When you comb your hair, does your comb come out with significant chunks of it? Or does it appear as if your hair is not as voluminous as it used to be when you look at yourself in the mirror?
Chances are that you are suffering from hair loss, but there is no cause for alarm because it happens and it is okay to freak out.
The good news is that there are ways to reduce or even prevent hair loss but before we get into that, let us look at some of the symptoms of balding.
How to Detect Balding
The following are some signs that you could be balding. You can use them to detect balding at its earliest stage so you can deal with it.
Method 1: A Receding Hairline
This is one of the earliest signs that you are balding. Look out for hair thinning out at your temple or a hairline that looks like a horseshoe or the letter M.
It could be that, or your hairline receding all the way across.
Method 2: Unusual Hair Fall Out
It is normal to see a few hairs on your pillow, comb, or shower drain because as your hair grows, it also sheds a little.
However, if you notice that you are losing a lot of hair at a higher rate, it could be that it is permanently thinning.
Method 3: Thinning Hair at the Crown of your Head
This is also an early sign of balding. If you notice that the hair at the crown of your head or the top back is becoming sparser, you could be balding.
Of course, you may want to use a mirror or ask someone else to examine the area for you since you do not have eyes at the back of your head.
Method 4: Generally Thinning Hair
At times, hair loss begins and progresses at a fixed rate along a bigger area of your head instead of the crown or hairline.
This is what is referred to as invisible balding. How so? Simply because the hair loss is balanced, gradual, and likely to go unnoticed until about half of your hair is lost.
Method 5: Photographic Evidence
You may be unsure of whether you are losing hair and one of the best ways to confirm if it is true is by taking a picture of yourself at a similar angle and lighting as the one you had taken in the past.
That way, you can be able to tell if there are any significant changes as far as the general thickness of your hair and hairline are concerned.
Method 6: Hair Takes Too Long to Grow
The hair growth cycle becomes considerably shorter when it comes to male pattern baldness. A normal growth cycle can last anything between two to six years.
After that, the hair follicles become dormant and you shed that hair. Therefore, the length of your hair depends on how long your cycle lasts.
If you used to grow long, thick hair and that is no longer the case, you might be balding.
Method 7: Heads up from your Barber/Hairdresser
Your hair is not the same as the next person’s – well not unless it is a rare coincidence. Nevertheless, your hairdresser or barber can tell you if there are any changes in your hair that you should be worried about.
Of course, that will only work if the barber in question has been handling your hair for a while. That said; any hair professional can tell you if your hair is exhibiting signs of balding.
Method 8: Measure Balding Using the Hamilton-Norwood Scale
The Norwood scale can help identify your baldness state on a scale of 1 to 7. If you are going through male pattern baldness, you are likely to lose your hair in one of several ways.
This scale also helps in identifying the hair loss pattern progression. This information can help you determine whether or not you’re suffering from hair loss so that you can get the most suitable remedy available.
Learn more about the Hamilton-Norwood Scale here.
Method 9: Microscopic Evaluation
If you are not sure, whether you are balding or not, you may want to see a doctor for a microscopic evaluation of your hair.
The doctor will use a microscope to analyze different parts of your scalp and if there is more than 20% of hair thinning, then you are well on your way to balding.
Here’s a video of what typically happens during a microscopic evaluation meant to detect balding.
Causes of Hair Loss
Now that you know the signs of balding, it is time to get into what causes it. Here are a few causes.
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Hereditary
Are you aware that there is a hereditary condition known as female-pattern baldness or male-pattern baldness?
It is inherited from bloodlines and usually occurs in predictable patterns as you age. Women usually exhibit thinning hair while men spot bald spots and a receding hairline.
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Hormonal Changes
There is an array of conditions that can lead to temporary or permanent hair loss. These include hormonal changes brought about by thyroid issues, menopause, childbirth, and pregnancy.
Medical conditions such as alopecia areata and scalp infections from ringworms can also cause hair loss.
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Medication and Supplements
Some prescription drugs such as those for high blood pressure, gout, heart disease, depression, arthritis, and cancer can cause hair loss.
Dietary supplements can also have the same effect.
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Radiation Therapy
After going through radiation therapy for whatever reason, you may lose hair and it may not grow back to be as thick and healthy as it was.
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Emotional Stress
Most people experience general hair thinning after going through emotional stress or shock. This kind of hair loss is temporary though.
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Hair Coloring and Styling
Hair coloring treatments usually contain harsh chemicals that can cause hair loss.
Besides, hairstyles such as cornrows and pigtails can cause trauma to your hairline and cause thinning around that area.
You’re Losing Hair, What Next?
After all is said and done, you want to put measures in place to ensure that you do not lose any more hair at an alarming rate.
Here are some tactics you can use.
Avoid tight hairstyles, such as cornrows, braids, ponytails, or buns.
~ Stop pulling, rubbing, or twisting, your hair compulsively
~ Be gentle with your hair when brushing or washing. Always use a wide-toothed comb
~ Stay away from hot oil treatments, curling irons, and hot rollers
~ If you can, avoid supplements and medicines that are known to cause hair loss
~ Do not smoke because there is a connection between balding and smoking
~ Ask your physician for a cooling cap if you are undergoing chemotherapy. This cap can help reduce hair loss during the therapy
Most Importantly…Start taking a hair growth supplement that contains Saw Palmetto and Biotin. Saw Palmetto is a DHT blocker and therefore inhibits the production of DHT, a hormone that plays a part in balding.
On the other hand, Biotin enhances the keratin infrastructure in your body. Keratin makes up your hair and nails.
Folexin is one hair growth supplement that brings together those two ingredients. Read our full review of it to learn more.
Final Thoughts
Alopecia or hair loss can begin at any age as you get into adulthood. This means you can start balding as early as in your late teens or early 20s.
That said; balding usually occurs as you get into your twilight years, which is between 50 to 60 years. Therefore, the older you get, the more susceptible you are.
Of course, there are many there reasons why you may be losing your hair ranging from how you treat it to what you eat.
We believe that this article has equipped you with all the information you need about hair loss from the symptoms, causes, and prevention methods.
