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"  For most women, hair loss is associated with old age, but thinning hair can strike at any time. A variety of factors \u2014 such as pregnancy, stress, a sudden illness or change in diet, even a bad coloring or chemical straightening \u2014 can cause or contribute to an unexpected and noticeable reduction in your hair&amp;#039;s thickness. That volume may not come back, but there are ways to camouflage thin locks and prevent future hair loss, says Les Haverty, artistic director for FHI Heat professional styling tools. Whether your thinning hair is genetic or triggered by circumstance, you need to avoid products and styling techniques that will exacerbate the problem. Choose Your Shampoo Start by evaluating what&amp;#039;s in your shower, says Haverty. Volumizing shampoos and conditioners are a must, but avoid products that contain humectants. These hygroscopic compounds absorb water and moisture from the air and will weigh down your locks. Stay away from heavy moisturizers, which will do the same. Give your head a thorough rinse in warm, tepid water (make sure all the conditioner is removed) and de-tangle gently with a wide-tooth comb. Style Smart Apply a styling product that&amp;#039;s formulated for fine hair \u2014 a whipped mousse, light gel, or a spray gel or spray foam, says Haverty. Be sure to start at the scalp and apply to problem areas where you want more volume, like the crown. If you blow-dry your hair, says Haverty, the best technique is to flip your head upside down. It&amp;#039;s an old trick, but a good one. &amp;quot;The more you lift the hair up over the line where it grows, the more volume you can get,&amp;quot; notes Haverty. Use a boar-bristle brush to style as you dry, gently directing hair over your head. If your blow-dryer has a cold setting, give your locks a cooling blast when you&amp;#039;re done styling. This works like a natural hair spray, freezing the memory of the hair, says Haverty. Finally, add a last-minute touch of finishing spray to hold the volume. Learn More: The Best Hairstyles, Colors, and Cuts for Women of Any Age Get the Right Cut All these styling tips will be in vain if you don&amp;#039;t have the right haircut for thinning hair, says Haverty. Long, straight hair is not the best &amp;#039;do for those losing thickness. A good hairdresser can add what Haverty calls &amp;quot;internal layers&amp;quot; under longer sections, to create an illusion of thickness. &amp;quot;Layers are like the ribs of a good haircut, the bones that help hold the body up. If they are cut in the right place, layers dramatically increase volume,&amp;quot; says Haverty. Head Off Thinning Hair Stress can be a major factor in instigating hair loss, so if you&amp;#039;re frazzled and concerned that you may be shedding too much hair, Haverty suggests you check your diet. Recent medical research suggests that B vitamins play a major role in hair production, and many women don&amp;#039;t get enough through the food that they eat. In normal circumstances, approximately 70 percent of your body&amp;#039;s B vitamins are directed toward hair follicles \u2014 keeping them healthy and hearty. During times of stress \u2014 including pregnancy \u2014 those vitamins are often diverted elsewhere, says Haverty. &amp;quot;I notice it all the time in my clients: they get overwhelmed with work and life and then start complaining about hair loss,&amp;quot; he says. &amp;quot;Women should talk with their doctors about B supplements if thinning is an issue.&amp;quot; Also, remember that some hair loss is normal. Women can lose hundreds of strands a day as part of the body&amp;#039;s natural shedding process. You have a serious thinning problem when there&amp;#039;s a visible change around the crown area, or in patches around the head, says Haverty. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/hair/tips/a17790/thinning-hair/>