Hair Loss Guide

This is the plain language version of what we explain in the studio every week. What causes hair loss, what the words mean, and what your options actually are. It is educational. It is not a diagnosis, and it is not a substitute for your doctor.

Start with the cause

Not all thinning starts in the follicle. Some conditions affect the follicle itself. Others weaken the strand so it breaks before it grows long, which reduces density just as visibly. Working out which one is happening is the first step, because the answer changes what helps.

Common reasons hair thins

Alopecia. A group of autoimmune conditions in which the body attacks its own hair follicles. It can appear in patches or as widespread thinning depending on the type.

Telogen effluvium. A temporary shedding phase that can follow illness, surgery, childbirth, high stress or a major life change. More hair sheds than usual, but the follicles stay active.

Hormonal thinning. Menopause, perimenopause, thyroid imbalance, pregnancy and the postpartum months can all cause gradual thinning as strands become finer.

Postpartum shedding. Often starts several months after birth as hormone levels shift. It usually settles, though it can feel alarming while it happens.

Chemotherapy and radiation. Treatments that target rapidly dividing cells also affect hair follicles. Hair loss during treatment is common and is usually temporary.

Trichotillomania. An urge to pull the hair, which produces irregular patterns and can affect the scalp, eyebrows and eyelashes.

Medication and rapid weight change. Rapid weight loss and the metabolic change associated with medications such as semaglutide can trigger temporary shedding, often tied to nutritional shifts or physical stress.

Breakage and over processing. Bleaching, chemical services, heat and tension weaken the strand so it snaps before reaching full length. The follicle is fine. The hair still looks thinner.

Shedding, breakage and follicle loss

Shedding is hair leaving the follicle as part of the normal cycle. Breakage is the strand snapping along its length. Follicle loss is the follicle no longer producing hair. Most people arrive assuming one and are experiencing another, or two at once.

Your options, from least coverage to most

Scalp and home care. Where the hair and follicles are still working, care can support the condition of the scalp and the hair you have. See Scalp and Grow.

Toppers. For thinning at the crown or a widening part, where you still have hair to blend into. A topper adds coverage and volume exactly where you need it. See hair toppers.

Extensions and integration. For length and density where the existing hair can carry them.

Wigs. For fuller coverage, in human hair or high quality synthetic. See wigs.

Hair replacement systems and semi permanent attachment. A piece attached for continuous wear, using methods chosen for comfort, security and a natural appearance.

Full cranial prosthesis. The term used for a wig fitted for medically related hair loss, with documentation you can submit to your health plan. See full cranial prosthesis.

Many people end up with a combination, and most people change what they wear over time as their situation changes.

What drives the price

Human hair or synthetic. The grade and quality of the hair. Cap and base construction. Density. Length and color work. Texture matching. Attachment method. How much customization the piece needs. Because so much is personalized, not every option or price is listed on this site. After a consultation you receive an estimate built around what you actually need, and Moxi Loxi works across a range of price points rather than one.

What a consultation covers

Your hair history and what changed. The condition of your scalp and your density. Your daily routine, because the right answer for someone who swims every morning is not the right answer for someone who does not. Measurements, if you are ready for them. Cap construction, attachment, color, length, density and texture. Then a clear recommendation, and an estimate sent to you afterward.

Consultations are available in person at our Danville studio and virtually from anywhere. If your hair loss is related to chemotherapy, alopecia, radiation or another medical circumstance, the Medical Hair Loss Consultation is complimentary.

See consultation options and book

Paying for it

We accept major payment cards and offer Shop Pay Installments and CareCredit. Financing approval, available terms, interest and credit limits are determined by the applicable provider. A wig may qualify as a medical expense in limited circumstances, and your HSA or FSA plan administrator determines eligibility, documentation and reimbursement. See payment and coverage options.

Who Moxi Loxi is for

Women are most of who we see, and we also fit teens, men and children. Everyone is welcome in this studio, including people navigating hair loss while exploring or expressing their identity. Hair is tied to identity and confidence, and nobody should have to justify that to be taken seriously.