Causes and Treatments for Black Male Hair Thinning on Top
Many men take a lot of pride in their hair and their overall appearance, and that is why most of us hate hair thinning. There are numerous causes of hair thinning, but the good news is that today, we will see practical ways how you can slow it down and other important tips.
This article is specifically related to the causes and treatments for black male hair thinning on top.
What is Hair Thinning?
Let’s start by defining hair thinning for the sake of those who are new to this. Many people confuse hair thinning with widespread hair loss that leads to baldness, known as alopecia. They are different.
The term “hair thinning” refers to minor to moderate hair loss that doesn’t necessarily lead to baldness. However, as the name suggests, it creates thinner spots of hair in the affected part.
What Do We Mean By Black Male Hair Thinning on Top?
Today, we will focus on black male hair thinning on top. By this, we mean most of the hair loss is on the top or crown of the head and not necessarily the sides or nape.
One important aspect of thinning is that it takes place gradually. In other words, this condition typically gives you adequate time to identify the underlying causes and choose the most suitable treatment measures.
Moreover, to some degree, hair thinning is normal. So, black males who experience the condition should not consider it strange. So, instead of worrying, find the causes and start the right treatment at a good time.
What Causes Black Male Hair Thinning on Top?
According to research, it is also quite normal to lose between 50 and 100 hair strands per day.
That’s fine though because the typical person has about 100,000 hair strands and they grow back rapidly. So, anything above losing 100 strands per day should trigger you to action as above this amount, you will begin to see thinning.
Here are the major elements that cause hair thinning in black men:
1. Lifestyle
Your lifestyle can determine how much hair you lose per day. For example, if you over-treat your hair or use perms, relaxers, color treatments, and the like, you could begin experiencing hair thinking on the top.
Other behaviors such as using extreme-hold hair gels and sprays could expose anyone to the risk. Using temporary colors is also likely to hurt your hair.
Another dangerous behavior is wearing your hair up without proper care. Some people pull up their hair in a ponytail for exercising and end up losing their hair. This particularly happens if it breaks the hair from the follicles.
2. Genetics
Male hair thinning on top occurs in some blacks due to genetic reasons and regardless of hair type or race.
However, black men with afro hair are more likely to experience this problem due to their hair’s fragility.
3. Nutrient Insufficiency
Follicles require folic acid, iron, and other minerals to produce healthy hair naturally. If you don’t eat a well-balanced diet, you are prone to experiencing hair thinning and other complications.
4. Health Reasons
Health conditions like excessive itching and eating disorders and diseases can negatively affect your immune system. This can consequently interfere with the normal functioning of your body.
5. Acute Stress
According to Mayo Clinic, acute stress puts your health at risk. It prompts the adrenal glands to release a steroid hormone known as cortisol. Other hormones that stress triggers the body to release are adrenaline and norepinephrine.
Too much production of these hormones hinders the normal operation of follicles.
The common stress-related conditions that we need to avoid are:
- Telogen Effluvium: It is best known for causing hair thinning and hair shedding.
- It is reversible and the easiest to treat
- Trichotillomania: This is an advanced side effect of stress and anxiety. If one fails to seek the right care in time, it could destroy the hair follicles and the scalp.
- Alopecia areata: This involves the immune system attacking and damaging your hair follicles.
Other less common causes of black hair thinning on top are:
- High fever
- Eating disorders
- Removing your hair
How to Prevent and Treat Black Male Hair Thinning on Top
You can easily prevent your hair from thinning on top. A simple lifestyle change could be all you need.
However, it requires that you should be proactive and maintain a healthy lifestyle. On the other hand, when it comes to treatment, you may need to work closely with your medical doctor.
Here are the most efficient ways to prevent and treat this hair condition.
1. Use Essential Oils
This is a major one for me, both for preventing and treating hair loss. Essential oils can be a very important factor to prevent and treat black male hair thinning.
Essential oils are derived from certain plants and have no side effects. Healthline singles out lavender oil as an effective solution for some hair problems. For the best result, you should combine it with other essential oils.
