Eat a healthy diet. Get enough iron from foods like dark green leafy vegetables, beans, and fortified cereals. Avoid treatments that can break or damage your hair, such as straightening irons, bleach, and perms. Ask your doctor if any of the medicines you take can promote hair loss. If so, see if you can switch to another drug. Don’t smoke. It damages hair follicles and can speed up hair loss. Wear a hat when you go outside. Too much sun exposure can damage your hair.