While it is true that genetics play a role in hair thinning and hair loss, less understood is improper hair hygiene, which can also contribute to hair loss.

- Do you have dandruff?
- Or have red scaly patches or acne pimples on your scalp?
- Do you have excessively dry or oily hair?
- Itchy scalp?
- Eczema or psoriasis on your head?
- Greasy forehead or face?
- Grease rings on the collar of your shirt?

These are all signs that the scalp needs attention before further damage is done. Without realizing it you may be contributing to your own hair thinning or loss.

The sebaceous gland in the hair follicle secretes sebum, a type of oil that in healthy hair gives hair that lustrous look and feel. But what can happen is if you sweat often but don't cleanse the hair and scalp, then the oil becomes waxy and dries quickly. Over time you get a build up of layers of dried sebum that slowly chokes the hair follicle until new hair cannot make its way through the follicle and can literally asphyxiate it and you have thinning and then total hair loss.

The good news however, is that you can reverse some of the damage and prevent future problems as well.

1. You need to treat your hair thinning or loss from the inside as well as the outside. Healthy hair needs quality protein, vitamins and minerals as well as healthy oils and minerals. Changing your diet to healthy organic proteins, fruits and vegetables, especially dark leafy greens, will not only give better hair health, but overall physical health.

2. Consume healthy fats like olive oil, flax oil or hemp oil. These are excellent oils for hair health and have the important omega-3 and omega-6. When someone tells you to eat a low fat diet, what they should really be telling you is to give up saturated fats.

3. When cleansing the scalp, don't use harsh soaps as they can aggravate the problem. You want to get rid of the build up but not dry out the scalp and hair. Gentle shampoos with citrus can cleanse and break down waxy build up without stripping your hair of good oils.

4. When you have a good cleansing shampoo, massage the scalp with it for a few minutes and then leave the shampoo on your head for a few minutes more to ensure you are capturing the layers and dissolving the hardened debris.

5. When you have conditioned your scalp and you no longer have any of the symptoms listed above then you may want to start using a topical solution to boost the re-growth of hair. This can be herbal or medicinal.

6. For those who have permanent hair loss, transplants may be the only option. There are however some men who can carry the bald look with confidence and look great. It really depends on what you want.

In short, if you are a man or woman that is experiencing thinning hair, it is recommended that you see a professional for a diagnoses, get educated on hair hygiene and learn how to take responsibility and get back that once gorgeous head of hair.