Thinning hair is an all-too-common problem for men and women. Even though it’s typically associated with old age, a growing number of people are experiencing thinning hair as early as their late teens and early 20s. In many cases, thinning locks are the result of a genetic predisposition to hair loss. Other times, autoimmune disorders, stress and assorted illnesses are the culprit. Regardless of the reason(s) your hair has gotten thinner, you’ll need to alter your approach to hair care accordingly. So, if your locks have recently started to thin out, take the following pointers to heart.
Use Mild Shampoos and Conditioners
Being mindful of the grooming products you use is an essential part of properly caring for thinning hair. This is particularly true in the case of shampoos and conditioners. Although these products are a key part of any haircare regimen, haircare is far from a “one size fits all” affair. Needless to say, not all shampoos and conditioners are created equal, and many of the readily available over-the-counter varieties contain harsh chemicals that can dry out your locks and enhance the appearance of thinning. With this in mind, you’d do well to limit your options to products that are specially designed for thinning hair and are extremely light on chemicals – or are bereft of them altogether. If you insist on continuing to use the same shampoos and conditioners you bought before your locks started to thin, you’re liable to discover that most products of this type are not designed with thinning hair in mind.
Alter Your Wash Schedule Accordingly
Although many of us have come to view hair washing as something that’s done daily, the whole concept of daily hair washing has only been around for a handful of decades. Since shampooing strips one’s hair and scalp of essential oils, many people only washed their hair once or twice a week prior to the 1960s. While this is liable to seem like a far-out concept to people who grew up in the age of daily washes, it makes a lot of sense. Unless you put a lot of product in your hair or get it noticeably dirty on a daily basis, washing it every day may be doing more harm than good. This isn’t to say that shampooing will lead to hair loss, but as previously stated, it can dry out your locks and make the presence of thinning all the more obvious.
When working out the best possible wash schedule, there are a number of things you’ll need to take into account. For starters, what type of hair do you have? If your locks are naturally dry, you may need to wash no more than once a week – or less. However, if your hair and/scalp are chronically oily, washing once a day or every other day may prove beneficial. If you’re unclear on how often you should wash or what types of products to use when doing so, getting in touch with a dermatologist may produce the answers you seek. Additionally, make sure to follow up each shampooing with a good conditioning, as this will help replenish some of the moisture stripped away by the shampoo. Applying certain types of essential oil to the scalp can also prove conducive to maintaining healthy levels of moisture.
Allow Your Hair to Air Dry
While blow drying may be convenient and time-saving, it can also enhance the appearance of thinning and leave hair looking dry and lifeless. Worse yet, it can also inflame your scalp and set the stage for hair loss. That being the case, even if you’ve grown accustomed to blow drying, start allowing your locks to air dry. While it may take a little more time, it requires virtually no effort on your part and can leave your hair looking fuller and healthier.
Thinning hair occurs for a variety of reasons, many of which are tied to genetics. Although it’s commonly an issue associated with older men, it regularly occurs in men and women of all ages. Unsurprisingly, thinning locks can shake people’s confidence and diminish their self-image. While it’s easy for people with thinning hair to get caught up in negativity, their focus should be on getting to the root cause of the problem – and properly caring for their remaining tresses. Fortunately, caring for thinning hair shouldn’t be a drain on your time, effort or finances.
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