Restoring hair follicles after chemical damage is a journey that requires patience, commitment, and expert guidance. While it may seem daunting, with the right approach and professional support, significant hair health and growth improvements are achievable.
Hair loss is the most obvious way you can tell that your follicles are in distress. Of course, some hair loss is expected every day, but if you've been losing an increasing amount of hair, this indicates that there might be damage.
Hair follicle damage from DHT is largely irreversible, meaning it's important to act quickly if you start to experience this form of hair loss. We've discussed the effects of this hormone on your hair in more detail in our full guide to DHT and male pattern baldness.
Once a hair follicle dies, it generally cannot be revived or restored to function.
In addition to kickstarting your follicles through targeted scalp massages, certain topical hair-care products like serums and scalp cleansers can help prompt your follicles to get back to work. They contain ingredients that, when applied directly to your scalp, work to stimulate and nourish your follicles.
A natural supplement designed to boost hair growth can help. For example, biotin and folic acid supplements are common hair-loss treatments. 8 Even multivitamins can strengthen hair growth, Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital, told Health.
Topical drugs.
The FDA has approved minoxidil (Rogaine), available over the counter, as a hair loss treatment for both men and women. It helps thicken hair follicles and promotes hair lengthening. It comes in a liquid or foam that's applied to the scalp.
If you damage your hair follicles after an injury, they can repair themselves and your hair will grow back. It could take up to four years before you see new hair growth out of damaged hair follicles, depending on the severity of your injury.
The micro injuries created by the derma roller revive dormant follicles with new hair growing during the wound healing process as it triggers cellular turnover to deliver hair growth results. A derma roller can be used almost anywhere on the body, including the scalp and beard area.
If you're not sure whether your hair is damaged, there are a few things you can look for. First, damaged hair is often dry and brittle. You may also notice that your hair breaks easily or has split ends. In addition, damaged hair may be dull and lack shine.
It's usually the result of inflammatory or autoimmune disorders. Sometimes it's due to skin injuries, burns or certain medical treatments. Scarring alopecia causes permanent hair loss because hair can't regrow after the follicle is destroyed.
At first it may look like small pimples around the tiny pockets from where each hair grows (hair follicles). The condition can be itchy, sore and embarrassing. The infection can spread and turn into crusty sores. Mild folliculitis will likely heal without scarring in a few days with basic self-care.
All experts agree on this: when hair is damaged, it must be cut off. “If the damage is so bad (you're bleaching too much or using too much heat), that's when it becomes a cut instead of a trim,” says Polko.
Damaged hair looks rough, dry, dull, and frizzy. It loses its natural shine because the cuticles, which give hair its sheen, have been damaged. Heat damaged curly hair may appear limp, and the curls may not hold their shape, and straight hair may not appear as polished and sleek.
Truly dead hair follicles are almost impossible to reactivate, except with the help of medical/surgical treatment, so it's important that you take action on your dying hair follicles as soon as you're able – the earlier the better.
Severe and prolonged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause loss of hair. The loss is diffuse and involves the entire scalp rather than discrete areas. The hair appears uniformly sparse.
Yes, absolutely! Stress, excessive heat styling, age and even genetics can deplete your hair's thickness. Keeping your scalp and roots healthy is how you can promote the growth of thick hair. You can do the same by oiling regularly, refraining from wearing tight hairstyles and following a nourishing hair care routine.
Stem cell niches. The unique ability of the HF to self‐regenerate cyclically relies on different stem cell populations, located in distinct follicular niches, which coordinate or provide the necessary cellular material for the continuous turnover and replacement of differentiated cells.
Over time, hair fibers become thinner and drop out, and unfortunately, they never regenerate. Natural pigment (color) changes occur in hair as you age as well. Pigment cells stop producing as much, and eventually, your once thick, chestnut hair becomes thin, fine and gray.
In most cases, hair that is pulled from the scalp will grow back. However, repeated pulling or excessive pulling can cause scarring and permanent hair loss.