Through thick and thin

Lush locks are a real confidence booster, so hair loss can be daunting. Here are some solutions

Our hair is our crowning glory. Cut it, style it, colour it – it’s a way to express ourselves and 79% of women admit their hair is a big part of who they are. So it’s distressing when it starts to thin.

Most people shed up to 100 hairs a day, but noticeable thinning is more common than you’d think, experienced by 52% of women over 50.

Of course, differences should be celebrated, but a study last year found 59% of women try to hide the effects of hair loss.

Triggers range from genetics and stress to medical conditions and hormones.

It can also occur after losing a lot of weight and due to iron deficiency.

As we age, too, hair follicles are less effective at growing new hair, while seasonal hair loss is also an issue – a drop in temperature causes scalp stress leading to shedding.

Wearing hair tightly pulled back or dyeing it regularly are common culprits. Kourtney Kardashian developed a bald spot on the top of her head from her tight ponytail and opted for a plasma treatment (more on that later).

“Hair is sensitive to lifestyle and environmental factors,” says Anabel Kingsley, brand president and trichologist at Philip Kingsley. “You need to optimise each factor that affects the hair growth cycle – your health, nutrition, thyroid function, stress levels and scalp health.”

It’s a vicious cycle, with the stress it provokes sometimes causing further loss. Chief scientific officer at dermoi! Eve Casha points out, “It can be difficult to deal with and there’s no cure. But while treatment depends on the cause, there are solutions to help women regain

confidence.”