Figuring out how to tell if your hair is thinning out is actually an art of careful observation. While you might think hair loss would be blatant and in your face, the early signs are so subtle that you might miss that window of opportunity where you can get your hair back to looking as full and voluminous as it once was.
But fear not: not only is it a natural process that happens to pretty much everyone, but it’s also pretty fixable—if you catch it in time. “While hair thinning is normal, almost all hair thinning can be treated by a dermatologist,” says Neera Nathan, MD, board-certified dermatologist and chief dermatological advisor at Vegamour. “It is completely normal to seek care if it bothers you.”
The road to fuller-looking and healthy hair starts here, with a breakdown of less-than-obvious signs of hair thinning and ways to treat it. Read on to see what the experts had to say.
Causes of Hair Loss
There are several factors that can speed up or worsen the process of hair shedding. Nathan says that stress, hormones, and age are the most common causes of hair loss. Hair and skin health are also indicators of what our internal health and immune system looks like. “Vitamin deficiencies and protein deficiency can lead to hair thinning,” she explains. “So can extreme physical or emotional stress (like childbirth or loss of a loved one).” Shilpi Khetarpal, MD, FAAD, board-certified dermatologist and clinical advisor at Great Many, agrees and adds that inflammatory conditions on the scalp, such as psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis, can also result in hair loss.
Most signs of hair loss start off so slow and subtle that you might miss it if you’re not monitoring these slight changes. But the five most common ones that you can look out for so that you know how to treat it are:
A Thinner Ponytail
If you’re putting up your hair for specific hairstyles, especially for a ponytail, pay attention to how much of your hair is fitting through that hair tie. If you find yourself wrapping your hair tie around more times than before to secure your ponytail, Nathan says it can be a subtle hint that you’ve lost some density in your hair.
A More Visible Scalp
This happens to both men and women, but in different parts of the head. Khetarpal says that men will typically see a receding hairline (“We call it the ‘M’ pattern recession of the frontal hairline,” she says) and thinning around the top of the head. For women, they will notice their natural part getting wider or a more visible scalp overall. But this is a gradual change, so you may not notice it right away.
Wispy Hairs
Nathan says that the appearance of short wispy hair may also be a sign that your hair is thinning as it shows miniaturized hair follicles. But she does note that wispy hair oftentimes gets confused for breakage, so it might be just something you take note of.
Brittle and Fragile Strands
Once your hair starts to become more damaged, you’ll notice that it will also lose a lot of volume. Khetarpal adds that brittle and fragile hair that comes quite suddenly may be something that you’ll want to determine the underlying cause ASAP.
Shedding
The most obvious sign that your hair is thinning is excessive shedding. While losing strands—about 100 to 150 hairs a day—is completely normal and should not cause any panic, you should pay attention when you’re starting to shed more than normal. Certified trichologist Bridgette Hill explains that there are many triggers that can lead to this, which include hormonal changes, weight loss, diet, poor nutrition, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, stress, prescription medicine intake, products used, and styling habits.
How to Prevent Further Thinning
The good news is that there are several options you can turn to that will help stimulate hair growth—in most instances. “It’s important to remember that hair loss is what we call multi-factorial,” says Khetarpal. “There are often multiple factors that cause it and multiple ways it needs to be treated to see improvement.” The most common forms of prevention (and treatment) include the following:
Using the Right Hair Products
One of the easiest hair loss treatments is a topical solution you can incorporate into your haircare routine. Nathan recommends starting with shampoos that specifically help stimulate hair growth and even points to dandruff shampoos as they can help reduce the amount of hair that sheds. Khetarpal agrees and says to look for ingredients such as zinc zinc pyrithione or ketoconazole.
You can also look to hair serums to help. Nathan says to look for growth actives like minoxidil, or caffeine, like this Vegamour GRO Hair Serum for Thinning Hair. We also like something like AAVRANI Hair Density Boosting Scalp Serum for Thinning Hair & Hair Loss, which uses a mix of vegan collagen, turmeric stem cells, and ashwagandha to soothe scalp irritation and give hair a thicker and fuller-looking appearance. And many swear by the tried and true Rogaine.
Oral Supplements
One of the best supplements you can take for hair growth is vitamin D, says Nathan. Some dermatologists may also prescribe oral medical treatments such as low-dose minoxidil, finasteride, and spironolactone for more serious circumstances, she adds.
Hill says that are many holistic plant-based options that act as dihydrotestosterone (DHT) blockers, such as red clover, mung beans, saw palmetto, and reishi mushroom. She says you can also look to ashwagandha, which decreases cortisol levels and increases blood circulation and flow, vitamin E to strengthen your scalp health, and horsetail extract for potential hair fiber growth and hair follicle health. But as with any supplement you’re interested in taking, be sure to consult with your doctor to make sure it’s safe for you and your needs.
Salon and In-Office Treatments
Treatment options are many when it comes to hair loss. One of the most popular in-office ones is platelet-rich plasma (PRP). It involves drawing a patient’s own blood and recirculating processed enriched cells back into the scalp to stimulate hair growth. A treatment that should always be done by a trained professional, Khetarpal says that she often likes to combine medical therapy with PRP for best results.
