<\/svg><\/span><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nHair loss isn\u2019t just cosmetic \u2013 it can be one of the first indicators that something deeper in the body is out of balance.<\/p>\n
Yet for all the shampoos, serums and supplements promising quick fixes, the reality is that thinning hair has many causes and no single miracle cure.<\/p>\n
Lead trichologist and brand president at Philip Kingsley, Anabel Kingsley, says she frequently meets clients who are shocked by how suddenly their hair seems to change.<\/p>\n
\u201cPeople usually lose at least 20% of the volume of their hair before they notice it \u2013 my clients often say \u2018I suddenly looked in the mirror and saw my hair is thinner\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n
The important thing to note is that there are many types of hair loss, as well as a variety of different causes.<\/p>\n
Nutrition expert Suzanne Cooper, founder of the hair nutrition brand GLOWWA, points out that \u201cpeople can lose their hair commonly from stress, hormonal imbalance, digestive health, nutritional deficiencies. So it\u2019s really important that we iron out all of the deficiencies with what we\u2019re doing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The two types of hair loss Kingsley sees most often are male and female pattern hair loss, which are largely genetic, and telogen effluvium (TE), which occurs when the body responds to internal stressors like illness, nutritional deficiency, or thyroid issues.<\/p>\n
The good news, she says, is that \u201cTE isn\u2019t permanent or progressive; it will stop once the underlying trigger is found and addressed.\u201d<\/p>\n
So what should you be looking out for? And how can you help prevent hair from thinning further? Here are the five possible reasons behind hair loss \u2013 and the evidence-based steps you can take.<\/p>\n
1. Hormonal changes during menopause<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n For women, menopause is one of the most common turning points for hair.<\/p>\n
Falling oestrogen levels can leave strands finer, and sensitivity to hormones like dihydrotestosterone (DHT) increases. Cooper explains that \u201cWe\u2019ve all got a hormone in our body, which is called DHT, dihydrotestosterone, and it attacks and shrinks hair follicles. Men have more of it, but females during menopause can find that they become more sensitive to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Prescription treatments exist, such as Finasteride, but side effects can be off-putting. \u201cThere\u2019s often a lot of side effects \u2013 low libido, anxiety, low mood,\u201d she notes. Natural DHT blockers, such as pumpkin seeds, may offer a gentler approach.<\/p>\n
Kingsley also says that menopause is when many women notice excessive shedding. \u201cOestrogen is a hair and scalp or skin supportive hormone and when levels become sporadic in perimenopause you can get ongoing bouts of excessive shedding.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen levels drop and stay low, your individual hairs can thin.\u201d<\/p>\n
2. Ageing itself<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Like skin, hair changes with age even outside of hormonal shifts.<\/p>\n
\u201cEveryone\u2019s hair changes with age \u2013 you won\u2019t have the same hair quality or density of hair in your 60s or 70s as you had in your 20s,\u201d says Kingsley<\/em> says.<\/p>\n\u201cThe extent of age-related hair changes varies hugely. Some people notice minimal changes, while for others it can be very pronounced.\u201d<\/p>\n
This natural thinning is linked not only to genetics, but also to lifestyle and environmental factors. The scalp ages just like facial skin, so caring for it with gentle cleansing and hydration becomes more important with time.<\/p>\n
3. Nutrition and gut health<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Diet plays a larger role in hair health than many people realise. Cooper insists that \u201cfood should be the first place that we look at when there\u2019s ever anything wrong in the body, because you balance your hormones out with the correct diet, and you can help gut health enormously with the correct foods.\u201d<\/p>\n
Her research as a nutritional hair expert focuses on anti-inflammatory nutrients, particularly MSM (found in kale, spinach and leafy greens), which \u201creduces inflammation in the blood. And inflammation is a real driver of pushing your hair into the loss and shedding phase\u201d.<\/p>\n
At an age where appetite, digestion and even medication can influence absorption of nutrients, ensuring adequate protein, iron and vitamins becomes essential.<\/p>\n
Blood tests with your GP can highlight deficiencies worth addressing.<\/p>\n
