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According to a survey by the National Health Insurance Service, around 10 million people in Korea are estimated to experience hair loss, meaning one in five Koreans struggle with it. Among those affected, up to 50% of individuals in their teens, 20s, and 30s suffer from spot baldness, with 45% of them being women. This highlights that hair loss is no longer just a problem for older adults. Factors such as excessive stress, poor nutrition, irregular lifestyles, environmental changes, substance abuse, and family history all contribute to the growing hair loss crisis among young people.

If you notice five or more of the following signs, it could be an indication that you are experiencing hair loss.

① Managing Scalp Clean

Experts agree that the key to preventing hair loss is a clean scalp. Waste buildup on the scalp can cause inflammation and accelerate hair loss, so it is important to keep your scalp clean with a shampoo with anti-hair loss effects. It's especially important to wash your hair in the evening, because sleeping with a scalp covered in dirt, pollution, and oil throughout the day is like sleeping without washing your face.

• Wash Your Hair Before Bed
  

  Washing your hair in the evening removes the dirt, oil, and buildup that accumulate on your scalp and hair throughout the day. This helps keep your scalp clean and supports healthy hair growth.

• Massage Your Scalp Before Shampooing
  

  A gentle scalp massage before shampooing stimulates the scalp, promoting healthy hair growth.

• Wet Your Hair Thoroughly with Warm Water
  

  This helps lift and remove sebum and impurities, allowing the shampoo to lather better, which leads to a more effective cleanse and reduces scalp irritation.

• Apply Shampoo the Right Way
  

  Use your fingertips—not your nails—to gently distribute the shampoo across your scalp. Be careful not to rub too hard.

• Rinse Thoroughly and Condition
  

  Make sure to rinse thoroughly to remove all shampoo residue, and follow with conditioner to nourish your hair.

② Upside-Down Brushing to Revitalize Your Scalp and Hair

Brushing can stimulate blood circulation to the scalp, which helps prevent hair loss. After gently detangling, tilt your head down and brush from the neck toward the forehead, around the ears, and across the crown of your head to remove dirt and dust. Avoid brushing when your hair is wet, as this can damage both your hair and scalp.

③ Avoid Smoking, Alcohol, and Stress

Smoking constricts blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the scalp, which can lead to hair loss. Frequent alcohol consumption can also cause hair loss due to the excessive sebum produced by acetaldehyde, a byproduct of alcohol metabolism. Stress impacts the autonomic nervous system, leading to poor circulation and muscle tension, both of which contribute to hair loss.

④ Protect from UV Rays

Since it's difficult to apply sunscreen to your scalp, wearing a hat or sunshade on sunny days is recommended to protect against harmful UV damage.

Just as plants need healthy soil to grow, your hair relies on the condition of your scalp. At the deepest part of the hair root are dermal papilla cells, which play a crucial role in regulating hair growth and maintenance. To prevent hair loss, it’s essential to keep these cells healthy, as they secrete growth factors like VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor), KGF (keratinocyte growth factor), HGF (hair growth factor), and collagen. These factors influence the strength, production, and thickness of your hair. Just like plants need nutrients to flourish, your scalp also requires proper nourishment.

• Anagen
  During the anagen phase, new hair growth begins as the hair is positioned near the dermal papilla, which provides essential nutrients for smooth cell division. However, when hair loss occurs, the anagen phase tends to shorten.
• Catagen
  In the catagen phase, hair growth stops, and cell division gradually slows down. For women experiencing postpartum hair loss, the hair often skips the catagen phase and moves directly into the telogen phase.
• Telogen
  At the telogen phase, the hair has fully detached from the dermal papilla, and no new hair is being produced. The hair is essentially resting in the follicle, and in the early stages of hair loss, the percentage of hair in the telogen phase tends to increase.
• Return to Anagen
  In the return to anagen phase, new hair begins to grow as cell division restarts beneath the hair bulb. People experiencing hair loss often do not regenerate new hair properly, as they fail to undergo this critical phase.