CROWNING GLORY
Hair loss affects 8 million women in the UK – here’s our A to Z guide to dealing with it
Here are the solutions that actually work...
MILLIONS of women are affected by hair loss in the UK, but the endless "cures" can feel overwhelming.
From serums to scrubs, treatments to cuts, there is no end of hair-loss solutions - but how many are actually effective?
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While videos of influencers swishing full heads of hair swirl around social media, so do those of women eating gelatine and using red light brushes in the pursuit of thicker, healthier locks.
Considering how many women it affects, female hair loss isn't discussed - or decoded - as much as it should be.
So, here's everything you should know about hair loss causes, claims, treatments and solutions.
The A To Z Of Hair Loss
A is for… age.
It’s completely normal for hair to thin gradually across your scalp as you age. For women, a tumble in oestrogen as you approach menopause can shrink follicles further and add to slowing hair growth. HRT is now recommended as a solution.
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B is for… breakage.
Strands that are heat-styled, chemically coloured or brushed too vigorously are more prone to snapping. Cutting back on heat and colouring will protect new growth from breakage, while most products described as “strengthening and replenishing” will temporarily plug damage gaps in the hair shaft, holding off that dreaded snap.
C is for… caffeine.
Trichologist Hannah Gaboardi says that, while some studies suggest that when applied topically caffeine can stimulate hair follicles and counteract the effects of DHT (a hormone linked to hair loss), clinical evidence currently remains limited.
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Viviscal Hair Growth Supplements, £56.99
D is for… deficiencies
You can’t always give your hair the nutrients it needs through food alone. A blood test by your GP or trichologist will pick up on any hair-essential vitamins or minerals you’re lacking, such as vitamin D or iron, which are also found in
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E is for… exosomes
AKA stem cells, exosomes boost hair follicle cell growth. It’s pricey, but we saw impressive results with the , a regenerative serum made from the umbilical cord stem cells of red deer (no Bambis were hurt!).
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Aveda Scalp Solutions Overnight Scalp Renewal Serum, £42
F is for… follicles.
These need to be healthy for hair to grow out of them. Exfoliate your scalp regularly to clear build-up. We recommend a good clarifying treatment and using , followed by a probiotic tonic – we love .
I'm in my 40s and here's how I tackle hair thinning and hairloss with no pricey products - it's all thanks to a 20p hack
G is for… growth cycle.
This is made up of three phases: growth, resting and shedding. Hair loss can occur when something (eg, hormones, shock or stress) causes hair to accelerate from growth to shedding too quickly, leading to temporary excess shed around three months after the event – this is called telogen effluvium.
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Hello Klean Purifying Shower Head, £65
H is for… hard water
The high mineral content found in hard water can weaken the scalp’s pH levels and lead to dryness and irritation, which can cause thinning. Try a water softening shower head such as
I is for… illness.
There’s a whole encyclopedia of medical conditions that can trigger temporary telogen effluvium. These include thyroid problems, polycystic ovaries and auto-immune conditions, such as lupus, plus medication for conditions such as heart problems, high blood pressure and arthritis.
How To Save Money On Beauty Buys
IF your purse is feeling tighter than ever before and you're looking to save cash on your make-up routine, have you ever thought of trying out beauty dupes?
Here's five of the best recommended beauty buys that are almost identical to the posh versions, but for a fraction of the price.
FACE BASE: If you can't afford Charlotte Tilbury's £52 Magic Cream, why not try a dupe that costs just £5.49 from Superdrug?
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TINTING IT: With Fenty's 'game-changer' skin tint costing an eye-watering £29, a popular supermarket's affordable alternative might just be the thing for you.
GET COVERED: At £29 for a Tarte concealer, the new Primark dupe is much more affordable at just £3.50.
SPRAY YAY: For those wanting to smell fresh, without the price tag, Aldi's new Prada and Chloe perfume dupes cost a fraction of the price.
J is for… jelly
Various TikTokers have documented their #Jellojourney, claiming a daily gelatine cube increases hair growth, but Hannah says there is limited scientific evidence to support it.
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Nizoral Anti-dandruff Shampoo, £7.65
K is for… ketoconazole
This is an anti-fungal, anti-inflammatory ingredient found in anti-dandruff shampoos such as . Small studies have also linked it to improvements in hair growth.
L is for… LED light
Red-light therapy increases energy at a cellular level, creating more fuel for cell renewal. , is expensive but is clinically proven, and uses medical-grade light to reduce inflammation, boost blood circulation and increase hair count by 33% in 16 weeks when used daily – impressive!
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Current Body Skin LED Hair Regrowth Helmet, £650
M is for… male pattern baldness
This is genetic hair loss that presents as a receding hairline and thinning at the crown, whereas female pattern baldness tends to be thinning over the top of the scalp. Both can be treated with prescription medication.
N is for… needles
Platelet rich plasma therapy (PRP) separates and reinjects a sample of your own blood to stimulate follicles with growth factors for long-lasting results. It starts from around £300 per session, with 3-4 sessions required, each a month apart, with yearly maintenance sessions.
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Bouclème Silk Turban, £42
O is for… overnight
As we sleep, our bodies go into repair mode, which means it’s important to get a good night's kip to promote hair growth. Plus, the friction between your head and pillowcase can cause breakage, which is easily prevented by wearing a silk turban such as
P is for… peptides
These are AKA amino acids – the building blocks of protein, (which our hair is mostly made of). Applying them topically, via products such as , can help to improve elasticity and reduce breakage.
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Typebea G1 Overnight Boosting Peptide, £43
Q is for… quantity
A small amount of daily hair shed (50-100 hairs) is completely normal.
R is for… Regaine
This is the brand name for minoxidil, the only clinically proven topical hair loss treatment. GPs can prescribe it, or you can purchase it at a pharmacy – try .
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Regaine For Women Once A Day Scalp Foam, £50
S is for… surgery
Hair-transplant surgery moves hair follicle grafts from one part of the scalp to the area requiring growth. But it doesn’t come cheap – expect to pay between £1,000 and £30,000.
T is for… time
Your hair grows between 0.5cm and 1.7cm a month, so patience is a virtue.
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Briogeo’s Superfood Avocado + Kiwi Mega Moisture Leave-In Spray, £22.50
U is for… UV
Excessive sun exposure can break down hair’s protective lipid layer, leaving it more vulnerable to breakage. Protect your strands just like you would your skin with .
V is for… viral hacks
#Rosemaryoil has had more than 204m TikTok views, with users touting its hair regrowth superpowers. “It contains carnosic acid, which has the potential to improve scalp circulation and growth,” says Hannah.
W is for… wear and tear
The tension from tight hairstyles and extensions can damage follicles permanently, so loosen up!
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Redken Extreme Anti-Snap Treatment, £26
X is for… xylose
This is a sugar found in some heat-protectant products, such as . It coats strands to disperse the heat from styling tools evenly.
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Y is for… year
It should take this long for your post-partum hair loss to regrow after giving birth.
Z is for… zinc
This element is found in red meat, milk, cheese and peanuts. A deficiency can cause shedding and breakage, which is why many hair supplements contain it.
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