As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
The underlined text on this page contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you click on a link and make a purchase.
Disclaimer: As a cosmetology professional, my advice is given based on my own research and experience with clients. If you are experiencing hair loss, it is best to consult with a doctor or dermatologist to determine your best course of action.
Thin, actively thinning, fragile or naturally fine hair is a pain point for many. Most of us were born with "baby fine" hair, but some never grew out of that phase. Others experience hair loss later on in life or because of circumstances at any point in life. No matter what causes it, fine or thin hair is considered less than ideal because of the emphasis society puts on external beauty, and because of how it defines what beauty consists of.
​
THERE ARE SO MANY REASONS WHY HAIR BECOMES THIN OR FRAGILE:
Over Processing- coloring, lightening (bleaching), perming and relaxing the hair opens up the cuticle of the hair and depletes moisture. The hair can only take so much before it becomes fragile and breaks off.
​
Mental Stress- Unfortunately, stress is a natural part of life. Too much stress can actually cause hair loss. The mind and body are very much interconnected.
​
Mechanical Stress- Too much heat styling, tight braiding or ponytails, extension applications, rough brushing, swimming, sun exposure... all of these quite literally burn or stretch the hair to its breaking point!
​
Medications- Probably the #1 culprit of hair thinning and hair loss, and almost everyone takes medication for something nowadays. Blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, antidepressants, even the very popular GLP-1 drugs- it doesn't really matter what is taken, as I've seen hair loss in clients who take just one of these or other pharmaceuticals.
​
Diet- Whatever goes into the body comes out, and I'm not just referencing the basic digestive process! Toxins are excreted through our sweat, tears and sebum. Vitamins, supplements, drugs and chemicals show their effects on the body through the skin, hair and nails. This is why employment drug tests are done on hair strands, as they can detect past use as well as recent use- much like how tree rings show environmental changes, but with length instead of girth. We literally are what we eat, so eating healthy makes our hair healthy as well!
​
Hormonal Changes- Just as many humans develop hair or thicker hair during puberty, sudden changes in hormones like menopause, pregnancy, or hysterectomy can cause hair loss or change in women.
​
Illness- a phenomenon widely discussed in the beauty industry was sudden and often extreme hair loss in clients during the Covid-19 pandemic. This also occurs with flu, scarlet fever and pneumonia. It's called telogen effluvium, which is a type of stress-related hair loss, and illness is indeed a stressful time.
​
Aging- just as the production of melanin decreases with age (which causes hair to "go gray"), so does collagen production, sebum (natural oil) production, follicle production, and cell regeneration.
​
Genetics- For men, male pattern baldness usually results from a genetic sensitivity to DHT, a byproduct of testosterone, which causes hair follicles to shrink over time.
​
Just about everyone has one or more of these factors affecting their hair. The good news is that most hair loss can be remedied, or at least mitigated!
There's not really much than be done about genetics, necessary medications, or inevitable aging, but there are things that can be done to help reduce their effects.
​​
Over Processing- opt for gentler methods of coloring, such as semi-permanent or deposit-only color. Reduce or avoid the number of times your hair is lightened, and definitely avoid combining multiple processes, like coloring and perming, or switching from dark to light and back to dark again. Make sure you ask what the negative effects of any process you're thinking of scheduling are. If coloring at home, please do not color from roots to ends if you only need to cover gray new growth. Dark color can damage your hair as much as lightening it can if you repeat it enough- going darker does not mean highlighted hair will be healthy again!
​
Mental Stress- Reduce stress as much as possible- if you can't eliminate the source of your stress, journaling, meditation, therapy, hobbies and all kinds of other activities are great outlets for stress reduction. Supplements can help, but check with your doctor before taking supplements in addition to medication.
​
Mechanical Stress- Heat styling should be avoided as much as possible, since it can damage and dry out the hair. If you do heat style, make sure you're using thermal protection! Avoid silicone bands or rubber bands to tie your hair back, opting for silk scrunchies, satin scrunchies, or claw clips instead. It's better if you can avoid tying it back at all. Extensions are a great way to add thickness and volume to the hair, but can also put a lot of stress on the installation points. Be gentle and follow recommended care steps. When brushing the hair, use a gentle detangling brush and start detangling from the ends, working up towards the roots to avoid pulling and snapping hair- remember, wet hair is more fragile! Avoid submerging the hair when swimming, as chlorine and salt water dry out the hair and make it feel rough and look dull. If going all in, be sure to wear a fabric swimming cap. A fabric cap with a silicone inner layer will keep fragile and thin hair safe from the water, but also safe from tugging inside of the cap. If spending time outdoors, protect your hair with a UV protectant that is also lightweight!
