Female hair loss and thinning hair in women are much more common problems than many people realize. As many as 50% of women experience some hereditary hair loss. Thinning hair in women is even more common during and after menopause, partially due to hormonal changes. While there are no miracle cures for female hair loss, especially in extreme cases where medical conditions such as alopecia are present, there are some things all women can do to head off the problem before it starts. For women already noticing thinning patches or all-over thinning hair, these tips can often help lessen the problem. As a woman in my late 20’s who has been dealing with my own hair loss and thinning hair for almost ten years, I have experienced a positive difference since incorporating the following tips.
Supplement with multi-vitamins and omega-3s.
While it seems to be common knowledge today that women of any age should be taking vitamins, it seems to be a little-known fact that not getting enough of certain vitamins — namely iron, zinc, and B vitamins — may cause hair loss in women particularly. A standard multi-vitamin taken daily will provide the correct amounts of these vital vitamins that may be missing from many women’s diets. Omega-3 fatty acids, also missing from many women’s diets, are essential hair building blocks. If you don’t want to take an omega-3 supplement, eat more fish, nuts or even olive oil.
Consume enough protein.
Protein deficiency can be a cause of thinning hair in women and can even be responsible for female hair loss in extreme cases. In women who don’t get enough protein, the body will cut off the supply to the hair. Hair is, after all, dead protein, so it makes perfect sense that a diet lacking in protein will lead to thinning hair or hair loss. Eating a diet full of red meat certainly isn’t necessary, nor is it necessary to eat meat at all to consume enough protein for healthy hair. Soy is a great source of protein and is actually one which has been linked to hair growth and stronger hair in many studies. For vegetarians and vegans, this is great news. Other non-meat sources of protein include yogurt, dairy, nuts, beans, and eggs. Two servings of protein per day are usually sufficient, but a little extra couldn’t hurt to help protect against female hair loss or thinning hair in women.
Don’t brush your hair while it’s wet.
Brushing wet hair is something most women do without knowing they are contributing to their own hair loss. Next time you wash your hair, wait for it to dry before running a comb, brush, or even your fingers through it. You will probably notice that you are pulling out a lot less of your own hair. If your hair doesn’t grow back at a normal rate, you certainly don’t want to pull out any more than you have to. Use a weightless leave-in conditioner or detangler for even better results. A wide-toothed comb is a better choice than most brushes for causing less damage. Plus, hair from combs can be easily removed to track progress of how much hair is being lost at each combing.
Eliminate hair care products that contain alcohol.
Although there is much debate over whether alcohol can actually cause hair loss, it is well-known that alcohol brittles and dries the hair. Not only does alcohol cause hair to break, it also causes more hair to be ripped out by the roots during brushing or combing. For women already noticing thinning hair or experiencing hair loss, losing even more to these hair care products is probably not worth it. Today’s hair care market offers many alternative products that contain no alcohol. Most leave hair feeling better, breaking less, and looking just as good for just as long.
For women experiencing significant hair loss or thinning, it’s a good idea to see a doctor. Start with your primary care physician rather than skipping directly to the dermatologist. A large amount of female hair loss and thinning hair in women is attributed to hormonal imbalance and/or thyroid problems. Once these and other health issues have been ruled out, a dermatologist can begin performing tests to get to the root of the problem. In cases like my own, where there is nothing that can be done other than expensive hair restoration procedures, I recommend the above tips as ones that have proved true for me.
