Hairstyles for hair loss

If you have thinning hair, you might feel that now more than ever, you are in need of some help with slowing your hair loss, and some advice on what styles may look best when you have to factor in thinning hair. 

So in this article we going to have a quick look at what hair loss is, causes, ways you can prevent hair loss, hairstyles that can contribute to hair loss and hairstyles that might make your feel and look like you have a fuller head of hair. 

What is hair loss?

First things first, hair loss isn’t usually something to be worried about, and we all can lose between 50 and 100 hairs each day, without even noticing. Some types of hair loss are temporary and may be caused by illness, stress, cancer treatment or weight loss. However, some types of hair loss are permanent, such as male pattern baldness. 

Some key types of hair loss include:

• Male pattern baldness
• Female pattern baldness (find out more about hair loss in women here)
• Alopecia areata
• Telogen effluvium

For more information about types of hair loss, causes and symptoms visit our hair loss clinic and advice pages. 

How can I prevent hair loss?

Hair loss doesn’t necessarily need to be treated. If it’s temporary, it is likely to grow back, and for some people it is just a normal part of getting older. 
However, hair loss can cause people distress and they may want to try to slow, or even prevent their hair loss. So here’s some of the options available to you:

Finasteride

For men, Finasteride (sometimes known by its branded version Propecia), is a prescription-only treatment used to slow, and in some cases, halt male pattern baldness. This kind of hair loss occurs when the hair follicles on the head start turning testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

When DHT builds up it causes the hair follicles to get smaller, weaker and then they fall out. This means hair growth slows down and eventually stops. Finasteride blocks the action of DHT, reducing hair loss and in some cases promoting regrowth. 

Minoxidil (Regaine)

Minoxidil (which is widely known as the brand Regaine) works by helping blood flow to the hair follicles and increasing follicular size and hair shaft diameter, stimulating and prolonging hair growth. You can order Regaine for Men and Regaine for Women on the LloydsPharmacy Online Doctor website.

You can also request a bundle that contains both Finasteride and Regaine, as these treatments can be used together. 

Wigs and hair pieces

Wearing a wig doesn’t treat your hair loss, but it does help to cover it up, which might make you feel more confident. 

Camouflage

Camouflage in the context of hair loss means wearing makeup or a concealer on bald patches to cover them up. 

Hair transplants

Hair transplants are a type of surgery used to try and tackle hair loss. During the procedure you’ll have hair follicles taken from one part of your head and ‘planted’ in the bald patches. These newly planted follicles should then grow as healthy hair in those previously bald patches. 

Best hairstyles for hair loss

If you are experiencing hair loss or thinning hair, you might not want to slow it down and in fact may want to maximise the hair that you have with a certain hairstyle. 

The buzz cut

The buzz cut is often the name given to a ‘tennis-ball’ style, once-over with the clippers. However, the buzz cut has its own variants (including 0.5-1 all over, or a fade on the sides), and is a great style for you to adopt if you want to experiment with shorter hair. 

The crew cut

A crew cut is a style which features short strands on top of the head, graduating in length (with the longest at the front and the shortest at the back). The hair on the sides tends to be shorter than the top and faded. This style might be good for those who experience hair loss at the back of their head. 

The mop-top

If your hair has grown a lot, or you’ve been seeing good results from a hair loss treatment, now might be time to try the classic mop-top. Inspired by the swinging 60s and its fashion, the mop-top makes the most of longer hair. If you are balding at the back of your head, this also may be a good way to cover up any bald patches. 

The slick back

The slick back is a style in which the longer hairs at the front of the head are pulled back over the head in an arch. Product is used to hold the hair in place. This is another great style for covering any bald patches you might have noticed on the crown or top of your head. 

Grow facial hair

This is commonly combined with a buzz cut to draw attention away from the hair line as well as helping accentuate jawline and other facial features.

Hairstyles that cause hair loss

While there are lots of hairstyles that can help mask hair loss, there are in fact some hairdos that can cause hair loss or make it worse. Often these hair styles involve pulling the hair back, this constant pulling can result in a type of hair loss known as traction alopecia. 

Tight buns/ponytails

Wearing your hair scraped back in a tight bun or ponytail(s) can put a lot of tension on your hair and potentially cause it to fall out. 

Cornrows, tight braids or dreadlocks

These styles put a lot of pressure on your hair, as their pulled, braided and in some cases become very heavy. This pressure can cause your hair to fall out. 

Hair extensions/weaves

These additions pull on your natural hair and make your hair heavier than it would be naturally. This weight and tension can then cause your hair to fall out. 

As you can see there’s lots of hair styles to consider and to avoid if you’re experiencing hair loss. If you’re concerned about your hair loss, or if it’s sudden, you should speak to your GP to make sure everything is okay. 
For more information about types of hair loss, causes and symptoms visit our hair loss clinic. 

References

https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/hair-loss/causes/hairstyles