The first signs of balding may be so subtle that you might not even notice they are happening until your hair loss has progressed significantly. In general, the first signs of balding include a receding hairline, increase in hair shedding and a more visible scalp.
A Change in Your Hairline
The most obvious of the stages of hair loss is a noticeable change in your hairline that you can clearly see. Baldness often begins in the hairline, with the flat or mildly receded hairline you previously had turned into a more obvious M-shaped hairline — basically, bald with hair on sides.
“If you're thinning, you are going to see areas around your hairline start to recess,” says Hall, and you'll start to be able to see more scalp through the hair. You may also see more shedding when you run your hands or a comb through your hair.
The easiest way to determine if your hair is fine or thin is to look at the width. Compare a piece of hair to a piece of thread. If you find that the hair is smaller than the thread, chances are good your hair is fine.
Pull Test and Tug Test
This simple test measures the severity of hair loss. During a pull test, a dermatologist grasps small sections of hair, about 40 strands, from different parts of the scalp and gently tugs. If six or more strands fall out, you have what's known as active hair loss.
Here's the hard truth: Little can be done to permanently change the diameter of individual hair strands. Thickening products can do wonders to temporarily plump hair strands, but when it comes down to it, fine hair is genetic and can't be changed.
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.
The Difference: Mature vs.
A mature hairline typically moves back evenly and is only about an inch above the top crease in the forehead. If the entire hairline recedes further back on the scalp, with a more defined hairline, like a M-shape or a widow's peak, those are signs of a receding hairline.
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.
In men, hair often begins to recede at the hairline on the forehead. Women typically have a broadening of the part in their hair. An increasingly common hair loss pattern in older women is a receding hairline (frontal fibrosing alopecia). Circular or patchy bald spots.
Genetics
In women, hereditary hair loss usually starts after the age of 40. Roughly 40% of women have noticeable hair loss by the age of 50. And less than half of women get through life with a full head of hair.
This can be rather subtle, but you may start to feel that your hair doesn't have the same weight anymore. you may also notice this especially if you wear a ponytail. The ponytail may not only feel lighter but may also be smaller in appearance and take more looping of the elastic band to keep it in place.
How do I tell if I have a balding crown? Common signs that you have a balding crown include: hair thinning on the top but not around the sides, hair at the crown becoming more brittle, and/or if you have a receding hairline.
It usually takes 15-25 years to go bald, but can be quicker. Typically, at first the hair begins to thin (recede) at the sides (temples). At the same time, the hair usually becomes thin on the top of the head. A bald patch gradually develops in the middle of the scalp.
A woman's hairline is considered normal if it's 2 to 2.4 inches or 5 to 6 cm above the eyebrow. For men, it's normal to have 2.4 to 3.2 inches or 6 to 8 cm above the eyebrow. Widow's peaks are not uncommon for women and sometimes are seen in men.
What Does a Normal Hairline Look Like? There isn't one type of hairline that can be considered “normal.” A hairline, the area where the hair grows out of the head, can look very different from person to person. Some hairlines may be low or high, others have a widow's peak or a cowlick, but all hairlines are normal.
Androgenetic alopecia – in women, hair generally thins in the top, frontal area, just behind the hair line, but stays thick at the back. An enzyme causes conversion of the male sex hormone testosterone to another hormone, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), causing the hair follicles to produce thinner hair until they stop.
Hair at the crown of your head is thinning
This is another one of the common early signs of male pattern balding. Hair at the crown (the back part of the top of the head) becomes sparser until the classic bald spot is evident.
If your hair loss is caused by stress, it's possible for your hair to grow back in time. The rate of regrowth will be different for everyone.
"Sudden thinning hair can be a symptom of anemia (low red blood cell count), hormonal issues especially related to events like pregnancy, or a thyroid disorder, which are all very common in women," says Dr. Peredo.
Hair thinning causes can include aging, your genes, shifting hormones, and your diet. Learn what else might be playing a role. Whether you're a woman or a man, it's normal for your hair to thin as you get older, according to Cleveland Clinic.