We all like to think that hair loss is something that only affects the older population. When we are in our 20s, the last thing on our mind is hair loss. With all the other stressors we are experiencing during that time, hair loss is not a thing we are constantly thinking about. So when we begin to lose hair in our 20s, we are thrown through a loop that we were not expecting.
Why Am I Losing Hair in my 20s? A certain percentage of both men and women are known to lose hair during their 20s. The reasons for this hair loss are numerous. Some reasons behind it are diet, smoking, and stress. Even some medical conditions can contribute to hair loss during this time of your life.
Stress, smoking, and certain diets are broad categories for why you are losing hair in your 20s. You need to know the specifics in each of these areas in order to combat hair loss. Once you are equipped with the reasoning behind your hair loss, knowing how to regrow it is an important next step.
Hair Loss in Your 20s
Our 20s are a time in our lives when we are exploring many things and finding out all about what we like and want out of life. Some of us may be in school. Some may be working. Some may even be doing both. Others could be traveling to new areas and discovering new things. All of these events can be difficult to manage and navigate through, but throw in hair loss, and it takes things to a completely new level. In order to eliminate the stress and anxiety of hair loss during your 20s, you need to know the reasons behind it. Because unfortunately, this is an event that many of us are going to experience.
Reasons for Losing Hair in Your 20s
Before going into the reasoning for hair loss, it is important to keep in mind that hair growth has a four-step cycle. First, the hair grows, then it rests, then it falls out, and lastly, it regenerates. The purpose of knowing this cycle is to have the understanding that hair loss can occur during any one of these steps.
- Extreme Dieting: Going through many different diet plans is not uncommon during our 20s. When on an extreme form of a diet, we are restricting many necessary nutrients. This means that the nutrients that we are getting have to be rerouted to all of our essential organs because these are what helps to keep us alive. So with all of our consumed nutrients going to our vital organs, that leaves no nutrients for our hair. Our hair requires a lot of nutrients to complete the four-step cycle. Without it, our hair will just fall out with the opportunity to regrow.
- Smoking: Smoking has become a habit that many people are starting as teenagers. This habit then continues into their 20s. Cigarettes contain a lot of toxics that have been linked to serious respiratory conditions, and now these same toxins have been linked to hair loss in your 20s. Specifically, the cigarette smoke will negatively affect your hair follicles. It can cause your hair follicles to shrivel up and die because the toxins are restricting them. This can happen even if you have only just begun smoking in your 20s.
- Stress: Everyone has different reasons as to why they feel stressed. What stresses out one person may not stress out another and vice versa. Stress can cause a significant slow down of hair growth and then lead to hair loss. When you are stressed, a specific hormone called cortisol is produced. Cortisol will cause your hair to prematurely enter the rest phase of the four-step cycle. Once your hair falls out, the cortisol will make it more difficult for the hair to regrow.
- Medical Conditions: Unless you go to your doctor, the specific medical condition that is causing you to lose your hair in your 20s will be difficult to pinpoint. There are so many different medical conditions out there that can cause hair loss that it would be nearly impossible for you to identify a specific one on your own. Now, it’s important to mention here that your hair loss may not be caused by a medical condition. Going to a doctor could reveal that it is due to your diet or stress. Either way, the best place to go for these answers would be your doctor.
- Genetics: If you have looked into and adjusted all of the above causes of hair loss and are still experiencing it, the root of the problem may just be in your genetics. The hair loss may not come directly from your father or your mother, but if you have a grandparent or an aunt who was losing their hair in their 20s, then this could be the cause.
Is It Normal to Lose Hair in Your 20s
There are many studies currently out there that point to the fact that millennials are now experiencing hair loss, and it is occurring at an earlier stage than generations before them. So, unfortunately, if you are in your 20s and you are losing hair, then it is safe to assume that it is normal. Millennials are constantly doing multiple things at a time just to stay afloat. They may hold two or three jobs while pursuing a degree or doing freelance work. All of these events cause mental and physical stress. This stress will always interrupt the hair growth process.
Another reason why it is now considered normal for hair loss to be occurring during your 20s is due to the fact that it was found that millennials have a harder time successfully coping with stress when compared to earlier generations. Without a set way of dealing with everyday stressors, millennials will have a more difficult time keeping and regrowing hair.
How to Stop Hair Loss
After you know what causes hair loss, the next step is learning how to prevent it from happening and regrowing it.
Protein
This relates to the type of diet you are engaging in. In order for your hair to grow and be regrown, you need to have a certain amount of protein in your diet. Your hair follicles rely on the protein called keratin. You can produce this type of protein for your hair by eating foods such as eggs, beans, fish, and chicken.
Supplements
There are plenty of supplements that you can take in order to help regrow your hair that has been lost. The first thing is a multivitamin. A multivitamin will contain zinc, iron, and vitamins A, B, C, and D, which all aid in the process of hair growth. Specifically, in cell turnover, which means that the cells involved in hair growth will formulate and multiply at a quick rate.
Another supplement you can turn to is biotin. Biotin is also known as vitamin H or vitamin B-7. Biotin helps in the fatty acid synthesis that is involved in the hair growth process. This is a supplement that can be found over the counter, but you should talk to your doctor about the specific milligram that would be best for you to personally take.
Routine Hair Care
This may seem like a simple remedy, but it is one of the most meaningful. If you have the right hair care routine in place, you will experience less hair loss. You will also be taking active steps in regaining any hair that has been lost in the first place. The first step is to wash your hair regularly with a mild shampoo. You do not want your shampoo to have harsh chemicals or products in it because this will lead to further hair loss.
The next step is to use the proper amount of oils. Coconut oil or olive oil are two great oils to put in your hair. Each will help to keep your hair moisturized, which aids in hair growth. Oils will help to bind the necessary proteins into your hair and help prevent breakage.
The last step in establishing routine hair care is gentle styling. This means that you should treat your hair with care and not over style it with dyes or excessive heat. These two things specifically break hair and damage hair follicles, so your hair is less likely to regrow.
