HAIR LOSS
Having a full head of hair is the pride of many men. For some, it's as important as owning a 1964 Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe. So when Mother Nature gets into the game and your hair begins to fall out, it can be as disarming as if you were getting robbed of your identity.
There's a lot of information out there about hair loss, which can make it difficult to distinguish between fact and fiction. Some myths -- like that lack of sex or sleeping in the wrong direction can cause hair loss -- have entered the realm of urban legends. So the purpose of this article is to set the record straight and see how hair loss can be prevented.
Age-old myths
Hair loss comes from the mother's side
While baldness is genetic, it is not limited to the maternal side of the family. The hair-loss gene can come from either side. If your uncle Charlie on your father's side has a receding hairline, then chances are you might not be in the clear.Wearing hats causes hair loss
In order for the hair to fall out, the hat would have to be so tight that it cuts circulation to the follicles. So no, wearing hats does not cause hair loss. Could you just imagine how many pro sports players would be bald if that were the case?Losing a handful of hair daily is a sign of male pattern baldness
If you have male pattern baldness, then yes, you'll lose a lot of hair each day. On the other hand, if you don't have male pattern baldness, it can be normal to lose that much hair because it will grow back. Only time will tell, and you should wait and see if it does indeed grow back.Excessive use of hair products causes hair loss
There are no hair-care products that cause hair loss. You may sculpt your locks with as much gel, mousse or spray as you desire.Standing on your head cures hair loss
The idea is that, by standing on your head, blood flow will be increased and your scalp will be regenerated. Specialists agree on the fact that it has no influence on hair loss at all; follicles need more than blood flow to grow hair.Brushing your hair is better than combing it
Actually, your hair reacts better to a comb than a brush. Brushing it will only lead to split ends and hair breakage, not to male pattern baldness.Cutting your hair will make it grow back thicker
This common misconception comes from the fact that hair is thicker at the base than it is at the tip, so it appears thicker at first. Cutting your hair does not affect hair growth at all; it will grow about half an inch each month no matter what.
Blow drying produces hair loss
Absolutely not. However, blow drying can damage, burn or dry the hair, which can cause it to fall. But this hair will grow back immediately, and is thus not considered to be permanent hair loss.Excessive washing of hair causes hair loss
As mentioned above, hair-care products do not harm hair. The same goes for frequency; you can wash your hair as often as you like, although three times a week is the recommended amount.Long sun exposure favors hair loss
Since hair loss appears at the follicle level, the sun would have to penetrate at this depth to do any damage. Fortunately, your hair acts as a shield against the sun.Color treatment causes hair loss
Most hair-coloring products contain chemicals that can do serious harm to the hair itself if not properly used. But will it instigate hair loss? Not a chance.Diet is related to hair loss
True; it's important to eat right in order to be generally healthy. Nevertheless, no food has been proven to be beneficial or detrimental to hair.Stress causes hair loss
Hair loss may occur in extreme cases in which there's been surgery or an otherwise stressful event, which can cause a shutting down of hair production. However, it does not cause male pattern baldness, as hair growth will resume in time.Hormones are not related to hair loss
Technically, this is true. Still, hormonal imbalance can cause temporary hair loss, as is common with women after pregnancy. If it happens to you, the important thing to remember is that the hair will grow back.Steroids have no side effects on hair
If you're into bodybuilding, you should be wary of anabolic steroids. They're very potent chemicals that have some treacherous side effects, including acceleration of hair loss. The problem is that these side effects are usually delayed by several years.
