wearing a hat....hair damage???

Hi all....Im a 30 yr old male who had long hair at the back...and short sides and top.....I decided to grow it out,but didnt like the big difference in the length,while this was happening.....ie ......halfway down my back...but only down to my ears at the side.Anyway.....I started to wear a baseball cap everyday.....waiting for the sides to grow longer.While this was happening,I cut the back to just below my armpits.I'm at the point now where its pretty even...BUT!!! I noticed that my hair .....which is fine anyway...seems to be thinner around my temples....and its happened whilst wearing the cap.I wore it all summer and it got quite hot in there...actually I prob wore it for at least one year..... What I want to know is????can wearing a cap all day...everyday....well,I did take it off once I got home from work,but I wore it at least 8 hrs a day...can it damage your hair......some people say it would,some say it wouldnt.I no longer wear a hat,well not like I used to....I do have quite a high hairline natually,but with parted hair you cant tell....it just seems thinner. or am I just getting older damn it........Any advise would be great.....OH...also....is silica good for you hair????have a great day........

> Sounds like your baseball cap may have been> too tight. A hair dresser told me along time ago> that sleeping only on one side can make your hair> thinner on that side. It has to do with rubbing> and cutting of circulation. The same thing would> happen to your hair wearing a too tight hat. You> may want to switch to a looser cap or a different> looser style like a Gilligan's Island cap in the> summer or a skull cap or longshore man's cap (a> snug fitting touqe) in the winter. Or now that> your sides are longer, slick the front part of> your hair back into a ponytail like Michael in> the show Nikita (or like any long haired soccer> player in the world cup/ particularily Petit of> the French team). Make sure that you use cloth> covered bands. A good blunt cut would make your> hair appear thicker. You may also want to try> some different hair care products like the Aveda> products that everyone raves about.> As per silica: I have noticed a real difference> in my hair since I started to take silica. It> doesn't work over night, but after about 2 - 3> months my hair became thicker, shinier and started> growing faster. My nails also started growing> faster and are stronger. I take silica gel instead> of the capsules because it is easier for your> body to absorb.> Kira........I am smiling ....in fact.....you hit the nail right on the head so to speak.....I always had a prob getting a cap to fit....big head hahaha.....so yeah...I feel it was to tight....and in summer,man it got hot under there...the cap would kinda burn my skin like mild sunburn,but because I was growing it out,it wasnt long enough at the sides to pull back...well.....it would stay back for a while,until it fell out,from the pony tail,not my head thank godddddddd...and I dont suit the Micheal Jackson look hahaha...so thanks...I feel alot better.Its more or less one length again...approx 8 inches below my shoulders,so I dont wear the cap much at all...I guess after wearing it for so long,I felt strange going out in public with it down...esp at work....but Im over that now.And the silica....I guess its only been 3 weeks since I started.....but I will get the gel like you say.... A mine of information Kira...thanks again :-)Have a great day.....