Has your hairline begun to recede? Or, perhaps, you have even spotted balding at the front of your hair? Thinning edges is a common issue for natural hair. The good news is that is it reversible.
This guide will explain why thinning edges happen and what are the natural ways to combat thinning and grow thick hairline back.
What Are Thinning Edges?
Edges are the baby hairs that grow along the hairline. If the edges are mistreated, they can begin to thin out or even bald altogether. This condition is known as traction alopecia.
When it comes to hair loss and thinning, the hairline is often referred to, but when it comes to African American hair, the edges can be a particularly troublesome area. Thus, if you start seeing that your edges won’t grow, investigate the causes and take action to regrow them as soon as possible.
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The 4 Most Common Causes of Thinning Edges
Let’s take a look at the various causes of thinning hairline. Knowing these will be a good starting point for preventing and addressing the edges hair loss problem:
1. Frequent Wearing of Wigs and Weaves
Wigs and weaves are often worn as a protective style, but when worn too often or too tightly they can cause more issues than they solve. The combination of chemicals (like glue), too tight braiding techniques, and close-to-the-edge wig caps can spell disaster for your hairline. As the glue dries, it may latch onto your hairs and pull them out when the style is removed. It may also cause pulling on the fragile edge hairs which causes stretching and breakage.
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2. Heat or Chemical Damage
Relaxers, curling irons, straighteners, and blow dryers – these may be part of your regular style routine, but they can also cause irreversible damage to your edges. Heat and chemicals (like chemical straighteners and hair dyes) weaken the hair strands. This leads to thinning, snapping, and breakage. If this continues for too long, then your natural hairline may never be saved.
Related Post: 5 Types of Hair Straightening Treatments Compared
3. Too Tight Hairstyles
Whether under a wig or braided tightly into plaits, too-tight hairstyles can cause undue stress on the weakest hair strands. This especially includes edge hairs. This is known as tension alopecia, and it’s a common cause of balding edges.
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4. Hormone Imbalance or Nutrient Deficiency
While the way you wear your hair is a big contributor to edges hair loss, so too is your physical health. If you have an underlying hormone imbalance or nutrient deficiency, you may notice an increase in hair breakage, thinning, and even balding edges. This is common after pregnancy, known as postpartum hair loss, or during other periods of physical and mental stress.
Related Post: 12 Causes of Hair Loss in Women and Most Common Triggers
How to Grow Your Edges Back
It is possible for damage to the edges to be permanent and irreversible. However, if you begin treatment as soon as you notice thinning or balding edges, the chances of recovery are good. Here are a few ways to grow your edges back naturally:
Massage Your Edges Nightly with Castor Oil
Have you ever thought of using oil for edge growth? Carrier oils, like castor, are full of antioxidants, vitamins, and other nutrients. These promote a healthy scalp and strengthen hair strands. In the end, this means thick edges and healthy hair.
To use, simply pour a quarter-sized amount of castor oil into a small dish. Dip your fingertips into the dish, and then apply the oil to the edges of your hair. You may massage in small, circular motions and apply varying amounts of pressure.
The castor oil will hydrate and moisturize the scalp. It will also fortify the hair strands to protect against stretching and breakage. When done consistently over a period of months, it may even help your edges grow back.
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Avoid Harsh Chemicals and Irritants
It goes without saying that harsh chemicals and irritants should be avoided whenever possible. While you should aim to use as little chemicals as possible, it is not always feasible. You should opt for hair products with the least amount of harmful ingredients (like alcohols and preservatives).
Instead, consider products that use more protective ingredients like carrier oils, essential oils, and plant extracts. These will often work just as well as the chemical-laden products while also protecting your edges from further damage.
Related Post: Top 9 Essential Haircare Lines for Curly to Kinky Hair
Go All Natural
There is a time and a place for protective styles. But for particularly aggressive cases of edge thinning, you should consider wearing wash and go hairstyles more often. This will reduce the stress on your hairline and help your edges grow fast.
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Change Your Protective Styles Frequently
We all have a tried-and-true hairstyle we love. But wearing your hair in one style too often can cause stress on the same hair strands continuously. This increases the chances of thinning edges. The solution is to change up your styles frequently enough to avoid stress in one area for too long.
For best results, alternate sleek, pulled-back styles with styles that allow you to wear your edges out. This will give the hair follicles time to repair so the edges may regrow naturally.
Related Post: 60 Easy and Showy Protective Hairstyles for Natural Hair
If you are suffering from edges thinning and hair loss, you are not alone. The good news is that this common problem has many solutions. To keep your natural hair healthy and ensure your edges grow, consider making the above tips part of your regular hair care routine.
