I'm a vegetarian and have been for about 6 years now. I have noticed that my hair has been getting thinner and thinner. What could be causing this? And what can I do to change this?

Hair loss is a complex issue.  For those who suffer from diffuse hair loss (not just in a patch) the causes are many.  Iron-deficiency, zinc-deficiency and malabsorption of the proper vitamins in the diet can cause a diffuse loss of hair.  A low thyroid condition or an elevation in the function of the parathyroid glands can cause diffuse hair loss, as can some genetic or hereditary conditions. 

The best recommendation I can make is that you first determine that your thyroid is functioning properly and that some other medical condition like the post-pregnancy state is not causing the problem.  If all is normal, then I would reevaluate the mineral and vitamin content in your diet and, if it seems that diet alone won't give you what you need, a good multivitamin with iron and zinc in it may replace what your body needs to grow a healthy head of hair. 

Hair that falls out in patches is called alopecia areata and is an auto-immune condition that needs medical attention.  Both men and women can develop some form of male-pattern baldness if it runs in the family.  Women do not have such a noticeable condition but can lose hair around the crown of the head or around the temples as a result of a parent or grandparent having the same condition

C. Traxler  , MD