Is Your Part Getting Wider?Female Pattern Thinning After 50, Explained
HairArticleA widening part is the classic first sign of female pattern hair loss, the most common cause of hair loss in women. It usually starts in the 40s to 60s, and most women with it have normal hormone tests. Treatment works best when it starts early. Here is how to tell it from a shed and what dermatologists use.
In this article
The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD)1 opens its page on this with two questions: “Is your part widening? Have you noticed that your ponytail is thinner these days?” That’s female pattern hair loss, the most common cause of hair loss in women. For most women it starts in their 40s, 50s or 60s.1
How common it is
- About 40% of women show signs by age 50, and fewer than 45% reach 80 with a full head of hair, according to DermNet2.
- In a study in Maryborough, Australia, thinning on top became more common with age and reached 57% of women aged 80 and over. Every one of the 72 girls examined had a normal part.3
Pattern thinning or a shed?
- Pattern thinning shows up at the part. The part gets wider and hair near the temples may recede.1 It comes in bursts: often 3 to 6 months of faster loss, then 6 to 18 months of stability.2
- A shed shows up as extra hair in the drain and on your pillow. See anagen vs telogen shedding and why your hair is shedding so much.
- Other conditions can look like it, so the AAD advises seeing a dermatologist to rule them out.
Why your hormone tests may come back normal
Pattern thinning is inherited from either parent. It’s more common after menopause, so hormones may play a role.1 Blood tests for sex hormones and thyroid are part of the workup, but most women with it have normal results.2 The few with high androgen levels tend to also have acne, irregular periods and extra facial or body hair.2 A male pattern, with a receding hairline and a bald crown, is very uncommon in women unless androgens are high.2 See thyroid, thinning hair and biotin test interference.
What dermatologists use
The AAD says treatment works best when started at the first sign.
| Treatment | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Minoxidil 2% or 5% (no prescription) | Approved for female pattern hair loss. Shedding may rise for the first 2 to 8 weeks. Judge it at 6 to 12 months. Stop and you lose the benefit.1 |
| Prescription pills (spironolactone; sometimes finasteride, flutamide or dutasteride) | Used off-label. Give them 6 to 12 months; no growth by 12 months means it won’t work for you.1 |
Read more: topical minoxidil decisions, oral vs topical minoxidil, spironolactone details and whether biotin works.
Try: “My part has been getting wider for about a year, but I’m not shedding more than usual. Could this be female pattern hair loss, and is it worth starting treatment now?”
Hair, Everywhere covers this in Chapter 8, “The Widening Part.” Its Hair Log has you photograph your part monthly in the same light and from the same angle, so a slow change shows up on the page, and so you can tell a shed that came and went from a part that keeps widening. See the book.
This article is for general educational purposes only and is not medical advice. It isn't a substitute for diagnosis or treatment from a qualified healthcare professional who knows your health history. See a dermatologist promptly for hair loss with scalp pain, burning or itching, smooth shiny bald patches, sudden widespread loss, or new acne, facial hair or irregular periods. Avoid minoxidil and prescription hair-loss pills if you're pregnant, breastfeeding or could become pregnant. Girl Playbook does not endorse any specific product, test, or provider.
Girl Playbook sells this book. It provides education and worksheets, not individualized medical care.
Sources
The research behind this article, in the order it’s cited. How we source our articles.
- American Academy of Dermatology, 2026Thinning hair and hair loss: Could it be female pattern hair loss? (opens in a new tab)abcdef
- DermNet, 2015Female pattern hair loss (opens in a new tab)abcde
- Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings (abstract via PubMed), 2005Prevalence of male and female pattern hair loss in Maryborough (opens in a new tab)↩
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