7 Shocking Causes of Thinning Hair in Women

Hair loss isn’t solely caused by aging. There are a number of different causes of thinning hair in women. Some are natural, while others are of our own making.

About 40% of people who suffer from hair loss are women. A study showed that about one in five women who are over 25 suffer from it. No age group is safe.

Thinning hair can be devastating for women. It might impact a person’s self-image and emotional well-being. That’s why it’s important to understand the causes of thinning hair so you might keep that voluminous mane as long as possible.

Here are seven shocking causes of thinning hair in women, and what you can do to stop them.

1. Changes in the Weather

Balmy temperatures in fall and spring may bring relief between the extremes of winter and summer, but they are also the worst seasons for hair loss. Fluctuating weather patterns during these seasons when we’re transitioning between warm and cold temperatures may cause your scalp to be dry and flakey. These changes can also throw off your hair growth cycle.

Hair also tends to grow faster during the summer so it naturally sheds more and the end of the season.

One way to help combat thinning hair during fall and spring is by wearing a hat. Make sure it’s not too snug, and don’t wear it for a prolonged period of time. If it makes you sweat, remember to take it off once in a while. These will lessen the damage to your hair.

2. Always Wearing Your Hair in a Ponytail

Ponytails are convenient for keeping your hair out of the way while working out and sleeping. If you use an elastic band to keep it in place, however, you could be doing unnecessary harm.

Wearing a ponytail with an elastic band puts your hair under constant, concentrated pressure. This could lead to breakage, which may lead to shedding.

An alternative to elastic bands is snag-free hair ties. They’re often made from softer materials and are still tight enough to hold your hair in place. This will cause less damage.

It may also be worth considering tying your hair up less often.

3. Overstyling Your Hair

Doing anything such as using hot styling tools or doing a keratin treatment, can severely affect the health of your hair. It puts stress on the follicles, which can impact the hydrogen bonds in your hair that help keeps moisture in. This damage can cause tiny cracks and makes your hair more likely to break.

Try to limit the use of hair straighteners, blow dryers and chemicals as much as possible. When you do use them, use a heat protector. For hair straightening, it may be a good idea to invest in an oil-based lubricant, such as argan oil, to help keep hair moist.

4. Not Enough Shampoo and Conditioner

One thing that typically happens when you shampoo your hair is that it sheds as you wash. This is normal and affects only a small number of hairs. If don’t shampoo thoroughly, however, the hair will clump up on your scalp.

This clogs your follicles, which accumulates more hair on the scalp. The next time you shower, you might end up losing more hair than you should. Wash your hair completely to ensure there will be no build-up.

As for conditioner, think of it as a moisturizer for your scalp. By not using it, you could cause the skin to dry, flake and become inflamed. All of this can cause your hair to shed before the end of its growth cycle.

If you’re worried about it weighing your fine hair down, try a lightweight conditioner. Massage it in for about 30 seconds before rinsing it out.

5. Stress and Anxiety

Physical or emotional strain, from late nights to sicknesses, can flood your body with hormones that disrupt your hair growth. Chronic stress causes your brain to pump out cortisol. If left untreated this could result in the reduction of the size of hair follicles, which may lead to thinning hair or hair loss.

The best way to prevent this is to maintain a level of tranquility. Activities such as yoga, meditation, reading and walking may do the trick. Sometimes getting some aggression out through intense exercise or martial arts can help calm the body down.

6. Your Choice in Diet

What we eat can have an impact on a number of human bodily functions. This includes hair growth.

Particularly, the fat found in animal products, such as meat and dairy, may have negative effects on hair. Animal fat can raise sebum production, an oil that’s produced by the scalp. Combined with environmental pollutants and dead skin cells, it can form a layer of plaque that blocks nutrients from reaching your hair.

Make sure your diet contains lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. The best foods that promote hair growth include Brazil nuts, leafy greens, and berries.

7. Sleeping on a Cotton Pillowcase

This may sound a bit weird, but hear us out on this one.

Anything that creates friction on your hair can weaken the follicles. It can make the strands brittle and appear thin. Most pillowcases have a course texture, and cotton can absorb moisture.

Put all those things together and your pillowcase might be one of the culprits responsible for your thinning hair.

By replacing your regular cotton pillowcases with high thread count silk or satin ones you could cut down on breakages in your hair.

Fight back against thinning hair

Hair loss is something that affects a large number of people. Don’t let it creep up on you. By making a few lifestyle changes, as stated above, you can hold off losing your hair for a long time. Don’t be part of a growing problem.

Enjoy your hair at full volume for as much time as you possibly can.

Got any more tips on preventing hair loss and promoting hair growth? Want to share your story? Do you have a question? Comment below or drop us a line!