Receding Hairline Treatments According To Ayurveda

Is your hair's parting line getting wider with time? Visibility of the scalp is a common symptom of a receding hairline.

While receding hairline is usually observed in old age, we understand your concern if it has started very young. Let’s understand what leads to receding hairlines and how you can regrow your hair with the help of ancient Ayurvedic methods.

What Is A Receding Hairline?

A receding hairline means thinning of hair. It is the first sign of hair loss in both men and women. However, it is more common in men than in women.

Receding hairline does not make you completely bald, but it affects certain parts of your head [1] . It can leave you with bald spots either on the top or back of your head. It generally occurs when an individual grows older.

Receding Hairline In Men

Men usually start losing their hair from above their temples, and slowly the hairline recedes across the top and back of the head (in M or V shape).

Receding hairline is a condition of male pattern baldness, also known as androgenetic alopecia or AGA. It leads to bald spots on top and thin hair in front of the head. Men generally face this condition as soon as they hit puberty, though it commonly occurs in the late 20s or 30s.

Receding Hairline In Women

Unlike men, women's hairline rarely recedes. The loss of hair in women is characterized by the ‘hair thinning’ rather than the ‘hair receding’.

Widening parting line and thin hair on top of the head are the signs of female pattern baldness, a commonly occurring condition in women at the age of 30. Due to some illnesses, women can face this hair loss (alopecia) in their 20s as well.

What Causes A Receding Hairline?

According to Ayurveda, a human body is governed by three doshas - Vata, Pitta, and Kapha. The imbalance in these doshas may lead to several health problems, which includes hair fall.

Pitta Dosha plays a vital role in maintaining thick and long hair. The imbalance of Pitta dosha causes receding hairlines and hair thinning.

Apart from this, other reasons that cause receding hairlines in men and women are:

1. Stress

Stress directly affects hair growth and causes hair loss. It can cause different types of hair loss conditions like Alopecia areata, Telogen effluvium, and Trichotillomania.

2. Medical Issues

Diseases like cancer, depression, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart-related problems, anemia, thyroid, etc. can cause adverse effects on the hair growth process that may lead to thinning of hair.

3. Smoking

The toxins present in smoke harm the hair follicles by shrinking the blood vessels. This results in blocking the supply of blood to the hair. Blood provides the required nutrients to the hair follicles that promote hair growth [2].

4. Hormonal Changes

Hormonal imbalance is the most common cause of hair loss in women. Hormonal changes occur due to pregnancy, menopause, thyroid, and stress.

5. Genetic Factors

Hereditary-pattern baldness is a natural condition that may occur due to some combination of genes. Either you may face bald patches or hair thinning at the age of 30 or even early, depends on your family history of baldness.

6. Traction Alopecia

Women who mostly wear their hair in tight ponytails, braids and buns, may suffer from Traction Alopecia. It is a form of hair fall that happens due to pulling of the hair for a long time.

7. Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA)

It is a condition that causes hair loss mainly at the front of the head. FFA causes inflammation on the scalp [3] and destroys the hair follicle. It occurs in women after menopause.

8. Androgenetic alopecia

It is one of the most common forms of hair loss in both men and women. Androgenetic alopecia is a condition that recedes the hairline in men [4]. In women, it doesn’t lead to receding hairlines but causes hair thinning.

9. Excessive Hair Styling

Hair styling products like hair dryer, hair blower, curling irons, etc. directly affects the health of the hair by stripping away moisture and natural oil from the scalp. It makes the hair roots dry and weak, leading to hair fall. The excessive use of hair styling products destroys the hair follicle and leads to permanent hair loss.

10. Poor Diet

Hair follicles require proteins and vitamins to produce healthy hair, and food is that source which naturally provides minerals to the hair follicles. A poor diet like fried food, packaged food, and diet that lacks green vegetables, pulses, fruits causes hair to fall.

11. Dandruff

Dandruff occurs when the scalp is too oily or too dry. Constant itching and scratching weakens hair follicles and results in hair fall.

Stages Of Receding Hairline

In women, receding hairlines occur in three stages [5] and reflect while parting the hair:

Stage 1:

In the beginning of the female-pattern-baldness, minimal hair fall occurs, and the scalp is slightly visible while parting the hair.

Stage 2:

At this stage, the hair fall increases with the thinning of the hair. The visibility of baldness and thinning of hair increases to 50-60%.

