Experiencing thinning hair is not fun but unfortunately semi-common. After experiencing thinning and postpartum hair loss, I spent many months testing different products and home care techniques to combat the issues I was having.
After a lot of trial and error, I was able to prevent my curly hair from falling out and promote new hair growth.
In this post, I will give you practical tips on how to combat hair loss using a combination of healthy at-home hair care habits and products that promote hair growth.
If you are feeling desperate, I promise you there is hope and you can do many different things to stop hair loss and promote new hair growth.
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Important note: I am in no way a medical professional. If you are experiencing extreme hair loss due to medical issues, please consult with a Doctor.
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Why is my curly hair thinning?
Hair loss and thinning can be caused by multiple things including hormones, stress, illness, and trauma.
Your hair naturally goes through three different cycles when it comes to hair growth. Anagen, the active phase of the hair. Catagen, a transitioning (or resting) phase, and telogen, the dormant phase.
These phases can be disrupted by many different factors which can cause your hair to shed more than normal causing hair loss.
Stress
One huge cause of hair loss is stress. When you experience physical or emotional stress, it can cause your hair follicle to go through a process called telogen effluvium which makes your hair shed more rapidly than normal.
When we experience extreme stress, your hair follicle can move into the catagen (or resting) phase which causes increased shedding. If that stress is prolonged, it can cause our hair to move into a dormant state which means thinner hair and more shedding.
So if it seems like your hair’s a bit thinner this year, It may not be your imagination. Covid had a way of bringing so many new stresses for everyone and your hair may be taking the hit.
If you are feeling desperate about hair loss and regrowth, I work with a small group of people each month who are willing to be “all in” on transforming their hair.
If you would like a one on one consultation, you can fill out this form and I’ll reach out to you.
Pregnancy
I remember being 6 months pregnant and feeling like my hair had never been thicker and shinnier before in my life.
Only to experience my hair falling out in handfuls shortly after giving birth. And it was kind of depressing.
During pregnancy, the increase in estrogen causes your hair to stay in the anagen (the active phase) causing extreme hair growth. Once those hormones levels drop, it causes your hair to shed.
Postpartum hair loss is no joke and can be overwhelming to deal with. Keep in mind that it is totally normal and will typically only last 6 months.
If you are in the midst of postpartum hair loss, I recommend focusing on scalp treatments and deep conditioner to help stimulate blood flow to your roots and keep your hair healthy for new hair growth.
These are my top recommended products to help balance your scalp and promote Hairgrowth:
- Scalp Purifying Scrub– I love this scrub because it’s formulated with apple cider vinegar, AHAs, sugar, and purifying pink clay. It deeply cleanses and purifies while helping rebalance moisture at the scalp. I typically use this product once per month so it lasts for a super long time.
- Purifying Vinegar Shampoo – I use his product to follow up after the scrub. This is a clarifying wash that purifies without stripping the hair. It reduces excess oil, restores balance to the scalp and removes dirt, oil and product buildup.
- REJUVENIQE™ Oil Intensive $69 VIP: I know, this one is a little pricey but it lasts a super long time. If you want to really boost your hair growth and balance your scalp PH level, this is a must have product. I use it for a scalp message every other day.
Keep in mind that these products are highly concentrated and will last 4-6 months (they typically last me 6 months). If you would like to get these products at a discounted rate, click here.
Breakage
Breakage is a common cause of thinning hair. Breakage refers to hair that is unhealthy and unable to maintain its structure. When this happens, it easily breaks off thus causing thinning and more shedding than usual.
The most common cause of breakage is unhealthy hair.
That includes but is not limited to heat damage, color damage, overly dry, or simply undernourished hair.
Just like our bodies need key ingredients to thrive, our scalp needs key ingredients to grow strong healthy hair.
Other causes of hair loss can be diet, nutrient deficiencies, and genetics. Keep in mind that in most cases you will be able to improve hair growth to its original thickness.
Can hair grow back after thinning? (Telogen effluvium)
Yes! There are many different things you can do to promote hair growth after experiencing thinning.
Keep in mind that when it comes to thinning hair, early intervention is critical. The longer you go without treating thinning hair, the harder it will be to see results.
Treatments: There are many treatments you can do to promote regrowth including scalp treatment, deep conditioner treatments, and protein treatment. This helps to repair your hair and cause new hair growth.
Home Care: It’s important to do everything you can to protect your hair and promote regrowth.
Prescription medication: In severe cases, you can get a prescription medication to stop excessive shedding.
How do I fix my thin curly hair?
When it comes to making thin curly hair look thick, there are a few different products you can use to create volume and thickness.
Shampoo – Use a gentle shampoo that will cleanse your hair without damaging it. It’s important to alternate between moisturizing and clarifying shampoo to help strip your scalp up any buildup. This will help add volume to your hair.
Mousse – Thia helps give your hair extra body and shine. Mousse also helps to add hold and frizz control to your style.
If you have thinning around your crown, you can use target hair growth sprays or oils to help nourish that area and promote new hair growth.
