thin hair causes and remedies for hair loss

Why Do I Have Such Thin Hair? (Causes and Remedies For Hair Loss)

Thin Hair, We Care

When most of us think about hair goals, “thick and long” always come to mind!

In the society we live in now, if your hair is thin, then that means something is wrong with you. The world also believes there is no way you can have beautiful hair if it's thin.

Most people think that if their hair is thin, then it’s nothing they can do. But not many people have sat down and researched to find out exactly why their hair is thin. I believe the best way to solve an issue, is first to dig the root up and go from there.

There are many reasons why people experience thin hair. It could be the hair product they’re using, specific styles they wear, or it can even be hereditary. Whatever the reason is, I am here to go over it with you.

Please continue reading as I explain why your hair may be thin.

fine limp hair

Water Deficiency

Did you know that water is the best moisturizer you can give your hair? Whether you drink water or spray it in your hair, it’s beneficial to healthy hair.

So if you’re someone who shy’s away from water, then that’s a big red warning as to why your hair might be thin. Your hair needs to ‘watered’ just like the rest of your body, for it to function properly. Now, not drinking water may not exactly cause thinning directly, but it causes other effects that then lead to thinning.

Such things are dryness, and then breakage occurs. You don’t ever want to get to the point of hair breakage because it’s no returning from that. You would have to cut all of your hair off to start over. Also, your hair may only break off in specific areas, which would be thinning.

So, each day of your life, make sure you are drinking enough water and or spraying your hair with it often.

drinking water

Check Water Temperature

Do you ever use hot water on your hair? If so, how hot is it? Hot water is another reason why people experience thin hair.

Hot water does have some benefits when it comes to your hair; however, you have to be careful because too much of it will dry it out. That’s why when some people wash their hair; they use ‘cool’ or ‘warm’ water. As mentioned earlier, dry hair causes breakage.

Hot water is useful when you want to rinse residue from your hair or even to open your pores, but be sure to close your cuticles with cold water, so no potential damage happens.

washing hair

Tension

Are you someone who always has their hairstyles pulling at their hair? If so, this is a sure sign as to why you have thin hair.

It’s important to remember that our hair is a little tiny follicle that is very fragile and when they aren’t taken care of properly, it's not a pretty sight.

For example, let's say you wanted to get micro braids styled in your hair; those are tiny individual braids. Now, I’m not saying that one should never get that style, but you have to be careful. Any method that is pulling the individual hair strand is a high risk for breakage, which leads to thin hair.

If you find yourself with tension-based styles, it’s best to leave them alone as soon as possible.

Overdue Hair Styles

Overdue hairstyles are another sign as to why people have thin hair. Have you ever seen someone wear a ponytail every single day?

If so, it’s a high chance their hair is thin around the edges and middle section. It’s important to know that you must change your styles, often. Leaving a style for too long or even in the same spot for some time is not good. What you’re mostly doing, is training your hair to stay in the same place.

That’s why it’s good to change your styles because you’re giving your hair a break.

perky ponytail

Too Much Heat

Do you apply too much heat to your hair, too often? Heat isn’t a bad thing.

However, if used excessively it can cause thinness to your hair. The best way to describe it is to think about when you're cooking an egg on the stove. If the furnace is in a low setting, it’s going to take longer for the egg to cook but you can take your time and watch it, so you don’t make a mistake.

However, once you turn the heat higher, then you risk burning the egg. Although it’s not a guarantee the egg will get burnt, you open yourself up to more risk.

Your hair is essentially that egg. The higher the heat setting, the higher the risk of breakage will be. Also, remember, the damage is the warning sign before hair begins to fall out or even begins to thin. However, you never want to have hair that is breaking off either. Plus, there are now so many different types of flat irons that help protect your hair from any damage.

Of course, it doesn’t prevent it, but at least it helps!

heat damage

Overprocessing

Dyeing, straightening, perming, and highlighting hair is typically safe and comes without a downside.

These are all ways where your hair can become overprocessed with so much manipulation. As a result, too much processing can cause hair to thin. Women whose hair has undergone years of processing or daily styling with heat and/or chemicals should try out buffer hairstyles if thinning has become an issue.

Instead of processing and reprocessing, take a break every couple of appointments, and just get a cut.

Recent Weight Loss

Sometimes, the thinner our bodies, the thinner our hair. Sudden and intentional or dramatic weight loss can result in loss of hair, too. Again, hormones are rebalancing their levels as the body adjusts to its new size. Flag it with your doctor if it seems excessive or doesn't stop falling out.

Stress

Too many people think stress ruins their day or mood, but it actually can destroy a lot more.

