In other cases, thinning hair is triggered by something going on inside the body — for instance, a thyroid problem, a shift in hormones, a recent pregnancy, or an inflammatory condition. Hair loss may also be genetic. The most common genetic condition is known as female-pattern hair loss, or androgenic alopecia.
If you can easily see your scalp through the hair, it's thin. If you can't, it's medium or thick.
It's totally normal, especially when the hair is wet or under bright light, including camera flashes. If you start to see the scalp more over time, it could be a sign of naturally thinning hair (which happens to us all as we age) or the start of Male Pattern Baldness, especially if it's showing more in certain areas.
Here's the truth: You can't change the size of your hair follicles. If you were born with fine hair, it's genetics, and no product will completely alter that. Of course, there are ways to maintain your hair health, add volume, and keep it from getting any thinner.
Bobs, pixies, layers, and bangs — these haircuts are strategically designed to help fine hair full-fill its potential. The look of thin hair can change dramatically with the power of the humble scissor — and the right cutting hand.
Telogen effluvium hair loss — the type of hair loss linked to stress — typically affects your scalp and may appear as patchy hair loss. However, it can also cause you to shed more body hair or notice less hair on your body than you normally would.
Many folks try to avoid thinner hair because of its perceived links to unhealthy hair and hair loss. However, those are only the broadest and most common meanings in the thick vs. thin hair debate. Having thin hair doesn't mean it's unhealthy unless your hair was thick beforehand.
Effective treatments for some types of hair loss are available. You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include medications and surgery.
Hair at the crown of your head is thinning
This is another one of the common early signs of male pattern balding. Hair at the crown (the back part of the top of the head) becomes sparser until the classic bald spot is evident.
Telogen hair, or 'resting' hair, comprises around 15% of the hair on a person's scalp. Periods of elevated stress can lead to this hair being temporarily lost, contributing to a visibly thinner scalp and hairline.
If you are experiencing thinning or balding, our Bosley experts recommend washing no more than three times a week.
Hair thinning causes can include aging, your genes, shifting hormones, and your diet. Learn what else might be playing a role. Whether you're a woman or a man, it's normal for your hair to thin as you get older, according to Cleveland Clinic.
Alopecia areata is a disease that develops when the body's immune system attacks hair follicles (what holds the hair in place), causing hair loss. You can lose hair anywhere on your body, including your scalp, inside your nose, and in your ears. Some people lose their eyelashes or eyebrows.
When to see a doctor. See your doctor if you're concerned about how much hair you are losing every day. A gradual thinning on the top of your head, the appearance of patchy or bald spots on your scalp, and full-body hair loss are signs that there may be an underlying health condition.
Hair loss, also referred to as shedding and hair fall, occurs at the root. These shed hairs often have clubbed roots and are long. Hair breakage is just that, a breakage that occurs at some point on the hair shaft. The hair will be shorter than a shed hair.
It can be the result of heredity, hormonal changes, medical conditions or a normal part of aging. Anyone can lose hair on their head, but it's more common in men. Baldness typically refers to excessive hair loss from your scalp. Hereditary hair loss with age is the most common cause of baldness.
"Short hairstyles are best for thinning hair, because too much length can drag the hair down and create an unflattering, stringy appearance," says Alabama stylist Hope Russo.