How to Reverse Hair Loss

Hair is a symbol of youth, beauty and vitality and when we start losing excessive amounts of hair it can become very stressful and lower our self-esteem. A deeply stressful event, such as a viral infection or malnutrition can lead to the thinning of hair, but thankfully this can be reversed in certain cases. Hair loss is often blamed on genetics. In my case both of my grandfathers were bald and my father had a comb over at my current age. Fortunately I have a full head of healthy hair and I plan to keep it that way as long as I can. I believe in the new science of epigenetics that theorizes that our genes have switches that can be turned on or off based on our thoughts, beliefs, lifestyle, nutrition, stress and our environment. If you believe that you will go bald because baldness runs in your family you probably will. After all, our thoughts create our reality and they have a strong influence over how our genes express themselves. If you want to learn more about epigenetics, I highly recommend that you study the work of Dr. Bruce Lipton and read his book, “The Biology of Belief. Also watch the video below.

Most people have been conditioned to believe that if baldness runs in the family that they too will be bald one day. I am, however, living proof that we can defy that old model of genetics and have more control over our health and wellbeing. Chronic stress, for example, is a major factor that can contribute to hair loss. Learning how to manage stress and keep it to a minimum can go a long way toward preventing the thinning of our hair and promote overall good wellness. I have friends who have been through very stressful moments in their lives and as a result they started shedding hair a few months later as a result of the trauma. Fortunately for them they were able to regrow their hair once there was no longer chronic stress in their lives, but they were mindful about eating to support healthy hair and about removing stress from their lives.

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“Telogen effluvium is a common type of hair loss that affects people after they experience severe stress or a change to their body. Symptoms include thinning hair, usually around the top of your head. Treatment exists to reverse hair loss, but hair will typically grow back in three to six months without treatment.
”

— Cleveland Clinic

A couple years ago I experienced excessive shedding of my hair three months after recovering from Covid 19. It was shocking to see how much my hair was thinning, however, I fortunately knew how to reverse the loss and regrow healthy hair.

Vitamins that Promote Hair Growth and Health

First of all I was aware that I had to provide my hair with the vital nutrients that it needed to grow back strong and I started by taking a multivitamin that was designed to promote healthy hair and nails. I tried several brands and the one that works the best for me is called MegaFood Skin, Nails & Hair 2 - Vitamins For Women & Men. It was affective for me and you should see positive results within just a couple months if you take it regularly as directed on the bottle. You’ll know that it’s working when you run your fingers through your hair and feel lots of new baby hairs sprouting out of your scalp. Another brand that is highly recomended by the website dailyhealthbenefits.org is WEEM. They have vitamin gummies that contain 10,000 mcg of biotin and they are said to work within just a couple weeks. You can purchase them at Amazon.com where they are an Amazon Choice Overall Pick. Check out the reviews for yourself at Amazon.com. I just started taking them a couple weeks ago and I am already seeing positive results.

A nutritious diet is vital to healthy hair and is one of the best natural ways to get the vitamins and minerals that promote hair growth. The nutrients in food tend to be more bio available to our bodies than many supplements. It is important to eat organic fruits and vegetables to get the best results by avoiding toxic pesticides and herbicides that are used on conventional produce. Toxins add stress to our bodies by harming the flora in our guts that is essential to our health, along with other adverse impacts to our bodies. For example, the herbicide Glyphosate, which is found in Roundup weed killer, has been found to be a probable cause of cancer. It is also believed to be one of the reasons why so many people today have leaky gut syndrome and are gluten intolerant.

The Best Foods for Hair Growth According to healthline.com:

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Eggs

Berries

Spinach

Fatty Fish

Sweet Potatoes

Avacados

Nuts

Seeds

Sweet Peppers

Oysters

Beans

Soybeans

Meat

Everything Grows Stronger With Love

Loving yourself will also lead to overall emotional and physical health, which is good for your hair. Love is a great healer and a wonderful stress reducer. Good hydration should also be considered as part of a healthy lifestyle along with exercise to boost your circulation and metabolism.

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Medicinal Treatments to Reverse Hair Loss & Thinning

In some cases of hair loss, such as male pattern baldness, Minoxidil may be a good option to help you grow back hair. Just a reminder, I am not a doctor so this would be a good subject to discuss with your professional healthcare provider. After all, there may be side effects associated with this drug. Minoxidil is easy to buy on amazon.com and it comes in different doses for men and for women. Here are links to two popular options on amazon.com:

For Men:

Minoxidil Liquid Extra Strength Hair Regrowth Treatment for Men, 5% Topical Solution by Kirkland

For Women:

Amazon Basic Care Minoxidil Topical Solution, 2 Percent, Hair Regrowth Treatment For Women

Minoxidil works well for many people, but not for every case of hair loss. You must use it everyday to see results and it will take months for your hair to grow out. I suggest reading the product reviews before you buy these products. There are also many other options for Minoxidil offered on Amazon.

