Can Styling or Washing My Hair Too Regularly Cause Hair Loss?

added 7th February 2014

Many people with hair loss dread washing their hair: it’s often when the loss is most evidence as much more hair than usual disappears down the drain. So, it’s no surprise that many people wash their hair less regularly than they otherwise might have done with the hope of reducing the hair loss.

It’s true too, that some people will amp up their use of styling products to keep their hair in place or to cover thinning patches, only then to worry that this may cause further hair loss, too. However, neither washing your hair nor using products like hair spray or mousse will affect the amount of hair lost. That said, many people might assume that this isn’t the case when they notice less hair fall out when using product and more when wash their hair more regularly.

The reason for this perceived increase or decrease in shedding is that whilst styling products tend to hold loose hairs in place, washing hair can cause these hairs to be washed away. So, washing your hair with shampoo and conditioner or using products like hair spray won’t in themselves cause hair loss. That said, you can help you hair and scalp out by using products that are tailored to your needs, for instance any scalp conditions can often be helped by medicated shampoos.

On the other hand, aggressive hair styling can cause hair loss if it occurs over an extended period of time. For instance, wearing your hair in tight braids or ponytails can cause a condition called traction alopecia, where the sustained pressure on the hair follicles damages them. In this case, a treatment programme centred on a high strength minoxidil cream can be very effective at regrowing hair.

However, if you’re being kind to your hair in the styling stakes and it still appears to be shedding more than usual over a prolonged period of time, you may be experiencing pattern hair loss. Appearing as an overall thinning on the top of the head in women, and also potentially extending to a receding hairline and thinning on the crown in men, this type of hair loss occurs because of an inherited genetic predisposition to hair loss.

Whilst a hair loss treatment programme cannot prevent this type of hair loss, it can treat it to halt the hair loss in its tracks and regrow the thinning areas. There are only two MHRA licensed and FDA approved hair loss medications out there. The first of these, Propecia, is only suitable for men and blocks DHT, the androgen that that causes hair loss by making scalp follicles shrink and produce weaker hair. Minoxidil, the second medication, can be used by both men and women and stimulates regrowth in the areas to which it’s applied.

These two medications can easily be added to your daily routine, and along with various supporting hair loss products such as the FDA cleared LaserComb and nutritional supplements. A truly comprehensive treatment plan should be created around the exact needs of the individual. So, rather than avoiding the shower or overdoing the hairspray, a clinically proven hair loss treatment plan can make a real difference to your hair, not to mention your confidence.