Hair loss. Those two words alone can cause stress at the very thought of a thinning hairline and literally, make us want to pull our hair out — even when what we really want is to keep ALL of it attached to our scalp.

Most all of us have experienced hair loss or thinning in one form or another, for one reason or another. Some degree of hair loss is normal — 50-100 strands per day, according to the American Academy of Dermatologists. It’s when that snarl of hair captured on top of the shower drain prevents water from going down the drain, or when we see more skin than hair on our part lines that we really start to worry.

Our hair changes as we age. It may start to lose volume and thickness, and the texture can feel rougher to the touch. In some instances, thinning hair is linked with diet, nutrient deficiencies, or hereditary hair loss. No matter the cause, hair loss can affect our self-esteem and mental health. And there are ways to help prevent it.

We consulted with our resident haircare expert Karis Staley, to go over some of the facts. Hair loss happens for many reasons, here are some of the most common:

Hormone disorders or imbalances such as androgenic alopecia (hereditary hair loss or pattern baldness). This is most common in men but also occurs in women – when the enzyme T-Alpha-reductase binds to the hormone DHT and shrinks hair follicles.

Thyroid disorders (hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism) can also cause imbalanced DHT, as well as the use of certain medications.

Telogen Effluvium — this is when hair suddenly shifts from the growing phase into the shedding phase (called the telogen phase) and can be caused by malnutrition, iron deficiency, major surgery, childbirth, and other situations of extreme stress on the body. This is why many women report a lot of hair shedding after having a baby.

Traction alopecia is when hair falls out due to hair follicle trauma – this can come from pulling on the hair during brushing/styling, from hair extensions, or wearing hair in certain hair styles (tight ponytails, topknots, dreadlocks) which can tug on the hair and cause it to come out. Or when tight headwear is worn.

Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune disorder that attacks the cells in the hair follicles, leading to hair loss.

Styling products that clog hair follicles (dry shampoo is a common culprit here) can also cause the hair to fall out.

So — what can we do to keep our hair?

While we can’t always prevent the cause of hair loss or thinning, we can try to minimize hair loss by using the right hair care products and regimen. The most important thing is to be gentle on our hair.

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES Protect hair before washing with our fortifying Water Defense PreWash, which balances your pH before you get your strands wet, and helps to keep the hair cuticle flat and closed to prevent water penetration.

TOWEL DRY Cotton towels are large, heavy (even heavier when wet), and they tend to fall off the head, tugging on hair as they go, which can cause damage to the follicle and lead to hair loss. The open loops of fabric on cotton towels snag against open hair cuticles causing frizz, damage and even breakage. It’s like raking sandpaper across your beautiful hair. Weighing in at 5-7oz. when dry, AQUIS Rapid Dry Hair Towels and Turbans sit lightly on the head. They dry hair 50% faster and are significantly smaller and lighter in weight than bulky cotton towels. Made from Aquitex, a technical fabric that wicks water from the hair at the point of contact, they quickly and gently remove water from the hair without friction.

SCALP HEALTH The next step is to take care of the scalp. Hair growth starts at the follicles which are at the scalp level – so it’s important to make sure that the scalp is clean, balanced, and healthy to promote a healthy environment for hair growth.

Gentle cleansing is key to remove product buildup from the hair follicles, as well as gentle scalp treatments that help to remove residue from the follicles without disrupting the scalps microbiome. AQUIS Detoxifying Hair & Scalp Wash is a great solution to deep clean the follicles gently and efficiently. It uses salicylic acid, witch hazel and charcoal to keep follicles clear and healthy. We recommend using it about every 4th wash and no more than once per week. A gentle scalp massage to increase microcirculation can also help to improve hair growth.

LESS IS MORE Hair is most fragile when it’s wet. The act of washing it can also pull on the hair and cause breakage or hair fall. Wash hair only when necessary — about 2-3 times per week is sufficient for most people. Excessive washing can result in over-production of oil at the scalp making hair appear greasy and leading to the desire to wash hair more often, which can lead to water damage and more hair fall in the shower. Keep hair up and dry while showering and only wet it at the very end when you are ready to wash hair. Less exposure to water means less water damage to hair.

DRY DOCK Don’t over-do dry shampoo. If you do use it, make sure to get the scalp clean when shampooing, gently scrubbing the scalp with the fingertips to remove product build up. You can also take a soft bristle hairbrush to the scalp every few days to help remove trapped powders or styling products.

HEALTHY HYDRATION Lock in healthy hydration all day with our Restorative Leave-In Serum, that keeps hair cuticles smooth and strong. In-shower conditioners can trap water in hair causing damage, our lightweight leave-in serum is applied post-shower and locks in natural moisture while enhancing your natural texture.

TAKE A BREAK Laying off styling products for an extended period of time can give your scalp and hair the break it needs from product build up. Check in with our Detox crew to find out more about the positive effects they experienced when taking the AQUIS Detox challenge and laying off styling products. Hair happiness all around!

WHAT YOU EAT MATTERS Don’t underestimate a healthy diet when it comes to healthy hair. Just like our body, our hair benefits from a diet high in omega-3s (found in seafood, flax seeds, and walnuts) leafy greens, proteins, and whole grains.

TAKE YOUR VITAMINS Medical professionals agree that vitamin and nutrient deficiencies can cause hair loss, a good multivitamin will help supplement a healthy diet in supporting your healthiest hair.

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See what our customers have to say about how using AQUIS helped lessen their hair loss:

5/5 Stars - I've used this towel for 25 1/2 years! (Jan the Survivor)

I bought this towel in Monterey Calif as I started chemotherapy almost 25 years ago. I wanted something gentle and absorbing to prevent breakage and hair loss. I kept my hair through 6 months of chemo, and even though I did cut it shorter and experienced some drying, I never lost my hair. I continued to use this same towel exclusively after all these years.

5/5 Stars - Love for postpartum hair!!!! (Cameron B.)

I absolutely love the turban! I’ve seen an improvement with my postpartum hair loss and my hair has been looking 10x healthier! I plan on buying another one.

5/5 Stars - Worth every penny! (Joy M.)

I bought the trial size of the Aquis Prime system and within the first week noted significant improvement in my very dry brittle hair that had been falling out like crazy the last few years. My hair loss stopped and now, after 3 months of using Aquis Prime, my hair is fuller, softer and healthier... the products are worth every penny to have my beautiful thick hair return after thinking I was going bald!

5/5 Stars - Loveeed everything (Jaylene P.)

First of all, this smells amazing. Within a week I was able to see less hair loss and more glow in my hair. I personally have thin hair and it seems to give it that extra support.

5/5 Stars - Now my only shampoo! (Sharon)

My experience took my fine, limp hair to a ""once, back in my youth"" fullness with body. My hair has never felt so clean and soft. And, the increased body and fullness really make my thinning spots disappear. My true joy in using these products was the 98% elimination of my autoimmune scalp condition. (The prescription shampoos never helped.). My doctors were amazed! This system is worth the price.

Cover photo by @tanimau via Twenty20