Your main mane guide: home remedies to treat hair loss

Most hair loss problems respond well to home remedies. Wether resulting from poor nutrition, stress, illness or incorrect or harsh treatments, these tips should help.

• Both women and men occasionally lose hair. Often, hormones or genes are to blame. If you want your hair to be your crowning glory, don't rely on expensive "wonder cures."
• Nature offers an array of effective remedies and applications that are much easier on the pocketbook.
• Most hair problems respond well to home remedies.
• Hair loss may result from poor nutrition, stress, illness or incorrect or harsh treatment. It may also be a side effect of medication.

Anything that stimulates circulation to your scalp will aid hair growth and help you avoid hair loss.

• Rub your head with an onion. It may sound quirky, but rubbing your scalp for 10 minutes with the surface of a freshly cut onion is a tried-and-true home remedy. The odourous vegetable contains plenty of sulfur, which aids in the formation of collagen, a substance that makes hair fuller and stronger. Follow up by washing your hair.
• Try a tonic that can guard against hair loss consisting of about 50 grams (1 1/2 ounces) each of nasturtium and creeping thyme plus one litre (four cups) of vodka. Let the ingredients stew in a closed container for ten days before straining. Massage the tonic vigorously into your scalp twice a day.
• Another hair loss tonic consists of about 200 grams (seven ounces) of stinging nettle root, 500 millilitres (two cups) of wine vinegar and one litre (four cups) of water. Boil the ingredients for 30 minutes, strain the liquid and pour into a bottle after cooling. Use the tonic three times a week.
• Massage a few drops of pure tea tree oil into your scalp to stimulate hair growth.
• Use rosemary oil to activate your hair follicles to promote growth.
• Try contrasting hot and cold water while shampooing every morning and evening. End with cold water and towel the scalp dry.

1. Wash your hair and rinse with warm water.

2. Massage about 100 ml (3 1/2 oz) of beer into your scalp and let it sit for 15 minutes.

3. Rinse hair with warm water and massage in another 100 ml (3 1/2 oz) of beer.

4. Comb your hair and let the beer dry on your scalp. (It will soak in so well that no odour will remain.)

• To encourage blood circulation to your hair roots, massage your scalp with your fingertips for five minutes three times a day.
• Avoid overstyling. Washing with excessively hot water, extensive blow-drying, curling tongs and curlers can damage your hair. Avoid perms and hair dyes.
• An unhealthy diet can contribute to hair loss. Nix some saturated fats and opt for foods high in hair-friendly vitamins and minerals, such as iron, zinc, protein and B vitamins.