One of the most upsetting problems that a curly girl may face is curly hair loss. Unfortunately, it’s not just an issue for men. Women also struggle with hair loss due to a wide variety of causes. It can even be a sign of an serious health condition. In this post, we’ll explore 7 possible causes of curly hair loss, and how to deal with it.

Keep reading to learn what causes curly hair loss and what to do about it.

How does curly hair grow?

Before we understand what makes hair fall out, it’s important to understand the normal growth cycle of hair. Each strand goes through a cycle of varying length.

A single hair strand starts its life in the hair follicle in the outer layer of the scalp. As the follicle produces new hair cells, it pushes the existing hair cells outward to form keratin hair strands.

1. The anagen phase, or growth phase, comes first. In this stage, which can last 2-6 years, the hair cells are growing rapidly.
2. The second phase is the catagen phase, or transition phase. Here, growth stops, and the hair prepares to fall out. It forms a club, a tiny rounded bulb at the follicle level. This stage lasts about 3 weeks.
3. The third phase is the telogen phase, or resting phase. The club hairs are fully mature and can fall out at any time. You will typically lose about 100 club hairs per day. This phase lasts about three months.

If other factors affect your hair, it can cause an imbalance between how many hairs are growing and how many are shedding. This can cause visible thinning of the hair.

How much hair loss is normal?

As stated above, it is normal to lose 50-100 hair follicles per day. But, if you are using a gel, you will probably not lose that many hairs per day because they are tightly locked together in curls. Instead, you will lose more hair when you wash and detangle your curls. This is perfectly normal in most cases.

If you wash your hair once every 3 days, you can expect to lose anywhere from 150-300 hairs when you wash it. Depending on how long your hair is, that can be a big clump. But, if you suddenly see an increase in the amount of hair you shed, that is when you should be concerned.

Possible Causes of Hair Loss

Cause 1: Tight Hairstyles

Did you know that tight hairstyles can actually contribute to hair loss? Wearing tight braids, cornrows, extensions, and other high-tension styles can cause hair loss at the edges, nape, and crown of your head. You can also get hair loss from wearing these styles for too long at a time. 

Solution: Healthier Hairstyles

If you are going to wear tight braids, cornrows, etc., be sure to go to a professional stylist. And only wear them for the recommended length of time. This will reduce your risk of hair loss.

Otherwise, choose looser hairstyles like pineapples, messy buns, and loose ponytails. Wear your hair down more often. And choose safe hair accessories like Zazzy Bandz and silk scrunchies. Also, avoid using hair ties that contain metal. These can cause unnecessary hair loss and breakage.

Cause 2: Hormonal Changes or Childbirth

During pregnancy, increased estrogen will cause a woman’s hair to grow faster, and she loses less hair than normal. Three months after delivery, estrogen and other hormones return to normal levels. The hair loss that would have otherwise happened during pregnancy happens at this point. It is only temporary and can last up to three months. 

Solution: Be Patient

Because this hair loss is temporary, don’t panic. It will grow back! To help your hair bounce back, continue taking a prenatal vitamin. Avoid tight ponytails and braids. Eat a healthy diet with fresh produce to provide nutrients for your hair. Use as little heat styling as possible, and be very gentle with your hair.

Cause 3: Hormonal Changes During Menopause

Some women are genetically predisposed to hair loss during menopause. While the ovaries stop producing estrogen, they continue to produce androgens. These male sex hormones can cause hair loss and thinning.

Solution: Talk to Your Doc

Depending on the specific cause for hair loss, a doctor may prescribe hormone therapy or a medication like Rogaine. They may also suggest a herbal remedy, such as saw palmetto. Women with menopausal hair loss should also reduce stress through exercise, take an iron supplement, and eat a healthier diet. If you are losing hair and suspect it may be due to menopause, talk to your doctor.

Cause 4: Nutritional Deficiency

Hair loss may also be caused or aggravated by a poor diet. Unfortunately, the modern North American diet is sadly lacking in vitamins and essential minerals. This can definitely contribute to hair loss.

Solution: A Healthy Diet

To keep your hair healthy, ensure that you are getting vitamins and essential minerals, especially iron. Eat a balanced diet, including a variety of meat, eggs, and fish, and not forgetting dark green vegetables and legumes. You should also eat healthy complex carbohydrates and proteins. 

Interestingly enough, your metabolism doesn’t prioritize the nutritional needs of your hair, according to the hair brand Philip Kingsley. If you don’t have enough of a certain nutrient, your metabolism will send the limited quantity to your internal organs. It wants to keep your essential tissues functioning first. “Your hair is the second fastest growing cell in your body, the fastest being your intestinal cells.” [Source] 

With that in mind, it’s critical that we consume enough vital nutrients for all of our body’s needs, including our hair. 

Cause 5: An Undiagnosed Health Condition

Hair loss can also be triggered by an autoimmune condition, thyroid issue, skin disease or infections.

