Thin-hair solutions aren’t exactly hard to find: There are a multitude of products that claim to help grow hair or make it look and feel thicker. But truly effective products for thinning hair are a different story. Formulations that actually have the results and clinicals to back up their efficacy are few and far between—plus, the right solution may ultimately depend on the type of hair thinning you’re experiencing.
That’s because there’s no singular culprit for thin hair. “Thinning hair could be androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium, and traction, or scarring, alopecia,” says Divya Shokeen, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Southern California. “These are different diseases requiring different treatments.”
Vogue’s Favorite Thin-Hair Solutions:
It’s helpful to go to a dermatologist first to get to the source of your hair loss, because they can help direct you before you go down a rabbit hole of treatments. “Some forms of hair thinning, such as telogen effluvium resulting from stress or illness, are often reversible once the trigger is addressed,” says Jenna Queller, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Boca Raton, Florida. “Nutritional deficiencies and certain hormonal imbalances can also improve with appropriate treatment.” And androgenic alopecia (female pattern hair loss), which can be related to aging, genetics, and hormones, is trickier to treat, but certain solutions can help, according to Dr. Shokeen.
It’s especially important to see a dermatologist if you see increased shedding that lasts more than a few months, you notice a widening of your part, or visible scalp is showing through the hair, because early treatment can go a long way—and they could indicate that there’s something more going on within the body. In the meantime, these at-home solutions for thin hair may help you see some improvement. Here’s what the experts recommend.
