Thinning hair can grow back depending on what caused it to thin in the first place. People who experience thinning hair due to nutrient deficiencies, stress, pregnancy, and other nongenetic reasons could experience regrowth. If you're experiencing new hair loss or hair thinning, it's best to consult your doctor.
Although hair re-growth may be possible, you should also know when to seek professional help. If the reason for thinning hair is genetics, it will not grow back on its own. To grow back a healthy, full head of hair, you'll need to take action, and that involves reviewing different hair loss options.
Hair growth typically completes a cycle in 2 to 3 years. Each hair grows approximately 1 centimeter per month during this phase. About 90% of the hair on your scalp is growing at any one time. About 10% of the hair on your scalp, at any one time, is in a resting phase.
Temporary hair loss is any form of hair loss that is generally triggered by a stressful event or a change in your normal, everyday events and habits. Temporary hair loss can occur anywhere between 2-4 months after the event that triggered it and can last up to 6-months.
Thinning hair doesn't necessarily cause baldness. However, it does give the appearance of sparser spots of hair on your head. Thinning hair generally happens gradually, which means you have time to pinpoint the cause and figure out the best treatment. There are some great products for fine hair out there.
Effective treatments for some types of hair loss are available. You might be able to reverse hair loss, or at least slow it. With some conditions, such as patchy hair loss (alopecia areata), hair may regrow without treatment within a year. Treatments for hair loss include medications and surgery.
Telogen hair, or 'resting' hair, comprises around 15% of the hair on a person's scalp. Periods of elevated stress can lead to this hair being temporarily lost, contributing to a visibly thinner scalp and hairline.
Suddenly thinning hair could be caused by a variety of reasons, such as a period of extreme stress, pregnancy, discontinuing birth control pill use, hormonal changes, a high fever, or pulling at your hair.
While you may think an easy fix is thinning out your thick and volumized hair to make it more manageable, thinning may not be the best idea. Sometimes thinning can lead to a disappointing result. While thinning will take most of the bulk out of your hair, it won't make the strands less thick.
Wearing your hair too long will make it look thinner
"Ironically, with thinning hair it's important to make sure you get your hair cut regularly," says Julie Hensman, from Hensmans in Northampton. "Thinning hair can get out of shape more quickly, making it look more obvious".
Bobs, pixies, layers, and bangs — these haircuts are strategically designed to help fine hair full-fill its potential. The look of thin hair can change dramatically with the power of the humble scissor — and the right cutting hand.
Hair loss and thinning hair is enough reason to shave your head if you want to hide your hair situation. A smooth bald shave is much better than outgrowing hair around bald patches. Shaving the head is the easiest thing to do and easier than trying to cover up bald spots.
Telogen effluvium does not generally lead to complete baldness, although you may lose 300 to 500 hairs per day, and hair may appear thin, especially at the crown and temples. A medical event or condition, such as a thyroid imbalance, childbirth, surgery, or a fever, typically triggers this type of hair loss.
Permanent Hair Loss:
When hair fall is triggered by predisposed genetic causes then the follicles are also affected and they miniaturize. This condition cannot be overcome without extensive hair treatment and this is termed as permanent hair loss.
Telogen effluvium hair loss — the type of hair loss linked to stress — typically affects your scalp and may appear as patchy hair loss. However, it can also cause you to shed more body hair or notice less hair on your body than you normally would.
Scarring alopecias result in permanent loss of hair. Inflammatory skin conditions (cellulitis, folliculitis, acne), and other skin disorders (such as some forms of lupus and lichen planus) often result in scars that destroy the ability of the hair to regenerate.
With a few precautions, coloring thinning hair can be safe -- and may even protect the hair shaft from breaking. There's a myth that permanent hair-color is damaging, but that's only true if you bleach your hair or if you use the color incorrectly.
If you are experiencing thinning or balding, our Bosley experts recommend washing no more than three times a week.