Hair Loss Blog
Welcome to the myhair blog — your source for everything you want to know about hair. If you're trying to find out more about a new hair loss treatment, interested in learning more about certain hair care products, or just want some hairstyle advice, you've come to the right place. All of our content is created, fact-checked, and reviewed by our expert editorial team and qualified medical professionals.
Diffuse thinning (Why it happens and how to treat it)
Losing a little bit of hair each day is normal. But when more hair is lost, it can be a sign of hair thinning. Diffuse thinning, which occurs when lost hair is shed evenly across the scalp, can be due to several types of hair loss, including androgenic alopecia, alopecia areata, and telogen effluvium.
The Norwood scale (What it is and how it’s used)
The Norwood scale (best known as the Norwood-Hamilton scale) is a classification system for male pattern hair loss. It’s based off of the 8-stage Hamilton scale, which Norwood expanded in 1975. Today, the Norwood-Hamilton scale features 12 possible stages of pattern hair loss.
Understanding hair types
Andre Walker first developed a system to categorize hair types in the 1990s. Since then, it’s been expanded to include 12 hair subtypes. These subtypes are broken down into four main categories: type 1 (straight), type 2 (wavy), type 3 (curly), and type 4 (coily).
Understanding different alopecia types
Androgenic alopecia is the main reason people go bald — but there are many other conditions that cause people to lose hair. These include autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata, stress-related hair loss (formally known as telogen effluvium), traction alopecia, and other forms of hair loss.
Does a baldness gene cause hair loss?
There’s no individual gene responsible for androgenic alopecia. Instead, a number of different factors are responsible for the progression of this type of hair loss, including epigenetics, your diet, hormonal changes, and hundreds of genetic loci. The multifactorial aspect of this condition is part of what makes it so hard to treat!
Does wearing a hat cause hair loss?
Wearing a hat is unlikely to be the cause behind your hair loss. In fact, unless you’re wearing a very tight-fitting hat all the time, there’s little chance your head covering has impacted your hair health at all. Most people with hair loss have a partially hereditary condition known as pattern baldness.
Is it possible to stop hair loss?
Most people experiencing hair loss symptoms are seeing signs of androgenic alopecia, the most common type of hair loss. This condition, often referred to as male pattern baldness, has three FDA-approved treatment options: minoxidil, finasteride, and LLLT. All of the options have been shown to stop hair loss from getting worse and promote hair regrowth.
What is DHT and how is it related to hair loss?
Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) is a hormone that’s been associated with the progression of androgenic alopecia. When DHT binds to hair follicles, the hairs produced get thinner and smaller. Eventually, they stop being produced completely. Blocking DHT can help prevent future hair loss and stop the progression of androgenic alopecia.
Signs of balding you should watch out for
Many hair loss disorders have the potential to cause balding. The most common cause, androgenic alopecia, is a condition that causes permanent hair loss over time. If you know this condition runs in your family and you don’t want to lose your hair, you’ll need to start a treatment as soon as you see the first signs of hair loss.