What's not talked about is the fact that stress is the energy that is flowing through your body. It’s important to be happy as often as you can so you project good power to yourself. Stress interferes with your nervous system, which then triggers certain parts of your body to react differently. Some believe it’s a stress hormone, and we know hormones can be tricky! You may experience your hair fall out in certain places or even contract a scalp condition called alopecia.

Stress can do significant damage to your hair and other parts of your body as well. So although we can all find something to stress over, it’s always best to breathe and find happiness, instead.

coorporate hair

Medicine

On the back of medicine bottles is usually a long list of side effects that may occur if you take the recommended dosage.

A common side effect is hair loss. Most of us already know that when you take medicine, although, it's helping one thing, its usually messing up something else. If you ever begin to take a lot of medication and noticing a change in your hair, consult with a doctor on switching medicine and hopefully that will work better.

Chemotherapy

If you’re someone who has to take chemo on a regular basis, then that is a reason why you’re hair is thin.

It’s not fun to have to endure chemotherapy and if you’re reading this, know that my heart goes out to you. Although there may not be much to counter the effects of chemo, make sure you eat healthily, drink lots of water, and get stuffed on protein.

That way, when your hair grows back, it will be nice and thick since you did what was necessary.

Pregnancy

Are you expecting a baby soon? If so, congrats are for you!

However, it’s also a time for your body to experience a significant change! Pregnancy affects all people differently, and no two pregnancies are the same. Hormones also play a significant role, and sometimes people can experience a lot of hair growth where others can suffer hair loss. It just all depends on how the body is reacting.

So if your hair is thinning, and you’re expecting, check your belly! Your hormones may be out of whack, temporarily.

Menopause

Like PCOS, Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, an endocrine disorder where women produce an excess of male hormones, menopause also causes the production of male hormones to increase for women.

This increase can have the effect of increasing the amount and thickness of facial hair while decreasing both for the hair on a woman's head. But it's not always hormones that cause thinning hair in menopausal women.

Contraception change

Seeing as pregnancy hormones cause changes in your hair, it makes total sense that changing or stopping your contraceptive pill can have a similar effect, don’t you think?

Women who are susceptible to hormonal hair loss often see that their hair is thinning when taking a variety of pills with high progesterone levels, or in the weeks after they decide to come completely off the pill.

The good news is that contraceptive-related hair issues usually reverse itself once your body has become used to the formality of the new tablets or just the natural formality of your body. But be sure to visit your gynecologist about your sexual health if you're worried for any reason that your birth control might not be right for you.

blake lively

Itchy Scalp Skin Conditions

Did you know an itchy scalp could cause your hair to become thin?

Skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis can sometimes cause hair loss, either by creating conditions for excessive itching or for compromising the follicle from which hair grows. Treatments for these conditions, such as salicylic acid, can also cause thinning hair or excessive breakage.

Most people scratch their heads when it's itchy without realizing they are snapping off the hair follicles. That’s why when most people scratch their heads; you can find them using a rat-tail comb or some other object. Using something other than your hands is best because you’re more aware of what you’re doing and don’t want to hurt yourself. However, when you use your fingertips, you’re just scratching away at your scalp.

So next time you have a terrible itch, be mindful of how you scratch your head, so you avoid thinness.

dandruff

Blocked Follicles

Great, healthy hair requires a healthy foundation, so it's not surprising when your scalp doesn’t look or feel healthy, which causes the hair that grows out of the root of your scalp to not comply and to suffer.

You should choose products that are designed to make your hair and scalp stronger, such as using a clarifying shampoo on a regular basis to clear your scalp of all of the build-up from both your products and your body's daily particles of dead skin cells and oils.

Another great alternative to overcoming blocked hair follicles that lead to breakage and thinning is by detoxing your body. Simply, add a whole fresh lemon, squeezed, to water that is just above body temperature. It is ideal to drink this upon waking up as it will immediately flush through your digestive tract and eliminate toxins that can usually be present in your scalp.

Too Much Sun Exposure

Okay, I get it, we all love the sun, but it’s a significant risk when it comes to our sun.

When we decide to sit in the sun and bake away, the sun UVA rays can pierce through our hair follicles, and they can break off. Sun rays can cause thinning in certain parts of your hair. Also, if you’re someone who has hair color, the sun can dry the hair follicles out since it’s a chemical on the strand.

Since summer is soon, be very careful with the sun. Be sure to protect your tresses with a heat protectant and hair sunscreen.

best hair protection

Poor Diet

So, what did you eat for dinner, last night? Because I sure hope it involved protein!

'Protein is already in our hair, and it's essential that we know how to maintain it. If we don’t thin occurs, and you could also experience brittle and breakage.

We can get protein from many sources of food such as turkey, fish, eggs, and even peanut butter, and much more. If you’re experiencing thinning, that’s another sign that your hair is weak. Which means its time to focus on ways to strengthen it. Whether you completely change your diet or even buy/make a protein conditioner for your hair. Nobody wants to have thinning hair when there are ways to build those follicles back again.

