26 years old; Hair has thinned DRASTICALLY over past 10 years

[woodsrose10]

My hair used to be so thick a hair elastic would stay in after one loop; through ages 13-15, this is what hairdressers would say EVERY TIME I went in for a hair cut:

 

"Your hair is SO THICK!"

"Where does she GET all this hair??"

"Your hair is so thick, it broke my hairbrush!"

"Women PAY to have hair like yours!"

 

Now?....my hair is so thin a hair elastic falls out after several re-loops. I have asked hair dressers if they think my hair is thick, and they either say, "No," or "Well, the hair strands themselves are thin, but you have a lot of them."

 

My hair never fell out in clumps, it just gradually (and again, DRASTICALLY) thinned over the past 10 or so years. I had my thyroid checked with no problem. I suspect maybe stress was a factor, but I'm out of college now so I would think my hair would go back the way it was (to no avail).

 

Any ideas about what caused my hair to thin so drastically? Also, what can I do about this problem? Thanks!

[imoutfront]

Wow, you sound a lot like me. I'm almost 26, and my hair is waaay thinner than it used to be. I think part of my problem is that I wore my hair in tight ponytails for so long, that some it just became damaged and fell out over time. In my case, the thinning is even worse in front by my hairline. So I cut my hair short enough that I can't wear it in a nice ponytail, though it's long enough for me to get off of my face when I go to the gym. But it's an ugly ponytail, so that's the only time I wear it. I've also heard the prenatal vitamins help with hair growth, so I've started those. Plus my doctor said they're good to take now anyways, to help prepare the body for when I eventually have kids. I hope I helped!

[latitudezero]

If your worried about your hair, I would recomend using Nioxin shampoo/conditioner/scalp therapy. Its actually a really nice shampoo too, and while it doesnt help hair grow back, it prevents you from loosing it.

[Sweetkisses22]

Have you ever dyed your hair too much or straightened it too much? Combing it too much? Those type of things will make your hair break and thin. It could be that. Otherwise im not sure you should look into it with your doctor.

[BellaDonna]

I wish I knew. The same thing happened to me.

 

If anyone were to look at me now they would never say I had thin hair- but I had at least twice the thickness, if not 3 times what I have now. I am italian and I had very, very thick hair. At one point last year a ton of my hair fell out. It never had any noticeable thin spots where you could see scalp, but there would be a ton of hair in the drain every time I showered- and it would fall out easily when I touched it dry. Then when it finally grew back, it grew back in really fine strands.

 

The doctor ran bloodwork and nothing was wrong medically to cause it. She suggested stress could be the culprit that made it fall out, but there is really no answer as to why it grew back finer. I was eating healthy, took all my daily vitamins, didn't over-style my hair.

 

Minimize loss by using a moisturizing shapoo and conditioner- and detangling spray. Trim your hair regularly. Avoid blow drying and ironing your hair as much as you can.

 

My hairdresser noticed and told me she had been to a conference and there was actually a presentation about how thinning hair is almost an epidemic in the U.S. right now and no one seems to know why.

 

She also said this exactly too

 

Well, the hair strands themselves are thin, but you have a lot of them."

 

 

 

I wish I knew a solution. I am as bummed out as you are and missng the thick, big, wild lockes of hair I used to complain about.

 

I sometimes wonder if it could be the Mirena IUD I have causing it, but my ob-gyn says there is no evidence of any kind of tie. Even if it was, I would not have the IUD taken out because I would lose more hair if I had an unplanned pregnancy. lol

[sweetpea03]

Have you ever dyed your hair? Do you comb/brush your hair a lot? Do you use a lot of hair products?

[lucyblue10]

Hi,

 

I would think as you are fairly young and your hair loss has been occurring over a long period of time that you look into the causes properly.

 

Do you have any female relatives who have a similar problem to you? If so, it could be the cause is genetic – something called Androgenetic Alopecia. My grandmother who is now in her 90s, has very little hair. About 10 years ago she went to see a trichologist who diagnosed Androgenetic Alopecia: link removed Her hair loss wasn’t caused by a ‘bad perm’ as she’d always claimed it was. My dad said that her mother also had the same hair problem.

 

However, you can use various hair products to make your hair look thicker and give more volume; have a hair cut more suited to your hair type etc.

 

As I have female relatives on both sides who have thinning hair as they get older, it’s likely I will be affected at some stage. I’ve always had fine hair (but lots of it).

[woodsrose10]

Have you ever dyed your hair? Do you comb/brush your hair a lot? Do you use a lot of hair products?

 

So sorry for the late reply! Yes, I started highlighting my hair blonde when I was 15. Also, it's safe to say I had a little bit of an eating disorder when I was 16, and I can remember a hair dresser at the time pulling out hair strands that fell out from my scalp. She said I wasn't taking enough vitamins. I haven't highlighted/dyed my hair in the past 2 years, and I take plenty of vitamins now.

 

On the upside, I don't notice any hair strands falling out. (Other than normal amount in the shower, anyway.)

 

The View had a special on female hair loss a few weeks ago. I watched it and they described that there are 4 different types of female hair loss. The one that seemed to apply to me was hair loss due to massive stress; however, the woman also mentioned that "the hair will grow back" with that type of hair loss.

[woodsrose10]

One hair dresser told me that highlighting/dying hair shouldn't cause it to thin.

[Ariel85]

My hair was a LOT thicker when I was in high school. It was always fine and very long, but I look at pics, and I can tell it was a lot thicker.

 

Hate to say it, but I think it has to do with hormones. I remember just at your age (26) calling my Mom and having a melt-down that I was going bald. I wasn't, of course, it was just the thinning you described.

 

I don't think this is unusual for women's hair to thin out a bit, even when you are healthy and eating well, etc.

 

I'm more than sure this is something only you recognize, and it's not noticeable to anyone.

[MyOmallyCat]

I'm 24 years old and my hair strands them selves have thinned to about a third to a forth of there original size and my hair is stick straight. When i was 18 i Had CURLY Ringlets, massive thick long hair. Yes My hair was thick and curly and now it is STICK STRAIGHT and seriously thin I Had a misscarage at just under 19 and then my hair started to thin immediately afterwards. I have been to a thyroid secialist and they said nothing was wrong. My regular doc and he had no idea what was wrong or even were I should try for answers. SO i went to a hair and skin specialist and he toled me that my hair looked like i had bee over blow drying it and using a curling iron to straighten it.......I dont even own a blow dryer and i got burned when i was little on accident with a curling Iron so i have never used one. So * * * ? He had no answers either. Just kept repeating dont use the blow dryer or the curling iron. AHHHH I dont even have one so how can i stop using it. My hair is thin round and then it gos flat for like a millimeter and then round and thin again. I have broken piecec sticking up all over the place all the time from them breaking off at odd lengths.

As far as the hair dresser is concerned I have been going to the same one for EVER since i was to little to even need a hair dresser lol. I go to the same one my mom has forever Alen He use to tell me he was going to charge me double since i had enough hair for two people. When my hair started thinking i was to embarrassed to go back for about a year. When i did he was shocked he asked what happened to my hair? Since i only have about a third of as much and its soooo thin and straight?

I dont know what else to do. What other doc can a person go to besides a thyroid, family practice and a hair and skin doc for your hair problems? I have also talked to my OBGYN doc about it as well.. JUst a shot in the dark kind of thing. He has no idea said people have asked him before but the only thing he know that is that the thyroid can make your hair fall out. At this rate my hair will be as thin as face fuzz buy the time im 30......IF anyone one has any sugestions please help me. Even if its expensvie i need to get this undercontrole.