Girl ... have you ever looked at the hair in your hand after wash day and wondered, “Is this normal?”
Maybe you’ve been calling it breakage. Maybe your crown looks thinner, but you keep telling yourself your hair just needs more moisture. Before you change your entire routine, it helps to understand what you’re seeing.
I began experiencing hair thinning as a teenager and was diagnosed with Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia, or CCCA, in my early twenties after having my first child. This subject is personal to me, and it’s why I want us to pay closer attention to our crowns.
In my video, “I Thought It Was Breakage...Could It Actually Be Hair Loss?”, we explore shedding, breakage, and progressive thinning. Watch below, then use this guide to start noticing your own patterns.
Watch the video on YouTube and join the conversation.
Hair shedding vs. breakage: what’s the difference?
Shedding happens when a hair releases from its follicle. A shed strand may have a small white club-shaped bulb at one end. Breakage happens when the hair shaft snaps, leaving shorter pieces.
These clues can help you describe what you’re seeing, but a strand inspection alone cannot tell you why it happened or diagnose a scalp condition.
Some shedding is part of the normal hair cycle. The American Academy of Dermatology says shedding around 50–100 hairs a day is typical. You don’t need to count every strand ... pay attention to a sustained change from your usual pattern, especially when it comes with reduced fullness.
With breakage, you may notice uneven lengths or little pieces while detangling. Review how you handle your hair, including heat, tension, and rough manipulation. But don’t automatically assume persistent crown breakage is only a moisture problem.
Can crown breakage be an early sign of CCCA?
Yes. The American Academy of Dermatology identifies breakage in the center of the scalp as a possible early CCCA sign.
CCCA is a type of scarring hair loss. It commonly begins at the crown and can expand outward. As follicles become scarred, hair loss can become permanent, which makes early recognition valuable.
Look beyond the strands in your hand. Is the same area becoming less full? Is more scalp visible in comparable photos? Are changes continuing even after you’ve adjusted your hair care?
These observations deserve attention, but they do not confirm CCCA.
Can you have CCCA without itching?
Yes. Some people experience itching, burning, tenderness, or pain. Others have no discomfort. A scalp that feels comfortable can still show changes, so don’t use itching as your only checkpoint.
Where the hair growth cycle fits in
Hair moves through growth, transition, rest, and shedding phases, known as anagen, catagen, telogen, and exogen. That explains why shedding happens naturally. Persistent loss of fullness still deserves a closer look.
What to do when something looks different
Start a simple hair journal. Take crown photos in the same lighting, with the same part and angle. Record changes in fullness, scalp comfort, hairstyles, and your routine.
Choose styles that feel comfortable and avoid pulling at thinning areas. Handle your hair gently and keep your routine manageable while you investigate what’s happening.
If crown thinning or localized breakage persists, ask a clinician familiar with scarring alopecia whether CCCA or another condition could be involved. Bring your photos and timeline, and ask whether a scalp examination or biopsy is appropriate. The goal is to understand the cause before losing more time guessing.
How I approach my hair-care routine
My routine includes the Raw African Black Soap Hair Growth Shampoo and Rosemary & Peppermint Herbal Deep Conditioner. I also use Scalp Soothing Mist and Organic Hair Growth Oil as part of my personal hair-care routine.
Hair-care products do not diagnose or cure CCCA, and they cannot restore follicles destroyed by scarring. Choose products based on your hair’s needs and your scalp’s tolerance, alongside appropriate medical care.
Explore Sydney Nicole Products hair and scalp care.
Let’s talk about your crown
Have you been noticing full-length shed strands, short broken pieces, or a change in fullness at your crown?
Watch the video and leave a comment about what you’ve noticed. Your experience may help someone else start paying closer attention.
It’s time to take your crown back®
This article shares personal experience and general education, not an individual diagnosis. Educational illustrations are not diagnostic or before-and-after photographs.
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