Research suggests that 70% of the male population will lose their hair as they get older, with half set to experience this by the age of 50. While hair loss is a natural part of the aging process, there are many ways that men can reduce losing their hair overtime and retain their self-confidence.

What’s more, many of these methods don’t involve taking any medications or undergoing invasive – and often expensive – hair transplants. Dr Earim Chaudry, Medical Director at men’s health platform Manual shares some key advice on how to limit hair loss in men using the natural methods outlined below:

1. Eat a balanced diet
Healthy hair starts with a healthy diet. When it comes to preventing hair loss with your diet, make sure you’re consuming foods that are packed with vitamins and minerals. These include:

• Foods rich in iron, including green leafy vegetables, eggs, beans, and grains

• High-protein foods, including lean meats and seafood

• Food rich in omega-3 acids, such as fish, flax seeds and walnuts

In addition, it is especially recommended that you stay hydrated throughout the day to maintain healthy hair.

2.Regularly wash your hair with mild shampoo
Regularly washing your hair with shampoos that are free from sulphates, parabens and mineral oils will prevent hair loss. By washing your hair with mild shampoos, you are keeping the scalp clean and lowering the risk of infections that may result in hair breakage or loss.

3. Avoid hot showers
While there is no medical evidence that hot showers contribute to hair loss, it is still important to be cautious. This is because taking a really hot shower may have the power to strip the scalp of the essential oils that help to protect it. This can cause dryness, inflammation and could also result in the thinning of your hair.

4. Refrain from brushing wet hair
Your hair is in its weakest state when wet, so it’s best to avoid brushing wet hair if you are aiming to reduce hair loss. There is also a danger of brushing your hair too frequently, as doing this could increase the chances of your hair becoming injured,  encouraging further loss.

5. Exercise regularly
Exercising, especially on a frequent basis, will improve blood flow to the scalp area and this could help prevent forms of hair loss. In addition, exercise will reduce your stress levels, something to keep in mind due to the direct correlation between hair loss and stress.

6. Avoid smoking and reduce alcohol consumption
As tobacco can potentially damage your hair follicles, ditching the cigarettes will help to reduce your hair loss. Cutting down on  alcohol consumption will also do favors for your hair. Despite the fact that there’s no proven link between alcohol use and hair loss, heavy drinking can in fact lead to nutritional deficiencies or hormonal issues, which in turn can thin out your remaining locks.

7. Change how you style your hair
Hairstyles such as ponytails and braids tend to pull hair or tug hair follicles, which could eventually lead to baldness. As well as this, regularly using tools such as blow dryers and straighteners can cause thermal damage to your hair. Down the line, this will lead to breakage and result in hair loss. With this in mind, it may be time to think about healthier and less damaging ways to style your hair if you prefer a longer style.