I'm young and my hair is thinning

Monique

Tight head garments or hairstyles can cause (permanent) hair loss, known as traction alopecia:

"Traction alopecia in two adolescent Sikh brothers – an underrecognized problem unmasked by migration." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21371118
"Extensive traction alopecia attributable to ponytail hairstyle and its treatment with hair transplantation." http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/16044234

Dadface

I have two hairs left on the top of my head.I groom one of them every day but keep the other one casual.

Jack21222

I started going bald when I was about 16. I'm almost 30 now and the typical male-pattern baldness is nearly complete. I just keep my head shaved completely. Up until a few years ago, I just kept it very short (I'd let it grow to about an inch in length before shaving), but now I just Bic it in the shower twice a week. (Note: I don't mean I use the Bic brand of razor, that's just the terminology for taking it down to the skin).

For what it's worth, no male on my mother's side of the family is bald. Not my uncle, not my grandfather, not any of my grandmother's brothers... Nobody on that side of the family is bald. On the other hand, my father went bald before 20, so did every one of his 3 brothers, their father, my cousin... It's clearly from my father's side.

There are benefits to a shaved head. For one, I can leave the house without showering if I had to without everybody being able to notice, because I didn't have to worry about greasy hair or anything. Using a razor twice a week is cheaper than paying for a hair cut, and you never have to worry about your hair getting messed up. Plus, it's marginally safer if you're ever near any heavy machinery. Besides, shaved heads are a fairly popular look these days.

leroyjenkens

I've heard of that. That must be an extreme case though, and the male pattern baldness can't possibly be blamed on hats.

Monique

It has an effect on the health of hair. Wearing a hat won't cause male-pattern baldness, but it's not so hard to imagine that extra stress on the hair could accelerate the process of balding if the hair is already weak.

The OP never talked about male-pattern baldness though. The thinning could have several causes, that's why I suggested seeing a doctor for a diagnosis.

leroyjenkens

Whenever I wear a hat, there isn't any stress on the areas where men normally go bald. If a hat is tight, it's tight around the circumference of the head. It barely touches the top of the head, much less causes stress on the hair.

The thinning he's talking about is probably in the areas where men develop the typical baldness pattern. If it's thinning all over, he needs to see a doctor immediately, because that's not normal.