Elin Nordegren didn’t just lose Tiger Woods—according to hair loss expert Dr. Larry Shapiro, she’s losing her hair too! In fact, up to a quarter of all American women are losing their hair too. August is the tenth annual Hair Loss Awareness Month, so we’re, ahem, brushing out the details on the physical and emotional impact of hair loss on women—plus how to disguise thinning hair.

“Typically we lose between 50 and 100 hairs per day, but a consistent loss of 150 or more hairs is considered significant,” says Dr. Robert Leonard, Founder and Chief Surgeon at Leonard Hair Transplant Associates in Cranston, Rhode Island. There is also a distinct difference between Hereditary Hair Loss, which accounts for 95% off all hair loss in women, and temporary hair loss. The latter can occur as a result of hormones, thyroid conditions, and certain medications—and hair will grow back on its own; with hereditary hair loss, new treatments are the only hope for re-growth.

Doctors say over-the-counter ROGAINE (the only topical treatment that’s FDA-approved) and low level laser therapy can help stabilize progressive hair loss in women. But they say shampoos, conditioners, vitamins and serums that claim to stimulate hair regrowth are purely cosmetic products and will NOT regrow hair.

Surgery is also an option for women with badly thinning hair. Dr. Ken Washenik, President of the North American Hair Research Society, says, “Single follicle and follicular unit transplants deliver more natural-looking results for men and women alike.” He also predicts cellular regenerative therapy and hair cloning are technologies that will be used in the not-so-distant future.

The Emotional Side of Hair Loss

In a study conducted by Wakefield (on behalf of Rogaine) called Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: The Myths & Truths Behind Hair Loss, nearly 90 percent of Americans think a woman who has lost her hair is ill. Because women associate their hair with femininity—83 percent of women age 18-35 say they would feel less feminine if their hair began to thin—the loss of their hair is particularly difficult.

More than half of women surveyed would give up their favorite food, five years of their life, not talking for a year, or breaking up with a significant other in order to guarantee they’ll always have a full head of hair.

Styling Tips for Thinning Hair

Follicularly-challenged women need not give up their lovers for rescue from thinning hair. For a healthier approach to beauty, celebrity stylist Thom Priano says, “A healthy diet and vitamin supplements can help … Eat a balanced diet and take a good multi-vitamin every day.” Look for foods that are high in protein (like fish, eggs, beans and yogurt).

Priano shares his top eight tricks for taking care of thinning hair with us:

1.  “If you have thinning hair, there are many hair care and styling products that really help make hair appear thicker. Look for anything with a "V" that adds VOLUME to the hair (shampoo, conditioner, gel, mousse, cream, or spray).”
2. Choose a wide tooth comb or plastic brush with rounded tips (despite popular belief, plastic with rounded tips is more gentle than sharp bristles).
3. When brushing fine or thinning hair, NEVER pull or tug and ALWAYS use a wide tooth comb. Brushing or combing wet hair actually does more damage than brushing or combing dry hair.
4. “Fine, thinning hair is already fragile and can be further damaged by over-washing, over-brushing or over-combing.”
5. Gently wash hair with a gentle, volumizing shampoo and follow with a lightweight conditioner.
6. Avoid tangling which roughs up the hair cuticle.
7. Towel dry hair (do NOT wrap hair up in a towel turban, which causes damage).
8. Protect your hair and scalp from the sun. Exposure to UV makes hair more brittle, so look for UV protectant styling products and wear a hat or scarf when you are in the direct sun. This will protect your scalp as well.

Lastly, Priano dishes on five styles that might help hide thinning hair:

1. Layered cuts can add volume to your hair -- whether it’s curly, wavy or straight. Stick with minimal layers, rather than heavy ones that can look flat.
2. Consider cutting deep bangs to help mask thinning hair on the top of the head.
3. Try a zig-zag part and a “messy” style.
4. “Hair color can also play a big part in masking hair loss. Darker shades play up the contrast between hair and scalp, while lighter shades that are closer to your skin tone can actually help camouflage thinning hair,” adds Priano, who recommends highlights. “Coloring your mane also expands the hair shaft which makes hair appear thicker.”
5. Let hair dry naturally so it lays closer to the scalp.

Women suffering from hair loss needn't hide--by following the advice above, women can disguise hair loss while beefing up their diets, managing their stress levels, taking care of the hair they've got, and exploring other hair-care options.

Lyssa Myska Allen is editorial director at EndlessBeauty.com