What Does Thinning Hair Look Like? See the 5 Common Types of Hair Loss in Women Over 50

Like many things, hair loss isn't one-size-fits all. And that's especially true in terms of where it occurs on the head. Maybe you're dealing with thinning at just the crown or along your part line. Or you're one of the lucky ones that hasn't been affected by hair loss and might be wondering what does thinning hair look like? No matter the case, seeing visuals of thinning hair can be beneficial. (But if you are dealing with hair loss, the same goes for knowing the best treatments to use to reverse hair loss like minoxidil and supplements.) Here, examples of what thinning hair looks like based on the different areas it happens along the scalp.

What does thinning hair look like?

Keep scrolling to see the different types of female hair loss.

1. All over thinning

While you might think that all over thinning (aka female pattern hair loss or androgenetic alopecia) refers to hair becoming fine in texture, which can happen with age, thinning is actually when hair loses its density, falls out and more. A good way to determine if your hair is thinning all over is to look in the mirror to see if your scalp is visible through your hair. The areas this typically happens for women if through the top and crown of hair.

Learn more about female pattern hair loss by watching the below TikTok from dermatologist Jocelyn Mendes, MD.

2. Receding hair line

A receding hairline is when hair loses its natural fullness or structure at the front or top of the scalp from temple to temple that was once thick or "solid." There are many factors as to why a receding hairline forms, including hormones, health conditions and more. But traction alopecia, which is when there is repetitive tension on the scalp from certain hairstyles, is another reason for this type of hair loss.

TikToker @jade.horinga breaks down more about traction alopecia in her video below.

3. Widening part

A widening part is exactly what it sounds like — the gap where the scalp shows when you part your hair becomes wider and wider over time. As dermatologist Andrea Suarez, MD, describes in her TikTok below, a wide part is another form of female pattern hair loss.

4. Sparseness at the temples

This type of hair loss is similar to a receding hair line but can occur past where the hairline begins. It can be extra visible when hair is placed in a ponytail or bun. And like these other types of hair loss, there's many reasons why it occurs like genetics, stress, after pregnancy and more. For more visual representations of this type of hair loss, watch the below video from TikToker @careclarkbsn.

5. Bald patches

One of the more frustrating and difficult types of hair loss to conceal comes in the form of bald spots. This type of hair loss commonly occurs due to alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that manifests on the scalp in sparse spots. Check out TikToker @deepa.berar's video below to see this type of hair loss and the strategies she used to regrow her hair.

For more examples of what does thinning hair look like, watch the below video from @CaraclinicMumbai on YouTube.

Bonus: How to spot thinning hair before it happens

TikToker and trichologist Abbey Yung mentions in her video below that there are some telltale signs of thinning hair before it actually occurs. She notes them as many short, broken strands of hair sticking out, excessive tangling, hair that looks dull, dry and/or frizzy (especially if it's not caused by product buildup), short strands that have fallen out after brushing to styling hair (Yung says this is breakage) and lots of white spots on the ends of hair.

And it's also important to know the difference between breakage and hair growth. Watch the TikTok from the @vegamour account below for how to determine if you're dealing with hair growth or breakage

For more on hair loss and thinning, click through these stories:

5 Best Products That Work Like Minoxidil to Reverse Hair Loss in Women Over 40

12 Best Hair Loss Remedies for Women Over 50 That Can Easily Be Done at Home

How Does Minoxidil Work? Hair Experts Explain Why It’s the Best Ingredient to Treat Thinning Hair