The Best Hair Regrowth Items

Hair loss is something that many people deal with, particularly as they get older. It has many causes, from genetic patterns to nutritional deficiencies to stress. Losing one's hair can lead to self-image issues and be detrimental to your emotional well being, and though in many cases it's out of your control, it isn't always. There are several remedies available that can help in regrowing your hair, and though these will not always work, as much hair loss is dependent upon your genetics, they certainly won't hurt.

Finasteride

• Finasteride is an oral supplement available in prescription and generic varieties. It works by essentially preventing the creation of DHT, or dihydrotestosterone, that promotes hair loss. It is used primarily in the fight against male pattern baldness and does not work with women since the production of DHT is not the cause of baldness in women (though this can be genetic as well, baldness in women is primarily caused by stress and poor diet). Finasteride is known to affect the hair in the crown area, with 48 percent of men reporting hair regrowth, and 90 percent of men reporting a slow down or stoppage in the rate of hair loss.

Minoxidil

• Known famously as the primary ingredient in the popular over-the-counter topical remedy Rogaine, minoxidil is a chemical applied directly to the surface of the balding area, usually the crown of the hair. Most modern formulas are foam-based and are more effective in younger men. Minoxidil's exact mechanism for regrowing hair is not entirely known, as it was originally discovered as a side effect when it was being used to treat high blood pressure. Minoxidil can be purchased under many different brand names, but the ingredients are always the same.

Proper Diet

• One cause of hair loss that many people tend to overlook is dieting. Crash dieting, in particular, where someone may eat little or nothing at all over the course of a few days, robs the body of proper nutrients and causes hair to fall out. To keep hair strong and to regrow it, eat lots of protein and iron-rich foods as well as take daily multivitamins. Fasting and extreme diets can cause body responses equivalent with stress and could trigger a condition known as telogen effluvium, or diffuse hair shedding, where your hair falls out in clumps.