one-inch distance from the hair when you’re drying it and stop drying once a section is dry,” meaning don’t over-dry your hair, and only use the heat when necessary.

Massage Your Scalp

If you’re struggling with hair growth or strength, then perhaps you need to stimulate your hair follicles to produce thicker and more resilient hair. Researchers have found that regular scalp massages can help with this and can drastically make the hair grow faster.

According to research, massaging the scalp increases hair thickness by stretching the cells of hair follicles. Scalp massages can also assist in dilating blood vessels beneath the surface of the skin and encourage hair growth.

Keep Your Hairbrush Clean

A dirty and unclean hairbrush that is old and filled with dust and dead hair stuck in the bristles can cause mass amounts of damage to your scalp and hair and can cause thinning, stunted growth, and even staph infections.

A great way to keep your hairbrush clean is to clean out the fluff and hair caught in the bristles with a comb, and then soak the brush in either a cup of warm water and vinegar or baking soda overnight every few weeks.

Sleep With Your Hair Down

The pressure put on your hair when sleeping with your hair tied up in a bun or ponytail is far more harmful than it seems. It can cause strain on your scalp, which can eventually lead to damaged and thin hair.

If you get frustrated and simply cannot sleep with your hair loose, then try tying a loose braid. This will save your ends from unwanted breakage, and even help to give you some gorgeous wavy curls the next day!

Clips vs Hair Ties

Tying up your hair frequently in a tight ponytail or bun can cause kinks and stunted growth. It can also cause damaged hair whenever strands get caught in the hair tie. Hair clips are far better for keeping your hair out of your face while still protecting the strands.

A claw clip or barrette can provide less friction and breakage on the strands. Be careful not to clip your hair up too tightly, though, which will defeat the purpose. Instead, keep it loosely tied to avoid shedding and damaged hair. 

Use Oils

According to various scientific studies, there are carrier oils as well as essential oils that have been tested and recommended for promoting hair growth. The oils you should use are dependent on your hair type and how dry your hair gets. 

One of the most popular oils is coconut oil. The vitamins and fatty acids inside coconut oil help to seal and moisturize hair, which assists to prevent a flaky scalp, dandruff, split ends, and overall breakage if used for a long period of time.

Don’t Brush Wet Hair

As we’ve already said before, hair is more fragile when wet. So, it should be obvious that brushing it can do more harm than good. When you brush your hair when it’s wet, it is more vulnerable to breakage and split ends.

It is best to allow your hair to air-dry after you’ve washed it before attempting to get rid of any knots or frizz. Remember to brush slowly and gently when it has dried because rough brushing can also result in damage.

Metal Detox

If you’re finding that your hair is prone to breakage after a color treatment, then it might not be the color that’s giving your hair trouble. The breakage could be caused by excess metal inside your hair fiber – particularly copper. Copper can wind up in your hair due to pipe erosion, causing it to be in the water you wash with every day. 

The ingredients in coloring treatments that activate the dye can cause a negative reaction when met with copper, which makes strands more vulnerable. There are products, such as L’Oréal’s Metal Detox range, that works wonders for ridding hair of excess metals. Treating your hair with citric acids, lemon juice, and tomato juice are also effective methods.

Ditch the Plastic Comb

If you’ve been brushing with a plastic or metal comb on your hair, reading this will hopefully change your mind about using them. These cheap combs can create static electricity in your hair, which causes unwanted frizz. 

Static and frizz make the hair dry and brittle, which in turn causes breakage, split ends, and hair loss. So, switch that comb out for a soft-bristled brush. It is far more gentle and great for any hair type.

Don’t Use Box Dye

Box dye is not formulated to the same standard as the professional color treatments you receive at the salon, and they often contain PPDs and other chemicals that are harmful to your hair and overall health. Also, the color never truly turns out the way you desire.

Rather than buying a box off the shelf to “save a bit of cash,” we suggest you wait a little bit longer to dye your hair and go to a professional. Take our advice on this one. You’ll be thanking us in the long run.

Shower After Exersize

When we exercise, we sweat. Naturally, that means we are dirtier than before. So showering after a workout, especially an intense one, should be a common hygiene practice. When you shower after your gym session, make sure to clean your scalp. 

A dirty scalp can cause clogged hair follicles and, consequently, hair loss. This does not mean that you need to shampoo your hair every time, but simply run your hair and scalp under the water to keep it clean.

Use A Hair Mask

Much like skincare, hair care doesn’t end with a simple wash. On top of conditioning, there are many other hair care treatments that are recommended for strong and healthy hair. Amongst these is making use of a hair mask. 

You can get hair masks designed for your hair type at any drugstore, salon, or online. And, there are tons of DIY hair masks, too! Many DIY recipes include household ingredients like honey, apple cider vinegar, and even brown sugar, which are all great for promoting hair growth.

