A Guide to Curly Hair Balding and Bald Spots

We often think of hair loss as a men’s issue, but you’re not alone if you’ve noticed thinning strands. Nearly half of all women experience some form of hair shedding over time.

You can lose hair for different reasons—whether your hair is curly, straight, or wavy. Still, some types of hair thinning affect those of us with curls more often than others.

The upside? You can manage curly hair loss with consistent care and the right treatment.

We’ll walk you through what causes hair loss in curly-haired women—and what steps you can take to keep your strands full, firm, and resilient.

Why Curly Hair Thins or Falls Out

You can lose hair for many reasons—nutrient gaps, hormone shifts, or stress. Some triggers affect all hair types, but others show up more often in our curly-haired community. We’ll break it down for you.

What’s Normal for Curly Hair and What’s Not

Hormones, stress, illness, and physical shock can all lead to hair thinning or fallout.

Our hair grows in three main stages: anagen (active growth), catagen (short resting), and telogen (inactive or shedding).

When something throws off this cycle, you may notice more strands falling out than usual.

Hair Thinning After Stress

Stress triggers major changes in your hair.

When you go through intense physical or emotional pressure, your follicles can enter a stage called telogen effluvium—this speeds up shedding beyond your usual rate.

If the stress keeps piling on, your follicles may shift into the resting phase (catagen), then slide into dormancy. That leads to thinner strands and more hair fall.

So if your hair feels lighter this year, you’re not imagining it. Covid brought new layers of stress for all of us—and your hair may still be reacting to it.

Hair Loss After Pregnancy

When a friend of mine was six months pregnant, her hair felt fuller and shinier than ever.

Then, after giving birth, it started falling out by the handful. It hit hard.

During pregnancy, high estrogen keeps our hair in the active growth stage (anagen), which leads to thicker strands. Once hormone levels drop, that growth cycle ends—and the shedding begins.

Postpartum hair loss feels intense, but you’re not alone. It’s a common phase and usually fades within six months.

If you’re dealing with it now, focus on scalp care and deep conditioning. These steps boost blood flow to your roots and support healthier regrowth.

Breakage from Styling or Products

Breakage often leads to thinner hair.

When your strands grow weak and lose structure, they snap easily and shed more than normal.

The main culprit behind breakage? Damaged hair.

That includes heat styling, coloring, dryness, or lack of proper nourishment.

Just like we feed our bodies the right fuel, our scalp needs nutrients to support strong, healthy growth.

Other reasons for hair loss include diet, missing nutrients, or family history.

The good news—you can usually bring your hair back to its natural fullness with the right care.

Fixing Thin or Balding Curly Hair

If you want to make thin curls look fuller, you have a few options to build volume and thickness.

Start with a mild shampoo that cleans without stripping. Rotate between hydrating and clarifying formulas to clear buildup and boost lift at the roots.

Use mousse to add shape, shine, and hold. It also helps tame frizz and define your curls.

If you notice thinning near your crown, apply growth-focused oils or sprays. They nourish your scalp and support new strands where you need them most.

How to Nourish Your Curly Hair

Thin curls need more moisture to stay strong and defined.

We recommend choosing deep conditioners with emollients like glycerin, avocado oil, or vitamin E. These ingredients help smooth frizz and shape your curls.

Using a weekly hair mask keeps your strands hydrated, boosts curl pattern, and makes styling easier.

You can also try mild pre-shampoo treatment. It loads your hair with moisture so humidity can’t sneak in and create frizz.

When your curls stay hydrated, they stay in control.

How to Add Volume and Texture Without Damage

If you want to add volume and texture to fine curls or waves, avoid loading your hair with heavy products.

After you wash and condition, gently squeeze out excess water with a towel—don’t rub. Let your hair air-dry until it's damp before applying anything.

If your hair holds too much water, your curls lose their shape and bounce.

To boost volume and texture, start at the roots. Use your fingers—not a brush—to lift your roots as you dry.

Try short bursts of heat while lifting your hair. Flip your head upside down to increase lift.

Once your hair feels about 80% dry, turn off the dryer and let the rest air dry. Or use a diffuser to control airflow and protect your curls.

Layer your products slowly so your hair absorbs them without feeling heavy. A diffuser spreads the heat gently, helps reduce frizz, and keeps your curl pattern intact.

What Ingredients Help or Hurt

When it comes to ingredients, many of us hear that sulfates and parabens can harm our hair.

Our experts points out that while some concerns make sense, the swaps for sulfates aren’t always safer.

You might need to test a few options to see what works for your curls.

No matter what shampoo you pick, we recommend keeping it gentle—especially if your curls are fine or fragile.

Washing Thin Curly Hair

We recommend washing thin curly hair every day. If that feels like too much, at least wash when your scalp feels greasy or irritated.

Some experts take a different approach, they suggest washing two to three times a week instead.

Listen to your scalp. Your routine should fit your hair’s needs and how it feels day to day.

Preventing More Hair Loss

Thinning often affects baby-fine hair, and we recommend taking a full-body approach to support growth.

Start with your diet—fuel up with nutrient-rich foods packed with vitamins and minerals to nourish your scalp and strengthen your strands.

Keep your scalp clean. Removing buildup helps your follicles stay active and healthy.

Drink plenty of water. Staying hydrated supports new growth from the inside out.

Your hair shares the same protein as your skin—keratin. Eating a mix of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins supports both skin and hair health.

If you notice your scalp showing through, we suggest using styling products that add grip and fullness to help cover exposed areas.

Reclaim Your Curls with Keyoma and Take Control of Thinning Hair

You’re not alone if you feel frustrated by thinning curls, postpartum shedding, or breakage.

We’ve been there—and we created our crafted batana oil with Rosemary to help you take action with clean, proven ingredients that support real growth.

If you’re ready to restore your scalp, nourish your strands, and bring your curls back to life, we’re here for you.

Start your journey with us today. Your healthiest hair starts now.