If you’ve noticed lately that your hairline or hair density just aren’t what they used to be, then take a deep breath, don’t panic, and vow right now that you’re going to do what is in your power to prevent further hair loss. The good news is that there is a lot within your power to treat hair loss and prevent further thinning, and you can get started on it today.

The even better news is that you can often regain some of the lost density, assuming you lost the hair in the last year or two. In cases of recent thinning, the hair follicle is merely dormant for some time before it fully whittles and dies. And in this window of time, you can resuscitate the follicle and grow a perfectly strong, anchored hair—multiplied by the thousands of dormant follicles around your dome. (That being said, anything you’ve lost to recession will stay gone; only thinning can be reversed. However, you can stop the recession in its tracks with these same tips, so don’t give up hope!)

Here are the best tips to prevent and treat hair loss.

Cardon put the scalp at the forefront of its hair regimen, by including niacinamide, dexpanthenol, and salicylic acid in its shampoo and conditioner alike, which together neutralize irritation, inflammation, oil buildup, and microbial breakouts. On top of that, our formulas match the human skin’s natural pH levels (approximately 5.5), meaning they won’t dry out or irritate the scalp. So, your daily regimen works in favor of hair growth and scalp balance, rather than aggravating these things.

Two of the most successful drugs that treat and prevent hair loss are minoxidil and finasteride. Minoxidil is the generic for Rogaine, and is now available over the counter in formulations of 2% (typically used for women) and 5% (typically used for men). Oral minoxidil options are also becoming increasingly common. Minoxidil works by improving nutrient delivery and circulation to the area of application. In this instance, by applying a few drops around the scalp, you boost overall circulation in the area, and in turn promote stronger, faster hair growth. Secondly, minoxidil extends the growth phase of your hair, so it tends to last longer on your head before shedding and regrowing. (For this same reason, initial use might trigger shedding at the start. Don’t be alarmed if you notice more fallen hairs in your bathroom sink in the first few weeks of minoxidil use. It will all grow back in the next couple months, fuller and stronger than ever.) Minoxidil is especially successful at reviving dormant follicles that have seemed “lost” in the previous year or so.

Finasteride, on the other hand, is the generic for Propecia. It must be prescribed and monitored by a dermatologist, since roughy 1-2% of men experience sexual side effects (which are usually reversible when treatment ceases). Finasteride blocks the conversion of testosterone into dihydrotestosterone, or DHT, which is what is responsible for suffocating follicles. It can be used in tandem with minoxidil to keep a full, healthy crown of hair, but is the more effective of the two at preventing further hair recession. It is typically prescribed as a 1mg daily tablet, though topical solutions are becoming more and more common, and also seem to have fewer sexual side effect risks.

Talk to your doctor if you are interested in either or both solutions, and to build a plan that works for you—and that can be easily monitored by your dermo. In both cases, it can take as many as 5 or 6 months to notice fuller, denser results, since you need to wait for the dormant follicles to wake up, and for existing hairs to grow thicker and stronger.

LLLT works by sending tiny low-strength lasers into your scalp, which promote follicular growth. (High-level lasers would fry things, whereas these low ones merely trigger cells into higher functionality. It;s the same reason laser masks are increasingly common in skincare, too.) There are many at-home LLLT caps on the market, but they tend to cost upwards of $1000. That being said, this will still save you significant money on the in-office treatments, which will run much, much higher than that tab in the end.

It’s widely known that you don’t need to shampoo your hair every day, simply because you won’t likely accumulate enough dirt, grime, and sebum buildup to justify a daily sudsing. So, if you can manage an every-other-day shampooing, or even every third day, then it’s worth cutting back on the shampoo. However, don’t cut back on your conditioner in the same way. Conditioner always revives the hair after a wash, by pumping it full of even more vitamins and proteins.So, yes, you need to use it after each shampoo. But conditioner can also be used on the non-wash days to help rinse away minor grime, while simultaneously nourishing and strengthening the hair (and scalp, no less!). This act of “washing” with conditioner on the in-between shampoo days is known as “co-washing”.

This process is important in the grand scheme of hair retention in that it fortifies the strands you currently have, preventing breakage, splitting, and lifelessness. It can go a long way in helping hair appear fuller, while also preventing the drying out of the scalp in the process.

One of the best ways to fortify hair growth is from within. Your overall wellness plays a huge role in hair health—just as it impacts your skin, your mood, your energy…

So, it should come as no surprise that, in order to promote healthier hair growth, you need to cut back on the things that ail you. This includes overly processed and sugary foods, alcohol, smoking, drug use, as well as stress, lack of sleep, dehydration, and so forth. You can certainly supplement your diet with pro-hair vitamins (biotin and saw palmetto tend to lead the pack for their ability to promote stronger hair growth and inhibit DHT, respectively), but the biggest effort you can make is to lead a healthy, hydrated, well-rested, stress-free life.