Helping A Family Member Who’s Experiencing Hair Loss: Practical Ways to Help

Hair loss can be a deeply emotional, devastating, and challenging experience. For many, it brings about feelings of stress, vulnerability, and anxiety. Whether hair loss stems from genetics, health conditions, or other causes, the emotional toll of a receding hairline or hairline loss, hair thinning, or bald patches can be significant.

If someone close to you is dealing with hair loss, there are meaningful ways you can show your support and assist them in finding a potential solution.

Supporting someone through hair loss takes a mix of compassion, patience, and a little creativity. Here are some practical ways to be there for a family member who’s dealing with receding hair, balding, male pattern baldness, or female pattern hair loss:

1. Hear Them Out: It Sounds Easy, But…

Allow your family member or close friend to talk openly about their hair loss. Avoid minimizing their feelings with comments like “It’s just hair” -- especially if YOU have a full head of hair.

2. Learn Some Basic Facts About Hair Loss, Thinning Hair, and “Going Bald”

85% of men and 50% of women experience hair thinning/balding by age 50, according to the American Hair Loss Association. Understanding the causes; whether medical, genetic, or stress-related; can help you offer informed support. It also shows you care enough to do your homework.

3. Help Explore Solutions and Join Them For A Consultation

Offer to help research hair replacement options like those offered at Thursday’s Hair Solutions in Los Angeles. Attend a free consultation with them to show your support. Michael Garfinkel, GM of Thursday’s Hair Solutions, encourages potential customers to invite a close friend or family member to the free consultations Thursday’s offers so they too can learn about the life-changing, transformative results non-surgical hair replacement offers those with hair loss, alopecia, or thinning hair. “Non-surgical hair replacement can literally change someone’s outlook on life overnight,” he said.

4. Respect Their Privacy

Hair loss is a sensitive issue for those experiencing male or female pattern hair loss, thinning hair, or balding. Don’t bring up their hair loss in public or share their feelings about their hair thinning or receding hairline.

5. Support Their Choices

Whether they want to wear a topper or custom hair system, pursue invasive surgical options like hair grafts or transplants, or go bald, back them up even if it’s not what you’d choose; your support will help them feel empowered.