How to Increase Hair Growth on the Head

Hair loss occurs for a variety of reasons. You may have an auto-immune disease such as alopecia or imbalanced hormones due to pregnancy or your age; genes also can dictate male pattern baldness. Whatever the reason, hair loss can be unsettling and cause emotional distress, but medications and holistic remedies may increase hair growth on the head. The trick is to find a solution that fits best with your hair-loss circumstances and budget.

Continue to Wash Regularly

Just because your hair is scarce doesn't mean you should stop washing your head. Use your fingertips to massage a dollop of noncomedogenic shampoo onto your scalp daily or every other day. This not only keeps the pores clean by washing away oil, dirt and bacteria from sweat and the environment, but it also stimulates the scalp and helps increase blood flow to your hair follicles. Refrain from using heavy, pore-clogging conditioners on the hair you do have, and stay away from styling products and heat while trying to increase hair growth. In addition, refrain from rubbing your hair with a dry towel.

Take Vitamins and Check Your Diet

Your hair may be thinning due to a vitamin deficiency. Make sure you're getting enough iron and vitamin B in your diet by eating foods such as fish, starchy vegetables, turkey, spinach, lentils, fortified cereal and non-citrus fruits. Getting enough protein is also important; eat foods such as fish, meat, eggs, nuts and beans on a daily basis. Combine these foods with vitamin C to increase iron absorption, but steer clear of vitamin A, which can cause hair to fall out.

Treat With Topical Medication

There are several over-the-counter hair growth medications that you can start with. Women with hair loss at the front of the head can purchase a product such as Rogaine which features 2 percent minoxidil. Men experiencing hair loss at the crown can use this also and can increase the dosage up to 5 percent. Follow the instructions and use no more than twice a day; regrowth generally appears within four to six months. If no growth happens within this time, visit a board-certified dermatologist or doctor for advice on oral medications featuring FDA-approved finasteride and other hair-rejuvenation methods, such as cortisone injections.

Act With Aromatherapy

Aromatherapy treatments are believed to be helpful in some hair loss candidates. In addition to traditional medicine, try massaging thyme, rosemary and lavender into a mixture of carrier oils such as cedar wood, jojoba and grape-seed oils. Apply these oils on both your scalp and hair. If you do this consistently every day, you may experience some hair regrowth. Make sure to test a small area on your skin first to eliminate an allergic reaction on your scalp.