<http://schema.org/articleBody>
"  I feel like each time I take a shower these days, I clog the drain with a massive chunk of my once-super-thick locks. I noticed I started losing more hair than usual in college and every chick I knew, from my suitemates to my best friend up in San Francisco, reported the same scary phenomenon\u2014and at the rate we were going, we feared we&amp;#039;d be bald by 30.  Now, I worry that I&amp;#039;m headed (heh) toward a serious problem: According to the American Hair Loss Association, 40 percent of people who lose their hair are actually women. (Scary.) And, while bald guys suffer their fare share of jokes, it&amp;#039;s safe to say that being a bald woman is way worse. So, to see what&amp;#039;s up with my falling locks, I chatted with certified trichologist Melissa Harvey, who works with vegan hair loss product line Bio Follicle. She says that over 30 million women suffer from premature hair loss and that losing your locks can be caused anything from stress to genetics.  While some hair loss is totally normal, Harvey adds that your hair routine could be to blame. High-temp heat styling tools, hard gels, and too-tight ponytails can damage your hair, making it weaker and more likely to fall out.  Harvey also suggests using low-pH and sulfate-free shampoo and conditioner to further prevent hair fall. &amp;quot;Our hair has a natural protective shield called the acid mantel,&amp;quot; Harvey says. &amp;quot;If not protected by controlled ph exposure, the mantel is weakened the bonds that give hair its strength are broken.&amp;quot; In addition to using easy-on-the-hair products, she advises only going to a pro for getting your color done and keeping your mane moisturized to further prevent breakage.  I&amp;#039;m totally guilty of over-styling (okay, frying) my locks with a blowdryer and a flatiron (even though my hair is straight\u2026I know, I&amp;#039;m crazy) and I totally choose my shampoo by how it smells and how pretty the bottle is, not by the ingredients. So, maybe I&amp;#039;ve brought my hair issues on myself?  Now that I&amp;#039;m a bit more enlightened, I&amp;#039;m gonna switch up my routine and see how it goes. Fingers crossed for no more scary clumps in the drain.  Want more from Natasha? Follow her on Twitter or find her on Facebook. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.cosmopolitan.com/style-beauty/beauty/advice/a11845/female-hair-loss/?src=global_footer>