Maybe you've noticed your ponytail is skinnier, or there's a bit more scalp peeking through. Before you start frantically Googling ‘How to stop hair loss?’, remember it's perfectly normal to shed around 80 strands a day – an amount that can go up or down, depending on several factors. Hormones, medication and even the time of year can impact the wellbeing of your hair follicles, forcing them to produce thinner strands, or none at all.
Even if you do find you're pulling a matted ball of hair out of your shower drain more frequently, there is likely a very reasonable explanation. More importantly, there are things that can be done to help put the brakes on more hair fall, as well as significantly improve the look and feel of your strands.
We've spoken to the experts about the most common causes, but if you’re looking to treat signs of serious hair loss, it's always best to consult with a trichologist or dermatologist in order to establish the root cause and create a bespoke treatment plan.
Ahead, the professionals reveal what might be disrupting your hair's healthy growth cycle, why it might be thinning and, crucially, how to stop hair loss.
Meet the experts:
- Anabel Kingsley: consultant trichologist and Philip Kingsley brand president
- Sally-Ann Traver: consultant trichologist at The Cotswold Trichology Centre
- Helen Reavey: trichologist and founder of Act + Acre
- Inanch Emir: celebrity hairdresser and founder of Inanch London hair extensions
- Nikita Mehta: co-founder of Fable & Mane
What are the stages of hair growth?
Before determining what might help with your hair loss, it's important to understand the hair growth cycle. Each hair on your head undergoes four stages as part of its life cycle. At any one given time, the hair on your head will be at different stages.
- Anagen (Growth Phase) – The active growth phase, which can last between three to five years. Hair typically grows half and inch per month (around 6 inches per year). The anagen phase naturally shorten the older we get.
- Catogen (Transition Phase) – The hair follicle then moves into this transitional phase (lasting circa 10 days) when the hair temporarily stops growing and is cut off from its blood supply.
- Telogen (Resting Phase) – The resting phase lasts around three months. Hair remains in the follicle but isn't growing.
- Exogen (Shedding Phase): The final phase where old hair falls out, making way for a new anagen hair.
The secrets to peak hair health.
Why is my hair falling out?
1.Genetics
For people assigned female at birth, female pattern hair loss (also known as androgenic alopecia) is one of the most common causes of hair loss. It can be inherited from either parent, occurs at any age after puberty and typically presents itself as a wider parting.
“It is affected by hormone levels in your body, and by your individual sensitivity to them,” says Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist and Philip Kingsley brand president. Hair follicles grow back slightly thinner and shorter with each hair growth cycle until they "become so small they stop producing a hair altogether,” Anabel notes.
One hormone in particular, called DHT, is making headlines as it's thought to attach itself to androgen receptors in hair follicles, causing them to gradually shrink over time.
2. Stress
Chronic stress can cause malting, where more hairs than usual move out of their growth phase and into their shedding phase (a process officially known as Telogen Effluvium). There is often a three-month delay between this stressful event and increased hair fall.
“Stress can raise androgen (male hormone) levels, which can worsen or trigger female pattern hair loss if you have a genetic predisposition towards it,” says Anabel. "Plus stress can make it harder for your body to absorb nutrients."
You may notice all over thinning but the good news is, unless it’s something more serious, your hair will grow back. “Hair loss will increase approximately two months after the stress begins and stop approximately four months after the stress stops,” says Sally-Ann.
3. Super-tight hairstyles
Anything that involves repeatedly pulling your hair into a tight style should be avoided as it can cause traction alopecia. This includes protective styles and even the simple act of tying your hair bobble too tight when crafting a ponytail or bun.
Inflammation around the follicles can disrupt the hair's growth cycle, especially around the front hairline and the sides, and potentially lead to hair loss.
4. Harsh styling
If heat styling, straightening or colour treatments are part of your regular haircare routine, your strands are at risk of becoming weaker and snapping off. "Over-processing can impact the strength of your hair strands and lead to breakage that appears as hair loss," says Inanch Emir from Inanch London. “If you notice hair loss, but don't see a difference in the density of hair at the scalp, this is likely the cause.”
