Can hair straightening and blow drying devices lead to baldness? 

• Question: I am a 31 year old female, and I tend to suffer from quite severe seasonal shedding. So, I would like to know if my hair loss is caused by using straighteners and blow drying my hair?

Answer:  Hair straightening and blow drying your hair does not cause hair loss. Straightening and blow drying the hair is, for the most part, a relatively harmless process, as long as it is performed correctly. If the processes are ill-performed, the result is often damage or breakage to the hair, rather than actual hair loss. Common forms of hair loss such as pattern baldness and indeed seasonal shedding, are caused by your genetics.

With all that said, if you are particularly prone to seasonal shedding, or pattern baldness, then you should consider minimising your usage of high-heat devices.  Exposing your strands to heat can do more damage then good to your condition, particularly if your locks are fragile.

Speak to your hairdresser or barber about this topic in more depth, because in most cases, your hairdresser will know your hair better than anyone else. They will be able to advise you further on how best to style your hair with heat devices, without compromising the health of your strands.