• Hair loss starts as thinning of the scalp.B2M Productions/Stockbyte/Getty Images
  
  Female hair loss can result from many factors, such as age and pregnancy. While it's normal to shed some hair during a day, it's abnormal to experience excessive hair loss. According to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, shedding 100 to 150 hairs a day is considered normal; more than that, however, may constitute female balding.
  
  

Hairstyles

• Excessive pulling of your hair can cause balding.casual 5 image by Philip Date from Fotolia.com
  
  If you excessively pull your hair into tight hairstyles (ex. ponytails), it can pull your hair out by the roots. This can result in hair loss know as traction alopecia, as noted by Family Doctor. Signs of traction alopecia include bald patches, scarring and permanent hair loss.
  
  

Androgenic Alopecia

• Androgenic alopecia refers to thinning of the hair in women. When affected hair is shed, new hair grows in shorter. The hair becomes thinner and fuzzier in appearance. Your hair may also fall out easily and go bald around the front and sides of your scalp, as well as on top. Androgenic alopecia can be caused by hormone imbalances, irritation to your scalp or damage to the hair follicles.
  
  

Autoimmune Diseases

• Autoimmune diseases, such as thyroid conditions, can cause female balding. As stated by the American Academy of Dermatology, AA will cause small patches of hair loss that can last for years. The patch of hair loss starts out as the size of a coin and may spread over your entire scalp.
  
  

Other Signs

• Other conditions can contribute to hair loss. Chemotherapeutic drugs can result in temporary balding of the scalp. Once therapy ends, the hair grows back. Suffering from stress or a major illness can cause hair loss. Handfuls of hair may fall out when you wash or comb your hair.