Five Reasons Your Edges May Be Thinning

One of the most distressing problem naturals encounter is thinning edges. It can be particularly frustrating when you’ve worked so hard to take good care of your natural hair. Thinning edges may be caused by a variety of reasons that range from medical conditions and prescription medicines to mechanical stress.
Medical reasons, of course, require a discussion with your doctor. However, here are five possible reasons your hairline might be thinning that are easily remedied.
You’re too rough with your edges.
The hair in your hairline tends to be more fragile than the rest of your hair. Brushing this fragile hair with coarse bristles or a small tooth comb can cause the hair to snap and break. Avoid using small tooth combs and brushes with rough bristles on your delicate hairline. Sleek edges are nice, but the damage caused by harsh styling tools outweighs the benefit. Consider using a light gel and your fingers to smooth edges instead. Never brush your edges when hardened by hair gel.
You’re manipulating the fragile hair around your edges too much.
Since your hairline is fragile, frequent manipulation puts it at risk for breakage. If your edges are thinning, try low-manipulation and protective hairstyles to reduce the stress on your hairline. Avoid other sources of unneeded manipulation, like the nervous habit of twirling or tugging on your hair.
Your hairstyle is causing stress to your hairline.
Neat, perfect braids or a nice, sleek ponytail look polished and last longer. However, achieving that look can cause damage to the fragile hair at your hairline. If your ponytail, afro puff or braids are pulled so tightly it causes pain or lifts the corners of your eyes, then your hairline is at serious risk for damage.
Make sure hair isn’t braided so tightly that it damages the hairline. Don’t braid the fragile hair in your hairline into small, tight braids, as these will cause undue stress. Lastly, be sure that your ponytail or afro puff isn’t pulled too tightly. If you pineapple your hair at night, ensure that the high ponytail you sleep in isn’t ravaging your hairline.
You have fine hair and your edges are particularly fragile.
Thinning edges can be a problem for all hair types. This is especially true of naturals with fine hair. The delicate nature of fine hair makes the hairline even more susceptible to breakage. You can’t change your hair type. However, being aware that your fine hair puts your edges at greater risk for damage will enable you to be more proactive about protecting your hairline.  
The bonnet you wear at night is damaging your edges.
It’s important to protect your hair at night. For many naturals, that means sleeping in a satin bonnet. However, take a closer look at your satin bonnet. If it has elastic around the inside edge, that elastic can snag and pull the delicate hairs in your hairline. The simple fix is to tie a silk or satin scarf around the hairline to protect your fragile edges. Then secure the bonnet over your scarf.
A thinning hairline can be scary and frustrating. However, if your edges are thinning due to tension caused by hair styling, there’s a good chance you’ll be able to stem hair loss and re-grow hair. If you’re unsure what is causing the hair loss, consult with a natural stylist. Once you’ve discovered what’s triggering the problem, break the bad habit immediately. Apply a growth serum, castor oil or a few drops of rosemary or peppermint oil added to a carrier oil, like olive oil. Massage it into the affected areas nightly. This will help stimulate hair growth.