A Woman's Thinning Hair and Age

Woman looking up to check her hair for thinning — Photo: Depositphotos

Q: At what age does a woman's hair start thinning?

A: Hair loss among women is a very common condition, but it is not universal. A woman won't necessarily start losing her hair at a specific age, aside from the normal shedding that occurs daily. In fact, it is completely normal to shed roughly 50 to 100 hairs per day as part of the natural hair growth cycle.

When and if you will experience thinning hair (and how noticeable it will become) are largely determined by genetic and hormonal factors. If you are genetically predisposed to female pattern hair loss, the process can begin as early as your late teens or twenties. However, it becomes much more prevalent with age: nearly 40 to 50 percent of women will experience some degree of hair loss by the age of 50, often accelerating around menopause.

When genetics are the cause, the condition is medically known as androgenetic alopecia. In women, this typically presents as a diffuse thinning across the top and crown of the scalp, usually leaving the front hairline intact, rather than the receding hairline or bald patches typically seen in men.

If you want to gauge your genetic risk, you should look at the hair patterns of both your maternal and paternal relatives - including your mother, father, aunts, uncles, and grandparents. Because hair loss is a complex genetic trait inherited from both sides of the family, looking at just your mother's side won't give you the full picture. If a pattern of thinning is prevalent on either side, it may give you a general age range for when to start watching for early signs.

Infographic - A woman's thinning hair and age

If you are concerned about hair thinning, the best course of action is to consult a doctor or a dermatologist. Highly effective treatment options are available - such as topical or oral minoxidil and anti-androgen therapies - which work best when started early. You should absolutely see a doctor if your hair begins thinning rapidly or if there is no history of hair loss in your family.

Sudden thinning can be a symptom of an underlying medical issue, such as a thyroid imbalance, iron deficiency, rapid weight loss, severe stress, or poor diet. These factors can trigger a temporary shedding condition called telogen effluvium by prematurely forcing hair follicles into a resting phase. Fortunately, once the underlying health issue or hormonal imbalance is identified and corrected, the normal hair growth cycle typically resumes.

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See also:

Hair loss

Thin hair and layers

The difference between fine hair and thin hair

Are bob hairstyles a good idea when you have thin hair?

Is it true that shaving your head makes your hair thicker?