Nothing gives you more confidence than a crown of strong, healthy natural hair. The opposite is true: hair loss can hurt our self-esteem. As you look for ways to style black natural hair, make the best choices to avoid hair loss. Let’s explore what hair loss means for afro textured hair.
What Causes Hair Loss in Natural Hair?
1. Traction alopecia
Traction alopecia means losing hair because of pulling on it over time. Tight hairstyles like braids, weaves, ponytails, and dreadlocks put too much tension on your strands, which weakens and breaks your hair. Think about most hairstyles for blacks and you’ll realize how insanely tight they get—sometimes you can’t even sleep properly or scratch an itch. If you wear these hairstyles for years, e.g., as your signature look, you may have traction alopecia as your hair weakens around the sides, back, and partitions.
2. Hair chemicals
Relaxers, hair dyes, and other chemical treatments are often too harsh for afro textured hair. Sure, they’ll tame your curls and hide the graying, but they’ll also weaken the strands or, worse, burn your scalp.
3. Hormones
For natural hair to thrive, you need a good balance of estrogen, testosterone, and progesterone. These reproductive hormones also affect your bones, muscles, and hair; they trigger pubic and facial hair during puberty, for example. Unfortunately, things like menopause and perimenopause, pregnancy, and stress cause hormonal imbalances that can lead to hair loss.
4. Poor diet
You can learn plenty about a person’s diet just from their hair. People battling with eating disorders like anorexia and bulimia essentially starve their bodies, and their hair, of essential nutrients. Poor nourishment can lead to dry, brittle hair that looks lifeless and falls out easily.
5. Other health conditions
Anemia, chemotherapy, thyroid issues, diabetes, and depression contribute to hair loss. Certain medications can also cause your hair to weaken as a side effect. Depending on the condition, hair loss may happen quite suddenly, or you may see your hair thinning out over time.
Can You Naturally Prevent or Reverse Afro Textured Hair Loss?
If you’re losing more hair than you’re comfortable with, there are a few things you can try to slow down the process.
1. Essential oils
Certain essential oils like rosemary, peppermint, and lavender are great at improving blood circulation and reducing inflammation. Try massaging a few drops of essential oils directly onto your scalp, or mix essential oils into your natural hair conditioner.
2. Herbal remedies
Go for products containing aloe vera, fenugreek, or hibiscus to moisturize and cleanse your scalp. Use these remedies if you’re struggling with afro textured hair loss from using chemical treatments or if you’re transitioning from treated to natural hair.
3. Eat more proteins and vitamins
Add leafy greens, nuts, fish, and eggs to your diet to boost natural hair growth. Your hair follicles are living cells that require essential proteins and vitamins for their health, so give your scalp what it needs to regenerate new hair.
Note: If you opt for natural products as a hair loss treatment, give yourself plenty of time to see results. These are not instant or overnight remedies, so be patient with your natural hair.
4. Cleanse and condition your hair regularly
Use natural, chemical-free shampoos and conditioners to clean your hair. You want to reverse the damage from hair chemicals and create a good environment for your natural hair to regrow. Wash and deep-condition your hair at least once a week, and dry it on low to medium heat settings.
5. Wear protective hairstyles
If weaves and braids are hurting your natural hair, stop wearing them. Hairstyles for blacks that manipulate the strands too much will make your strands break. Opt for natural hair styles like finger twists or bantu knots, tie scarves to dress up your look, or rock a simple wash-and-go afro. The best thing you can do to prevent and reverse afro textured hair loss is to free your scalp from tight hairstyles.
6. Reduce your stress levels
Let’s be honest: there are some things yoga can’t fix. Maybe the minor stresses are building up and causing your natural hair to fall out. Or maybe it’s a major life crisis that’s really shaken you up. Managing stress isn’t just good for your hair; it’s great for every aspect of your health. So, eliminate the stressors as best as you can, prioritize what you can control, e.g., your diet and sleep habits, and get support when you need it.
When Should You See a Doctor for Natural Hair Loss Treatment?
In some cases, hair loss can signal underlying health problems that need medical attention. Speak to your doctor if your natural hair loss:
- Isn’t because of aging
- Happens too suddenly
- Occurs along with significant weight loss
- Is causing you serious distress
During your appointment, your doctor may run some physical exams on your natural hair strands and scalp before giving you a diagnosis and prescription. For example, your doctor may gently pull some hair samples if your hair is shedding or conduct a scalp biopsy to see if your hair loss is linked to an infection. They may prescribe hair loss medications like Rogaine (minoxidil) or Propecia (finasteride) or recommend a dermatologist for a more comprehensive diagnosis.
Note: Other than getting a hair transplant, consider some non-surgical afro textured hair loss treatments like low-level laser therapy (LLLT) and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy.
Acknowledging the Struggle of Afro Textured Hair Loss
Of course, you can always wear a wig to cover your hair loss, but it still has an impact deep down. Losing your hair for whatever reason is very stressful because our crown is connected to our self-esteem. Don’t dismiss the struggle; find people who have the same challenges. Look online for hair loss support groups, and bring it up with your counselor if you already have access to mental health therapy.
More importantly, find a way to love yourself as you cope with hair loss. This is harder than it sounds, especially if hair loss is a result of tight hairstyles, poor lifestyle choices, or serious health complications. There are plenty of ways to look and feel fantastic apart from your hairstyle, and a positive attitude does wonders for your esteem, too. Recovering from natural hair loss is a journey, so put your best foot forward and soldier on.
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