Female Pattern Baldness

What Are the Main Causes of Female Pattern Baldness?

Table of Content:

Key Takeaways

  • Female Pattern Baldness (FPB) is a genetic and hormone-linked condition that causes gradual hair thinning in women.
  • Unlike men, women don’t get bald patches. They experience widening hair part, thinning on the top, and frontal hair thinning in women.
  • The most common causes include genetics, hormonal imbalance, PCOS, chronic stress, thyroid disorders, and nutritional deficiencies.
  • Natural remedies like scalp massages, hair-strengthening diets, and herbal hair care products can help manage early-stage thinning.

In This Article

Key Takeaways

What Is Female Pattern Baldness? The Hidden Reasons Behind Hair Thinning

How Female Pattern Baldness Progresses: Early Signs of Balding to Noticeable Hair Thinning

Main Causes Of Female Pattern Baldness & How To Address Them

  1. PCOS
  2. Chronic Stress & Cortisol Spikes
  3. Thyroid Disorders
  4. Nutritional Deficiencies

Simple Natural Remedies For Female Pattern Baldness

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you see more scalp between your hair when you comb it? Is your choti getting thinner every month? These can be signs of female pattern baldness. This condition can gradually cause hair thinning and balding, and if you don’t take any steps in time, the damage may be permanent.

This blog is your guide to understanding female pattern baldness, recognizing early signs of balding, and natural remedies for female pattern baldness. 

What Is Female Pattern Baldness? The Hidden Reasons Behind Hair Thinning

Female pattern baldness is a genetic and hormone-linked condition in which women start losing hair.Among healthy women, approximately 38% experience some degree of frontal hair loss. (1) 

While men develop bald patches, hair loss in women is quite different. FPB, or female pattern baldness, causes

  • Widened hair partition or maang
  • Reduced density of hair on the crown
  • Thinner hair or weak strands
  • Fine hair with visible scalp

The main causes of female pattern baldness are genetics or hormonal imbalance. DHT sensitivity, aging, or PCOS can also cause female pattern hair loss.

How Female Pattern Baldness Progresses: Early Signs of Balding to Noticeable Hair Thinning

Female Pattern Baldness or Female Pattern Hair Loss does not appear suddenly. It develops slowly and gradually, which is why many women don’t notice it in the early stages. Here are the early signs of balding:

1. Widening of the hair part

One of the earliest indicators is a gradual widening of the central hair part (maang). The scalp becomes more visible when you part your hair in the middle, even though the overall length seems normal, which is why women miss this early sign of balding.

2. Thinning hair on top of head in women

Thinning hair on the top of the head in women is another early sign of balding. This happens because follicles begin miniaturizing, which means producing finer, weaker strands.

3. Hair thinning at front (female)

Unlike men, women usually don’t get a receding hairline. Instead, they notice hair looking flatter at the front or more scalp visibility when the hair is pulled back.

4. More hair shedding than usual

FPHL doesn’t always cause sudden hair fall. But you might notice more strands on the pillow or in the shower.

Main Causes Of Female Pattern Baldness & How To Address Them

Female Pattern Baldness (FPB), or Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL), is caused by several reasons. Here are some female pattern hair loss causes: 

1. Genetics & Family History

Genetics is the strongest and most common cause of female pattern baldness.
Certain genes make the hair follicles more sensitive to DHT (dihydrotestosterone), which shrinks follicles over time, causing thinner and shorter hair.

2. Hormonal Imbalances 

Hormones play a key role in how hair grows and sheds. If you have excess androgens or high DHT levels, you might face balding or hair loss.

As per a research paper published in the Oxford Academic, when estrogen drops and androgens become relatively dominant, hair density reduces. (2)

3. PCOS

There is a huge role of PCOS in female pattern baldness and hair thinning. 

Women with PCOS often experience frontal thinning because their bodies produce more androgens, which trigger follicle miniaturization.

4. Chronic Stress & Cortisol Spikes

Stress increases cortisol, a hormone that disrupts the hair cycle.

Stress can push hair into the shedding phase, which speeds up the progression of female pattern baldness.

Women experiencing chronic stress are more prone to accelerated thinning.

5. Thyroid Disorders

Thyroid hormones directly control hair growth. When they are imbalanced, follicles shrink and produce weaker strands, contributing to female pattern baldness. Both hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism affect the hair cycle.

