How can I permanently damage my hair follicles?

Author: Luisa Mitchell  |  Last update: Sunday, November 23, 2025

Permanents, hair dyes, relaxants and other chemical treatments can damage hair follicles and the hair itself and can lead to hair thinning and hair loss. Repeated treatments can destroy a follicle, leaving it unable to regrow hair in the future. This means that bald spots that develop may be permanent.

Can hair be damaged permanently?

You can't permanently damage your hair. It's dead. You grow healthy new hair all the time that can replace hair damaged by heat and chemicals. Coloring or bleaching does not change the health of new hair grow.

How do you damage unwanted hair follicles?

Laser therapy.

A beam of highly concentrated light (laser) is passed over your skin to damage hair follicles and prevent hair from growing (photoepilation). You might need multiple treatments. For people whose unwanted hair is black, brown or auburn, photoepilation is usually a better option than electrolysis.

Is there a way to permanently remove hair follicles?

Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal method which uses a special machine to stop hair growth with chemical or heat energy; then, the hair follicles are removed with tiny electric tweezers.

What ingredients damage hair follicles?

10 Common Ingredients That Actually Damage Your Hair
  • 1 - Sulfates. Sulfates are detergents made with mineral salts that contain sulfur. ...
  • 2 - Parabens. ...
  • 3 - Coal Tar. ...
  • 4 - Selenium Sulfide. ...
  • 5 - Phthalates. ...
  • 6 - Mystery Fragrances. ...
  • 7 - Mineral Oil. ...
  • 8 - Alcohols.

What kills hair follicles naturally?

How to damage hair follicles?

What causes damage to hair follicles?
  1. Trauma to the scalp. A surgical incision or wound that causes trauma to the scalp, such as intense scratching, may damage hair follicles. ...
  2. Thermal styling tools. ...
  3. Chemical treatments. ...
  4. Certain hairstyles. ...
  5. Pulling hairs. ...
  6. Scarring alopecia. ...
  7. Cancer treatment.

What hormone destroys hair follicles?

Hormones and androgenetic alopecia

Androgenetic alopecia occurs when you inherit genetic changes that make your hair follicles overly sensitive to DHT. As a result, the follicles shrink, growing thinner hair for a time before they completely stop growing new hairs.

How to destroy hair follicles on face naturally?

Home Remedies for Removing Facial Hair
  1. Turmeric and Milk. Turmeric is a natural anti-inflammatory and has been used in Ayurvedic medicine for centuries. ...
  2. Egg White Mask. ...
  3. Sugar and Lemon. ...
  4. Honey and Lemon. ...
  5. Papaya and Turmeric. ...
  6. Oatmeal and Banana. ...
  7. Spearmint Tea. ...
  8. Gram Flour and Yogurt.

How expensive is electrolysis hair removal?

Electrolysis Cost

For a full body treatment, you're looking at roughly $35 to $100 per hour. Because each hair is treated one at a time, it takes many sessions. You might spend 15 to 30 hours in total. This means the full cost could be anywhere from $525 to $3,000.

What damages hair follicles on scalp?

There are many factors that play a role in damaged hair follicles, from diet to genetics to stress. Here are some of the most common causes: Low-nutrient diet that's lacking protein, iron, zinc and essential vitamins. Infections such as folliculitis, which causes the follicle to become inflamed and itchy.

What vitamins stop facial hair growth?

Dietary supplements that contain vitamins B6 and E are also believed to help get rid of unwanted hair growth in the facial areas. For one, vitamin B6 is thought to help lower testosterone in women and inhibit prolactin hormone production.

How to remove unwanted hair permanently at home naturally?

3. Gram Flour and Milk:
  1. Make a thick paste of gram flour and milk to reduce unwanted hair growth.
  2. Apply this paste on the skin and let it dry.
  3. Rub this in circular motions once dried to remove any unwanted hair.
  4. You can apply this paste once a week to stop unwanted hair growth.

What is the most damaging thing you can do to your hair?

8 Ways You're Damaging Your Hair and How You Can Stop It
  • Drying your hair with a towel. ...
  • Brushing your hair when wet. ...
  • Tight hairstyles. ...
  • Washing your hair too often. ...
  • Washing your hair with hot water. ...
  • Conditioning your roots. ...
  • Using heat styling tools too often. ...
  • A poor diet.

How do I know if my hair follicles are permanently damaged?

Hair loss or thinning: A damaged hair follicle will be unable to create a strong piece of hair. Consequently, hair will become thin, brittle, and weak. You might notice that it's breaking more frequently than it would or altogether falling out. Breakage can be a direct result of this.

How can I fix my damaged hair permanently?

11 Tips to Help Manage and Protect Damaged Hair
  1. Use shampoo and conditioner for damaged hair. ...
  2. Wash your hair with lukewarm water. ...
  3. Use a deep conditioning treatment. ...
  4. Apply leave-in conditioner. ...
  5. Dry your hair with a T-shirt. ...
  6. Avoid over-brushing your hair. ...
  7. Switch your hairbrush for a wide-tooth comb. ...
  8. Always use a heat protectant.

What is a downside to electrolysis?

Electrolysis Cons

It's a time-consuming procedure requiring multiple sessions. Skin discoloration is a possibility. The electricity in the device can actually destroy the capillaries in the surrounding areas. It can be very painful.

Does insurance cover electrolysis?

Please note: Most insurance companies require a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria to qualify for electrolysis coverage. There are also some insurance companies allowing a medical diagnosis of PCOS (hormonal disorder related) to qualify for electrolysis coverage.

Is electrolysis 100% permanent?

Yes, it is. Electrolysis stands alone as the permanent alternative to lifetime maintenance. No other hair-removal solution can claim the universal acceptability and success offered by electrolysis treatments.

What dissolves hair follicles?

Because electrolysis destroys the hair follicle, hair can never grow back. It's effective for the greatest range of skin and hair types. Electrolysis is the only method approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for permanently removing unwanted hair.

Can turmeric remove hair permanently?

Turmeric

It contains natural chemicals that may be able to slow or stop hair growth by weakening the hair roots. The results are slow and not dramatic like shaving or waxing, but it may be used alongside other hair removal techniques for its potential long-term benefits.

What permanently destroys hair follicles?

Yes, electrolysis safely and permanently removes hair from all skin tones. It is the only FDA-approved permanent hair removal treatment. Because electrolysis permanently destroys the growth cells in the hair follicles, the hair will not grow back.

What does low estrogen hair loss look like?

The thinning may be more noticeable on areas like the front hairline, sides of the head, or top of the head. Though more shedding can occur, completely bald areas as a result of menopause are uncommon. Estrogen also affects production of scalp oil, called sebum. Less sebum leads to drier hair texture and a drier scalp.

What disease kills hair follicles?

Alopecia areata is a disease that happens when the immune system attacks hair follicles and causes hair loss. Hair follicles are the structures in skin that form hair. While hair can be lost from any part of the body, alopecia areata usually affects the head and face.

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