Why Hair Breakage Might Be More Than Just Genetics

Noticing your hair thinning or breaking more than usual can feel worrying. It’s common to wonder whether this is something you’ve inherited from your parents, or if there’s another cause. While genetics and hair loss are closely linked, your DNA isn’t the only factor at play. Nutrition, stress, hormones, and even how you style your hair can make a big difference.

Common Signs of Genetic-Linked Hair Issues

Genetic-related hair issues usually develop gradually. The signs including:

• Gradual thinning around the crown or temples (often in men)
• Widening part or general thinning across the scalp (often in women)
• Miniaturisation: hair grows shorter and finer with each cycle
• Breakage or brittle strands unrelated to styling damage
• Slow regrowth after shedding episodes

Hair may also start to grow back shorter and finer, a process known as miniaturisation. In some cases, the main problem is breakage hair feels weaker, snaps easily, or struggles to grow past a certain length.

Genetics and Hair Loss

Hair colour and thickness

Your hair colour depends on melanin, the pigment also responsible for skin tone. The MC1R gene helps control the type of melanin your hair cells make. You inherit one copy of this gene from each parent, and small differences explain why one person ends up with red hair while their sibling has dark brown.

Thickness and texture are also partly inherited. Research has linked certain genes to differences in hair type in different populations, though most of these traits are polygenic, meaning they depend on many genes working together.

The baldness gene and male pattern hair loss

The androgen receptor (AR) gene, often called the baldness gene, is one of the best-known markers linked to male pattern hair loss. It’s located on the X chromosome, which men inherit from their mothers. That’s why you often hear the myth that baldness only comes from your mother’s side of the family. In reality, genetics and hair loss are influenced by both sides.

Female pattern hair loss

For women, things are less straightforward. Female androgenic alopecia doesn’t always involve high levels of androgens, the male sex hormones. In fact, many women with thinning hair have normal hormone levels. Family history can still matter, but outside triggers like hormonal birth control or sudden stress can also contribute.

Causes of Hair Breakage Beyond Genetics

Even if the baldness gene is in your family tree, other factors can make breakage worse:

• Hormonal changes: menopause, pregnancy, or thyroid imbalance
• Stress: high stress can push hair follicles into a shedding phase
• Chronic disorders: autoimmune diseases, scalp infections, or anaemia
• Medications: chemotherapy, some antidepressants, or blood pressure drugs
• Hairstyles and treatments: tight ponytails, chemical relaxers, or heat damage

This means two siblings with the same family history of hair thinning might experience very different levels of hair breakage depending on their lifestyle.

Genetic Hair Loss Treatment Options

If you suspect your hair loss is tied to family history, genetic hair loss treatment may help slow the process. Options include:

• Topical minoxidil (Rogaine) stimulates hair follicles and lengthen the growth phase
• Finasteride (Propecia), prescription pill that lowers levels of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), the hormone that shrinks hair follicles
• Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) devices that stimulate circulation in the scalp
• Hair transplant surgery
• Anti-androgen therapy (for women) like Spironolactone or certain birth control pills may block the effects of androgens.

Even though treatments work differently for each person, clinical evidence suggests combining approaches can be more effective than relying on one.

Nutrition and Hair Health

What you eat has a direct impact on your hair. Since hair is made mostly of keratin, a protein, a diet low in protein can make strands weaker and more prone to snapping. Deficiencies in vitamins and minerals such as iron, vitamin D, or zinc can also contribute to breakage.

Research supports these connections. A review found that low vitamin D levels are common in people with hair loss disorders, suggesting the vitamin plays a role in follicle health. Another study highlighted iron deficiency as a frequent factor in chronic shedding. 

Biotin’s role in hair growth

Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is a water-soluble vitamin that helps your body convert food into energy. This can be part of genetic hair loss treatment. It plays a key role in producing keratin, the protein that makes up hair, skin, and nails. People with very low biotin levels often notice brittle hair or increased shedding.

Research into biotin for genetic hair loss treatment is mixed. Study reports suggest that biotin can improve hair strength and reduce breakage in people with brittle hair syndrome or low biotin levels. 

Can You Predict Your Hair Based on Parents?

You can get some clues, but not a full picture. If your father or grandfather lost hair early, you may be more likely to notice thinning yourself, but it isn’t guaranteed. 

Genetics and hair loss are influenced by both parents, and environmental factors often determine how early and how severely it shows.

The Bottom Line

Hair breakage and thinning aren’t always written in your DNA. While the baldness gene and other inherited traits matter, they don’t explain everything. Stress, nutrition, hormones, and styling all add to the picture.

The good news is that support exists. Genetic hair loss treatment can slow or reduce shedding, while a nutrient-rich diet helps strengthen what you already have. If you’re noticing sudden changes or persistent thinning, consider speaking to a dermatologist or hair specialist.