5 Reasons your Hair is Thinning
Let’s explore why it happens and how to prevent it!
WHAT IS HAIR THINNING?
The two words no one wants to hear - hair thinning! Let's take a dive in to what hair thinning is, why it happens and how to prevent it!
First of all, hair thinning refers to minor to moderate hair loss. Unlike widespread hair loss, hair thinning doesn't necessarily cause baldness but instead gives the appearance of thinner spots of hair on your head. Hair thinning happens gradually over time which means you have time to pinpoint the causes and figure out the best treatment measures.
WHAT CAUSES HAIR THINNING?
There are a number of causes behind hair thinning. Some of those are out of our control but some of them, we can control. We're going to explore the five most common reasons your hair is thinning, then recommend some ways to bring some life and thickness back in to your hair!
1) HORMONAL CHANGES
To start out with, this is the factor which is usually out of our control! Hormonal changes affect every aspect of our lives, including our hair. Have you started taking the pill? Stopped? Recently changed birth control? Or maybe you've had some fluctuations in your weight? It’s only normal!
These hormonal changes often cause thinning hair towards the crown of the scalp. Hormones are also to blame for why hair density changes as we get older and our hair appears thinner with age (thanks for that, hormones!) If you’re experiencing thinning towards the crown of your scalp, a great product to use is Regaine. This product contains 5% Minoxidil which is a clinically proven ingredient to reverse and even stop hair loss!
We would also recommend using a shampoo and conidtioner that will encourage healthy hair growth, making your hair appear thicker and fuller. We love the Olaplex No.4 and 5 shampoo and conditioner as it does exactly this! It's patented technology helps strengthen the hair bond preventing breakage and future damage, encouraging happy and healthy hair growth!
2) STRESS
Lifestyle changes, relationship changes, starting a new job, moving apartments or just the day to day stress from everyday life can affect our hair. Stress raises our male hormone levels which as a result can lead to hair loss. Whilst stress may be impossible to completely get rid of, we can find some ways to help manage it which will in turn help out our hair.
Finding time for yourself through acts of self-care can be a great place to start. Whether it's going for a massage, taking yourself on a walk or simply running a bubble bath. These small acts of kindness will help reduce your stress levels, lower your male hormone and improve your hair health!
One of our fave self-care activities to do is run a bath, slather our hair in Olaplex No.8 Moisture Mask and listen to our favourite podcast or Spotify playlist. Giving your scalp a gentle massage with a scalp massager will really take this to the next level, we love this one from Tangle Teezer!
3) DIET
Malnutrition is a leading cause of hair loss. A healthy and balanced diet should be at the forefront of your mind if you're currently suffering with hair thinning. Research has shown that are two main things that seriously impact hair growth which are vitamin B12 and iron. Leafy greens are packed full of iron so load up on your green juices. And if you're a veggie, opt for a good quality B12 supplement!
A great overall supplement is the Solgar Skin, Nails and Hair supplement that contains a cocktail of vitamins and minerals to promote nail and hair growth, whilst also benefiting your skin. They are also gluten free, dairy free and vegan making them great for everyone!
If you’re looking for a more targeted formula to just tackle hair growth, the HUM Hair Gummies are a potent gummy that contain high levels of B12 whilst also tasting just like sweets! What’s not to love…
4) HARSH HAIRSTYLES
Whilst we love that super sleek Bella Hadid style bun, your hair might not be loving that for you! A tight ponytail, bun, hair clips that pull on your hair or over styling with heat could all be causing breakage. Luckily, we have a solution…or two!
Using silk hair ties are a great place to start for those who love to still want to pull of those super sleek (or messy, we don’t judge!) styles without damaging your hair. We love these 100% pure silk hair ties from the female founded company SILKE! We've linked some of our faves below and they are seriously cute just to wear on your wrist too!
Heat protector also never goes a miss! We love mixing Olaplex No.6 and No.7 in to wet hair before styling. This dream combo works by protecting hair from heat and UV damage whilst strengthening the hair from the inside out!
5) MEDICATION
There are a few medications out there which list hair loss as a main side effect. These include Accutane, antidepressants and beta-blockers. If you're concerned these are the causes of your hair thinning or hair loss, book in to see your GP who can advise you on the suitable next step!
Whilst all the treatment measures we have spoke about will help mild to moderate hair loss. If you’re experiencing severe hair loss, we would also always recommend visiting your GP to best find out the root of the problem (no pun intended!) from a medical professional.
We hope some of these steps help out your hair thinning and let us know if you try any of them!