Health and fitness guru Kayla Itsines is known for her inspirational honesty, writing about everything from her own stretch marks, to feeling insecure when she first stepped into a gym, to what she eats. And now she’s getting real about something entirely unrelated to fitness: her hair.
The 26-year-old Australian took to Instagram this week to share that her hair is thinning and that she has a family history of female-pattern baldness.
“So here is a fact that I haven’t actually ever really spoken about,” Itsines told her over 7 million followers. “My natural hair is actually super short. I have genetically really thin hair…I often just wear a clip in pony tail when I want long hair,” she added, posting a selfie of her holding thick, long hair.
Itsines continued, “I know we all have our own little insecurities, and one of mine has always been my hair, but it is just me! I can see my hair getting thinner and thinner the older I get. Yes, of course I'm super conscious about it and I’ve tried everything to fix it, trust me. But, at the same time, I am at peace with it and I will not let it rule my life. So instead I focus on being healthy and happy.”
According to the American Academy of Dermatology, female pattern baldness affects around 30 million women in the U.S. The most common cause of hair loss in both men and women is called hereditary hair loss. Anyone who is experiencing it should visit a dermatologist.
Itsines’ post was liked nearly 75,000 times with supporters applauding her openness. “Thank you for being human and honest, that's real beauty!” wrote one person. “You are a great role model and your confidence inspires me to be more confident!” wrote another.
To try Kayla's workouts, download her app.