Hereditary hair loss runs in my family. My dad is 68 and still has a solid head of hair, and he puts a lot of it down to one simple habit he’s kept up for decades: combing his hair properly and regularly. A few years ago I started taking that seriously myself, and combined it with a few other habits that, together, have made a real difference for me. This isn’t a miracle cure story — it’s just what I actually do, day to day, and why.
Why combing matters more than people think
Most of us treat combing as an afterthought — something you do for five seconds in front of the mirror. Done properly and regularly, it’s a bit more than that. Combing stimulates blood flow to the scalp, helps distribute your scalp’s natural oils along the hair shaft instead of leaving them pooled at the roots, and gently clears away buildup that can sit around follicles. None of that reverses genetics, but for someone managing hereditary thinning, keeping the scalp environment as healthy as possible is a reasonable, low-effort piece of the puzzle — and it’s the one habit my dad points to first.
The rest of my routine
Combing on its own isn’t what changed things for me — it’s part of a small set of habits I keep up together:
- Red light therapy. I use a red light / low-level light device on my scalp a few times a week. This is one of the few things on this list with actual clinical research behind it for hair density, though results vary person to person and it takes consistency over months, not days.
- Avoiding harsh shampoos. I’ve cut back to a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo and wash less often than I used to. Stripping the scalp with harsh detergents daily didn’t seem to be doing me any favours.
- Cold water showers. More anecdotal than proven, but I find finishing my shower with cold water leaves my scalp feeling less irritated, and I’ve stuck with it as part of the overall routine.
- Prioritising sleep. This is the one I’d tell anyone to fix first, hair aside. Poor sleep affects hormones and stress levels that are already working against you with hereditary hair loss, so treating sleep as non-negotiable has been one of the more noticeable changes.
- Biotin. I take a biotin supplement daily. Worth knowing: biotin mainly helps if you’re actually a little low in it — it’s not a guaranteed fix for everyone, but it’s low-risk and easy to add.
- DHT blockers. This is the one part of my routine I’d genuinely encourage you to research properly and talk to a doctor or dermatologist about rather than take from a blog post — there are both topical and prescription options, they’re not right for everyone, and it’s worth getting proper advice before starting.
- Shilajit. I take shilajit daily as part of my broader wellness routine — it’s been used traditionally for general vitality and as a mineral-rich supplement, and it’s simply one piece of how I look after my overall health, alongside everything above. If you want to know more about what’s in it, our Shilajit resin has the full breakdown.
Putting it together
None of these habits alone would do much. It’s the combination, kept up consistently over months and years, that I think has made the difference for me — the same way my dad’s decades of consistent combing seem to have worked for him. If you’re dealing with hereditary hair loss, my honest advice is: pick the low-risk, low-effort habits first (combing, sleep, gentler hair products), talk to a professional about anything more involved like DHT blockers, and give whatever you choose real time before judging whether it’s working.
This post describes my personal routine and experience. It isn’t medical advice — hereditary hair loss varies a lot person to person, and it’s worth speaking with a doctor or dermatologist about what’s right for you, especially before starting any medication.
