It doesn’t matter what your age, most people lose around 50 to 100 hairs per day, both men and women. This is known as hair shedding. However, if you feel like your hair is becoming thinner over time, this could be a case of hair thinning, which is when follicle miniaturization happens. Your hair follicle shrinks with each generation of new hair which means new hairs are both finer and thinner. The good news is, you’re not alone. When it comes to how to stop hair thinning, there are things you can do to decrease the appearance of hair thinning and have a long future of healthy hair growth. To begin, let’s take a look at the four main reasons for thinning hair.
Hereditary
If you suspect that you’re losing more than a normal amount of hairs per day, one possibility is that you’re genetically predisposed to hair thinning. For women, this is just the same as male pattern baldness, but the hair normally thins all over the scalp starting at the parting, instead of just at the temples and crown as happens with men. When this happens, your hair follicles shrink, causing hair to grow in thinner strands. This shrinking of the follicles makes each strand less visible and more likely to break.
Hormonal
Another of the causes of hair thinning in women is hormonal changes that affect growth patterns. At different stages in life, as hormones shift and change, there can be temporary imbalances that trigger thinning. This can be particularly apparent if you have thyroid issues if you are a new mother or during the menopause. If you feel your hair is thinner, it is always worth a meeting with one of our hair specialists as you may not even be aware of these hormonal shifts that can happen.
Nutritional deficiencies
One less common environmental reason for hair thinning in women is poor nutrition. It represents only a slight amount of hair thinning cases but is worth mentioning as a change in diet can really help and make a difference. The essential nutrients for healthy hair are minerals like calcium, magnesium, selenium, copper and iron, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, folic acid, and vitamins A, C, E, B6, and 12. So, eating a healthy diet full of these nutrients found in food like spinach, avocado, lentils, lean meats, almonds, blueberries, olive oil, and Greek yogurt can go a long way to nourishing your hair. Even focusing on the quality of water you consume can make a difference. Springwater typically contains higher concentrations of important minerals that nourish your hair from within.
Environmental
Stress is one of the leading environmental causes of hair thinning. As our lives become more and more chaotic and demanding every day, the health of our hair can become compromised. Stress can lead to hormonal imbalances. The primary way in which stress negatively affects hair is when it results in hormonal imbalances which can be diminishing to the scalp’s biological environment and hair health in multiple ways. This is the case as stress can cause an increased production from oil glands in the hair follicles, which can lead to severe scalp issues such as build-up from oil that might lead to other issues such as seborrheic dermatitis. Other environmental factors include pollution, exposure to toxins, and smoking cigarettes. If you live in an area with high pollution, you may notice itching, an extra oily scalp, or even painful hair roots.
Getting to the root of it
You’re probably wondering how to stop hair thinning. The good news is, whether your hair thinning is due to genetics, hormonal changes, environmental factors, or nutrition, there are things you can do to make your hair stronger and encourage growth. Consulting with our hair specialists and using products with naturally derived, pure, and safe ingredients as a treatment can nurture your hair and scalp, helping you grow long, healthy, and robust hair, giving you the luscious locks you deserve.
