Thinning hair in men is often commonly attributed to genetics or to age. However, there are other causes that can contribute to this unfortunate affliction. These causes can include way that you choose to style your hair, the products you use on your hair, the types of combs and brushes you use and the force and manner in which you comb or brush your hair. All of these factors can contribute to permanent hair loss and thinning.
One of the most harmful styles for your hair is the ponytail. At least two elements contribute to hair loss and thinning in this particular hairstyle. The first is the fact that the hair must be pulled back tightly. This tight pulling causes the hair root shafts in the front area to become loose and eventually fall out. The longer you keep your hair in a ponytail, the more the root shafts become weakened and let go. So even if you are not prone to “hereditary male pattern baldness”, you may look like you have it anyway.
The second aspect of the ponytail style that causes hair loss and thinning is the tie or rubber band that holds the ponytail back. Regardless of the material used in the tie or band, it also contributes to the pressure in the front that causes those root shafts to weaken and fall out. Because the root shaft is affected, the damage is most likely to be permanent.
If you must wear your hair in a ponytail, try to use the type of band that is covered by material. Unfortunately due to vanity, many men tend to think of these fabric-covered ties as “girlish” and tend to avoid them. The less material covering the rubber band, the more damage will be inflicted on the immediately enclosed hair shafts because the rubber tends to dig into the hair shafts and break them. A plain old rubber band is the worst of all.
Another problem with the band or tie used to secure a ponytail is how tightly it is secured. Because obviously men do not want their ponytails to fall out and have constantly re-tie them, they tend to wrap them around their hair as tightly as possible. This will also contribute to hair breakage and thinning.
Braids and cornrows can also promote thinning and breakage of men’s hair, for the same reasons that ponytails do. Tight pulling results in hair shafts being pulled from the roots, and tightly wrapped rubber bands and ties as well as tightly wrapped braids result in breakage of the hair shafts along the entire areas that are braided or cornrowed.
The type of comb or brush used can also affect the health of the hair. Combs with teeth that are very close together will tend to pull and break the hair shafts as they are being combed. The same principle applied to hairbrushes that have bristles that are set close together. Wide toothed combs are the safest bet to keep your hair in its best condition, as are brushes with bristles that are set wider apart (kind of like dog brushes).
The types of hair care products you use can also affect unnatural and premature hair thinning. Many of these products contain toxic ingredients including but not limited to propylene glycol, parabens, artificial coloring, synthetic fragrance, sodium lauryl sulfate and mineral oil (which is a petroleum by-product!). Such ingredients have been proven to cause skin irritation, hair loss, allergies, premature aging and damage to internal organs over time, to name just a few. Spending a few more dollars on quality products made with natural and healthy ingredients will save not only your hair, but also your health and your bank account in the long run. Make sure to always read the ingredient lists on hair products before purchasing.
Another styling habit that can affect unnecessary hair thinning is the way you brush or comb your hair. Brush or comb gently, starting with the ends and working slowly and carefully upwards as soon as the lower parts brush or comb out smoothly. If you start in the middle or at the top of your head, or if you are not gentle, you might yank through snarls or tangles, which will break the hair.
If you follow these tips, you will be much more likely to have thicker and fuller hair for a long time to come!