Appearance is important. We are judged by how we look, and that starts with our hair. It seems to those us afflicted, that men and women alike notice and pass silent judgment on us. What options do we have to help our confidence when our hair is thinning? Here are some practical and inexpensive remedies you can try to quickly look and feel better now:

• Consider a “perm” as wavy hair gives better scalp coverage and the illusion of thick hair. For best results use a mild perm solution applied to hair that is already in good condition.
• Use color – many of us enjoy coloring our hair just to cover the gray or to enjoy a new look but you can disguise thinning areas by minimizing scalp contrast and choosing a hair color closer to your skin color but go no more than two shades away from your natural color. Also consider high lights to give the appearance of greater volume. Use a gentle color on your hair; avoid peroxide and ammonia ingredients.
• Wigs are in. When your hair loss progresses beyond the point of a cosmetic cover up, it may be time for the next step. Consider a wig from a reputable supplier of hair systems; this is not the time to skimp on quality looking for the best price. Instead, look for a firm specializing in selling high quality hair systems for women. There are many considerations in wig selection and after-sales service is very important. While you are at it, try several new styles and colors and have some fun!
• Try a cosmetic enhancer after all you use cosmetics for everything else don’t you? There are a variety of products that will help camouflage your condition. You can choose a from an assortment of coloring cosmetics from packed powders applied with applicator to the scalp, to loose powders sprinkled into the hair, to weather resistant hair thickening sprays. All of these options are available without prescriptions and are relatively inexpensive.

When you really think about it, your thinning hair didn’t happen overnight did it? It will take time to investigate the causes and cures or learn to live with thinning hair. No matter what the cause, only time will ultimately decide the outcome so take heart that your hair will eventually grow back. During that waiting time try one or more of the solutions outlined above to help you look your best and feel great!

Technically, genetic hair loss is called Androgenetic Alopecia and is determined by the genes passed on by our parents and grandparents.  Contrary to popular opinion, Androgenetic Alopecia can be inherited from either parent and those of certain ethnic descent such as Caucasians and Chinese are predisposed to thinning hair more than other races.

Hair loss in women is commonly experienced as a part of certain medical conditions like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Thyroid disorders, Lupus and Cancer. These conditions, along with many others which have temporary or permanent hair loss as a symptom or result of the treatment, are typically hereditary. Examine your family history and if you find related women who have experienced, or are now suffering from, these conditions including hair loss, you may be at risk.

The root cause of genetic hair loss in women and men is the conversion of testosterone, typically a male hormone that is present in all females to some degree, to dihydrotestosterone (DHT). DHT binds to genetically predisposed hair follicles which results in the gradual miniaturization of the hair follicle and eventually the loss of the hair.

Luckily there are a wide variety of products on the market that target this process and that actually can make a difference. There are several mechanisms that manufacturers target to control DHT but generally women should look for products containing active ingredients such as minoxidil, azelaic acid, spironolactone, ketoconazole, aminexil and saw palmetto in shampoos and topical scalp treatments to block the effects of DHT. Avoid solutions containing anti-androgens such as finasteride and cimetidine as they are less effective on women and, in the case of finasteride, even seemingly insignificant exposure can cause birth defects. Women should also consult a medical doctor to identify and treat hormonal imbalances that they have inherited. In many cases with early treatment, the associated hair loss is controllable and may be irreversible.

If family members experience some of these problems or you see the beginnings of hair loss on your own head, see your doctor armed with this information as early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are crucial to controlling or reversing the problem.
Additionally, take action and use your knowledge of female hair loss to help prevent the trauma that this condition brings with it. Many commercial products, both over-the-counter medications and hair thickening cosmetics targeting hair loss are worth a look and represent minimal risk, so try some!

Telogen Effluvium is the second most common reason for hair loss and is usually caused by severe physical or emotional stress and sometimes due to the lack of dietary iron or protein. In this condition, an abnormally high percentage of hair enters the resting, or telogen phase, and often falls out in clumps. The reaction can be sudden or delayed and accompanied by “painful hair” but is fairly common and will usually resolve itself over time.

Crash dieters or inexperienced vegetarians can experience hair loss. For either, the intake of iron and protein should be examined and adjusted as necessary. The good news is that hair loss associated with either deficiency is reversible with corrective action.

Surgery places physical stress on our minds and our bodies regardless of whether the surgery is minor or major. As if nine months of the discomfort of pregnancy and the pain of labor was not enough, many women also experience hair loss! The shock, including the effects of the anesthesia, places our bodies under a great deal of stress that it may take several months to recover from.  In recovery, the body uses all of its resources and energy to recover from physical trauma and some of that energy is diverted away from hair growth and other less necessary bodily functions. Consequently, our hair may stop growing and begin to fall out during the recovery period. This type of hair loss is usually temporary and the hair will begin to grow back once the body has completely healed.

The mental stress of losing a friend or loved one, a marriage or even a job are some of the greatest mental stresses that we face in life. Additionally, facing an economic crisis may put us in panic mode and worrying about how we will support ourselves and our families also creates considerable stress. Economic crises are often accompanied by a job loss, a family medical emergency or accident, a double whammy which adds even more stress to the situation. Under these circumstances our bodies go into survival mode, marshaling all energy for recovery at the expense of those functions that are not vital to life. Hair growth may cease or slow and hair strands may fall out until our hearts and minds begin to heal.

If you have faced a mental or physical trauma like the ones mentioned above or something similar, the first thing you need to do is to take care of yourself. Adjust your diet, allow yourself time to heal physically, get emotional help from a professional or cry on the shoulder of a friend. Do whatever it takes to ensure your own mental and physical well-being. If you begin losing hair during times like these, try a hair thickening cosmetic to help you feel better about yourself and take heart, your hair will inevitably grow back once the trauma subsides. Treat your body and mind kindly keeping friends and family close to help you on the road to recovery.

As women, we do not have the same options. The type of thinning that we experience does not lend itself easily to hair transplants and one of the key “male” drugs, Finasteride, is not approved by the FDA for women.  Unfortunately “aging gracefully” does not sit well and, how often do you hear of women with shaved heads and being considered more attractive?

A woman’s beauty is measured by society and us at least partially, by the beauty of our hair. It becomes ingrained into us throughout our lives and explains why many of us desire long hair. For those of us with thinning hair, it was a traumatic experience when we realized it was happening to us. Denial is often the first reaction. We think and hope that ignoring it will cause the nightmare to go away or that maybe the situation is just temporary. Unfortunately, denial will not cure our hair loss.

Then, anger sets in. We want to know why this happened to us. Was it something that we ate? Some product we used? In ignorance, did we cause some kind of damage to our bodies? In the end, most of us come to correctly realize that hair loss is not our fault and, that most of the time; it is our genetic history that predisposes us to thinning hair.

When the anger ends, reality sets in. It is common for us to grieve for the head of hair that we once had and to feel that we will never be attractive again. We begin to doubt ourselves and experience feelings of depression. This is a common reaction but you have a choice – you can continue feeling sorry for yourself or you can seek out what your options are by making an appointment with your family doctor or a dermatologist. During your assessment and treatment try a cosmetic hair thickener – the look may pleasantly surprise you!

Once you have a medical opinion on your condition, you will feel empowered. Hair does not make a person beautiful – it is character that marks true beauty. So stop grieving and start taking action – see your doctor!