Shampoos For Hair That is Thinning

Some shampoos are formulated specifically to nourish, strengthen and bring volume to your hair. I have tried a few quality brands. I have personally used Nioxin 2 Cleanser Shampoo & Scalp Therapy Conditioner Set, Hair Thickening Natural Hair Growth, Men & Women and felt that it made my hair look fuller. Another brand that comes highly recommended by the website mybestselfs.com is Routine Shampoo and Conditioner Set for Stronger Hair - Biotin | Color Safe | Sulfate-Free | Vegan | Clinically Tested | Nourishing Oils and Vitamins - Unscented. I definitely want to give Routine a try. After all, it is good to rotate your hair products.

Additional Options for Hair Growth

Rosemary oil and bantana oil are also hair growth options that are worthy of being mentioned. Rosemary oil stimulates blood flow to the scalp which promotes healthy hair growth. You can add a couple drops to your hair conditioner and massage it into your scalp. Bantana oil comes from the nut of the South American palm tree. You can massage it into your hair after washing it. It is said to moisturize, repair split ends and promote hair growth. Be aware that some say that it smells like coffee. I love coffee so that may not be an objection to me. Apparently bantana oil is for healthy hair is popular in Poland.

Final Thoughts

I hope that this article gives you hope for your hair and a path forward for regrowing it. Remember to eliminate stress from your life as much as possible. If you have to end a toxic relationship or quit a stressful job then do it for your wellbeing. Life is too short to put up with stress and misery. Do what you love and surround yourself with loving people and you will thrive.

Feel free to share your stories about recovering from hair loss in the comments below and do not hesitate to ask me questions if you are confused. I am happy to share more with you. Thanks for reading this blog and I wish you an inspiring week!

All the best,

Paul Garrett

P.S. - I’ve been busy doing intensive research for and writing my upcoming book on how to find the love of your life and make it last for the past two years and that’s why I’ve been absent from this blog. Sign up for my newsletter to get the latest news on when my book will be published. I intend to get back to writing more regularly for this blog. Thanks again for your support!

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Total Soulful Journey

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Getting Better Sleep Using The Wim Hoff Breathing Method

In my last post I gave you six tips for getting better sleep. Since then I started using the Wim Hoff breathing method just before going to sleep and I am getting fantastic results! It almost always took me more than twenty minutes to fall asleep at night and that was if I was lucky, but now that I’m using this breathing method I am falling asleep quickly and sleeping soundly.

Featuring Aileen Day - Photo by Paul Garrett

Magnesium, Alcohol, Water and Sleep

Before reading further you should also know that I am taking 400 mg of magnesium (which is good for sleep) in the evening and I have also cut out having a glass of wine in the evening. Furthermore, I have increased the amount of filtered water that I drink each day. All of these adjustments are also contributing to better sleep for me.

Who Is Wim Hoff?

Wim Hoff, aka “The Iceman” is an internationally renown extreme sports athlete who holds world records for withstanding extreme temperatures including climbing Mt. Everest in shorts and submerging himself in ice for almost 2 hours. In order to physically and emotionally endure such activities he has pioneered a method that includes breathing exercises, meditation and cold emersion. Through this method he is able to regulate his body’s autonomic nervous system, which regulates the organs and other internal states of the body.

Benefits of the Wim Hoff Method

1. Boost your immune system

2. Improve your sleep 

3. improve mental focus

4. Improve your ability to handle cold

5. Increase your energy

6. Lower your levels of stress

7. May help reduce depression and symptoms of PTSD

Featuring Annie James - Photo by Paul Garrett

How I Use the Wim Hoff Breathing Method for Sleep

When I am ready do go to sleep, I prop up pillows behind my back and against the wall for comfort on my bed in a dark room. I then sit with my back strait and my legs crossed in lotus position. Once I am sitting comfortably I play the guided breathing video by Wim Hoff that you can watch below. This video takes you through three rounds, which start with a period of hyperventilation, that is rapidly breathing in and out without ever pausing. On the last exhale you are guided to hold your breath for one minute. Next you are instructed to take a deep breath in and hold it for 15 seconds before starting into round two, in which the breath holding portion is extended to one and a half minutes. During this round do not be surprise if you feel some tingling in your fingers and coolness upon your skin. You may also start feeling relaxation during this period. The third and final round is identical to round two, after which I feel relaxed and my mind is cleared of thought. At this point I continue on with meditation and sometimes fall asleep while sitting up. In the morning I wake up feeling refreshed and grateful for a night of deep, quality sleep.

Let me know if the Wim Hoff Breathing Method works for you. Like anything new, it may take some practice to gain the full benefits from doing it. Stay with it and you will start mastering your mind, your body and your ability to fall fall asleep faster. You can also use this method in the morning to give your mind clarity and to energize your body. Most people breath in a shallow manner that does not properly deliver oxygen to their body. Through this breathing method you improve your uptake of oxygen, which is healthy for you.

Sleep well,

Paul

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