Reckoned as an essential aspect of an external personality, healthy shiny hair plays an important role in boosting self-esteem. Whether you turn to a well-balanced diet or hair vitamins, you need to make a long-term commitment for a good hair density.
What Is Hair Density?
In simple words, hair density refers to the proximity of the hair strands to each other or the count of hair strands on your scalp. The more the number of hair strands, the thicker your hair appears. In the case of hair loss, hair density begins to reduce. This is where it becomes crucial to understand the dynamics of hair loss, which is directly correlated to hair density, and how to improve hair density?
How To Increase Hair Density?
Haircare is no overnight ritual. It demands long-term dedication and consistency in committing to a healthy diet and lifestyle. Wondering how to increase hair density? Here unleash a few helpful hair density increase tips:
1. Invest in Superior Quality Hair Products
If you were born with high hair density, but over time it reduced, then the chances are high that you are investing in low-quality hair care products with harmful ingredients. A few ingredients used in hair care products may disrupt hair density. They include sodium chloride and synthetic fragrances. Not only are these ingredients detrimental to hair density, but they may also lead to serious health concerns.
However, some components help increase the density. They include rice protein, zinc, keratin, biotin, collagen, and beyond. Enriched with wonderful nourishing properties, they may not only strengthen your hair but may also increase the shine. Further, ingredients like wintergreen resultant salicylic acid and activated charcoal remove impurities present in the hair follicles, thereby promoting hair growth. So, pick a product with ingredients that best suits your requirements.
2. Treat Hair Gently
People sometimes scrub their scalp rigorously, believing it will help them get rid of hair pollutants like dirt, pollution, and more. In some cases, scrubbing with nails results in abrasions and infections as well. As far as the ideal way to wash hair is concerned, it is with gentleness. Apply shampoo and conditioner gently, and then rinse with normal or lukewarm water.
Avoid washing hair frequently. Anything more than thrice a week might cause a reduction in hair density.
Even when combing oiling, gentle treatment is the key to maintaining or increasing hair density.
3. Massage Scalp Gently
Hair massage is an integral aspect of the hair care routine. Massaging the scalp with oil regularly may help you reduce hair fall while improving hair density.
If you wonder how to increase hair density naturally at home, then head massage is the answer. It boosts blood circulation, thereby strengthening the hair roots. Strong roots mean thick hair. However, refrain from over massaging hair. Once or twice a week is enough.
4. Modify Your Diet
A healthy diet goes a long way. Even a slight healthy modification in your diet can enhance the texture, sheen, growth, and hair density. Food comprising vitamin B6, B3, antioxidants, acid, zinc, folic acid help with iron deficiency. Besides these, vitamins like Vitamin D and Vitamin C respectively help strengthen hair follicles and make iron absorption easier for the body.
Foods rich in Biotin and Omega- 3 fatty acids help control hair shedding while stimulating hair growth. Some food items that you can include are cheese, avocado, milk, fish, yoghurt, oatmeal, fruits and vegetables, and lentils.
To gain better clarity, it is best to consult a trained dietician or a trichologist.
5. Integrate Aloe Vera Gel in Hair Care Routine
Aloe vera gel does not merely improve the quality of hair but also helps in minimising damage by conditioning and soothing the scalp. It helps in unlocking the hair follicles to enhance hair growth.
- Massage hair with aloe vera gel and then cover. Leave for one hour and then rinse with lukewarm or normal water.
Pro Tip: For better results, blend castor oil with aloe vera gel and apply. Leave it overnight and rinse hair in the morning. A frequent application of this hair mask will help you get the desired hair quality.
- Another one is prepared using aloe vera gel, yoghurt, Heena, and coconut oil. Leave this mixture for half an hour after it is prepared. Apply it on the scalp and keep it for a while. Rinse using a mild shampoo after an hour. This effective hair mask is for hydrated, strong, and nourished hair. The difference is generally visible in a week in the context of hair density and hair growth.
- If you are wondering how to increase hair density in a month, then mixing apple cider vinegar with aloe vera and olive oil can increase hair density.
6. Use Fenugreek Seeds
Enriched with the goodness of vitamin C, fenugreek seeds help with hair growth and hair density while reducing hair dryness. Therefore, fenugreek seeds also improve the shine and smoothness of hair besides simply increasing hair density.
Moreover, fenugreek seeds contain iron and protein. Due to this, fenugreek seeds help with blood circulation and fighting grey hair. The nicotinic acid in the seeds further boosts hair volume and density. Wondering how to increase hair density by using fenugreek? Here is how to use it.
- Simply soak a few seeds of seeds into water. Blend them in the mixer after adding lemon juice. Once a paste is ready, apply it to the hair tips and scalp. Let it settle for approximately half an hour, and then rinse it by using a mild shampoo.
- Another effective fenugreek hair mask is with honey and curd. Both curd and honey are known for hair and skin-nourishing properties. Blend the ingredients with fenugreek seeds, leave this hair mask for approximately 30 minutes. Later, simply rinse it with the normal water by using a mild shampoo.
- If preparing these hair masks is not possible, simply soak the seeds in a bowl of water and leave them overnight. Drink the water in the morning. If you do this for two months without fail, you may be able to witness a difference in hair density.
