Hair loss or shedding is normal. Let’s get that out of the way first. But what causes thinning hair in women? It can be caused by stress, by a medical issue, by giving birth or by using the wrong products and tools for your hair – amongst other things. In fact, it’s perfectly commonplace to lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day.

But none of these reassurances will make you feel an awful lot better if you’re experiencing hair loss. So while what causes thinning hair in women is a very real question, perhaps the biggest thing we should be looking at is what to do for women’s thinning hair?

If you’re shedding hair or you don’t have a full hairline, trust us, you are not alone. We see plenty of clients in the Strand & Lock salon who ask us about how to stop thinning hair in women. 

So with that in mind, let’s look at what causes thinning hair in women and, further on in this blog post, see what you can do for women’s thinning hair. 

What Causes Thinning Hair in Women?

While genetics can play a part, as they do with men, and may cause female pattern hair loss, obviously there’s not a lot you can do to change your genes. And unfortunately there are a number of other factors that are (mostly) outside of your control. We’ll look at these first.

– Medicine and Treatments

Unfortunately thinning hair in women, or even hair loss, can be a side effect of certain medicines. For example, drugs used in the treatment of cancer, depression, gout, heart problems, high blood pressure and arthritis. In addition, radiation therapy (also known as radiotherapy) and chemotherapy which are used to fight cancer and leukaemia also cause hair loss.

– Shock or Stress

Undergoing a severe shock or experiencing a period of intense stress can also cause thinning hair in women (and men) for several months after the event. This could be an emotional or physical stressor, but shedding of hair is very usually temporary. 

– Hormonal Changes

Oh the things we have to put up with thanks to our hormones! And yes, unfortunately, thinning hair or hair loss – both permanent and temporary – can be down to pregnancy and/or childbirth, thyroid problems and the menopause.

– Medical Conditions

Infections of the scalp like ringworm and conditions such as alopecia areata – an immune system related disorder – can cause total or partial hair loss. Meanwhile, trichotillomania, a disorder which mostly affects teenagers and young adults, is a condition in which the sufferer can’t resist the urge to pull out their hair, whether that’s on the head or their eyelashes or eyebrows.

But while all or most of the above are, sadly, unavoidable, there are a number of things that YOU may be doing that your locks aren’t particularly thanking you for.

So if you’re wondering what to do for women’s thinning hair, we’re here to give you some tips that you can actually use to have some control over your thin hair. 

How to Stop Thinning Hair in Women

Your hair can become thinner over time because it’s breaking. So what causes hair to snap off, leaving you with thin-looking locks?

Just as we’re all in control of how we look after and nurture our crowning glory, we’re also all in control of what we do that makes our hair scream “enough already!”. Let’s investigate.

– Extreme Hairstyles

Okay, ‘extreme’ might be a strong word for a ponytail, but if you’re regularly pulling your hair tight into ponytails, bunches, pigtails (call them what you will), buns, or cornrows you could be causing a form of hair loss known as traction alopecia. 

So what is traction alopecia? It’s what happens when your hair can’t take any more excessive tension on its shafts. Over time, if your hair is constantly pulled tightly, it will result in strain on the follicles. This then damages those follicles and can cause hair growth to slow down and even eventually stop.

Our advice? Give your hair a break. Don’t continually wear it pulled into tight hairstyles. And if you’re seeing breakage, it’s crucial to use the right products to combat it. We love Aveda’s Invati range which includes shampoos, conditioners, masques, serums and more – and are all fabulous at fighting breakage and for creating more volume.

– Heated Styling Tools

Want to know what causes thinning hair in women? Well, here we go with potentially another unpopular one! But the fact is, a LOT of your favourite styling tools use temperatures that are just not healthy for your hair. That includes hair straighteners, tongs, and even hairdryers. 

Too much heat and over use of heated styling tools can result in dry, brittle hair that is a lot more prone to snapping off – which thins your hair out. And when hair is dry and damaged it needs a little TLC.

Our advice? When you can, air dry your hair and try to limit your use of heated styling tools. We know it will take a little getting used to, but trust us, your hair will thank you! Healthier hair IS achievable – it’s just not usually through the use of hot, hot heat!

– Not Looking After Your Scalp

As we mentioned earlier, there are plenty of issues that cause thinning hair in women that you have little to no control over, but ringworm of the scalp is something that could be avoided by better self care. It’s easy not to give our scalps much thought but, let’s face it, they’re the foundation for healthy hair.

There are lots of ways you can show your scalp some love and a healthier scalp will lead to healthier hair, which could help to stop breakage and thinning hair for women.

Our advice? Try using a product such as Aveda’s Shampure Composition Oil™ which is aromatic and calming and will help sooth angry, itchy scalps. 

What to do for Women’s Thinning Hair: Conclusion

We know you might love your bun (we agree – they’re super handy for the gym and for going about your daily tasks) and we know it can be tricky to put down the straighteners or curling tongs when you rely on them for perfecting your daily (or nightly) ‘do.  

But if you’re concerned about and want to stop thinning hair, you’re going to have to commit to the cause. 

Perhaps the rosemary oil trend on TikTok has got you wondering how to grow a fuller, thicker hairline or perhaps you’ve been stressing out about what to do about thinning hair for a while now.

Either way, you’re not alone and there are things YOU can do – there is help out there.

Live Your Best Hair Life at Strand & Lock London

As professional hairdressers with years of experience, we understand the causes for thinning hair in women. And we know the power of a great cut – and the right products to use to help your hair look its best

In our Bermondsey Street salon we’ll create the look you desire while offering you friendly, compassionate and knowledgeable advice about what to do for women’s thinning hair – and how to stop it.

So if you want to know how to make women’s thinning hair look thicker, get in touch with us, book an appointment, and we’ll be more than happy to see you soon.