Most scalp hair loss is normal. Adults have approximately 100,000 hairs on their heads. These hairs follow a predictable pattern of active growing, followed by a resting and shedding period. The growth period may last as long as two to ten years, whereas the resting/shedding stage may take only a few months. On average, you lose and replace about 50 to 150 hairs per day. Hair grows slightly faster in women than in men. Visible hair loss occurs when the number of hairs in the growth phase no longer keeps pace with the number of hairs in the shedding stage. Men tend to lose hair around the front of the face and the crown of the scalp. Hair loss in women tends to appear as overall thinning.

Hormones are thought to play a key role in scalp-hair growth and loss. It is known, for example that while testosterone and other androgens are largely responsible for the growth of body hair at puberty, these same androgens are key to hair loss in adults. Many birth-control pills are androgens dominant and can spur hair loss. It is believed that estrogens help to curb scalp-hair loss and encourage healthy scalp-hair growth. The process is not only hormonal, but may also be related to other substances in the blood that go to hair follicles.

Nutritional deficiencies or excess of carbohydrates and animal fats can cause falling hair. Increasing protein intake by 14 grams a day increases the diameter of each hair by 14 percent. B-vitamin-containing foods stimulate hair to grow. To augment the daily diet, nutritionists suggest one multivitamin-mineral, one B-complex stress tab, 1,000 milligrams each choline and inositol, and 1,000 milligrams of vitamin C.

External care is also important. Overly enthusiastic brushing or toweling can prematurely dislodge these hairs or break them off in the follicles to prevent or slow the emergence of new hair. Accumulation of deaf cells, dirt, or shampoo residue can hamper regrowth by clogging the tiny openings. Using consistent gentle cleanliness and these natural growth encouragers often resolve the problem:

o Two or three times a day massage a small amount of one of these old-fashioned ointments into your scalp: a blend if two tablespoons each castor oil and lard with ¼ teaspoon rosemary oil. Or ¼ cup almond oil or olive oil with ½ teaspoon rosemary oil and three drops lemon-grass oil.

o Twice daily, massage your scalp and hairline in small circular motions with your fingertips or an electric vibrator.

o At bedtime, massage your scalp with aloe-vera gel; shampoo out in the morning.

o Use rosemary tea as an after-shampoo rinse.