7. Apply Egg Hair Mask
Enriched with nutrients, minerals, and proteins, eggs help enhance the smoothness of hair while restoring hair quality. Eggs provide in-depth nourishment to the hair from the scalp to the roots since our hair is made of 95% protein. Here are a few egg hair masks that may help you increase hair density:-
- Add one spoon of henna to the fenugreek powder and then mix one egg. Blend the mixture well and leave it approximately for half an hour post-application. Wash your hair using a mild shampoo.
- Take one banana and mash it. Add the pulp to coconut oil and then mix one egg. Blend the mixture well and leave it approximately on the scalp for approximately 20 minutes. Rinse it by using a mild shampoo.
- Take a few spoons of aloe vera gel and add the egg. Use a comb to ensure proper application to the scalp as well as hair. Rinse it off after 20 minutes with normal water by using a mild shampoo.
When an egg is combined with other nourishing ingredients, its resourcefulness gets enhanced.
8. Get Rid of Stress
Stress leads to a range of health concerns, and hair health is no exception to it. Stress tends to push the hair follicles towards a ‘resting phase’. This resting phase hinders the production of new hair strands. With time, one can experience a dramatic increase in hair fall, no matter if one is simply washing hair or combing, or simply touching it.
So still is it possible to increase hair density with stress? Well, a few techniques can help you get rid of stress or at least reduce the stress. They include daily exercising, yoga, meditation, sound sleep, deep breathing, limiting the intake of alcohol and caffeine, quitting smoking, and more.
Stress is an internal issue; any external effort in the form of hair mask application or investing in quality hair care products alone will not suffice to increase the hair density.
However, not all stress does lead to hair loss.
Mainly three kinds of hair loss are triggered by a high level of stress. They include Telogen effluvium, Alopecia areata, and Trichotillomania. If you think that the reduction in hair density has been triggered by any kind of stress you are facing, it is better to consult a trained trichologist to understand the issue at a deeper level and give an apt solution.
9. Extra Supplements
Eating a well-balanced diet appears to be a distant dream in a hectic lifestyle. However, you can fulfil your nutrition requirement by integrating extra supplements into your routine. To increase hair density, you can rely on hair supplements as they compensate for the inadequate nutrition in the body.
Popular hair supplements comprise Biotin, Collagen, Vitamin A, Vitamin B, Vitamin C, and more. You can also choose organic or plant-based hair supplements to fill the nutritional gap. To avoid any allergic reaction, consult an expert before starting with supplements.
10. Visit a Trichologist
Despite trying the solutions mentioned above, visit a trustworthy trichologist if you continue to experience a decline in hair density. The professional may also have an answer to how to increase hair density in front head? A trained hair expert will evaluate your problem by getting to the root of the problem.
How Is Hairfall Related To Hair Density?
Hair density is calculated as the number of hair strands/sq inch. On average, an individual features around 2200 hair strands/inch on the scalp.
So, the notion of hair density goes beyond merely hair thickness. A person experiencing hair fall will have low hair density, while a person with no hair fall will have high density.
What Causes Low Hair Density?
From genetics to medical conditions, from rinsing hair with hot water to overuse of hair styling products, many reasons can lead to hair loss. Here are some common causes that result in low hair density:
1. Genes
Believe it or not, a lot hinges on the genes when determining the overall hair health, including density. It has been observed that people who experience low hair density have immediate family members with thin hair.
2. Diet
Nutrition deficiency may trigger hair loss. Maintaining a healthy diet full of nutrients and vitamins may enhance hair volume up to some extent.
3. Medical Conditions
Certain medical conditions may contribute to hair loss, from hair thinning to bald patches and beyond.
4. Stress
Keeping stress at bay is important to avoid low hair density. Stress triggers the immune system that affects a body’s overall health, including hair. Certain chemicals are released during stress that triggers hair loss.
How Can You Measure The Density Of Your Hair?
There are varied methods to measure the density of your hair. Here are a few prevalent methods:-
1. Phototrichogram
Deployed by hair professionals, Phototrichogram is meant to assess the quality and quantity of hair. This method is preferred as it is the fastest and an efficient method.
2. Scalp Test
A simple and effective scalp test is a prevalent method to measure hair density. If your scalp seems visible without even parting hair, it indicates a low hair density. On the contrary, if all you see is roots and hair, it indicates high hair density.
Can Shaving Your Hair Improve Its Density?
Many people believe in this myth that shaving improves hair density. However, the truth is that shorter hair tends to appear voluminous compared to long hair. Also, the newer hair that tends to grow after shaving seems healthier due to the absence of exposure to various aggressors present in the environment.
Summing Up On How To Increase Hair Density
Hair density is just an indicator indicating the health quotient of your hair. Even though it depends on a range of biological factors, including genetics, you can still increase hair density by modifying your lifestyle and diet. Especially in the wake of medicinal advancement, there are available an array of ways that you can try to increase the hair density.
Also, a range of natural remedies comprising fenugreek seeds and aloe vera gel can help improve hair density naturally. Being mindful about selecting hair care products comprising shampoos, conditioners, and hair oil can also dramatically improve hair density up to a great extent.
References:
- Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Takanori Hama, Kasumi Murakami, January 2016; Standardized Scalp Massage Results in Increased Hair Thickness by Inducing Stretching Forces to Dermal Papilla Cells in the Subcutaneous Tissue - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4740347/
- Kanchana Leerunyakul and Poonkiat Suchonwanit, February 2020; Evaluation of Hair Density and Hair Diameter in the Adult Thai Population Using Quantitative Trichoscopic Analysis - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7035527/Morgan B. Murphrey, Sanjay Agarwal; Anatomy, Hair - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513312/
