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Originally Posted by downandlonely
I was washing my hair every other day, which was too often. My hair is very coarse and curly, and too much washing takes out the natural oils and makes it very dry. Now I wash it about twice a week. I have to add a lot of conditioner each time I wash or it gets uncontrollably frizzy. I also add oil, such as argan or Moroccan oil, to tame the frizz.
My hair has been falling out a lot and thinning on top. I tried Rogaine for women, and it didn't help at all. Someone told me about Wild Growth, an herbal product you can get from Amazon, so I have been putting that on my scalp three times a week. I think it may be helping a bit.
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I'm so sorry your hair is falling out. It could be due to stress, aging, genetics, and/or Covid-19. Any combination of factors could bring about hair loss.
Additional factors might also include the type of hair products you're using. Some of the falling out and thinning might be due to certain ingredients in your shampoo, conditioner, and/or styling products. Now that I've switched brands, I don't experience as much shedding and thinning, and my hair is starting to grow back.
Here's an article that discusses "7 Harmful Chemicals in Shampoos that Cause Hair Loss." Many of the cheap shampoos and some of the more expensive shampoos will have these toxic ingredients.
1. Sulfates - Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Laureth Sulfate
2. Chemical Fragrances
3. Sodium Chloride
4. Parabens
5. Propylene Glycol
6. Diethanolamine (DEA)
7. Triethanolamine (TEA)
And other articles like
this one also agree that some of the ingredients listed above may cause hair loss.
AARP offers additional advice on what to avoid to prevent further hair loss from shampoos:
1. Foamers and thickeners.
According to New York City hair specialist and restoration surgeon Dr. Robert Dorin,
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...Sodium chloride (better known as table salt) is used as a thickener in products containing SLS, but it can cause dry, itchy scalp and encourage hair loss. Polyethylene glycol (also known as PEG, polyethylene or polyoxyethelyne) is another thickener that strips hair of moisture. If you're undergoing salon keratin treatments, these ingredients undo the benefits."
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2. Preservatives.
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Johnson & Johnson's "No More Tears" baby shampoo (don't laugh - a lot of older babes with sensitive eyes still love it) recently removed Quaternium-15 (a formaldehyde-releasing preservative) from its ingredients without diminishing the product's appeal. According to Dr. Dorin, "Formaldehyde and parabens such as methylparaben and propylparaben are often included to prolong shelf life. The latter can affect hormonal balance and encourage hair loss."
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3. Irritants.
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...Dr. Dorin says, "Products containing diethanolamine (DEA) and triethanolamine (TEA) destroy hair's keratin and cause scalp irritation. Fragrances and artificial colors (they appear on the label as FD&C or D&C, followed by a color or number) are used for aesthetic reasons, but they may be irritants. And propylene glycol, most commonly used as antifreeze in cars (!!), is often added to keep shampoos and conditioners from freezing during shipping and storage."
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4. Alcohol.
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...Dr. Dorin's advice: "Avoid products listing alcohol as one of the first four ingredients. The closer to the top of the ingredient list, the higher the percentage in the product."
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5. Greasers.
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Steer clear of "lanolin, petroleum and mineral oil," counsels Dr. Dorin.
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Suggestions from the article:
1. Nature's Gate Biotin Strengthening Shampoo and Conditioner.
2. Living Proof Restore Shampoo and Conditioner.
3. Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Replenishing Moisture Shampoo and Conditioner.