Thinning hair can be a result of your diet and general health.  Stress can also cause thinning. Extreme thinning can be a side effect of thyroid problems.  Thinning can also result from hormonal changes (birth of a child, menopause).

I have had good luck taking MSM, biotin and silica in additional to a good multi-vitamin to help minimize my hormone related thinning.

Make sure you eating well and taking care of yourself.  If you think you are shedding too much, you might consider a visit to your doctor.

Hi JDgirl,
It really does sound like your hair thickness is hereditary. My dad is 69 and has a full head of thick hair. My mom is the same age and her hair is very thin. I took after my mom. She took after her mom.

First, learn to love the hair that you do have. One advantage to having curly hair is that it makes fine, thin hair like ours look thicker. People are always shocked that my hair is thin because it doesn't look thin. Also, our fine thin hair is usually downy soft (I try to look for the advantages of my thin, baby fine hair).

I was telling the people on the "curly post" that I've been using a hair net (those old fashioned ones) to give myself a great bouncy hairdo. The hair net is very easy on my hair, very easy to use, and yet it is so effective for curling my hair and making it look thick and curly. It's just one of my easy tricks for giving myself an outstanding hairdo. You can read more about it under the curly posting category on this web site. It's titled "Net those curls!"

As another member mentioned, you want to be healthy and eat right. Try a multivitamin. Liver and broccoli are two of the best single foods for over-all health. I happen to like liver, and I can handle broccoli. Try getting one of those bags of chopped veggies at the supermarket (broccoli, carrots and cauliflower). Eat them for snacks when you get a craving.

Stress may not show up for a few months after a stressful event because of the timing of hair growth -- just another factor that could cause thinning.

Make sure you get plenty of sleep. Good health reflects from the glow of your skin and hair. Poor health will also manifest itself in your appearance.

Also, since our hair is very fine, we have to be especially gentle with it. I really do try to stay away from any harsh hair products and any harsh hair accessories.

If it's hard to cut off all the damaged hair, try cutting off a little at a time. It's hard for me to cut my hair, too. I want it to be as long as I can get it, but it just doesn't grow like it used to (I'm 44). I try to be satisfied with what I have.

I hope the best for you. Be patient. Remember, we all tend to see our own "flaws." Other people often don't even notice (sometimes they admire) what we perceive as a less than desirable trait.