Keep Your Stress Levels In Check

Stress takes a toll on our bodies, and just as it wreaks havoc on our skin and our health, it also greatly affect the quality of our hair. Both emotional and physical stress can cause brittle and thinning hair and hair loss. 

Stress is one of the un-enjoyable parts of life that we all have to deal with. Still, it is important to manage your stress levels with regular exercise, getting enough sleep, having a healthy work-life balance, and taking a moment to breathe deeply every day.

Prevent Sun Damage As Often As Possible

As much as we all love to bathe in the summer sun and soak up the heat, we need to remember that our bodies are sensitive to UV rays. In the same way, our skin can burn from being in the sun and needs protection like sunscreen, so does our hair and scalp.

Scalp damage from the sun can lead to inflammation and which impedes healthy hair and its growth. So remember to pack a hat next time you’re planning on heading over to the beach for a day in the sun.

Use Shampoo That Contains Zinc

Zinc keeps the oil glands around hair follicles functioning and is also imperative for hair tissue growth and repair. Often, if you are suffering from brittle hair or hair loss, it could be because you are lacking zinc.

On top of taking daily zinc supplements and eating foods that contain zinc, studies have shown that using a shampoo that contains even a small amount of zinc helps to promote hair growth and hair tissue regeneration and repair.

Use Green Tea

Green tea is packed with antioxidants and nutrients that help to detox the body and keep it healthy and strong, and it does the same for our hair as well. Drinking green tea as well as using it in hair masks or as a treatment on its own can produce many positive results. 

A great treatment with green tea involves using a cooled green tea bag and massaging the scalp with it for at least 10 minutes. This treatment helps the scalp to naturally detox and can be done up to three times a week.

Exercise Regularly

Exercise increases blood circulation in the body and keeps our blood pressure and our minds at ease. Increased blood flow means increased nutrients and oxygen reaching the scalp and hair follicles, and therefore promotes stronger hair and growth.

Nourishing your scalp with regular exercise and cardio for 30 minutes at least three times a week will result in stronger locks and thicker, more luscious hair. Just remember to wash your hair or rinse it after a sweaty workout routine!

Use a Heat Protector

Wherever possible, it’s always best to allow hair to dry naturally, but sometimes you have a function or work to go to and cannot show up with wet hair. So, if you need to dry or style your hair, make sure to apply a heat protector first and keep the heat on low. 

Professionals specially formulate heat protectors to protect the hair against heat from styling tools such as dryers. Curlers and irons by creating a protective barrier on top of the hair shaft, protecting the hair follicles and scalp from exposure to extreme temperatures.

Condition the Ends

Conditioner is used to soften and moisturize the hair and should not actually be applied to the scalp at all. It is best to condition your ends where they tend to split and break rather than conditioning your whole head of hair.

Too much conditioner can lead to oily hair, and too much oil can interfere with hair growth as it makes the scalp dirty faster. Pro tip: if you want your hair to be really soft for a special occasion, sleep with the conditioner in – but don’t do this too often!

Kick the Unhealthy Habits to the Curb

Unhealthy habits like smoking, eating unhealthy, or excessively drinking alcohol can worsen hair loss. Smoking interferes with blood circulation, including the blood flow to your scalp. A healthy blood flow is an important factor in hair strength and growth. 

Drinking too much alcohol or caffeine can also affect hair growth by suppressing the immune system and healthy sleeping patterns, which are both imperative for healthy hair growth. The long and short of this is to try to kick those unhealthy habits and replace them with better ones like yoga, tea, exercise, and enjoyable hobbies.

Sufficient Iron Levels

It’s crucial to maintain healthy levels of iron in your body. Studies have linked iron deficiency to hair loss, so if you’re struggling with hair growth or weak hair, then it’s a good idea to get your iron levels checked.

It helps to eat foods that are rich in iron, such as red meat, seafood, beans, spinach, and leafy greens as well as. Taking iron supplements when needed are both effective ways to keep your iron levels in check.

Brush Enough, But Not Too Much

Brushing your hair frequently promotes healthy, silky smooth hair that grows abundantly. Hair is fragile, and if it is not treated with care, it will break. When brushing, ensure to be soft and gentle, even if you are dealing with a really stubborn knot. 

You also need to make sure that you aren’t over-brushing. If you are brushing your hair too often, it could lead to static hair, which we have said causes frizz and breakage. The right balance is key to healthy hair.

Exfoliate Your Scalp

Your scalp requires the same attention, just like you need to exfoliate your skin to remove dead skin cells and unclog pores. By exfoliating your scalp regularly, you are cleansing your scalp and creating a clean and healthy environment for your hair to grow.

Exfoliating your scalp regularly promotes healthy, thick, and luscious hair. You can find the perfect scalp exfoliators for your hair and skin type at your local hairdresser as well as drugstores, and you can also DIY some great ones too.