5. Iron deficiency
According to the experts at Aventus Clinic, 30% of unexplained hair loss is linked to modern diet failures. Critical nutrients like iron, zinc, and protein are essential for healthy hair and, when we're not getting enough, this can seriously impact hair retention. “As hair is non-essential tissue, it is the first part of you to be deprived of nutrients when your diet is lacking,” says Anabel.
Heavy periods and vegetarianism, can be especially problematic as they lead to low levels of Ferritin – a protein that stores iron in the body. “Ferritin deficiency commonly causes increased hair fall and a shortening of the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle," Anabel explains. "This means hair may not be able to grow as long as it is capable of.”
If you think you may be deficient in certain nutrients, it's worth booking an appointment with your GP.
6. Ozempic hair loss
While there's no evidence that hair loss is a direct side effect of Ozempic, it could be a stressor for hair follicles in those taking the medication off-label for rapid weight loss.
“Ozempic affects your appetite, so by restricting your food intake, you're also restricting the number of vitamins and minerals you're ingesting, which are beneficial for healthy hair growth,” says Helen Reavey, trichologist and founder of Act + Acre.
The American Hair Loss Association also hypothesises that hormonal shifts from the drug can trigger temporary shedding as part of telogen effluvium phase.
7. Dandruff and an inflamed scalp
“50% of people before the age of 40 have some type of hair loss, while one in two suffer from some type of scalp issue," Helen says, some of which is the result of a scalp that has been thrown out of balance by hormones, vitamin deficiencies, stress and pollution levels.
Inflammatory conditions, such as dandruff – driven by Malassezia yeast – can also disrupt the hair growth cycle. Continually scratching an itchy scalp can cause increased shedding. Not to mention, dandruff flakes, combined with oil from the scalp, can clog hair follicles, causing strands to be more fragile and grow finer in diameter.
8. Over reliance on dry shampoo
Helen and Anabel both recommend washing your hair every other day rather than leaning on dry shampoo, which creates a paste-like mixture with dead skin and oil.
According to Helen, this congestion within the hair follicle won't create the optimum environment for hair growth and, worst-case scenario, can even trigger what she calls “inflammatory responses", which can result in hair loss.
9. Vitamin D deficiency
90% of absorbable vitamin D comes from sunlight, as a result of UVB rays interacting with a protein in the skin and converting it into vitamin D3. A deficiency can interrupt the anagen phase of our hair follicles, causing delayed growth and even premature shedding.
The consensus among experts is that supplementing vitamin D3 is just as effective as sun exposure – and it doesn’t come at the cost of healthy skin, either.
Protect your bones, muscles and teeth with one daily dose ☀️
10. Hormones
Hormones also play a major role in your hair growth cycle. “Oestrogens are ‘hair friendly’ and help to keep your strands in the anagen phase for anywhere between three to seven years,” explains Anabel. Androgens and progesterone (male hormones) can have the opposite effect.
If you’re switching up your birth control or have just started the pill, it can have a negative effect on your hair. Generally-speaking, birth control pills with oestrogen tend to be better for your hair, but ones with progesterone only can contribute to hair loss. Before selecting the right birth control, consult your doctor about possible side effects.
Hair thinning is also a side effect of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) as a result of elevated androgen levels. Similarly, during perimenopause oestrogen levels, which support hair growth, drop and androgen levels increase, which can lead to shedding.
11. Post pregnancy
Pregnancy can cause a rise in oestrogen, which typically makes hair luscious and thick, especially in the final few months. “Essentially, this increase keeps hairs in the growth phase for longer,” explains Anabel.
But what goes up, must come down and, thanks to hormonal changes, hair loss is also a possibility. “After childbirth or after breast-feeding, oestrogen levels return to normal and approximately 50% of women experience ‘post partum’ shedding,” Anabel notes. While distressing, this shedding should stop after three months.
12. Change of season
Experts aren't 100% certain why we shed more hair with the change of season (peaks seem to be in September and April) but experts at Mount Sinai in the US believe dietary changes or hormonal fluctuations at these times of year are possible explanations for why hair goes into the resting phase more quickly.
13. Smoking
According to the experts at Aventus Clinic, smokers are 1.6 times more likely to lose hair prematurely. This is because smoking starves hair follicles by reducing blood flow by 30%, accelerating ageing and causing significant thinning.
