Thinning hair is a sad reality for many people, but especially women. Although hair thinning occurs gradually over time and usually doesn’t cause baldness, it can be quite noticeable.

When hair begins to thin, it can be distressing and may alter how you see yourself or hamper your self-esteem. Fortunately, while there is no tried-and-true “cure” for thinning hair, there are some things you can try to slow it down and make your hair looks thicker, fuller and healthier for longer. Check out some of these home remedies for thinning hair.

Why does hair start to thin?

Hair thinning is not the same as hair loss, but it can have some of the same causes.

Lifestyle habits can cause thinning, including using damaging or drying hair products, pulling hair tight into ponytails or buns and neglecting to feed hair with the proper nutrients. Typically, the hair thinning can be reversed when these lifestyle habits stop.

Chronic stress can also cause hair thinning at times. Experiencing periods of high stress can alter your hormone levels and even “shock” your hair into its final phase, causing it to fall out sooner than it normally would and causing thinner patches of hair for a time.

Additionally, changes in hormone levels over time can cause hair follicles to shrink and hair to look and feel thinner, both on an individual strand level and all over your scalp. This can happen during and after pregnancy, during menopause or during other periods of hormonal change.

Finally, some hair loss is purely natural with age. As you get older, some of your follicles will stop producing hair or will create finer hairs, causing the overall head of hair to appear and feel thinner.

Natural ways to fight thinning hair

Restoring hair to its former thickness may not always be possible. However, there are some popular home remedies that may help reduce hair thinning and improve hair texture and scalp health.

• Healthy lifestyle: Poor diet, nutritional deficiencies and stress can all lead to hair loss or hair thinning problems. Start at the source and ensure you’re getting all the necessary vitamins and minerals to stay healthy both inside and out. Adding a “beauty supplement” to your daily routine may also help ensure you’re getting all the nutrients your hair follicles and strands need to stay healthy.
• Proper hair care: Of course, taking care of your hair itself will also ensure that hair is not breaking off or falling out prematurely. Avoid applying harsh chemicals or products, over washing the hair, using hot tools or pulling on hair too much when styling.
• Scalp massage: Massaging the scalp daily may promote blood flow to the hair follicles, stimulating new hair growth. Lightly massage your scalp during the shower, before bed or whenever you desire—plus, it feels great!
• Increased protein: Protein is one of the major components of healthy hair, and you need a consistent dose of protein each day to maintain overall health and wellness. If protein is lacking in your diet, your follicles may be suffering. Add more meat, fish, eggs or nuts to your diet.
• Coconut oil: Applying coconut oil masks to your hair weekly may help improve strand thickness by reducing protein loss within the hair shaft. Coconut oil has a unique ability to penetrate deep in the strand and leaves your hair stronger and more hydrated.
• Omega-3 fatty acids: Supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids may help improve hair density and strand size, as well as prevent hair loss. Omega-3s are great for reducing inflammation in the body, which can contribute to hair thinning and loss.
• Essential oils: Some essential oils may help stimulate new hair growth and promote a healthy scalp when they are applied as a mask or in shampoo. Rosemary oil and peppermint oil are popular because they are believed to increase blood flow to the scalp and stimulate new hair growth. Geranium oil is also believed to help stimulate hair growth and strengthen hair strands. When using essential oils, always dilute them in a carrier oil before applying or mix them into shampoo, then rinse them out.
• Aloe vera: The gel from this plant contains proteolytic enzymes that stimulate hair growth from dormant hair follicles and repair damaged cells. Applying it to your scalp may help improve hair thinning. It is also known to soothe itchy or inflamed skin, which could pose problems for hair follicles on the scalp, as well.

If you’re experiencing hair thinning, try incorporating one or a few of these home remedies into your routine. They may not improve hair thickness immediately, but they may help improve it enough over time to help you feel good about your hair.