2. Eat Well-Balanced Diet
If your current diet is not well-balanced, you should improve it now to prevent hair thinning. Whenever you think your meal is not a balanced diet, ensure it will provide:
- Vitamin A: Best for regulating retinoic acid in your hair follicles
- Vitamin B: Help you to manage stress
- Vitamin C, D, & E: Your hair and the entire body need them to stay healthy
- Protein
- Omega-3 fatty acids
- Iron
3. Stay Hydrated
Since 25% of your hair follicles are water, the hair will grow as required when you drink adequate water daily.
As a black man, this is something that you cannot ignore. Your follicle could dry up, and you cannot repair your hair once this takes place.
4. Change Your Hair Lifestyle
Keep your hair clean always and avoid activities such as pulling your hair, over-treating your hair, and using extreme-hold hair gels and sprays. Use oils and soap designed for black men’s heads.
5. Reduce Stress and Stay Healthy
Being stressed is not necessarily a bad thing. Stress helps you to work hard to achieve your goals.
However, acute stress can destroy your hair and health. As we have seen, you can control it by eating a well-balanced diet. If that seems not to work, seek medical attention in time.
You should do the same whenever you have any other health concerns.
6. Go for Anti-thinning Shampoo
It is said that anti-thinning shampoos make your hair look thicker. The fact is, these shampoos won’t work if you’re using them to treat male pattern hair loss and have no other underlying conditions. Moreover, they are not clinically proven to support hair regrowth.
However, you are better off using these shampoos than regular shampoos because they contain amino acids and vitamins that your follicles need to produce healthier hair.
7. Use Folic Acid Supplements
Many black men have successfully used folic acid to boost their new cell generation. Like multivitamins, they can also make your hair thicker.
8. Use A Good Brush
A good brush will stimulate your scape by getting the blood flowing and encouraging hair growth. better yet, use a good brush after rubbing in essential oils. Here we have a list of good hair brushes for thin hair.
9. Consult A Male Hair Clinic
If all else fails, it is time to get in the expert. Consult a male hair clinic. These professionals specialize in hair treatment and use advanced treatment methods to reinvigorate your scalp and encourage hair growth.
Two good examples are the Belgravia Centre out of the UK as well as Vinci Hair Clinic which has offices in serval countries including the UK and USA.
How to Live with Hair Thinning
We mentioned something to the effect that we are often emotional about hair thinning and that’s true.
That is true since hair is a central part of our identity as men. What should you do if you cannot treat hair thinning as you wish?
Here are a few things that you can do to preserve your natural male ego:
- Try A New Hairstyle: Try a new hairstyle that minimizes the appearance of the thinned top.
- Shave Off: Keep your hair short or go bald. You may be shocked about how much better you look!
- Accept it: Be confident and proud of how your hair looks.
Can Hair Grow Back After Thinning?
If the reason for the hair thinning is caused by genetics, then it can’t grow back on its own.
If you want to grow it back, it will require much effort from your end such as reviewing different hair loss options.
The most recommended solution is seeking out proven, FDA-approved treatments to help fix the issue. Avoid using shortcuts because you may end up with bad results
Does Masturbation Cause Hairfall?
No, masturbation doesn’t contribute to any hair loss. If you’ve heard such a thing, then know that it’s a myth because people think that semen contains protein. The idea is that with each ejaculation, the body loses protein that it would otherwise use for hair growth.
However, this isn’t true. Masturbation doesn’t contribute to any hair loss issue at all.
Does Biotin Help with Thinning Hair?
Absolutely! Biotin can assist with hair regrowth. There is some research that suggests that increased intake of biotin can improve overall hair quality, including thickness and shine.
Wrap Up
Hair thinning on top is natural for many black men, but losing your hair can still be distressing. So, you need to focus on slowing the process by using the methods above.
If none of them seem to give you the desired result fast enough, you can consider accepting your new hair as it is. Otherwise, don’t give up hope, try new things, and continue with the treatment.