Stage 3:

Severe thinning of the hair and baldness, mostly in front of the head.

Other than Ayurvedic oils, some essential and carrier oils that can be used to massage your hair are:

Stage 1:

There is no sign of receding hairline in the beginning.

Stage 2:

Receding hairline occurs on both the temples.

Stage 3:

The hair-strands start thinning.

Stage 4:

Minimal hair loss occurs at this stage, which leads to baldness on the top of the scalp.

Stage 5:

Absence of hair strands on the crown.

Stage 6:

The hair-strands present in the middle part of the scalp starts thinning and falling.

Stage 7:

At this stage, a man loses its hair from half of his scalp.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Receding Hairline?

1. Gradual Hair-Thinning

The first symptom of receding hairline is the hair thinning on top of the head (in men). In women, the line that parts the hair broadens.

2. Hair Fall

Losing 100-150 hair strands in a day is normal, but losing more directs to the problem of hair fall. Hair fall occurs when your hair roots become weak.

3. Patches On The Scalp

If you observe patches on your scalp, it means your hairline is receding. Alopecia areata is one of the most common diseases caused by receding hairlines. In Ayurveda, Alopecia areata is correlated with Indralupta disease that causes patches due to hair loss.

How To Stop Receding Hairlines?

1. Ayurvedic Treatments

Ayurveda says, to reduce the receding hairline problem, you need to balance your Pitta dosha. Herbs like Brahmi, Kumari, Ashwagandha, Japa, Tila, Lavender and Bhringraj are very effective in treating hair problems like receding hairlines, alopecia, thinning hair, etc.

You can apply these herbs on your scalp in the following ways:

A. Ayurvedic Or Herbal Shampoo

Besides age, chemicals like SLS, SLEs, silicon, parabens, etc. are also the reason behind hair problems, including receding hairline. These chemicals are commonly available in the shampoo or conditioner that damage hair.

Ayurveda says natural hair cleanser not only protects hair from harmful chemicals, but also improves the health of the hair. You can use a natural shampoo that contains any of the following herbs:

• Aloe Vera: It is known for its cooling effects and is very helpful in treating the imbalance of Pitta dosha.
• Triphala: It is one of the best herbs to clean skin debris and dead cells from the scalp. Also, it adds moisture to the hair and promotes hair growth.

• Shikakai: Shikakai removes excess oil on the scalp and lets hair follicles breathe, which results in stronger and thicker hair.
• Hibiscus Leaves And Flowers: It helps to cure premature greying of hair and hair fall. It is rich in amino acids that nourish the hair and treat bald patches.

B. Hair Massage With Ayurvedic Oils

According to a research study, a regular scalp massage results in thicker and healthier hair [6]. Massage increases blood circulation in the scalp and helps to fix receding hairlines. Ayurveda recommends using oils that not only help your hair to grow but also balance your dosha levels.

Ayurvedic hair oil consists of herbs and natural ingredients that protect your scalp from dryness and provides shine and strength to the hair. It keeps the hair follicles healthy and results in regrowth of receding hairlines. Some of the Ayurvedic recommended herbal hair oils are:

• Amla Hair Oil: Amla has Vitamin C in very high amounts and is known to treat dandruff and dry scalp. According to a study, amla was found to be a powerful inhibitor of 5-alpha reductase [7]. It can be used to treat baldness and premature greying of hair.
• Brahmi Hair Oil: In Ayurveda, Brahmi is very effective in treating alopecia areata, dandruff, and anxiety. It also helps to soothe Pitta dosha and reduces the stress level in the body.
• Bhringraj Hair Oil: Bhringraj has several benefits. It treats dandruff, baldness, prevents hair fall, and prevents greying of hair. It improves blood circulation in the scalp, strengthens hair roots and deep conditions your hair.

Other than Ayurvedic oils, some essential and carrier oils that can be used to massage your hair are:

A. Essential Oils

Oils that are derived from plants through distillation or evaporation methods are called essential oils. These oils are used in homeopathic medicines as they have very few side effects and are useful to improve the health of the hair.

Rosemary [8], Lavender, Juniper, Peppermint, Lemongrass, Tea tree, etc. are those essential oils which have non-inflammatory properties. They help to fight against any bacterial infection on the scalp like dandruff. Also, massaging with these natural oils prevent hair from shedding at an early age.

