Hair thinning is a common issue, affecting every one in four women. That’s 30 million women in the United States alone.
Yet, despite the high numbers, it seems like most of us are not sure why hair thinning occurs in the first place. But, there’s no reason to ring the alarm.
According to various dermatologists, several reasons trigger hair loss or hair thinning, and most are easily reversible.
All it takes is making minor changes to your daily habits and creating awareness around the issue to figure out what solution works best for you.
Possible Causes for Hair Thinning
From daily habits to genetics, there are numerous triggers for thinning hair. That’s why prioritizing your hair health is essential, as hair loss can affect everyone. Here are some but a few:
Genetic Causes
Sometimes our genes can betray us and trigger significant hair loss. Some of the common causes include:
• Androgenetic Alopecia is a genetic condition where the hair starts thinning from the scalp level
• Traction Alopecia is caused by putting too much strain on your hair, especially when styling. It presents as bald spots or a receding hairline
• Telogen Effluvium is caused by stress and will be evidenced by hair strands or handfuls on your floors, brushes, and even bed
• Characterized by hair loss on the scalp, Alopecia Areata is caused by an autoimmune skin disease and can occur anywhere in the body
Using Too Much Heat
Having a curling iron or blow-dry in the house has become the norm these days.
However, using these items too often and on high heat weakens the hair strands. This will be even worse if you naturally have dry or brittle hair.
While these devices are here to make life easier, it’s better to use them occasionally and in a lower heat setting. If you have the time, opt instead for air-drying your hair.
Over-Moisturizing
Moisture in the form of water is fantastic for your hair. However, most people make the mistake of trying to comb out and style their hair when wet.
While the comb might be gliding through the hair better, the strands are also stretched.
If you go ahead and force this hair into a style when still wet, when it dries, it’ll shrink and exert too much strain on the scalp leading to breakage.
Using the Wrong Products
Many terrible things can happen when you use the wrong products on your hair. In this case, we will focus on the breakage.
Shampoos and conditioners containing certain ingredients like sulfates and paraben weaken the hair over time, causing it to break.
Additionally, the application of hair dyes, especially those that include bleaching, needs to be done by a professional. This is because the bleach weakens your hair, making it prone to breakage.
Your Diet
Have you been consuming lots of junk food lately, lowered your water consumption, or even just been more stressed?
Changes in your lifestyle, especially in the diet and stress management departments, might be your hair loss.
A healthy diet for your hair is rich in protein, vitamin B12, biotin, and selenium. Therefore, nutritional deficiencies might be your culprit.
Your Pillows
What you’re sleeping on and in is another thing you need to consider. It’s advisable to switch your cotton pillowcases for silk or satin ones.
The softer fabric is less abrasive on your hair and, therefore, less breakage while you toss and turn.
Not Going For Regular Trims
Most people love to see their hair growing longer, and it, therefore, makes sense not to like trims. However, getting your hair trimmed regularly gets rid of split ends.
Split ends, when left unattended, move up the hair shaft, making the entire strand weak and very prone to breakage.
