How To Care For Your Hair Type
For the most part, hair thickness and density are genetically predetermined. “Statistically, individuals of Hispanic and African descent have lower hair density than their Caucasian counterparts,” Williams says. Caucasians tend to have fine hair thickness, Josh adds.
“But, while density and thickness can vary from person to person, how you take care of your hair can lead to changes in thickness and density,” Josh cautions.
No matter your hair type, treating damage can make the most of fine or thin hair and lend smoothness to coarse hair that has become wiry or unmanageable. Try a weekly repairing treatment like Amika The Kure Multi-Task Repair Treatment , which promises to restore the bonds in damaged hair with vegan proteins, castor oil, and sea buckthorn oil.
Likewise, people of all hair types can benefit from lightweight, nourishing oils to moisturize the hair without weighing it down. We like Captain Blankenship Mermaid Hair Oil , made with argan, jojoba, and sunflower oils and scented with cedar and rosemary.
For folks with coarse hair or medium-to-thick density, Spengler recommends cocktailing oil with a leave-in conditioner to tame frizz and increase manageability. Living Proof No Frizz Leave-In Conditioner is a Byrdie fave that smoothes hair with glycerin, vitamin B5, and glycolic acid.
Underlying Causes For Hair Loss
Numerous problems can trigger female hair loss. Some are external, such as taking certain medications, frequently wearing hairstyles that pull the hair too tight, or even a stressful event such as surgery. In other cases, thinning hair is triggered by something going on inside the body for instance, a thyroid problem, a shift in hormones, a recent pregnancy, or an inflammatory condition.
Hair loss may also be genetic. The most common genetic condition is known as female-pattern hair loss, or androgenic alopecia. Women with this condition might notice a widening of the part at the top of the head, often beginning when a woman is in her 40s or 50s. You might experience this if you inherit certain genes from one or both parents. Hormonal shifts that occur during menopause may also spur it.
Another trigger for hair loss in women is an inflammatory condition affecting the scalp. That might be eczema, psoriasis, or a condition called frontal fibrosing alopecia, which typically causes scarring and hair loss sometimes permanent at the front of the scalp above the forehead.
Other common causes of hair loss include overuse of damaging hair products, or tools such as dryers and other devices that heat the hair. Underlying illness, autoimmune conditions such as lupus, nutritional deficiencies, or hormonal imbalances may also cause hair to shed.
Is Thin Hair The Same As Thinning Hair
Its easy to confuse naturally thin hair with thinning hair, especially if youre a man who is especially concerned with losing his hair. Having thin hair does not necessarily mean youre losing it, though. All types and textures of hair can become thinner and having thin hair to begin with doesnt mean youre more prone to hair loss.
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Tips For Styling Thin Hair
Styling thin hair is similar to styling fine hair: youre going to be looking for root lifts, says Hall. Things like dry shampoo, mousses, and thickening sprays can all help create volume and fullness where there isnt any naturally. Unless you have fine and thin hair, you could also use a thickening paste, which is more of a creamy pomade, or a lightweight balm if you have a shorter style and want more hold. Salt sprays, when sprayed on damp hair and left to dry, can create natural-looking texture and volume as well.
When youre choosing products, avoid shine. Use light, matte, not-shiny products to give you some texture that doesnt look too structured, says Axe master barber Pedro Rosario. Think about it: you may notice more scalp through thin hair when its wet, so products that are shiny will give the same effect. And if you know that your hair is actually thinning, and not just naturally thin, Hall recommends looking for treatment-based products that will help style your hair without damaging it further. A shampoo or conditioner, for instance, thats specifically formulated for thinning hair will likely contain ingredients to help keep the scalp and hair follicles healthy and the hair strong.
Thinning Hair In Women: Why It Happens And What Helps
- By Kelly Bilodeau, Executive Editor, Harvard Women’s Health Watch
Many people think of hair loss as a male problem, but it also affects at least a third of women. But unlike men, women typically experience thinning hair without going bald, and there can be a number of different underlying causes for the problem.
Some are associated with inflammation in the body. Some are female-pattern hair loss, says Dr. Deborah Scott, assistant professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School and co-director of the Hair Loss Clinic at Brigham and Womens Hospital. But the good news is that in many cases this hair loss can be stabilized with treatment, and it may be reversible. When its not, there are a number of new cosmetic approaches that can help.
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Thick And Thin Hair Problems
- If you have thin hair you will find it difficult to tie a ponytail. The clips and rubber bands tend to slip because of the smooth texture of thin hair. Your hair might not hold any curls and look limp or greasy without a good conditioner or hair mask.
- If you have thick hair, it is prone to tangles and takes up a long time to blowdry. You need big hair accessories to tie thick hair properly. It takes a lot of time to dry damp, thick hair, and it might feel wet throughout the day.
Check out the next section for some hacks to make your thin hair look voluminous.
Hair With Low Porosity
For hair with low porosity, the cuticle lays flat on the outside blocking water or moisture from being absorbed into the strands. If your hair takes longer to dry or products seem to build up into the hair instead of blending in, these are signs of low porosity hair. To get the most out of products, try applying them while the hair is damp and ensure products are evenly distributed to prevent build-up. People with low porosity hair may find they may need more than one chemical treatment when coloring, straightening, or curling their hair, but repeating several chemical treatments can be heavily damaging. Make sure to use products for color-treated hair, for example, and moisturizing treatments to help lock the style in, but also maintain the health of your hair.
