Thick, glossy, healthy hair is everyone’s dream. Some people are born with naturally healthy hair, while others try various remedies to maintain the health of their hair. Hair loss is one of the main problems faced by people, irrespective of their age or gender. While there may be many causes of hair loss, stress remains a universal cause of it. In very specific cases, hair loss may be due to side effects of medication or other health issues.

Loss of hair is not restricted to the scalp alone, it can occur in any part of the body that is covered by hair. Except on the palms and soles of the feet, the skin on our body is covered by hair. Keratin is the protein that makes up hair. The average adult is said to have 100,000 to 150,000 hair strands all over the body and loses up to 100 of them every day. Loss of hair that exceeds 100 per day is termed as hair loss and requires treatment.

Causes of hair loss
Excessive loss of hair (beyond 100 per day) may be due to a number of reasons. The severity of hair fall varies from person to person. Some of the causes of hair fall are:

• Heredity
• Stress
• Hormonal changes
• Excessive use of hair cosmetics
• Side effects of medication
• Cancer treatment
• Disorders such as alopecia

Natural remedies for hair loss
Hair loss due to factors such as stress, hormonal changes, or side effects of medication, can be treated with natural remedies. Disorders such as alopecia may require medical treatment. If hair loss is due to cancer treatment, there are high chances of it growing back once the effects of the treatment disappear. Common home remedies for hair loss are as follows:

Warm oil massage
Regular massage of the scalp with warm oil is one of the best ways to promote hair growth and prevent hair loss. Oils such as coconut, olive, almond, castor, and sesame oil are known to promote hair growth. Massage your scalp at least once a week with any of these oils.

Indian gooseberry or Amla
Amla is a rich source of vitamin C, the deficiency of which causes hair loss. You can include gooseberry in your diet on a regular basis. Alternatively, mix one tablespoon of gooseberry pulp with lemon juice and apply this to your scalp and leave it overnight. This remedy promotes hair growth and prevents hair loss.

Fenugreek
Regular consumption of fenugreek seeds and applying its paste to the scalp helps prevent hair loss.

Alopecia universalis is a disorder in which a person loses all the hair on the skin. It begins as patches of hair falling off, and later these patches connect and hair loss becomes noticeable. In people affected by this condition, the hair that falls off does not grow back. There is no treatment for this condition, only ways of preventing further hair loss. Items such as wigs can be used if the condition affects self-esteem.