Pump Up Nutrition

Insufficient intake of essential nutrients like vitamins A, C, D, and E, zinc, B vitamins, iron, biotin, protein, and essential fatty acids can cause slowed hair growth and hair loss. Luckily, there is an easy way to rectify this. 

Maintaining a well-balanced diet that includes meals packed with these nutrients will help to treat hair loss and increase hair growth. If you’re still struggling, your body may need some supplements, too. Supplements can be found online and in most drugstores.

Keep Hydrated

Much like the rest of our body, our hair needs to be hydrated to be healthy and strong. If it’s dehydrated, hair will not grow. Drinking at least six glasses of water a day will help to strengthen your hair and promote growth. 

Not only does keeping the hydrated body help to promote thick and healthy hair, but drinking enough water also helps to eliminate problems such as a dry, itchy, and sensitive scalp and dandruff, which are significant conduits for unhealthy, brittle hair.

Rice Water Rinse

Rice water is not scientifically proven to assist with hair growth. Still, it contains a large number of minerals, vitamins, and carbohydrates that can create a stable environment to grow healthy hair follicles which in turn promotes hair growth.

You don’t need to create a schedule around when to use this treatment, simply rinse your hair with some rice water once or even twice a week after shampooing and conditioning, and watch your hair become healthier, shinier, and fuller as the weeks go on.

Use Essential Oils

As we’ve said previously on this list, massaging your scalp can help to increase blood flow and stimulate hair follicles which promotes hair growth. By incorporating essential oils like lavender, rosemary, and thyme into your massages, you’re pretty much doubling this effect.

Essential oils are also great and effective treatments for patchy hair loss and an inflamed scalp. They are also a lovely form of aromatherapy. So next time you are feeling a little blue, try an essential oil scalp massage because it’s like a spa day just for your hair!

Avoid Towel Drying

Drying wet hair with a bath towel can be just as damaging to your hair as brushing it when wet. A bath towel is typically heavy, and when you twist your fragile wet hair in it, it can cause breakage and loss of strands.

Rather than using a heavy bath towel to twist your hair up, dry your hair gently with the towel and then use a soft cotton or silk shirt or piece of material. Even an old pillowcase will work to twist it up, so it dries.

Finish off With a Leave-in Conditioner or De-tangler

Finishing off your hair treatment with a leave-in conditioner or de-tangler before going to bed will nourish your hair while you sleep and help it to stay smooth and shiny. These treatments assist in stimulating the scalp and promote hair growth and strength.

Leaving these in your hair for longer also makes the hair softer and easier to brush, so less hair is likely to fall out when you brush hair, therefore causing less damage to the hair, and allowing existing strands to grow and strengthen.

Shampoo The Scalp

The best way to wash your hair is to cleanse your scalp by massaging the shampoo into it thoroughly. If you’re using a specialized shampoo like a keratin or caffeine shampoo, then let the shampoo sit in your hair for a few minutes before rinsing.

When you rinse, the shampoo will run through the rest of your hair, so it is pointless to add extra shampoo to your ends. In fact, too much shampoo can strip your hair of its natural oils and leave it looking and feeling lifeless and dull.

Avoid Peroxides

Hydrogen peroxide lightens hair by breaking down melanin – an amino acid found in the hair shaft. It is found in bleaches used to lighten hair, and excessive use can result in weak and damaged hair that is prone to breakage.

Not only can hydrogen peroxide damage your hair, but it can also cause temporary hair loss and significant damage to your hair follicles which could eventually lead to permanent damage to the scalp and baldness. Nobody wants that! So it’s best to avoid peroxides as much as possible.

Onion, Garlic and Ginger

As well as the oils we have mentioned, natural juices from onion, garlic or ginger have been linked to the prevention of hair loss. Studies have shown that applying these juices daily has helped individuals suffering from hair loss to grow their hair.

These potent juices release nutrients into the hair follicles and scalp that assist in reducing inflammation, cleanse the hair and scalp, and strengthening the hair follicles in the scalp. Strong hair follicles equal strong, thick, and fast-growing hair.

Bobby Pins

Many women rely on bobby pins to keep their hair in place, and they are a good hair accessory to use if you need to keep your hair out of your face. However, many women complain about how they tend to loosen over the course of the day, causing the hair to fall out of place.

Well, you probably didn’t know there is a right way to wear bobby pins, and it is not what you think. If you want these little pins to stay in place, simply put the bobby pin wavy side down, so it locks in the hair.

Watch Out For Split Ends

The sad truth about growing your hair out is that you will encounter split ends every once in a while. Hair breakage is a fact of life and as much as it pains you to find pieces of your hair in the shower each morning, sometimes there’s only much you can do.

It’s recommended that you trim split ends especially if you are just starting to grow your hair out. This will help it grow healthier and stronger. Also, contrary to popular myths, experts deny that cutting split ends promotes hair growth so if you decide to do it, make sure it’s for the right reasons.