So be very mindful of the food that you eat. A healthy hair journey always begins from within and works its way out.

healthy food

Anemia

Amongst other things, a lack of iron, which can develop into full-blown anemia, can also hit your hair hard.

It's especially common in women because, in addition to all the other things your menstrual cycle brings, you can lose a ton of iron around that monthly time. But it can also affect people with conditions like Crohn's disease, which prevents them from absorbing iron as efficiently.

Eating the proper amount of iron isn't always easy, especially if you're a vegetarian or vegan, as the most common source of iron is red meat. But leafy greens like spinach, pulses like beans and lentils, and enriched cereals can all make a give a boost.

You may also consider taking iron supplements if advised by your doctor according to the assessment of your levels.

Hereditary

And sadly, sometimes, thinning hair merely occurs because it may run in your family.

Often when things are hereditary, there isn’t much option to fix an issue. When I say ‘much’ that means, there is still room for other possible ways of correcting thinning hair. When it comes to conditions that are hereditary, one of the best causes is all-natural recipes.

Natural ingredients can trigger different parts of the body and hair, which will stimulate hair growth. Trying to cure something that is hereditary may not be an option, but it doesn’t mean you can’t see what happens. Nowhere does it say you can’t just see what type of results you achieve.

Many people think that because they have a condition that runs in the family, that they have no options. Many people say that excuse, and they believe it, therefore, they miss out on all other possibilities, only because of what someone else said.

Remember that hereditary is not the end all be all, ever.

doing hair

Surgery

Surgery, while often life-or-death and, at times, can be necessary for good health, is nonetheless a traumatic event for the body. And trauma can cause the body's stress response to affect hair follicles. Anesthesia can also cause hair loss, as the body responds to it. The good news is, this hair loss isn't always permanent, and hair-follicle size and hair growth resumes after the body recovers.

Thyroid Issues

Out of nowhere, hair loss can be the initial sign of a thyroid problem. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can result in thinning hair. Blood tests for hormone levels can help a doctor determine a thyroid issue or signal that more tests or treatments are necessary. Certain hairstyles, like braids and weaves, can pull out individual strands of hair and add up over time, leaving bald patches or thin hair. Giving hair a rest between these styles and going with natural hair can give strands the chance to regrow.

Too Much Vitamin A

Vitamin A is crucial for hair and a healthy body. But, unfortunately, too much can send the wrong signal to follicles, convincing them to shut down hair production too soon, which causes thinning. Vitamin A hides out in fat, so you can build up stores of it over time, which means you might not even suspect excessive amounts when you start experiencing hair loss. Irritability, dry skin, blurred vision, and sickness are also signs of vitamin A excess and are signs you should talk to your doctor.

Too Little Protein

Lack of protein, either through a type of crash diet or poor food choices, can cause hair thinning.

And, eventually, widespread hair loss considering your hair is lacking the proper amount of protein that you are to intake. Incorporating more protein into daily food intake, either by increasing the amount you eat or making different nutritional food choices can stop the thinning and eventual loss.

It can even reverse the damage and leave you with thicker hair.

Aging

Long life is a wonderful thing, but part of the journey might involve a change in certain beauty markers that you were once used to.

Women often start noticing hair thinning by their late 20s or early 30s. By their 40s, they can look back at old photos and see things really have changed. It is common for some women to retain their thick hair through their 60s.

By the time they're in their 70s, most women will notice the significant loss or thinning.

Ways to Prevent Thinning of Hair

Use Cautious Amounts of Shampoo

If you're not aware, hair is in its most fragile state while it’s wet.

And thinning hair may not be stable or anchored into the hair follicle, so you should be super careful when washing the hair and the amount of shampoo is used. Simply measuring out how much shampoo you're using is a good way to start to avoid such a preventative issue.

You can pull your hair back into a ponytail and use its diameter as a reference for how much shampoo to use or just go by tablespoon size. Keep in mind that it is totally normal to notice hair loss when you shower and shampoo your hair, but this does not necessarily mean you have a hair loss condition.

If you continue to experience for a longer period of time and it's noticeable when shampooing hair, it's best to contact a specialist for a consultation.

Hands-off

No matter how clean you think you're hands are, they still harbor dirt.

They touch a lot of things throughout the day, and so they naturally accumulate dirt and oils that are not for your hair. If you have a habit of pulling on your hair or twiddling with your fingers, then external dirt and oils can mix in with your hair's natural oils and the hair product already in your hair to create build-up.

When you touch your hair, not only are you putting foreign dirt and oils into your hair, but you could also be removing your hair's natural oils that make your hair look good and pertain to its natural health. This can disrupt your hair’s moisture levels.