Why your Natural Hair is Thinning and How to Stop It
We’ve talked about why your natural hair is thinning above. Now we’ll dive in a bit on how to stop it.
The first and most important thing you can do to stop your hair from thinning is to invest in a quality product line designed to promote hair growth.
The sooner you start treating your hair for hair loss, the better and quicker your results will be.
Next, prioritize protecting your hair.
I’m talking about using heat protectants, deep conditioning treatments, a silk cap, and non-damaging hair ties.
It’s important to guard your hair against anything that will cause breakage and shedding.
Last, take the time to learn about your hair’s specific needs, and create a routine of healthy habits.
At-home care is one of the top things you can do to avoid thinning.
What to do if you are experiencing curly hair loss.
Oftentimes, curly hair loss can be traced back to bad at home habits.
A few things you can do to prevent curly hair loss are implementing a pre poo during your routine, and be sure that you are detangling your hair the right way.
You can visit this post to learn more about the best detangling brush.
Hair loss (or breakage) vs shedding: How to tell what’s normal
Shedding refers to the natural process your hair goes through to get rid of old hair and grow new.
It’s perfectly normal to shed 50-100 strands per day. Fist fulls, not so much.
Unless your hair is curly.
For curly hair it’s common to shed a bit more in the shower because our hair strands aren’t able to shed since they are held in by our curls.
Once you detangle and wash your curls, it allows shedding to happen which is why we typically shed a bit more in the shower than people with straight hair.
Hair loss is a different story.
If your hair is coming out in fistfulls in the shower or if you are noticing bald patches that weren’t there in the past, then you are probably experiencing hair loss.
In this instance, ask yourself if you’ve experienced stress (including birth) or an illness of any kind in the past six months.
If so, then that is probably the cause of hairless.
Can I prevent my curly hair from shedding?
Not entirely. It’s important to keep in mind that shedding isn’t a bad thing. Excessive shedding is.
A few things you can do to prevent shedding are:
- Invest in a quality product line
- Use a heat protectant
- Protect your hair while you sleep
- Take a collagen supplement
- Use a non-damaging hair tie
- Use a deep conditioning treatment
- Incorporate a scalp treatment into your weekly routine
- Clarify once per month
- Do a daily scalp massage using a quality oil
How often are we supposed to lose hair?
It’s perfectly normal to lose hair every day as part of your body’s natural renewal cycle.
Each hair strand’s life cycle goes through three stages. Growth, rest, fall out.
It’s perfectly normal to lose 50-100 strands every single day.
What is normal hair loss?
Losing 50-100 strands per day is perfectly normal and healthy because it allows new regrowth to happen.
So what can I do about clogged hair follicles?
Focus on your scalp. Healthy hair starts with your scalp.
Dirt and natural oil build-up can cause clogged hair follicles.
If you are experiencing clogged hair follicles, you need to incorporate a scalp clarifying treatment, followed by a quality deep conditioning treatment and a high-end oil to massage your scalp before each wash.
Repeat these steps until your notice that your scalp is healthy and not dry, itchy, or oily.
Important note: If you are experiencing extremely clogged follicles that are similar to a pimple, painful, and have a distinct odor, then you should seek advice from a physician.
Can hair follicles become unclogged?
Yes! There are multiple ways to unclog a hair follicle. Doing a scalp massage is a good way to stimulate your hair follicles and unclog them on a regular basis.
In more extreme cases, consult a physician.
How do I prevent hair follicles from becoming clogged to begin with?
- Use a clarifying shampoo once per month
- Incorporate a daily scalp massage into your routine
- Use clarifying scalp treatment once per month – I love this one!
- Focus on applying conditioner to your ends and avoiding your scalp
Why some “hair loss” with the Curly Girl Method is normal
Often times people will experience a transitioning phase when they start following the curly girl method.
This is caused by switching to clean products.
Depending on what products you’ve used in the past and if they contained silicones, you may have a good bit of buildup.
When you switch to clean products and start incorporating a monthly clarifying wash, it can cause old hair that is being held in by build up on your scalp to come out causing more shedding than usual.
This perfectly normal and not cause for alarm.
Transitioning can last between 1-6 months but should stop and you should start seeing new regrowth.
In Conclusion:
Many factors come into hair loss including hormones, diet, stress, medical condition, and environment.
The best thing you can do to avoid hair loss is….
Eat a balanced diet
Your hair needs key nutrients to thrive. Be sure to eat a balanced diet to give your body everything it needs to produce healthy hair.
Manage stress
Stress is a huge factor in hair loss. Be proactive in managing stress before it takes a toll on your hair.
Invest in a quality product line
You get what you pay for. If you want to prevent hair loss and promote hair growth, invest in a quality product line designed to restore, repair, and promote hair growth.
Make your scalp a priority
Incorporate a scalp care routine that nourishes your scalp and gives it everything it needs to produce healthy regrowth.
In extreme cases seek medical advice
If you think your hair loss is caused by a medical issue, schedule an appointment with your physician.
Xoxo
Colleen
p.s Take The Mistake Finder Quiz!
