The way we experience hair loss is different from person to person. Some of us first spot hair receding around our temples, while others see a widening hair part or overall loss of fullness. No matter how it happens, it’s scary and it makes us feel out of control and alone.
But hair loss is extremely common in men and women. Forty percent of women experience hair loss by age 40, with that percentage rising to 60% as we reach age 60. According to the American Hair Loss Association, a whopping 85% of men have significant hair thinning by age 50. Feeling less alone yet? Good. Let’s keep going.
The clinical term for hair loss is alopecia, a condition that can occur anywhere on the body, including the scalp. While alopecia is a broad term, there are many subcategories within it. Below, we’ll show you the four different types of hair loss and what you can do to take control.