4. Stress, illness and medication<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Life\u2019s stresses don\u2019t disappear with age. In fact, retirement, bereavement, illness or new medication can all take a toll on hair.<\/p>\n
\u201cTelogen effluvium isn\u2019t genetic and can happen at any age,\u201d explains Kingsley<\/em>. \u201cIt is a hair loss that occurs in response to an internal disturbance \u2013 like an illness, nutritional deficiency, low iron or ferritin, rapid weight loss, thyroid imbalances, intense stress, surgery under general anaesthesia and or childbirth.\u201d<\/p>\nShe notes that hair is \u201can excellent barometer to general health and a window to your overall wellbeing. As it\u2019s non-essential tissue, the body treats it as dispensable.\u201d<\/p>\n
That means it is often the first part of the body to show when something is wrong \u2013 but also one of the first to improve once balance is restored.<\/p>\n
5. Styling and scalp care<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n Even in later life, everyday habits can influence the strength of hair.<\/p>\n
Kingsley cautions against overly harsh approaches, noting \u201cshampooing doesn\u2019t cause hair loss, it simply dislodges hairs that are sitting loose in the follicle ready to come out.<\/p>\n
\u201cNot shampooing often enough can actually worsen hair loss as you need to cleanse your scalp regularly to keep it healthy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Heat styling, rough brushing and tight hairstyles may not always be a concern for older clients, but colouring and perming can still weaken strands.<\/p>\n
Conditioner and leave-in treatments can help protect against breakage, while gentle scalp massage supports circulation.<\/p>\n
But both experts agree that early action is key. \u201cMale and female pattern hair loss are progressive, so the sooner you treat them the better. It is much easier to maintain hair density than it is to get it back,\u201d says Kingsley<\/em>.<\/p>\nWhile some age-related changes are inevitable, others can be slowed or softened with a combination of nutrition, stress management, gentle scalp care and, where appropriate, evidence-based treatments.<\/p>\n
\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>(Philip Kingsley\/PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nPhilip Kingsley Density Preserving Scalp Drops for Hair Loss, \u00a352<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>(Manta Hair\/PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nManta Original Care for Fragile Hair & Sensitive Scalps Brush, \u00a330<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>(Glowwa\/PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nGlowwa Hair Food Vitamins, 1 Month Supply, \u00a334.99<\/strong><\/p>\n\n
\n<\/p>\n
open image in gallery<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<\/div>(Hask\/PA)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\nHASK Tea Tree Oil & Rosemary Hair & Scalp Treatment Mask, \u00a38.76 (was \u00a313.26)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Your support helps us to tell the story From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging. At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story. The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it. Your support makes all the difference. Read more Hair loss isn\u2019t just cosmetic \u2013 it can be one of the first indicators that something deeper in the body is out of balance. Yet for all the shampoos, serums and supplements promising quick fixes, the reality is that thinning hair has many causes and no single miracle cure. Lead trichologist and brand president at Philip Kingsley, Anabel Kingsley, says she frequently meets clients who are shocked by how suddenly their hair seems to change. \u201cPeople usually lose at least 20% of the volume of their hair before they notice it \u2013 my clients often say \u2018I suddenly looked in the mirror and saw my hair is thinner\u2019.\u201d The important thing to note is that there are many types of hair loss, as well as a variety of different causes. Nutrition expert Suzanne Cooper, founder of the hair nutrition brand GLOWWA, points out that \u201cpeople can lose their hair commonly from stress, hormonal imbalance, digestive health, nutritional deficiencies. So it\u2019s really important that we iron out all of the deficiencies with what we\u2019re doing.\u201d The two ty…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6130,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[2],"tags":[],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6129"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6129\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/6130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.seekyourlove.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}