​
Medications- There's not much one can do if taking medication is necessary... the bad news is that hair loss usually occurs when starting a new prescription, but the good news is that hair typically starts growing back as the body adjusts. Consult with your doctor to see if there are any alternatives, but most clients state that their doctors are more concerned with addressing the medical issue than how their hair looks. If taking GLP-1 drugs electively for weight loss, one would have to decide if weight loss is more important than hair loss- but again, it's possible that the body can adjust over time.
​
Diet- The first thing we should do is often the last thing we want to do... and that is to eat healthy. A balanced diet of foods rich in healthy proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals, plus proper hydration, helps build strong, shiny and resilient hair.
​
Hormonal Changes- Another change that is usually out of a person's control, but you can ask your doctor if taking supplements will help or is possible, especially if taken in conjunction with any treatment for regulating the hormones.
​
Illness- Typically, the body will recover and hair will grow back once you are well, but it might be helpful to take some vitamins and/or supplements, as long as your doctor says it's ok.
​
Aging/Genetics- As side effects of being born and of gaining wisdom in life, genetics are unavoidable and aging is inevitable. There are no easy permanent solutions, but there are products out there that can help to mitigate hair loss due to these circumstances. OTC and prescription medications can help, as well as topical applications, but it would be prudent to mention that these need to be taken indefinitely to keep working. Supplements made specifically for hair loss are available, as well as their companion shampoos and conditioners. Other shampoos and conditioners with rosemary have been reported to work well to slow hair loss as well.
​
A NOTE ABOUT THOSE "BABY HAIRS"
As annoying as they may be, if you're seeing them, it's a good sign! After illness, stress, and many of the other causes of hair loss mentioned above, the hair typically starts coming back. They are shorter because they are starting over!
​
Caring for fine or thin hair is important, to ensure the preservation of what precious strands are there!
-
The less frequent, the better! Once a week is optimal, with daily brushing in between washes. If currently washing every day, try to gradually space out washes to every other day for a few weeks to a month, then every 2-3 days for a few weeks to a month, and repeat this process until down to one wash per week. Rinsing the hair on non-wash days can help lessen the icky feeling, just go through the motions of shampooing without the actual shampoo! Dry shampoo can help get through just one more day without washing!
-
If the hair or scalp is very oily, reducing shampooing frequency may help the scalp regulate oil production. Otherwise, trying a normalizing shampoo, followed by a light conditioner may help balance oil on the scalp.
-
For fine hair, using a volumizing shampoo and conditioner can help keep the hair from being weighed down, and for thin hair, there is thickening shampoo and conditioner.
-
Don't forget to brush, brush, BRUSH! Brushing helps move the oils off of the scalp and get it to the ends where it's needed (plus, it feels great and is good for blood circulation in the scalp). A brush with soft bristles is gentle on the hair- just be gentle with the brush strokes, as wet hair is more fragile!
-
Regular deep conditioning treatments should still be applied, to keep fine or fragile strands strong. At least once a month should be the minimum, even if it sounds counterintuitive.
-
Even after using regular conditioner or a deep conditioning mask, it's a good idea to apply a leave-in conditioner to the hair after towel-drying to add more moisture. A leave-in conditioner for fine hair will help prevent over-drying, which leads to breakage (and more thinning of the hair). On hair that is going to be heat-styled, a leave-in conditioner with heat protection is a must!
-
Cool to lukewarm water helps smooth the cuticle to lock in color or toner. I know its harder in the winter months not to step into a piping hot shower, but try your best!
