Once you start balding, is it possible to regrow the hair that you’ve lost and return to the glory days of a head full of hair? The short answer is yes (sometimes). The longer answer is that it depends on how you proceed.
Understanding the Hair Growth Process
In order to understand hair regrowth, it’s essential to begin with a clear understanding of the hair growth cycle.
As Viviscal explains, “Hair grows from the follicle, or root, underneath the skin. The hair is ‘fed’ by blood vessels at the base of the follicle, which give it the nourishment it needs to grow. Between starting to grow and falling out years later, each hair passes through four stages: anagen, catagen, telogen and exogen. Every hair can be at a different stage of the growth cycle at any given time.”
The anagen/growth phase lasts somewhere between two and seven years and determines how long each hair will be. It’s immediately followed by the catagen/transition phase, which lasts somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 days. (During this time, the hair follicle shrinks and becomes detached from the dermal papilla.) The telogen/resting phase follows the catagen phase and lasts somewhere around 90 days. (As the old hair rests, new hair growth begins.) And finally, you have the exogen phase, which is where the old hair sheds and the new hair continues to grow in its place.
On average, you can expect to lose somewhere between 50 and 150 hairs per day. This is normal. However, when the total number of hairs lost per day exceeds the number of new hairs grown, balding/thinning ensues.
3 Tips for Regrowing Hair
If you want to keep your hair and enjoy a thicker, fuller appearance, you have to cut down on the number of hairs you lose per day and accelerate the growth process. Here are a few tips that may help:
- Hair Growth Medications
Medication is the first option most people turn to – and there are a couple of different categories to choose from. The first category is oral medication, of which finasteride is the gold standard. (The generic version is known as Propecia and it can be prescribed by your dermatologist and/or ordered as part of a mail subscription service.) The second category is topical medication. Minoxidil – better known as Rogaine – is the popular choice here. It works by stimulating hair growth through the activation of the potassium channels inside the hair follicle.
- Laser Therapy
Looking for a scientifically proven therapeutic method that’s safe, effective, and pain-free? Low level laser therapy (LLLT) could be the solution. Studies have shown that it produces thicker and fuller hair in both men and women. And only recently has it become available for at-home use.
There are a handful of companies that offer LLLT products, but Kiierr is widely considered one of the top providers. They’ve developed a revolutionary laser cap that comes in at just a fraction of the cost of visiting a laser hair clinic.
“Kiierr Laser Hair Caps use scientifically proven LLLT technology to regenerate your hair follicles giving them increased energy & blood flow,” Kiierr explains. “In just 30 minutes every other day you’ll see those frail follicles transform into thick & healthy hair once again!”
The results of LLLT aren’t immediate – it can take as much as 180 days to enjoy noticeably thicker hair – but they are noteworthy and sustainable. Many doctors consider it to be the most effective breakthrough in the hair loss space over the past few years.
- Hair Transplant Procedures
Most people are interested in pain-free, minimally invasive treatment options that can be done from home. But if you have advanced-stage hair loss and are willing to invest in a surgical procedure to regrow hair, there are a few different options available to you.
The two most common transplant methods are Follicular Unit Transplant (FUT) and Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE). A doctor can help you determine the best option for you based on individual needs and circumstances.
Restore a Full Head of Hair
The vast majority of men (and most women) are going to experience some degree of hair loss over the course of their lives. The challenge lies in limiting the extent of hair loss and maximizing the health and vitality of your scalp as you age.
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