Best treatments to slow down hair loss

Hair loss is something that affects both men and women. Generally speaking, we tend to shed between 50 and 100 hairs a day¹, either through brushing or washing it, or because of old hair naturally dropping out to make way for new follicles.²

Understanding how our hair grows

In terms of the latter, our hair goes through a natural cycle, which consists of the:

1. Growth phase – where hair grows for a seven year period.
2. Transitional phase – the window between growth and shedding.
3. Resting phase – where our hair rests and sheds.

After our hair has gone through this cycle, our hair follicles tend to remain inactive for roughly three months before the entire process happens all over again.³

What causes hair to fall out?

Our hair can fall out as part of the natural process mentioned above or it can fall out because of other health and wider factors, including:

Hormonal imbalances

Oestrogens (female hormones) are 'hair friendly' and help to keep our hair growing for the optimal length of time. Androgens (male hormones) aren’t very hair friendly, and can shorten the hair growth cycle. Having too many androgens in our body, which can potentially be caused by endocrine disorders, such as Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, can cause hair to fall out. The extent of this is often down to genetics.⁴

Stress

There are three different types of hair loss that are linked to stress. There’s Telogen Effluvium, which is the second most common type of hair loss seen by dermatologists that can happen to men and women of all ages. Then there’s Alopecia Areata, which is an autoimmune disease that occurs when your immune system attacks your hair follicles. And, finally, there’s Trichotillomania – AKA the ‘hair pulling disorder.’ It involves the urge to pull out the hair from your scalp or other parts of your body. It’s considered an impulse control disorder.⁵

Iron deficiency

According to research, whatever the cause of hair loss for both women and men, having too little iron in the blood makes it worse. Ferritin (that helps our body’s store iron) levels of 10-15 ng/mL are within the ‘normal’ range, with a ferritin level of at least 50 ng/mL required to help replenish hair.⁶

Hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism

Severe and prolonged hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism can cause hair to fall out from the entire scalp. Regrowth can be achieved by treating the underlying thyroid disorder, which can take months and isn’t always possible.⁷

Age

Hereditary hair loss caused by getting older is the most common cause of baldness.⁸ It’s not uncommon for hair to start getting thinner due to genetics and the overall ageing process. Many men and women may start to see mild hair loss in their 30s and 40s.⁹ As we get older, it’s possible for the diameter of our hair shafts to get narrower over a period of time. In turn, this results in our hair having less volume, which is driven by a change that’s happening deep down in the roots of our hair.¹⁰

Solutions for supporting hair health

Shampoos for hair loss

Having a dry, flaky scalp can cause hair loss, which is why it’s important you try and keep your scalp as flake-free as possible. If you’re suffering from this, choose shampoos that are designed to clear flaking and itching.¹¹ There are also specific alopecia shampoos for hair loss, as well as caffeine shampoo, which is reportedly said to stimulate hair growth (note – caffeine’s impact on hair growth is a subject of much speculation and debate)¹²

Vitamins for hair loss

There are quite a few supplements and vitamins for normal hair health on the market that are designed to help with hair health, including our hair support range of products. Overall, following a healthy, balanced diet that contains all 13 of the essential vitamins and minerals that our bodies need can help promote hair growth. More specifically, biotin, copper, selenium and zinc are said to be the most essential minerals for hair

Argan oil

The oil is believed to have several hair-boosting benefits. This is because it’s full of fatty acids and powerful antioxidants, such as Vitamin E, that have been shown to help with overall scalp and hair health.

Coconut oil

Having a well-oiled scalp can potentially help keep hair follicles healthy. Because coconut oil contains lauric acid it helps bind the protein in hair, help protecting the roots and strands and preventing them from breakage. The antioxidants present in coconut oil may help boost hair growth. It also acts as a conditioner, which can potentially aid and maintain hair.¹³