First things first—know that hair loss and hair thinning is normal. Most of us experience a shift in, let’s call it, hair density due to hormonal changes, environmental factors, or just...life.

This past year or so has introduced external stressors that were more than enough to throw an entire hormonal system out of whack. Even the New York Times agrees, noting an uptick in patients suffering from stress-related hair loss and an 8% increase in google searches about the subject. So, yes, it’s about time to talk about it.

Hair Loss 101 There’s a notable difference between hair loss and hair shedding. More often than not, stray hairs are part of a natural shedding process. The average human loses 50-150 hairs a day, while new strands begin to grow in their place. It’s a cycle that’s 100% normal.

You’ll know you’re dealing with hair loss when you visibly notice your hair thinning over time. Bald spots may also make an appearance. The question is whether it’s temporary or permanent—knowledge that will help you coax your hair back into a healthy state and preserve your sanity.

P.S. Hair loss affect 50 million men and 30 million women in the United States You’re not alone. :)

Temporary vs Permanent Hair Loss Temporary hair loss is your body telling you that something is off. Also known as ‘non-scarring alopecia,’ temporary hair loss still means that there are follicles present on the scalp, waiting for the right elements to come together and reinvigorate hair re-growth.

Whether it’s stress, illness, childbirth, or habits (like wearing your hair in too tight of a ponytail), your scalp responds. Often, temporary hair loss is correlated with a nutritional deficiency of some sort. Key nutrients to ensure you’re getting enough of include: Vitamin A, Vitamin B9, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D. Don’t worry, we’ll dive into the role of these nutrients in detail in an upcoming Almanac issue.

Reminder:  temporary hair loss corrects itself once the imbalance is targeted and treated. On the lifestyle front, some elements that cause this imbalance include:

• Smoking: impacts oxygen saturation levels and restricts blood flow
• Hormonal changes: via menstruation, pregnancy, or stress
• Ponytails: creates pressure on the scalp and leads to hair damage
• Hot Styling Tools: weakens the hair shaft and causes dry strands
• Aggressive Brushing: overly passionate of brushing leads to breakage and hair loss

Permanent hair loss is a bit more complicated because it lives at the intersection of genetics, age, and hormones. This either looks like scar tissue on the scalp blocking the opening of the follicle or genetic conditions of female/male baldness that shrinks the follicle, making it impossible for new hair to grow. Permanent hair loss is a natural part of aging, but one that can be stilted—the sooner you’re treated, the faster you’ll be able to stop loss and keep that beautiful head of hair of yours. It’s worth a conversation with your doctor to create a plan in complement to lifestyle changes.

While You’re at Home.... Shifts in your hair thickness and health offer a good opportunity to take a look at the way you move through the world in order to isolate the elements that may be causing stress and emphasize those healthy habits.

• A nutrient-rich diet—Nourish from the inside for results on the outside. Choose foods full of healthy vitamins and nutrients like healthy fats, leafy greens, and protein-rich ingredients. Pack a further nutritional punch with targeted supplements: Multivitamins, Folic acid supplements, Biotin, Omega 3 & Omega 6 fatty acids are great choices. P.S. We may or may not have something scalp-specific in the works ;).
• Scalp massages—Get in there. According to research, massaging the scalp increases hair thickness by stretching the cells of hair follicles. This, in turn, stimulates the follicles to produce thicker hair. It's also thought that a scalp massage may help dilate blood vessels beneath the skin, thus encouraging hair growth.
• Put your follicles first!—It’s no secret that we preach scalp care first through products that stimulate growth. Products that are free of dangerous ingredients, such as sulfates, parabens, and silicones, but that include Essential Oils such as Coconut, Moringa & Baobab Oil, will help balance your scalp microbiome and enhance the nutrient supply to the hair follicle. These are all elements that will help counteract hair loss. We love the Scalp Detox to remove build-up and emphasize delivering nutrients straight to the follicles. The Act+Acre Hair Cleanse+Conditioner contains similar essential oils and nutrients as the Scalp Detox, but is designed for daily use to stimulate growth.

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Ingredients

• Ingredient 1: explain the benefit of this ingredient and why it is good for the scalp and hair health. This is a good way to educate on specific nutrients or vitamins.
• Ingredient 2: explain the benefit of this ingredient and why it is good for the scalp and hair health. This is a good way to educate on specific nutrients or vitamins.
• Ingredient 3: explain the benefit of this ingredient and why it is good for the scalp and hair health. This is a good way to educate on specific nutrients or vitamins.
• Additional—salt, pepper, olive oil, etc.

• Step one to make this recipe
• Step two to make this recipe
• Step three to make this recipe

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.