Reading Between the Strands: What Hair Texture and Growth Patterns Reveal
Hair holds stories—ancestral ones, hormonal ones, lifestyle ones. When we look closely at texture, density, and growth patterns, we start to notice that hair is never random.
In holistic scalp therapy, we aren’t just treating the scalp. We’re observing what the hair itself is trying to say.
Hair Texture Is a Language
Here are a few patterns to begin paying attention to:
Fine, brittle hair: Often tied to nutritional deficiencies (like protein or iron), hormonal shifts, or long-term stress
Sudden texture changes: May signal thyroid dysfunction, perimenopause, or postpartum shifts
Curls becoming limp or straighter: Indicates changes in follicle shape, oil distribution, or even medication use
Coarse, dry hair with frizz: Can point to inflammation, low hydration, or disrupted sebum balance
Thinning in specific zones: Tells you where the body is prioritizing (or deprioritizing) growth
Hair is a living reflection of internal balance. It shows us what the blood is nourishing—or not. What the body is conserving—or giving up.
What Growth Patterns Say About the Body
Crown thinning: Often linked to stress, adrenal fatigue, or androgenic influence
Diffuse shedding: Could point to anemia, thyroid dysfunction, or systemic inflammation
Receding hairlines: Not just hormonal—can reflect protective holding patterns or unresolved emotional tension
By becoming fluent in these signs, you elevate your practice from routine to revelatory.
Your Touch Is Diagnostic
Don’t underestimate what your hands can feel:
Tension at the crown
Weakness near the temples
Fragile strands that break on contact
Patchy density that doesn’t match the rest of the scalp
You don’t need a lab coat to spot patterns. You need presence, experience, and a commitment to see the whole person.
Homework for This Week
Choose one client session this week and observe the hair as carefully as you do the scalp.
Ask yourself:
“What does the hair texture tell me about this person’s current state?”
“What internal support might this pattern be calling for?”
When you learn to read between the strands, you stop guessing—and start understanding.
With clarity and care,
Rebecca
