Generally, humans beings shed between 50 and 100 single hairs daily. Hair shedding is a natural occurrence. While some hairs fall out, others grow in. It is only when the balance is interrupted that hair falls out and less hair grows in. This results in hair thinning out.
Women likely to suffer from hair thinning out fall into any of the categories below:
- Women older than 40.
- Women who have just had babies.
- Women who have had chemotherapy and those who have been affected by other medications.
- Women who often have hairstyles that pull on the hair (like tight ponytails or tight braids) or use harsh chemicals on their hair.
- Menopausal women
That being said, there are some myths about hair thinning in women. These include:
Myths about hair loss are widespread. Nothing in the following list is true:
- Women lose hair because they shampoo it too much, or because they coloured it or got a perm.
- Dandruff causes permanent hair thinning in women.
- Stress causes permanent hair thinning in women.
- Shaving ones head will make the hair grow back twice as thick
- Hats and wigs cause hair thinning in women.
- Hair thinning only affects intellectual women amongst others.
The most common forms of hair thinning in women include:
- Hair style
- Vitamin deficiency.
- Dieting (rapid weight loss).
- Restrictive diets.
- Over processed scalp hair (breakage).
Though hair thinning prevention is not possible due to disease, ageing, heredity or physical stressors like injuries, hair thinning can be prevented by avoiding caustic chemicals or tight hairstyles. Also, quitting smoking and eating a healthy diet that provides necessary nutrients in terms of vitamins, minerals and protein would also combat hair thinning.