Hair Thinning in Men and Women

Thinning hair and hair loss are common and nobody wants to go through it. There are several different reasons why hair thinning occurs in both men and women. Even though the hair that grows out isn’t living, there is still a lot that goes in to taking care of hair follicles. Whether hair thinning is a result of genes or something different, there are several ways to keep your scalp healthy and your hair strong.

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness is the most common cause of hair loss in men and it deals with male sex hormones called androgens. Hair follicles shrink overtime resulting in thinner, shorter hair. This is a genetic process associated with family history baldness. The symptoms of male pattern baldness are a receding hairline at the crown of the head that forms an ‘M’ shape. There is no real cure for this since it is a genetic problem but the process could be slowed down. Other non-genetic causes of hair thinning are:

  • Not enough iron stored in the body
  • Anemia or thyroid problems
  • Too much vitamin A

What Helps?

There are a list of things that can help with hair thinning and hair loss. Overall, these are things that should be done regularly to stay healthy in general.

  • Vitamins
    • Specifically, Vitamin E which helps create better blood circulation in the scalp.
    • Vitamin B which helps hair maintain its healthy color
  • More Protein
    • Having protein in your diet helps produce keratin which is essential in hair structure. Without protein, hair can become weak and break easily. This protein can be found in lean meats, fish, and soy.
  • Stay Hydrated
    • Having 4 to 8 cups of water a day is good for your hair and your body. Water makes up around one-fourth of the weight of a single hair strand. Drinking water can keep hair glossy and healthy.
  • Physical Activity
    • One of the benefits of staying active is that it balances hormonal levels and can reduce stress levels as well.

Female Pattern Hair Loss

Just like male pattern baldness, female pattern hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia. Hair usually thins from the part line in the hair and takes up the top one-third of the scalp. Women rarely go completely bald like men do, rather they are left with bald spots in the hair. This can be due to genetics as well but it’s not as prominent as it would be for men. Other causes include:

  • Physical Stress
    • Yes, stress can cause hair loss but it’s not usually due to smaller, everyday stressful situations. Physical stress like, childbirth, menopause, and severe illnesses can cause hair loss.
  • Thyroid disease
  • Lack of protein
  • Build up and oil on the scalp clog hair follicles and prevent growth.

What Helps?

There are a lot of similarities between what helps men with hair thinning and hair loss and what helps women.

  • Loose Hairstyles
    • Keeping hair in a tight ponytail can damage the delicate hairs of your hairline. The same can be said for tight braids and cornrows.
  • Restorative Hair Products
    • Use hair products that are specifically made to target hair growth restoration. These types of products destroy bacteria that can cause hair loss and increase the chance of breakage. They can also increase blood circulation to the scalp.
  • Essential Oils
    • Essential oils such as carrot seed, cypress, and lavender have regenerative and hormone balancing properties that can help with hair growth and nourishment. Camphor oil, eucalyptus oil and Chinese mint have soothing and cooling actions that calms sebacious glands and helps eliminate oil and build up on the scalp.

These are some of the causes of hair thinning and hair loss in both men and women. As it was stated before, the best way to care for your hair is to stay healthy and make sure that you’re getting all the vitamins and nutrients you need to stay strong. In the end, your hair will thank you and you’ll be thankful for how great you feel and how confident you look.