Through thick & thin

With 50% of women experiencing hair loss at some point in their lives, there is now plenty you can do to stop the shedding

A BLOCKED plughole, a pillow that looks more like a Persian rug and a brush full of matted hair – pretty standard when you consider we lose up to 100 hairs a day. But, when it starts to feel more serious than that, you need a plan of action...

FINE HAIR IS FINE

First off, you need to identify if your hair is thin or just fine. Fine hair refers to the diameter of each strand of hair whereas thin hair means you have fewer actual hair follicles.

A real predictor of whether you’ll keep hold of a full head of hair is genetics, as up to 80% of hair loss is inherited from your parents, according to hair transplant surgeon, Dr Asim Shahmalak. Age also has an impact as oestrogen levels decline when the menopause kicks in, allowing testosterone to take over, which naturally stunts hair growth. It’s also why pregnant ladies report lovely lustrous hair when they’re expecting, as the abundance of oestrogen levels keeps hair in the growth phase. Once the baby arrives, hormone 

levels return to normal and the hair that would have usually been shed over the past nine months starts to fall out (don’t be alarmed! Normal service will soon resume).

However, with female hair loss at an all-time high, other factors need to be investigated. ‘Crash dieting, stress, thyroid disorders, medication, nutrient deficiencies, hormonal imbalances and illness can all impact the hair growth cycle,’ explains hair restoration consultant, Dr Sajjad Khan. ‘Restricted eating, depression and anxiety send the body into shock and it responds by funnelling resources to functions that are critical for survival – hair growth is regarded as non-essential.’ On a more positive note, if your loss is due to lifestyle, it means that you have a better chance of resolving it.

FEED YOUR FOLLICLES

What you’re munching really does affect the health of your hair. ‘The hair follicle resides in the dermal layer of your scalp which is supplied by a network of blood vessels that deliver nutrients to the cells,’ he continues. Deny feeding them the good stuff and you’re going to get a malnourished mane.

It’s not only your muscles that love a protein shake. Raise your protein levels and your hair will be in better shape – it’s a crucial building block for the hair’s keratin fibre. While shakes are OK, eggs are better as the yolk also contains biotin, a B-vitamin that helps to strengthen hair and restore shine and thickness. Dr Khan also flags up selenium to protect follicles from free radicals, vitamin D which keeps the hair growth cycle ticking over, iron to carry oxygen to the hair, and zinc which helps with the production of protein. Zinc is especially important if you exercise a lot as it tends to be lost via excessive sweating.

SAVVY SUPPLEMENTS

A well-balanced diet is one thing but more supplements are promising a healthier head of hair. Waterman’s Grow Pro Hair Vitamins ( 2), £24.99, aim to stimulate cell metabolism by supplying oxygen and nutrients to the follicles, while Viviscal’s Maximum Strength supplements ( 1), £49.99, have clinical trials backing them – the most recent showing an 87% increase in alkaline phosphatase levels which send messages to cells to produce new hair.

Alternatively, there’s the medicinal route, and both Finasteride and Minoxidil are EUapproved prescription treatments for hair loss. Fuelling blood flow around hair follicles, protecting them from the effects of growthreducing hormones and extending the hair cycle, try Regaine For Women’s Once A Day Foam ( 3), £37.33.

STIMULATION STATION

Massage is great for boosting the blood flow to your hair bulbs, spurring them into

CRASH DIETING, STRESS, LACK OF NUTRIENTS AND ILLNESS CAN ALL IMPACT THE HAIR GROWTH CYCLE

action. Use your fingertips to push and press products into your scalp or invest in a tool like Briogeo’s Scalp Revival Stimulating Therapy Massager ( 4), £13.50, and follow Katie Panda, medicinal herbalist at Pukka Herb’s advice and apply some castor or sesame oil on your scalp first. Not only do they help with lubrication, they’re full of fatty acids and proteins that can pep up lazy follicles.

Plus, getting hands-on really works. Because hair is dead, by optimising the condition of your scalp you’re already providing a foundation for healthier hair. A recent study in Japan* even discovered that scalp massage increased hair thickness, as the stretching motion changed the gene expression of the tissues and cells in the follicles.

THE SEASONAL SHED

Balanced diet, stress-free, no hereditary hair loss, but still losing your hair? There’s one more external enemy to be aware of – the season we’re in. ‘A clinical study has found that hair tends to shed most in late summer/ early autumn,’ reveals Dan Isaacs, head of research at Nanogen. Interestingly, it’s during this time when searches for hair loss peak on Google. Isaacs says it could be down to evolution: ‘Less shedding in summer provides more shielding protection for the scalp against harmful UV rays but as they die down in autumn the hairs can be released.’

Keen to prevent a skinny ponytail come September? Invest in these follicle-fattening and scalp-stimulating products…