Thinning hair in your twenties: why it happens and a routine that helps

If you are in your twenties and your ponytail feels thinner than it did in college, you are not imagining it, and you are not alone. Thinning hair is one of the most common things young women in Lahore, Karachi and Islamabad message us about. The good news is that a lot of it is reversible once you know what is driving it.

Thinning is usually several small things, not one big one

Hair thickness is the sum of two things: how many hairs you have, and how thick each one is. In your twenties, both can quietly slip for reasons that have nothing to do with genetics:

• Iron and protein. Low iron (very common among women in Pakistan) and low-protein diets produce finer, weaker hair.
• Tight styles. Daily tight ponytails, buns and heavy clip-in extensions pull at the hairline and crown.
• Heat and chemicals. Straightening irons, keratin treatments, bleach and frequent colour thin the strand itself.
• Stress and sleep. Exams, a new job, a wedding in the family. Stress shedding shows up two to three months after the stressful period, which is why it feels random.
• Hormones. PCOS and thyroid problems are frequent causes of diffuse thinning. If your periods are irregular or you have acne and unwanted facial hair too, ask a doctor about PCOS.
• Harsh washing. Strong, stripping shampoos leave fine hair dry and brittle, so it snaps and looks even thinner.

What a realistic routine looks like

You cannot change your genes, but you can give the hair you have the best chance. Here is the routine we suggest for thin, fine hair:

1. Oil once a week, lightly. Fine hair goes flat under heavy oil, so use a lighter blend such as PureRoots Herbal Hair Oil. A teaspoon on the scalp, massaged gently for five minutes, left for one to two hours, then washed out.
2. Massage, don't scrub. The massage matters more than the amount of oil. Use the pads of your fingers in small circles. Never your nails.
3. Wash with a gentle shampoo. Something that cleans without stripping, like PureRoots Herbal Shampoo. Two gentle washes beat one harsh one.
4. Loosen your hair. Low, loose ponytails and soft scrunchies. Sleep with hair in a loose plait, not a tight bun.
5. Cool down the heat. Air-dry when you can. If you straighten, use the lowest setting that works and never on wet hair.
6. Eat for your hair. Daal, eggs, chicken, chana, palak, dates. Ask your doctor for an iron and vitamin D test; both are cheap and both are commonly low.

Give it eight weeks. Hair grows about a centimetre a month, so you will feel the change in texture (softer, less breakage) before you see it in thickness.

What about amla and bhringraj?

Amla and bhringraj are the two herbs Pakistani and Indian grandmothers reached for when hair thinned, and they are the backbone of PureRoots Coconut Herbal Oil. Traditional use points to a healthier scalp and fuller-looking hair with regular massage. If your hair is thin *and* dry or damaged, the coconut blend is the better choice; if it is thin and gets oily quickly, start with the lighter herbal oil.

When thinning needs a doctor

See a dermatologist if you notice a widening parting, a visibly thinner crown, hair coming out in clumps, or thinning together with irregular periods, weight change or constant tiredness. These point to hormonal or medical causes that a good routine supports but cannot fix on its own.