Solution: Talk to Your Doc

If you are experiencing hair loss with no apparent reason, talk to your family doctor. Be sure to mention if you have any family history of autoimmune conditions or thyroid issues. Doctors can prescribe additional tests, including a blood test. This will help you address any underlying health issues before they become too serious.

Cause 6: Stress

Your mom was right! Stress really can cause your hair to fall out. It causes your body to produce more of five hormones: growth hormone, thyroxin, glucagon, adrenaline, and glucocorticoids. Higher levels of these hormones causes your blood sugars to rise, which triggers hyperglycemia (a diabetic state). If stress continues, these hormones will then fall and cause your body to enter hypoglycemia. Both conditions cause hair loss. [Source] 

Solution: Reduce Stress

Easier said than done, the solution is to reduce stress in your life. Take a walk outdoors. Exercise regularly. If you are a person of faith, pray more. Learn to distinguish between what you can control and what you can’t. Let go of things you can’t control, and focus on what you are responsible for. Learn about the practice of mindfulness. Keep a gratitude journal. These simple habits will greatly reduce the stress in your life.

Cause 7: Chemical Hair Treatments

Even worse than the painful burns caused, chemical processing can actually cause hair loss and breakage.

Solution: Avoid Chemical Processing

If you want your hair to be healthy, avoid damaging chemical processes. Stay away from relaxers, perms, and Brazilian straightening treatments. Instead, focus on embracing your hair’s natural texture and keeping your curls healthy. If you have extensive damage, consider getting a haircut to remove the damaged hair.

Other Solutions for Hair Loss:

If you are dealing with hair loss or excessive hair fall, try these simple tips to help your curls look better and have more volume.

1. Use mousse instead of gel.

If you have curly hair loss, gel is not your friend. It can cause your scalp to show through more easily and make hair loss more obvious. Instead, use a lightweight mousse. This will increase your hair’s volume and minimize thinning. In addition, use root clipping while drying, and diffuse your curls to dry them. This will give you more volume.

2. Use lightweight conditioners.

Instead of heavy products that weigh your hair down, choose lighter conditioners. One of the best lightweight conditioners is the Jessicurl Aloeba Daily Conditioner. It’s packed with aloe vera and jojoba, coconut, and avocado oils for moisture. Another great choice is the MopTop Daily Conditioner, which contains aloe vera, honey, nettle, and silk proteins. Both are excellent choices for lightweight moisture.

3. Try a scalp massage with essential oils.

To stimulate your hair follicles, do a scalp massage the night before washing your hair. Gently use your fingertips to massage the oil into your scalp. Here are some good oils for hair growth:

Rosemary oil

Peppermint oil

Lavender oil

If desired, you can dilute these oils with olive or coconut oil. Try to avoid heavy oils such as black castor oil if you are dealing with hair loss. After a thorough scalp massage, cleanse your hair to remove the oils. If desired, you can leave them in overnight, wear a bonnet, and rinse them out in the morning.

4. Add some exercise to your life.

Making exercise part of your lifestyle will improve your hair health in several different ways. First, it will increase your circulation and blood flow to the scalp, which helps grow healthy hair. And it will reduce stress that can contribute to hair loss. Cardiovascular exercise actually reduces cortisol, your body’s stress hormone. And it increases serotonin levels in the brain, which decreases your stress. Exercise also helps your body balance its hormones, which control hair growth phases.

5. Wash your hair every 2-3 days.

If you don’t wash your hair often enough, products can build up on your scalp and clog hair follicles. This can slow hair growth and cause hair loss over time. If your hair looks limp or product-heavy or the roots look oily, just wash it. Washing your hair more frequently will help your hair stay healthy and strong.

My Experience with Curly Hair Loss

Since beginning the Curly Girl Method about four years ago, my hair looks healthier and more curly than before. However, my hair is not as thick as it was pre-Curly Girl. For quite a while, I seemed to be losing a lot of hair on washday. My family also said that my hair looked thinner (not fun!)

Here’s what I did to combat curly hair loss. First, I started to detangle with a wide-toothed comb or my fingers instead of a brush. The brush actually seemed to pull out a lot of hair. I also tried using lightweight gels and creams for a while and rotating my products more. And I now wash my hair more frequently and ensure that I rinse thoroughly at the roots. Recently, I notice that I am losing less hair than before on washday. While my hair still not as thick as before, it does seem healthy, and it grows fast. And that’s a win in my books!

Want to learn more?

Purchase a copy of my new ebook, Embrace Your Curls: A Manual for Curly Girls. It’s 120+ pages of information, techniques, and methods to help you have the hair of your dreams! Check it out here. (Get 30% off with code welcomecurly30.)

Let’s Chat:

Curly hair loss can be caused by a variety of issues. To truly resolve it, you have to locate the root cause and take steps to address it. Poor hair health can be an indicator of your overall health level. To keep your hair looking its best, stay active, eat a healthy diet, and drink plenty of water. Your hair will thank you for it! Also, read this post:

How to Grow the Long, Curly Hair of Your Dreams

Have you ever experienced curly hair loss before? If so, what did you do? Please share your tips and thoughts in the comment section.

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