Many women are experiencing hair loss all of a sudden – and it’s not just you
There may be certain reasons you are noticing hair loss – stock photo
Suddenly, many of us are witnessing hair loss at a distressing pace – and it seems like everyone you chat with is facing the same problem. But why is this happening all of a sudden?
It can be quite unsettling to pull out clumps from the shower drain or see strands falling out when you run your fingers through your hair. However, when we think about hair loss, our minds typically go to balding men and receding hairlines, not women.
There’s been a noticeable increase in women openly discussing their thinning hair. According to Cosmetic Design Europe, searches for hair growth supplements have doubled year on year, while Superdrug has launched the UK’s first high street hair health blood test to help identify potential causes of hair loss.
A comprehensive new survey shows how more and more Irish women are suffering with hair loss. One in four females here struggle with balding, and don’t know what to do about it, the Peter Mark survey of nearly 1,500 women has shown.
There can be multiple causes for hair loss(Image: Getty)
Hair loss in women generally includes excessive shedding, thinning hair, bald patches and receding hairlines. Hair experts at Peter Mark say thinning hair or hair loss is a growing problem for Irish women, with more than a quarter (28%) worried about it and a fifth (23%) unhappy with their hair.
Hair loss can be attributed to various factors including hormones, stress and anxiety. We’ve all felt burnt out at some point, the cost of living crisis is putting financial pressure on us all, and many of us are sleep-deprived and over-stimulated, so it’s no surprise our hair is bearing the brunt of it.
We might blame ourselves, regretting dyeing our hair in our teens or neglecting the heat protector spray when styling, but experts suggest there could be a more deep-seated issue at play, reports the Mirror.
Samantha Steward, a trichologist at Richard Ward, told Stylist: “Chronic stress can disrupt the hair growth cycle by diverting essential nutrients away from the hair follicle, triggering a reactive type of hair shedding known as telogen effluvium,” which occurs when a number of hairs prematurely enter the shedding phase.
Hair loss and thinning is increasing among women
Stress also impacts sleep, poor diet and nutrition, as well as hormonal imbalances, which are all significant factors that can cause hair loss too – and these ongoing reasons add to the risk of hair loss, trapping us all in a vicious cycle.
Rachel Valentine, a hairdresser who posts as @rachelvalentinehair on TikTok, has been sharing some helpful hair tips, providing insight into small habits that may also be quietly contributing to hair loss.
Rachel emphasises how minor daily actions can have a major impact on hair health. These common habits may seem simple, but repeating them every day can lead to breakage, thinning, and sore hairlines.
Firstly, she said a messy bun is “so damaging”. Rachel criticised the tight, high messy bun many women throw in “every single day.”
While she acknowledges it’s “the quickest thing to do to get your hair out your face” she explained why it backfires: “Firstly it is super tight, so the tension is gonna be on these areas here… so if you get traction… this is a no go.”
Rachel highlight the danger a tight, high messy bun can have on hair
She also warned about the damage to hair ends: “Especially if your hair is bleached… they’re all caught up… they’re all intertwined when you take it out… it’s probably gonna be super knotty.”
Wet hair is even more susceptible, as “our hair is so fragile when it’s wet… it’s gonna cause so much damage.”
Next, she advised against tying up wet hair. “When our hair is wet, it actually acts like an elastic band, so it stretches and returns… but sometimes… it breaks,” she explained.
Dry hair doesn’t have the same elasticity, so tying it up when wet increases the risk of breakage. She added: “You’re more likely to get breakage tying your hair up wet because it’s more vulnerable… it’s gonna stretch and it sometimes will break.”
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Another common cause of hair breakage could be a shoulder bag or backpack. Rachel noted: “A really common one that I say is so underestimated is wearing a backpack or shoulder bag on the same shoulder.
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“If you’re noticing your hair is different lengths or one side is broken, that could be the reason why.”
She added that “if your hair is particularly fragile or you sleep on the same side, I do sometimes see breakage from that as well,” which can leave hair looking “uneven in length.”
Dr Ali, hair specialist at UK Hair Transplants, has also put together a selection of natural remedies to revive tired and brittle locks.
The first suggestion is a warm coconut oil pre-wash treatment.
Heat one or two teaspoons of oil between your palms and work into the scalp for three to five minutes, then smooth a pea-sized portion through the tips.
Allow it to sit for up to an hour before shampooing and conditioning as usual.
“Coconut oil’s fatty acids penetrate the hair shaft and reduce protein loss, helping mend rough, snapped cuticles from the inside out,” the specialist explained, recommending this treatment once or twice each week.
“Think of warm oiling as a nourishing primer – it plugs protein leaks and instantly makes hair feel stronger and silkier.”
Another homemade treatment you can create is an aloe, honey and yoghurt mask.
Simply mix two tablespoons of plain yoghurt, one tablespoon of aloe gel and one teaspoon of honey, then apply from mid-lengths to ends (steer clear of roots if hair gets easily weighed down) and leave for 15–20 minutes. Simply rinse and then condition hair lightly.
“Gentle natural proteins (yogurt) reinforce weak spots; aloe soothes and hydrates; honey draws in moisture and together they re-bond and smooth damaged cuticles.”
The expert recommends doing this once weekly and “this trio gives you protein and moisture in one -exactly what stressed hair needs to bounce back.”
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