B. Carrier Oils

Carrier oils are also known as vegetable oils and are used to nourish skin and hair naturally. Coconut oil, Almond oil, Olive Oil, Argan Oil, and Jojoba Oil are such carrier oils that work wonders on hair when applied with essential oils.

• Coconut Oil: It is rich in antioxidants like Vitamin E and Vitamin K, which repair hair tissues and make the hair soft and shiny [9]. Coconut oil is made up of lauric acid that strengthens the hair roots and prevents hair breakage.
• Olive Oil: It is one of the best solutions to cure hair loss caused by increase in DHT hormone (the hormone responsible to shrink hair follicles). It has antioxidant properties that increase the elasticity of hair and reduce scalp infection like dandruff. It provides moisture to the hair and improves blood circulation in the hair roots.

• Argan Oil: Argan oil acts as a natural moisturizer for the hair. It is rich in Vitamin E. Hence, massaging with Argan oil helps to fight against thin hair, brittle hair, dandruff, and damaged hair.
• Almond oil: Almond oil helps to cure dry, damaged, and weak hair. It strengthens the hair by hydrating and nourishing the scalp deeply. It contains biotin (Vitamin H) that is very helpful fighting thin hair.

C. Ayurvedic Therapies

Ayurveda recommends some rejuvenating therapies that can prevent hair fall and balance your dosha levels like Shirodhara, Shiro Abhyanga, Nasya, and Shiro Lepa.

2. Yoga Asanas

You can strengthen your hair roots by performing Yoga asanas like:

A. Sarvangasana

This yoga pose is one of the remedies for thyroid, which causes hair fall. Sarvangasana helps treat dry and dull hair as it hydrates the scalp by providing nutrients to the hair follicles by boosting blood supply in the head.

B. Bhujangasana

This asana helps to balance Pitta dosha by controlling stress, anxiety, and tension. It also stimulates the blood circulation in the body that curb hair fall.

C. Sirsasana

It is a headstand pose that speeds up blood circulation in the scalp and helps to fight baldness and greying of hair. Regular practice of this asana promotes hair growth on the scalp and makes hair stronger.

D. Utthanasana

Stress and hair growth share a direct relationship. And this asana can help you reduce the adverse effect of this relation by relieving your stress. While doing this asana, you stretch your back and calves. This relaxes your muscles and mind.

E. Adho Mukha Svanasana

This asana increases blood supply in the hair follicles and makes them stronger. It is also useful in improving the digestive system that helps hair to get the required amount of nutrients to grow.

While performing this asana, you stretch your neck and back. It helps to calm your mind and reduce stress, which is very important to reduce receding hairlines.

3. Medical Treatments

Hair transplant and laser therapy are some of the medical treatments that can help to regrow the hair. But these can lead to side effects. They can also burn a hole in your pocket and can cause infections, itchiness, swelling on the scalp, and more. So Ayurvedic methods are always recommended as they don't involve side effects.

Is It Possible To Regrow Receding Hairlines?

“Age, genetics, lifestyle, hormonal status - they all play an important role in what one’s hair looks like. In receding hairline, the hair first converts to vellus hair and then the follicles simply shrink. For hairlines where vellus hair has replaced terminal hair, they have a small chance of improvement. However, when hair follicles are provided with enough blood supply, nutrients and deduction in the circulating DHT, it can reverse receding hairline," says Dr. Zeel Gandhi, Chief Ayurvedic Doctor at Vedix.

Quick Tips To Prevent A Receding Hairline

By balancing your dosha levels, you can prevent a receding hairline. For this, you need to do the following:

1. Consume a diet rich in vitamins and minerals.

2. Use herbal hair care products to protect hair from chemicals.

3. Regular exercise.

4. Sound sleep of at least 6 hours in a day.

5. Manage stress levels.

6. Regular oiling and massage of the hair.

7. Protect hair from UV rays and pollution.

8. Clean your hair twice or thrice a week to avoid clogging of hair follicles.

9. Avoid using styling products that produce heat.

10. Skip over-brushing to prevent hair from becoming weak and dull.

The Last Word

Losing hair after a certain age is natural. Ayurveda's intrinsic and holistic approach can help you prevent a receding hairline. But before that, you need to know your dosha level, to opt for the right hair treatment. At Vedix, we provide a natural hair care regimen made of Ayurvedic herbs, based on your dosha levels.

Know Your Dosha Now