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How To Care For Fine Hair
Since fine hair tends to be delicate, it’s important to be extra gentle on your hair, from the brushes you use to keeping in mind how often you bleach it. “Highly dense brushes with metal bases should not be used on fine hair as they can create too much tension and burn the hair when used with a blowdryer. Skinny hair ties should be avoided at all costs as they can create breakage when used on delicate fine hair,” says Reslan. “And bleaching hair too frequently and with high developers can also easily damage thin hair.”
As far as products go, look for shampoos and conditioners void of harsh cleansers and lightweight formulas that won’t weigh it down. “Fine hair should avoid heavy oils and waxes that can make it fall flat,” says Dr. Rubin. “Styling creams are a great way to increase the look and feel of volume and thickness.” She recommends the Blow-Out Creme from SEEN, which has been proven to provide a 300+% increase in volume that lasts for eight hours.
Reslan recommends adding a scalp treatment into your routine to keep your scalp balanced, which in turn will help boost volume. She’s a fan of The INKEY List’s Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment. “This gentle daily or weekly treatment can balance and regulate oil production and maintain a healthy scalp environment. This will help maintain clean and fuller-looking roots, keeping them free from build-up and excess weight,” she says.
How Should I Take Finasteride
- Take finasteride exactly as your healthcare provider tells you to take it.
- You may take finasteride with or without food.
- If you forget to take finasteride, do not take an extra tablet. Just take the next tablet as usual.
- Finasteride will not work faster or better if you take it more than once a day.
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How Can Hair Loss In Women Be Prevented
Preventing hair loss is not possible when it is due to disease, aging, heredity or physical stressors like injuries. You can prevent hair loss caused by caustic chemicals or tight hairstyles by avoiding them. You might be able to prevent some hair loss by eating a healthy diet that provides necessary nutrients in terms of vitamins, minerals and protein. You can stop smoking.
Are There Complications/side Effects Of Treatment
Minoxidil may irritate your scalp and cause dryness, scaling, itching and/or redness. See your dermatologist if this happens.
With Minoxidil you might also see hair growing in other places other than your scalp . Wash your face after you apply Minoxidil and make sure you avoid other areas when you apply it.
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Question 2 Of : How Do You Know If It’s New Hair Growth Or Breakage
What Questions Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider
- What is the cause of my hair loss?
- How many strands of hair am I losing per day?
- What type of hair loss do I have?
- Will my hair loss be permanent?
- Whats the best treatment for me?
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Hair loss may cause you distress whether it happens because of genetics, a disease, or even stress. Know that there are some treatments you can try, and expert dermatologists are there to help you. Your hair loss may be able to be reversed. See your healthcare provider as soon as you notice something wrong because the sooner you start treatment, the better.
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Why Is It Important To Know Whether You Have Fine Or Thin Hair
Understanding your hair type is key to choosing the right products to use in your haircare routine.
“It’s important to know whether you have fine or thin hair so you can take the right approach to improve its appearance,” Dr. Rubin says. “In the case of fine hair, some haircare products can temporarily plump strands to make them feel thicker. Increasing the density of thin hair can require paying extra attention to your hair care products, and seeking the help of a dermatologist who can recommend medically-based treatments if necessary.”
Thick And Thin: Why Hair Density Matters
Beauty Agent Studio/Shutterstock
Ever heard the phrase I know it when I see it? Youd think its easy enough to determine if your hair is thick or thin just bywell, looking at it. But looks can be deceiving. Its not always easy to tell if you have thick, thin, or average hair density.
Hair density measures the number of hairs per square inch of your scalp. Dense hair has more hairs per square inch than average. Sparse or thin hair has fewer hairs per square inch of scalp.
Hair density is different from hair texture . You can have fine, thick hair or coarse, thin hair. And it can get even more complicated than that.
Sometimes hair that appears really thick and dense turns out to be coarse with thicker individual hairs, but fewer actual hairs on the head. Other times, hair that looks thin is actually densely packed with slender, baby-fine strands.
But does it really matter if your hair is thick, thin, or somewhere in between? It definitely does.
The overall thickness density of your hair dictates how you should style, cut, and care for it. If youve been wondering why certain cuts and styles that look great on others just dont work for you, your hair density could be the culprit.
Take our quiz to find out if your hair is thick, thin, or medium-density! Its 5 quick questions and you just might have the Aha! hair moment youve been waiting for.
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You Wake Up With More Hair On Your Pillow
Hair shedding is a completely normal phenomenon that happens to everyone. when it becomes a sign of hair loss is when you notice an increase in shedding. one place to look for an increase is your pillow. If you wake up in the morning and notice that there is a lot more hair on your pillow, this could indicate you are experiencing hair thinning.
Is My Hair Thick Or Dense
An easy way is to measure your ponytail to check the density
You can work out yourself whether your hair is actually thick or simply dense.
To check the density
One method is to measure the circumference of your ponytail. If the result is less than two inches, you have low density, two to three inches is medium density, and anything above that is high density.
If your hair is too short to be pulled into a ponytail, try this: Take a look in the mirror with your hair down and if you can see patches of your scalp through your hair without parting it, then its likely that your hair has low density.
To check the thickness
Pluck a strand of hair from the middle of your head and compare it with a sewing thread. If the strand is just as wide, then you have thick hair, but if its much narrower then you have thin hair.
If you dont want to pull strands out of your scalp, then take a single strand and roll it between your fingers. If you cant really feel anything, this means the strands are fine.
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