Going bald is not a problem solely reserved for portly middle-aged men, 40% of women in America report to suffering from hair loss at some point in their lives. Considering that a botched haircut is enough to reduce a grown woman to tears, hair loss is a problem that needs to be addressed efficiently and quickly.
In other words – It’s time to get to the root of the problem.
Here are 11 sneaky causes of hair loss in women that you might not have thought of:
1. Stress
Anabel Kingsley is a trichologist (someone who studies hair/scalp) at Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic in New York City. She says that stress-related hair loss occurs due to an increase in the testosterone levels in your body, which can affect the hair growth cycle.
The good news is that stress-related hair loss in women only typically goes away once the underlying stress is dealt with, so it’s important to take some time to relax and decompress. Do things that help you calm down, like reading a good book, taking a walk, or just holing up on your sofa with your favorite show.
2. Giving Birth
You may have heard that your hair becomes luscious, thick, and silky during pregnancy. Well, the bad news is that once the baby is out, you’re going to lose all of that and maybe even a bit more!
Kingsley says postpartum hair loss, caused by an imbalance of hormones pot-pregnancy, occurs in more than 50% of women. Luckily, your hair should go back to normal within 6-12 weeks. If you’re anxious to minimize the effects, you could even take hair growth vitamins which could help reduce the recovery time.
3. Anemia
When your blood doesn’t have enough iron, it means there are not enough red blood cells to properly transport oxygen throughout the body. This condition, called anemia, presents symptoms of not just hair loss, but also headaches, chronic fatigue, and weakness.
Your doctor will order blood tests to determine whether you are anemic. Once the problem is found, an iron-rich diet should be enough to correct it. Anemia is also common in menopausal women, in which case you may also need to take supplements.
4. Female Pattern Hair Loss
Female Pattern hair loss, or androgenetic alopecia, is the most common type of hair loss, according to Lars Skjoth, founder of hair loss clinic Harklinikken. You may see the beginnings of this conditions from as early as your teenage years, as the hair around your temples starts thinning (a similar effect can be seen when the hair is worn too tight as well). Talk to your doctor for the best course of correction.
5. Tight Ponytails
Wearing your hair too tight can cause a type of hair loss caused traction alopecia, which is the result of too much pressure being placed on your delicate hair follicles. “We see this a lot in African American women who wear tight braids or in athletes who wear ponytails every day,” Skjoth says.
It’s simple, if your scalp feels uncomfortable, your ponytail is too tight! This can cause permanent long-term damage as well as hinder hair follicle growth. So it’s best to stick to looser hairstyles as much as possible.
6. Poor Nutrition
According to Kingsley, you should be getting as much as 120g of protein for breakfast and lunch. “Many of the female clients I see have hair loss that’s purely due to an inadequate diet,” she says, “It’s harder to nourish your hair than any other part of your body because hair is non-essential tissue, making it the last to receive nutrients and the first that nutrients are withheld from.”
Kingsley suggests having a mix of both plant and animal protein as the former isn’t as easily absorbed. So a balanced diet that includes foods like fish, lean meats, eggs, poultry, nuts, and veggies is ideal.
7. Thyroid Disorders
An under or over-performing thyroid, known as hypo or hyperthyroidism, causes several physical changes such as weight fluctuations, dry skin, paleness, and of course, brittle, damaged hair. Kingsley suggests having your doctor do a blood test to diagnose an issue with the thyroid. Once you start treatment for the condition, your hair should return to normal.
8. Hot Tools
If you are someone that uses tools like straighteners, curlers, and hair dryers on a daily basis, it could cause some serious problems to your hair. This is because heat tends to draw the moisture out of your hair, which is what causes damage and hair fall. According to Kingsley, “It isn’t true hair loss from the follicle, but it can still thin the appearance of the hair considerably.”
She suggests reducing the frequency of usage when it comes to hot tools and using a heat protectant whenever you do. It’s also important to rehydrate your hair with products like olive oil, avocado oil, and plant extracts.
9. Extreme Weight Loss
Weight loss should be achieved in a healthy manner involving diet and exercise. If you seem to be shedding the pounds without even trying, there could be another underlying issue that needs to be dealt with, according to Kingsley. In this instance, your body perceives the weight loss as a form of physical trauma and hoards nutrition to deal with it, meaning non-essentials like hair won’t get adequate nutrition.
The best course of action would be to consult a doctor to diagnose the underlying issue. You may also need to increase the protein and vitamin in your diet, which you could do by eating fresh, healthy foods and even taking supplements. Once this problem goes away, so should your hair loss woes.
10. Harsh Hair Treatments
Just like hot tools can damage your hair, frequent dyeing of it can have the same, devastating effect on it. Dyes are made with chemicals and the only way they can achieve the desired effect is by breaking through the cuticles of the hair to deposit the pigments. This requires lifting the cuticles constantly, and since their job is to protect the hair shaft, the process can lead to damage.
If you are intent on coloring your hair, pace your appointments at least 8 weeks apart. It’s also crucial that you boost the hydration in your hair to reseal the cuticle and retain moisture using rejuvenating oils.
11. Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, also known as PCOS, may be an endocrine disorder that mainly impacts the function of the ovaries, but Kingsley says it’s side effects include thinning and damage of your hair as well. “It can result in excessive production of androgens, which are male hormones that can shorten the growth phase of the hair growth cycle,” she explains.
If you are diagnosed with PCOS, your doctor will focus on getting the condition in order. This may include prescribing an anti-androgenic medication that can help reverse the hormone imbalance. Ideally, this would also help curb side effects like hair loss and damage as well.
