The Truth Behind Trichotillomania, OCD, And Hair Loss

Some folks use the subreddit to vet and share treatment options too, including topical oils and salves, oral medications and antidepressants, and different forms of therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Habit Reversal Training—two methods that emphasize mindful awareness of negative thoughts and undesirable behaviors—are cited as two of the most effective therapeutic interventions for treating trichotillomania.

For those who pull from their scalps, finding a hairstyle that feels good can be a challenging task. To cover bald spots or give thinning hair a bit of a bump, most hair stylists recommend going for messy bun looks, adding layers to the hair, or trying front bangs to cover areas near the hairline. Joyce Tran, a Toronto-based writer and trichotillomania advocate, wrote about her trich journey in April 2021. After pulling her hair out for over a decade—and after having tried everything from wearing her hair in buns for months, sampling a litany of different hats and bobby pins, and even coloring in her bald spots with eyeliner—she invested in semi-permanent micro-weft hair extensions secured to her natural hair with silicone-lined beads. She had the extensions for eight months, though she didn’t find that they helped her stop pulling. Still, others may find extensions or similar professional hair treatments make up for some of the confidence lost to pulling.  

While figuring out what coping mechanism works best to either ease or stop the pulling altogether, how to grow back any hair loss may be top of mind, too. That’s when hair supplements come in. Prose’s Root Source hair supplements contain the essential nutrients to help counter the side effects of daily external aggressors such as UV rays and pollutants. Plus, the new hairs grow in equally as strong, with continued supplementation efforts. You can read more about Root Source hair supplements here*. 

Whether it’s mild or severe, trichotillomania is a serious disorder that remains misunderstood by the masses. But as the trich community grows, and as more people find the courage to speak publicly about their hair loss, fewer and fewer people have to suffer in silence—and that is always something worth celebrating.