14. Illness and medication
Reactive hair loss involves a trigger, such as hair loss, which can affect your follicles. “Many people don’t make the connection between an illness a couple of months prior to hair loss – it’s often just delayed,” says Sally-Ann Traver, Consultant Trichologist at The Cotswold Trichology Centre.
Twelve percent of all hair loss cases are triggered by common medications, according to Aventus experts. Blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, and even acne treatments can trigger thinning hair. That's why it's important to always consult your doctor if you notice unusual shedding after starting new medication.
"She may have lost her hair, she hasn’t lost herself."
15. Autoimmune diseases
When you have an autoimmune disorder, your immune system mistakenly attacks the hair follicles, thinking it's a virus. This interrupts the hair's growth phase, leading to shedding. In the case of alopecia areata, this can cause round bald patches on the scalp, while thryroid disease can cause excess hair fall.
If you are concerned about autoimmune diseases and alopecia, it's always recommended to book an appointment with your GP to discuss diagnosis and treatment. You can find your local GP here.
How do I stop my hair falling out?
- Book in to see a dermatologist or trichologist: If your hair doesn’t return to its normal fullness within 6 months, it’s time to book in to see a dermatologist or trichologist who may order blood tests and look at your family history to establish the root cause and create a treatment plan.
- Increase the amount of protein in your diet: Hair is made of protein, perhaps making this the most essential nutrient for hair growth. “A reasonable portion of meat or fish every day can make up around half of your 45g quota,” says Sally-Ann. Quinoa and nuts are good sources of protein for vegetarians.
- Include whole grains for breakfast: Hair cells are their most active first thing in the morning. “Complex carbohydrates provide you with slow-release energy,” says Anabel. “Being the second fastest growing cells the body produces, hair cells need a consistent energy supply.” Oatmeal, whole-wheat toast and chia seeds are good breakfast options.
- Take a hair growth supplement: Our associate beauty director Fiona Embleton has seen good results after taking Vida Glow Hairology (a blend of iodine-rich seaweed, biotin and pea sprout extract) for three months. Philip Kingsley's Density Health Hair Complex is powered by iron and biotin, while an independent blind trial found The Nue Co's Growth Phase Hair Supplements reduced hair shedding by 87%.
- Check for an iron deficiency: Talk to your doctor first about testing for iron deficiency but if you do need to increase your iron levels, supplementation may be a good option, especially if you don't eat red meat. “Although dark, leafy greens such as spinach contain iron, it is ‘non-haem iron’ – and this is harder for the body to break down and absorb," says Anabel. Wild Nutrition Food-Grown Iron Plus is a good option.
- Deep cleanse your scalp: "Silicone build-up from most conditioners can make it look like you have an oily scalp because it's like a magnet and attracts dirt and smog,” Helen explains. Throw in hard water laced with chlorine and heavy metals, such as copper, magnesium, calcium and iron, and there's even more of an incentive to thoroughly cleanse your scalp with a pre-wash or a once-weekly scrub.
- Apply a leave-in scalp treatment: Act+Acre's Cold Processed Stem Cell Serum is formulated with Swiss apple stem cells, which have been shown to reduce shedding by 35% in just one month while promoting a longer hair follicle growth phase. Aveda's Scalp Solutions Overnight Scalp Renewal Serum is packed with barrier- boosting heroes to soothe an irritated scalp. UKHair Hair Growth Serum harnesses the power of pea sprout extract, phytic acid and turmeric to invigorate the scalp while the Champo Pitta Growth Serum contains caffeine to target the hair loss hormone DHT and delay shedding.
- Give yourself a scalp massage: “The head is home to our nervous system," says Nikita Mehta, co-founder of Fable & Mane. "In Ayurveda, scalp massage, using oils that contain adaptogens, is a daily routine to calm the nervous system and balance energy. The ritual also stretches the hair from the roots, stimulating them to produce thicker strands.” The brand's HoliRoots Hair Oil is spiked with circulation-boosting castor oil and the Ayurvedic adaptogen ashwagandha, which has anti-inflammatory properties, according to several published studies. Also worth trying is TikTok sensation Mielle Organics Rosemary Mint Scalp & Hair Strengthening Oil.
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
If you are concerned about alopecia or hair loss, it's always recommended to book an appointment with your GP to discuss diagnosis and treatment. You can find your local GP here.
