Can’t stop staring at the continuous damage that your hairline is facing? You’re not the only one. Hair thinning is affecting more and more people by the day – given just how many things can cause it during our daily lives. Thankfully, you can easily tell if your hair is thinning if you watch out for a few key signs. 

And once you've identified those, you can immediately jump straight to treatment and put an ended to this dreaded condition! Here's everything you need to know. 

Table of Contents:

• What is Hair Thinning?
• How to Recognize The Signs of Hair Thinning
• The Main Causes of Hair Thinning
• Treatment Methods for Hair Thinning

What is Hair Thinning?

Just to clear things up – hair thinning does not mean that the hair strands lose their strength and thickness; it means that there is such severe hair loss that it looks as if it has thinned, with less volume and parts of the scalp showing. 

On average, people lose about 100 hair strands daily, a necessary process called shedding, a natural part of the regeneration and growth cycle of the hair. There might be excessive shedding caused by aging, stress, or hormones, but it gets better on its own and it’s usually not a reason to worry. 

Hair loss, on the other hand, prevents the hair from growing. The hair goes through 4 phases, though some scientists consider the last two phases to be one and the same – the active growing time, called the anagen phase, lasting for up to 5 years. 

On the other hand, during the catagen phase, the hair enters a transition period when it grows very slowly. It neither grows nor falls for about three months, while new hairs appear in the hair follicle, a time called the telogen phase. Finally, in the exogen phase, those hairs fall out by brushing or washing. 

How to Recognize The Signs of Hair Thinning

Here’s a checklist of signs to look out for when it comes to hair thinning:

• If there are spots where you notice hairs falling more than usual, that could be a sign of thinning. You should check that place for bald patches, too, because those are a sure-fire sign that you are losing too much hair. 
• Another sign you should look out for is hair clumps. When you detangle your hair or just run your fingers through it and come out with a knot of hairs, you might have thinning hair. 
  
  
• If you used to have voluminous, very thick, and rich hair that didn’t let you see the scalp, but now it lets it shine through, the reason might be the fact that you are experiencing hair loss. 
• Flatter hair that doesn’t hold styles as well as it used to can also be a sign of hair thinning. 

The Main Causes of Hair Thinning

There is a whole spectrum of causes for hair loss, raging for the milder ones to certain conditions. To name just a few: 

• High and tight ponytails and buns – as convenient as they might be, wearing these updos excessively will hurt your scalp a lot. Hair needs to be worn down once in a while for relaxation.
  
  
• Dyeing and treating your hair too much – with or without bleaching, dye is still a chemical product that damages your hair. Perms and relaxers are also very damaging if overdone. 
• Hair products – your lifestyle may imply that you use a lot of strong hair spray, which might also put a toll on your hair in the long run. 
• Poor diet – having a poor diet usually means having some kind of vitamin or protein deficiency, which can affect hair. Some vitamins that greatly benefit the health of your hair are Omega 3, 6, and 9, vitamin E, Zinc, Iron, and Biotin. 
• Stress – stress does a lot to our body, and that does not exclude hair. It can mess up your hormones, trigger oxidative stress, as well as damage your cells. 
  
  
• Pregnancy – seeing as it can turn your life and body upside down, hair thinning due to pregnancy is a lot more common than you might think. 

Seeing as we mentioned stress, here are some of the most common types of hair loss, usually linked to stress:

• Alopecia Areata – this autoimmune condition attacks the hair follicles, leading to a lot of shedding with no time for regeneration. The good news is that it can be treated with both over-the-counter and prescription medication. 
• Telogen Effluvium – a type of hair loss where there is a lot of shedding during its specific phase, but no new hair is growing in the follicle. It won’t lead to baldness, but it does give your hair a very weakened appearance. 
• Individuals who pull out their hair suffer from trichotillomania, and this behavior is usually treated through therapy. When it stops, hair can start regenerating. 

Treatment Methods for Hair Thinning

If you believe you are suffering from hair loss, you should get an appointment with a specialist and get an official diagnosis to find and treat the root cause. Meanwhile, the most you can do at home is take good care of your hair.

Avoid Overbrushing

Only brush your hair twice a day, because overbrushing can cause unnecessary shedding, which is the last thing you want to cause with your own hand. 

Pick the Right Products

Use gentle products that nourish your hair thoroughly – such as a Himalayan rose shampoo and conditioner. Given their vegan bioactive formula, this duo will make sure that your hair is revitalized, smoothened, and fully strengthened to fight off hair loss! 

As a general note, make sure to also avoid sulfates because they are harsh cleaning agents that are no good for weakened hair. 

Style Naturally, Without Tools

Stay away from heated tools like straighteners, curling irons, and blow dryers. Your hair is suffering enough as it is, and the last thing it needs is the added heat damage! 

Invest in a Microfibre Towel

When you get out of the shower, don’t vigorously rub your hair with a normal towel. Invest in a microfibre one, as it’s very gentle and absorbs moisture well. Also, pat your hair patiently, instead of rubbing and scrubbing. 

Do a Bit of Scalp Massage

Try scalp massages with oils known for helping hair growth, like olive oil, coconut oil, jojoba oil, or castor oil. Scalp massages have a lot of benefits, like improving scalp circulation, relieving headaches, as well as inducing sweet, sweet relaxation. 

Explore the WOW website for more natural hair care products. From our all natural sulfate, silicone and paraben-free hair care collection we recommend Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Red Onion Black Seed Oil Shampoo. And if you would like to learn more about apple cider vinegar's benefits or onion oil's benefits check out our ultimate guide on how to use them on your hair.