Hair loss is not one condition. It is a group of different processes that happen to look similar in the mirror, and telling them apart is the part most people get stuck on. This guide collects our explanations of what the named types actually are, what is known to trigger shedding, and how the picture differs between men and women.
Nothing here is a diagnosis. If your hair loss came on suddenly, is patchy, or your scalp is sore, scaly or shiny, that is a reason to be examined by a doctor or a dermatologist rather than to read further — some types can cause permanent damage while someone waits.
Once you have a sense of what you are dealing with, our companion guide to hair loss options covers what people do about it.
Types of Hair Loss
Pattern hair loss, alopecia areata, telogen effluvium and the other named conditions, explained in plain language.
- Alopecia Areata: What Causes Patchy Hair Loss — Alopecia areata causes round, patchy hair loss when the immune system attacks hair follicles
- Female Pattern Hair Loss Explained — Female pattern hair loss causes gradual thinning across the crown and part line
- Male Pattern Baldness: What It Is and How It Progresses — Male pattern baldness explained: what causes it, how it typically progresses, and when hair loss needs a doctor’s assessment instead of a website
- Scarring Alopecia: Why Early Assessment Matters — Scarring alopecia can permanently destroy hair follicles
- Telogen Effluvium: Why Sudden Shedding Happens — Telogen effluvium explains sudden, diffuse hair shedding after stress, illness or life changes
- The Norwood Scale: How Male Hair Loss Is Measured — The Norwood scale classifies patterns of male hair loss into stages
- Traction Alopecia: How Tight Hairstyles Cause Hair Loss — Traction alopecia is hair loss from sustained pulling on the scalp
All types of hair loss articles
Causes & Triggers
Stress, illness, hormones, medication, diet and styling — what is known to contribute to hair shedding and thinning.
- Can Diet Cause Hair Loss? — Yes, some diets can trigger hair shedding
- Can Thyroid Problems Cause Hair Loss? — Thyroid conditions can trigger diffuse hair thinning
- Does Stress Cause Hair Loss? — Yes, stress can trigger hair shedding, usually through a temporary condition called telogen effluvium
- Does Testosterone Cause Baldness? — Testosterone doesn’t directly cause baldness — a byproduct called DHT and genetic sensitivity to it do
- Does Wearing a Hat Cause Hair Loss? — Hats don’t cause pattern hair loss, but tight bands, poor hygiene or friction can play a small supporting role
- Hair Loss After Illness or Surgery — Why fever, surgery or major illness can trigger hair shedding months later, and what tends to happen next
- How Much Hair Loss a Day Is Normal — Losing hair every day is normal
- Iron, Ferritin and Hair Loss: What to Ask Your Doctor — A plain-language guide to iron, ferritin and hair shedding, and the specific questions worth raising at your next doctor’s visit
- Is Hair Loss Hereditary? What Genetics Determine — Genetics play a major role in hair loss, but not the whole story
- Medications That Can Cause Hair Shedding — Many common prescriptions can trigger hair shedding
All causes & triggers articles
Hair Loss in Men
How thinning and receding typically progresses in men, and the questions men most often ask.
- Receding Hairline: How to Tell If Yours Is Changing — How to spot a genuinely receding hairline versus normal variation, what tends to cause it, and when to get it checked
- Signs of Balding in Your 20s — Early signs of balding in your 20s often include a shifting hairline, thinner crown hair, and more visible scalp under light
- Thinning Crown: What It Means and What to Do Next — A thinning crown can point to pattern hair loss, shedding, or other causes
Hair Loss in Women
Diffuse thinning, postpartum shedding and menopause-related changes — how hair loss differs in women.
- Diffuse Thinning in Women: What It Looks Like — Diffuse thinning in women means hair becomes less dense all over rather than in one bald patch
- Menopause and Hair Thinning: What’s Going On — Why hair often thins around menopause, how hormone shifts play a role, and when thinning is worth having checked by a doctor
- Postpartum Hair Loss: What Happens and When It Settles — Postpartum shedding is a hormone-driven form of hair loss that usually eases within months
- Widening Part: What It Can Indicate — A widening part can signal pattern hair loss, shedding, or scalp changes
All hair loss in women articles
Also on Balds
The companion guide, Hair Loss Options, covers the other half of the subject. Our about page explains who writes this site and what we will not claim.
Balds publishes general educational information about hair loss, not medical advice. We are writers, not doctors or dermatologists. If your hair loss is sudden, patchy, painful, or comes with other unexplained symptoms, see a doctor or a dermatologist — some forms of hair loss can become permanent without early assessment.