6. Nutritional Deficiencies

Nutrient gaps don’t directly cause FPHL, but they speed up the thinning process. If you lack iron, Vitamin D, biotin, zinc, protein, or omega-3, you can experience hair thinning.

Stress and nutritional deficiencies causing female hair thinning can be controlled, and balding can be prevented if you act in time.

Simple Natural Remedies For Female Pattern Baldness

Now that you know the female hair loss causes and lifestyle habits that worsen female pattern baldness, let’s talk about the solution. Here are some natural remedies for female pattern baldness:

1. Add hibiscus to your hair care routine

Hibiscus is an underrated hero for your hair. Rich in antioxidants, hibiscus nourishes, strengthens, and hydrates your hair. Whether you use a hibiscus mask or a hibiscus shampoo, adding this ingredient to your hair care routine can make a huge difference.

Grandma Secret’s curry leaves & hibiscus shampoo is the best shampoo for hair growth.

best shampoo for hair growth

2. Regular scalp massages

Use homemade hair growth oil and massage your scalp for 15 minutes every other day.

homemade hair growth oil

3. Add protein to your diet

Providing nourishment to your hair from within is equally important. Include flaxseeds, amla, yoghurt, nuts, and leafy greens in your diet. You can also eat eggs if you are a non-vegetarian.

4. Use natural hair care products

Use ayurvedic or herbal hair loss products that are designed to reduce hair loss. Our hair care combo with hairfall control shampoo, oil, and conditioner can help reduce your hair fall.

5. Manage Stress

You know about stress and nutritional deficiencies causing female hair thinning, so it is obvious that managing stress is essential to reducing your hair loss. Journaling, meditating, exercises, and aromatherapy can help manage stress.

6. Eat Hormone Balancing Foods

Almonds, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, flaxseeds, chia seeds, cruciferous vegetables, and leafy greens help balance your hormones. Avoid sugary foods, ultra-processed foods, or fried snacks. 

All these natural remedies for female pattern baldness work for the early signs of balding. However, if you have the 2nd or 3rd stage of hair loss, it is best to consult a professional and get help.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can genetics cause female pattern baldness in mothers and daughters?

Yes, genetics is the biggest cause of female pattern baldness. If your mother or grandmother has experienced FPB, you might likely have inherited it. 

How menopause triggers female pattern baldness and scalp visibility?

During menopause, estrogen levels drop sharply, while androgens become relatively stronger. This leads to thinner hair, widening of the parting line, and increased scalp visibility.

Why does hair thinning at the front happen in women?

The hair follicles in the front of the head are more sensitive to androgen. When hormones shift, these follicles begin to miniaturise. Even though the hairline usually does not recede, the hair becomes thinner.

Why does hair loss in women start at the crown and parting line?

It can be because of the traction caused by tight hairstyles. The hair follicles that constantly experience traction can become more sensitive to DHT as well. 

How aging affects hair follicle shrinkage in females?

With age, the hair growth cycle shortens, and follicles spend more time in the resting (shedding) phase. Plus, after menopause, the estrogen level dips, which causes further hair thinning and balding.

How common is female pattern baldness?

Female Pattern Baldness is very common. More than 40% women above the age of 40 experience female pattern baldness. This can be higher in women after menopause.

References

1. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6322157/

2. https://academic.oup.com/jcem/article/104/7/2875/5342938


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Nidhi Tuteja Dua

Nidhi Tuteja Dua

Nidhi is the heart and soul behind Nidhi’s Grandmaa Secret, a brand that is born from love, tradition, and a mother's grit to start again. In 2013, Nidhi left her job as a software engineer as she realized that her child needed her more than her career did. That is when she made the difficult but brief decision to step away from work and devote herself to her son. 

For six years, motherhood became her world. But deep inside, Nidhi wanted to rediscover herself. During the COVID-19 pandemic, both Nidhi and her mother-in-law began experiencing severe hair loss. Inspired by her grandmother's ancient Ayurvedic recipes, our story truly began when Nidhi started hand-crafting an anti-hair fall oil at home. What started as self-care soon became a gift that she shared with friends who simply couldn't stop raving about it. This encouragement sparked something truly powerful. With her family's support, Nidhi took the leap and founded Nidhi’s Grandmaa Secret to transform her grandmother's wisdom into a full range of handmade, chemical-free hair care products. 

Through Nidhi’s Grandmaa Secret, Nidhi is not just nourishing hair in the best way possible, but also empowering women everywhere to believe in themselves.

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