LOSING YOUR HAIR? WHY THAT MIGHT BE AND HOW TO STOP IT – AND EVEN REGROW IT

Male or female, there are many reasons why your hair could be falling out, from hormones to what you eat to too much stress

Hair loss is not just cosmetic - 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, thinning hair has many causes and no single miracle cure.

Anabel Kingsley, lead trichologist - someone who studies and treats hair and scalp conditions - and brand president at UK-based haircare specialist Philip Kingsley, says she frequently meets clients who are shocked by how suddenly their hair seems to change.

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"People usually lose at least 20 per cent of the volume of their hair before they notice it - my clients often say 'I suddenly looked in the mirror and saw my hair is thinner.'"

The important thing to note is that there are many types of hair loss and a variety of causes.

Nutrition expert Suzanne Cooper, founder of the UK-based hair nutrition brand Glowwa, says that people commonly lose their hair from stress, hormonal imbalance, poor digestive health and nutritional deficiencies. "So it's really important that we iron out all of the deficiencies with what we're doing."

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.

The good news? "TE isn't permanent or progressive; it will stop once the underlying trigger is found and addressed," she says.

So what should you be looking out for? And how can you prevent hair from thinning further?

Here are five reasons behind hair loss and the evidence-based steps you can take.

1. Menopause

For women, menopause is one of the most common turning points for hair.

Falling oestrogen levels can leave strands finer, and sensitivity to hormones increases.

"We've all got a hormone in our body, which is called DHT, dihydrotestosterone, and it attacks and shrinks hair follicles," Cooper says. "Men have more of it, but females during menopause can find that they become more sensitive to it."

Prescription treatments exist, such as minoxidil, but side effects can be off-putting.

"There's often a lot of side effects - low libido, anxiety, low mood," Cooper notes. Natural DHT blockers, such as pumpkin seeds, may offer a gentler approach.

Kingsley also says that menopause is when many women notice excessive shedding.

"Oestrogen is a hair- and scalp- or skin-supportive hormone, and when levels become sporadic in perimenopause, you can get ongoing bouts of excessive shedding. When levels drop and stay low, your individual hairs can thin."

2. Age

Like skin, hair changes with age even outside hormonal shifts.

"Everyone's hair changes with age - you won't have the same hair quality or density of hair in your sixties or seventies as you had in your twenties," says Kingsley.

"The extent of age-related hair changes varies hugely. Some people notice minimal changes, while for others it can be very pronounced."

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.

3. Diet

Diet plays a larger role in hair health than many people realise.

"Food should be the first place that we look at when there's 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," Cooper says.

Her research as a nutritional hair expert focuses on anti-inflammatory nutrients, particularly MSM, or methylsulfonylmethane, found in kale, spinach and leafy greens, which reduces inflammation in the blood. "And inflammation is a real driver of pushing your hair into the loss and shedding phase."

At an age where appetite, digestion and even medication can influence absorption of nutrients, ensuring adequate protein, iron and vitamins becomes essential.

Blood tests with your GP can highlight deficiencies worth addressing.

4. Stress and illness

Life's stresses do not disappear with age. In fact, retirement, bereavement, illness or new medication can all take a toll on hair.

"Telogen effluvium isn't genetic and can happen at any age," explains Kingsley. "It is a hair loss that occurs in response to an internal disturbance - like an illness, nutritional deficiency, low iron or ferritin, rapid weight loss, thyroid imbalances, intense stress, surgery under general anaesthesia, and/or childbirth."

She notes that hair is "an excellent barometer to general health and a window to your overall well-being. As it's non-essential tissue, the body treats it as dispensable."

That means it is often the first part of the body to show when something is wrong - but also one of the first to improve once balance is restored.

5. Styling and harsh habits

Even in later life, everyday habits can influence the strength of hair.

Heat styling, rough brushing and tight hairstyles may not always be a concern for older clients, but colouring and perming can still weaken strands.

Conditioner and leave-in treatments can help protect against breakage, while a gentle scalp massage supports circulation.

Kingsley says that shampooing does not cause hair loss, but simply dislodges hairs that are sitting loose in the follicle, ready to come out.

"Not shampooing often enough can actually worsen hair loss as you need to cleanse your scalp regularly to keep it healthy."

Both experts agree that early action is key.

"Male 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," says Kingsley.

While 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.

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This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (www.scmp.com), the leading news media reporting on China and Asia.

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2025-09-22T23:33:47Z