The Ultimate Guide to Understanding, Styling, and Enhancing Thinning Hair

Thinning hair is a widespread concern that transcends gender, affecting many as they navigate through life. While men might predominantly face this challenge due to male pattern baldness linked to testosterone, women are not spared, with factors like stress, diet, and hormonal changes also contributing. Understanding that "thinning hair is one of the most common concerns for men as they get older," and equally distressing for women, it's crucial to approach this topic with sensitivity and knowledge.

Before you can fully understand why your hair is thinning, it's important to make some distinctions. There is a difference between:

 
  • A Change in the Texture of Your Hair

 

The texture of the hair can evolve throughout our lives due to changes in the hair follicle (where the hair fibre is produced). This can be caused by damage over time, perhaps due to repeated pulling or medication. The structure of already-existing hair fibres can also be permanently changed as a result of over-processing, where the fibre loses its natural form (such as curls), becoming weaker and thinner. Hormonal changes, such as pregnancy or menopause, can also affect the natural texture of the hair, resulting in thin hair.

 

  • A Reduction in Hair Growth

 

A reduction in hair growth could also be the reason behind your thinning hair. We shed about 100 hairs per day, which might sound like a lot, but the human head is estimated to have around 100,000 hairs at any one time, although this varies considerably depending on factors such as age and genetics.

 

Hair Loss vs Hair Thinning?

 

Is your hair really thinning, or is it actually falling out? Literal hair loss, where pre-existing hairs fall out before they should naturally, can be due to several reasons. Medical treatments (chemotherapy) and conditions such as alopecia can be behind the phenomenon. The pulling out of hair, or consistent tension on the hair itself, has also been connected with losing hair as a result of weakened follicles that hold the hair in place.

 

Why is My Hair Thinning?

 

The most common reason for a gradual loss of hair in volume and thickness is age. The result is that the new hair emerging from the follicle is thinner, and eventually, the same stem cells stop producing melanin (the colour pigment), so these wispy thin hairs turn white or grey.

 

Medical conditions can also cause thinning hair. An irritated scalp due to eczema, for example, can cause follicles to become blocked and prevent new hair growth.

Autoimmune and/or genetic disorders can cause hair to thin or even fall out entirely, while some medications can have an adverse effect on hair thickness. Temporary hair loss/thinning hair most often occurs after the body experiences a major shock that disrupts the hair's normal growth pattern.

 

Thinning Hair: Men More at Risk Than Women?

 

While both men and women can suffer from thinning hair, the actual loss of hair, known as male pattern baldness, is related to testosterone, which is why receding hairlines and eventual full (or quasi-total) baldness almost only affect men.

 

What Bad Habits Can Cause Thinning Hair?

 

Before you can thicken hair, it's essential to know what habits might be thinning it. While genetics and medical conditions are sometimes responsible, they're not the only culprits! Pulling at our hair and keeping it in very tight styles gradually weakens the hair strand and the follicle it emerges from.

Lifestyle plays a major role in the quality of our hair. Factors such as stress and nutrition (vitamin deficiency) have been directly linked to poor hair quality, as well as unhealthy habits such as smoking and crash dieting.

 

Can You Make Hair Grow Back?

 

Once hair follicles cease their production, the options to reverse the situation are limited and vary in effectiveness. However, there's  a silver lining: "There are ways to make your existing hair look thicker," from adopting specialised haircare routines to mastering styling tricks that conjure up the illusion of volume and density. The focus shifts from regrowth to enhancement, emphasising the hair you have and making it appear as full and vibrant as possible.

 

How to Support Healthy Hair Growth?

 

An easy and enjoyable way to promote blood circulation is through regular scalp massages to increase blood circulation. In the shower or bath, use your fingertips to apply pressure to the scalp in slow circular motions. Relaxing and beneficial!

 

Styling Tips for Thinning Hair

 

 

  •  Haircuts and Styles

     

A stylist's touch can work wonders, transforming thinning hair with strategic cuts and colour. Mark O'Keeffe from Brown Sugar Salon has some expert tips for making hair appear thicker: If you have found that your hair looks thin at the front, a great tip is to have your hair cut so that it is shorter at the sides, and heavier at the top. This is a great way to make the hair look thicker as it balances out the weight of the hair that normally sits in a horse-shoe shape around the head. Cuts such as a dandy boy or the classic faded barber cut are perfect for this look.

When having your hair cut, try and avoid having too many layers. At all times weight should be kept around the perimeter of the hair, only layering the minimum in the top section of the hair.

 

  •  Drying Your Hair with a Vent Brush

     

Once you have the right cut, styling the hair can be just as helpful in adding a look of thickness and density to hair. A trick is to blow-dry your hair with a vent brush, bringing the hair forward and up as you dry to create height and weight in the hair. This will add volume to the hair and make it look fuller.

A perfect style for those of you with curly hair is to let your hair fall forward, and dry with a diffuser. This will maintain the volume of your hair and help it look denser.

 

  • Parting Your Hair in a Right Way

     

Don't part your hair in the middle. This can make your hair fall flat and look thinner. Putting your parting slightly off-centre to the side can add volume and make your hair look thicker and fuller.

 

  •  Colour Techniques

     

Colour techniques play a pivotal role. When you have your hair coloured, ask your colourist for lighter sections at the top section of the hair, and add darker pieces or a darker section to the underneath section. This will add depth and give the impression of thickness.

 

 

How to Treat Thinning Hair

 

A right haircare routine is indispensable. The Serioxyl Advanced Thickening Range by L'Oréal Professionnel is specifically formulated to "add a look of thickness, density and lift to the hair," offering a tangible boost to those grappling with thinning strands.

Incorporating products from the Serioxyl collection into your daily regimen can make a significant difference in the appearance of your hair, providing the lift and volume needed to combat the visible signs of thinning.

 

  • Purify with Serioxyl Advanced Shampoo

     

Begin your journey to thicker hair with the Serioxyl Advanced Shampoo Its bodifying formula is designed specifically for fine and thinning hair. Enriched with Magnesium sulphate, this shampoo not only cleanses but also purifies the scalp, helping to remove build-ups that can impede hair growth.

 

  •  Treat with Serioxyl Advanced Denser Hair Serum

     

After shampooing, the Serioxyl Denser Hair Serum takes centre stage as your nightly treatment. This density activator serum works to provide a thicker, more densified feel to fine hair, enhancing hair's appearance with consistent use.

 

Pro Tip:

For best results, apply the serum directly to the scalp each night, focusing on areas where thinning is most noticeable. A gentle scalp massage can improve absorption and effectiveness.

 

 

Thinning hair, while a common concern, isn't an insurmountable one. By delving into the causes, embracing effective styling and care strategies, and nurturing the scalp and hair from a scientific standpoint, it's possible to enhance the appearance of thinning hair. Remember, the journey to thicker-looking locks is as much about perception as it is about reality, focusing on maximising the potential of the hair you have. With the right approach and products like L'Oréal Professionnel's  Serioxyl range, achieving fuller, denser-looking hair is within reach