-
San Antonio has some pretty hard water... If there isn't a water-softening system in the home, I recommend investing in a shower filter to soften at least the shower water. There are many benefits to the skin, hair, and even the shower/bathtub! Here are links to shower filters:
-
​Again, heat is the enemy! Blow drying and using a hot iron (especially when using both) can easily burn fine or fragile hair, fade color faster, and dry the hair out. Hot irons can even turn gray hair yellow! Air dry whenever possible, and if blow drying is absolutely necessary, use the coolest setting possible, or wait until the hair has dried naturally (to about 75%) before blow drying. If still craving curls, let the hair air dry instead of blow drying before ironing so that the heat isn't doubled.
-
One of my favorite tools of all time for my own hair- that dries, volumizes and lightly curls- comes in two sizes, and both have cool settings:
For shorter lengths (above shoulders)​
For longer lengths (past shoulders)
-
With hot air stylers, letting the hair air-dry naturally to just lightly damp first (about 75% dry) prevents overexposure to heat, takes less time and adds more shine. These hot air stylers get HOT, so hit that cool button!
-
Try heatless curl/wave methods to get a great finish that's friendlier to the tresses. Just search "heatless curls" on Google, YouTube or TikTok and there are a ton of tutorials!
-
If it's impossible to put down the flat iron or curling iron, opt for a lower temperature (250-300 degrees), and thinner sections of hair.
-
Every time heat is used to style, be sure to apply a heat protectant beforehand!​
-
Something I strongly recommend for anyone with fine or thin hair is a hair topper. These hairpieces are affordable and look great!
​
-
for trims: I know that it's hard to part with length, especially when there's less hair- but it's important to remove dry, damaged ends before they start splitting and breaking off. After some time, you'll notice your hair gets a little more tangled, a little more frizzy, flyaway, or flat, or just a little less cooperative in general... this is an indicator that it's time for a trim! The exact time frame is different for each individual, but on average, 3-5 weeks for shorter hair, 4-6 weeks for medium-length hair, and 6-8 weeks for long hair is a good time to start planning a salon visit for a trim!
-
For more product recommendations, visit the Hair Care Menu and choose the product type you're looking for. Every category includes recommendations for products that suit fine and thin hair!
I know life gets busy, and sometimes remembering when to book an appointment can get put on the back burner, but no worries! I will be sending you a standard reminder, based on your individual services and preferences discussed upon your last visit. You are welcome to book sooner or later than that at your leisure, of course. I look forward to seeing you again!
Thin, actively thinning, fragile or naturally fine hair is a pain point for many. Most of us were born with "baby fine" hair, but some never grew out of that phase. Others experience hair loss later on in life or because of circumstances at any point in life. No matter what causes it, fine or thin hair is considered less than ideal because of the emphasis society puts on external beauty, and because of how it defines what beauty consists of.
There are so many reasons why hair ends up being thin or fragile:
Over Processing- coloring, lightening (bleaching), perming and relaxing the hair open up the cuticle of the hair and deplete moisture. The hair can only take so much before it becomes fragile and breaks off.
Mental Stress- Unfortunately, stress is a natural part of life. Too much stress can actually cause hair loss. The mind and body are very much interconnected.
Mechanical Stress- Too much heat styling, tight braiding or ponytails, extension applications, rough brushing, swimming, sun exposure... all of these quite literally burn or stretch the hair to its breaking point!
Medications- Probably the #1 culprit of hair thinning and hair loss, and almost everyone takes medication for something. Blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, antidepressants, even the very popular GLP-1 drugs- it doesn't really matter what is taken, as I've seen hair loss in clients who take just one of these or other pharmaceuticals.
Hormonal Changes- Just as many humans develop hair or thicker hair during puberty, sudden changes in hormones like menopause, pregnancy, or hysterectomy can cause hair loss or change in women.
Illness- a phenomenon widely discussed in the beauty industry was sudden and often extreme hair loss in clients during the Covid-19 pandemic. This also occurs with flu, scarlet fever and pneumonia. It's called telogen effluvium, which is a type of stress-related hair loss, and illness is indeed a stressful time.
Aging- just as the production of melanin decreases with age (which causes hair to "go gray"), so does collagen production, sebum (natural oil) production, follicle production, and cell regeneration.
Genetics- For men, male pattern baldness usually results from a genetic sensitivity to DHT, a byproduct of testosterone, which causes hair follicles to shrink over time.
Just about everyone has one or more of these factors affecting their hair.​