When your hair is less moisturized, this leads to less elasticity. Less elasticity means it’ll be more prone to breakage when you run your hands through it and we don't want that. Running your fingers through your hair is not going to be the difference between luscious, full hair, and hair loss.

But if you’re starting to see hairs fall out when you run your hands through it, there’s a bigger problem, and you want to get it resolved immediately.

Show your Scalp Some Love

It is suggested by many salon professionals to use gentle bristle paddle brushes for five to 10 minutes to massage your scalp.

This stimulates blood circulation to promote healthy hair formation over a period of time. In-shower scalp massagers also work wonders and can help get shampoos deeper into the roots of the scalp for maximization.

Scalp massages help stimulate your hair follicles to increase hair growth, and essential oils like lavender, rosemary, and thyme have been shown to prevent hair thinning and balding! Incorporate any carrier oil like olive, coconut, almond, etc. to your products and hair routine by adding a few drops of lavender, rosemary, or thyme oil to it.

Massage the oils gently into your scalp. Put on a shower cap and leave it for an hour, then shampoo your hair. Follow this routine once a week.

It smells great, is very relaxing, and your hair will look healthier in no time minus the issue of hair loss!

Use protection

It's important as we should always use a heat protectant spray, cream, or serum when using hair tools that bring the heat. And yes, a blowdryer counts!

Excessive use of heat when not properly protected causes your hair to dry up which makes it brittle and more susceptible to falling out. You want to create strong hair even when you want to manipulate it into different styles.

The best way to do this is by keeping it protected with heat protectant products. Heat protectants simply provide a guard or screening over your strands blocking any heat from permeating the hair shafts and sucking the life out of them. This can also cause your hair to look very dull.

Not using a heat protectant doesn't mean you have a hair condition but it can make things worse. Get protected!

Masking

Using hair masks in your normal hair routine is a great way to provide excess moisture when needed.

Masking creates that moisture which will prevent breakage and hair loss. There are various masks you can even make at home which enable your hair to become stronger over time with proper use. Treating your strands to an at-home mask at least once a week is always a good idea.

These items aren't just for the kitchen, mixing an egg with olive oil is a DIY hair remedy that helps strengthen strands and fight hair loss.

See a trichologist

If your ponytail feels thinner or you can see your scalp more, don’t ignore the warning signs schedule to see a trichologist who can help to determine the cause of your hair loss. They will always help you to get on track to regain your hair and what products and steps are conducive. Various experts in this field offer consultations that may include a thorough review of the hair, your diet, and possible factors for thinning hair which all vary.

Don’t skip conditioner

Not using conditioner can leave you with dehydrated hair which becomes brittle and damaged over time. A conditioner is essential just like using a hair mask. It is suggested to use a lightweight conditioner that contains panthenol and glycerine that moisturizes and keeps fragile hair strong. A great product to assist the Bumble & Bumble Seaweed Conditioner.

Using Vitamins

Vitamin A is crucial to healthy hair because it “works with the fat synthesis.”

Food products rich in vitamin A include leafy greens, carrots, and eggs. Vitamin B12 supports the creation of red blood cells and Vitamin E encourages healthy circulation, which ultimately provides more oxygen for your body! And more oxygen = healthier hair.

Some of the most important minerals for hair health are — calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, and zinc. You can find lots of these in your favorite vegetables, or you may want to consider taking a daily mineral supplement.

Break Bad Habits

Smoking reduces circulation, and this includes blood flow to the scalp.

Drinking alcohol and caffeine will hamper the immune system and cause further hair fallout. So break those bad habits for the sake of your hair! Another bad habit to break is not drinking enough water!

Staying hydrated is crucial in tissue growth and health. The hair shaft itself is largely made up of water. Set a goal to drink at minimum 64 ounces each day. Also, avoid carbonated sodas all of which will weaken your immune system and make your hair more likely to fall out.

Growing Strong

You see, things aren’t that bad, are they?

Now you have a few reasons as to why you may be experiencing thin hair. Remember that it’s not the end of the world. There are many reasons to why it happens and most of them are solutions that prove we have to do better.

If you find yourself stressing a lot and having thin hair, find ways to bring out more happiness from within so that can show out. If you know your hair is thin but love sunbathing, make sure you protect yourself from the sun because of all its potential damaging factors. Most times many of us don't inspect our hair from the bigger picture. We wait until something crazy happens and then hurry to find a solution.

When in reality, we have to get in the habit of paying attention.

Thin hair is not the best, I know, but if you are experiencing it, remember it’s not the end of the world. When there’s a will, there’s a way, every time! So be sure not to settle and explore all of your options, so your hair begins to grow back healthy and full!

Have you ever experienced thin hair? If so, how were you able to regrow your hair again? Let me know in the comment section below!

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