Have you been noticing a little more hair in your brush than usual? Or perhaps a middle part that now feels wider than before? Or maybe it’s the ponytail that no longer feels luscious and thick? 

Whatever the reason that’s led you to this blog, we can all agree on one point: whether we care to admit it or not, our hair can feel like a defining characteristic of who we are. And when we’re experiencing hair loss, it can feel like a loss of identity. Thankfully, there are plenty of causes of hair thinning that can be rectified with the right approach. 

Your hair can actually tell you quite a lot about what's happening inside your body. Everything from your iron levels to your hormones, nutrition and recent illnesses can influence how your hair grows. And while it is a common problem, the real cause may not always be as obvious as we’d like. Let’s take a closer look at four common reasons your hair might be thinning or falling out, and what the science says about solving them. 

Before we delve into hair loss, it’s helpful to understand the basic principles and stages of your natural hair cycle. Every strand of hair follows a natural cycle with four main phases:

• Anagen: This is the growth phase, where your hair strands are actively growing. This phase can last anywhere from 2 to 8 years. 

• Catagen: This is the transition phase, where the growth phase is coming to an end. This generally lasts around two weeks and is characterised by hair follicles shrinking and hair growth slowing down. 

• Telogen: This is the resting phase where hair growth halts completely for around 2 to 3 months. 

• Exogen: This is the shedding phase, where your hair sheds itself from the scalp. During this period, new hairs are growing, while old hair is shedding. This phase can last several months. In fact, it’s common for people to shed 50 to 100 hairs a day during this phase. 

So, if hair shedding is normal, what’s the issue? Despite this being a normal cycle, we often see issues arise when something disrupts this process, resulting in more hairs being shed and hair thickness depleting. 

Iron deficiency is one possible contributor to hair thinning, particularly in women.

Iron plays a crucial role in the production of red blood cells. Each red blood cell contains a protein known as haemoglobin, which transports oxygen throughout your body to all of your tissues and organs, including your hair follicles. 

However, when red blood cells are running low, the available oxygen will be prioritised for vital organs to keep you alive, rather than your hair follicles. As such, without adequate oxygen, your hair follicles can’t function as normal, disrupting the hair cycle and resulting in increased hair loss. 

However, it’s important to note that you can still have low iron stores without being anaemic. A standard haemoglobin test and a ferritin test measure different things, thus you may not be seeing the full picture from your standard blood test. 

The Doctor’s orders: If you’re experiencing hair loss, it’s worth speaking to your health practitioner about doing a full blood count and iron studies, including ferritin. Avoid taking iron supplements without confirming a deficiency, as excessive iron can be harmful.

There’s no denying the role hormones play in changes to our hair’s natural growth cycle. 

And there’s no better example of this during pregnancy, postpartum, and during menopause. For example, during pregnancy, our bodies produce more oestrogen, which results in hair spending more time in the growth phase. On the flip side, after birth, our oestrogen levels drop dramatically, resulting in hair shedding for many women. 

Pregnancy aside, general hormone fluctuations are also known to contribute to female pattern hair loss. This is often characterised by hair follicles appearing finer. 

The Doctor’s orders: Take note of when you first noticed the changes to your hair. If unexplained (i.e., not related to pregnancy, menopause, etc.), it’s worth discussing ongoing or worsening hair thinning or hair loss with your healthcare practitioner. It’s particularly important to seek medical advice if this is accompanied by irregular periods, acne, or other symptoms suggesting your hormones are fluctuating. 

Stress, whether physical or mental, caused by incidents like major surgery, severe illness, rapid weight loss, and emotional stress can trigger a condition known as telogen effluvium. 

Telogen effluvium can occur when the body is under extreme stress, causing up to 70% of your hair in the anagen phase (growth phase) to prematurely transition to the telogen phase (shedding phase). For context, according to the British Association of Dermatologists, normally only about 15% of your hair is in the shedding phase. 

Although, it’s interesting to note that hair loss doesn’t always happen immediately following a stressful incident. It can occur roughly three months after the trigger, meaning any hair loss you’re currently experiencing could be resulting from an experience that happened months ago. 

The doctor’s orders: If you are experiencing telogen effluvium, this should naturally improve over time. If you can pinpoint a significant trigger within the last few months that could be to blame, you’ve likely found the reason for the problem. Although, if you have any concerns, we always recommend seeking professional advice from your health practitioner. 

As we discussed earlier, your hair requires oxygen to grow and thrive. And the same applies to nutrients. 

Protein and essential nutrients are vital to the health of your hair, and without adequate amounts for a prolonged period, you’re likely to see and feel the effects in your hair. 

If you’re following a restrictive diet, losing weight quickly or experiencing any kind of illness that impacts the nutrients you’re receiving, this is a possible reason for hair loss or thinning. 

Common nutrient deficiencies linked to hair loss, include:

• Iron: while the connection isn’t fully understood yet, studies have found a link between hair loss and lower iron levels.

• Vitamin D: A 2020 study of 109 people found 80% of participants with hair loss had significantly lower levels of vitamin D in their blood. 

• Zinc: Zinc helps protect the hair follicle from shrinking and slow growth, while also promoting hair follicle recovery. 

The doctor’s orders: First, consult your healthcare practitioner to run bloods to confirm a nutrient deficiency. Follow their advice, and also prioritise a balanced diet at home — one that is rich in protein, iron, vegetables, wholegrains, and healthy fats. 

Unfortunately, there’s no overnight miracle fix for hair loss or thinning. Even once you’ve found the root cause, it takes time to get your scalp back to optimal health. 

However, the first step is to consult your healthcare professional to investigate what’s causing the issue. Your doctor will look at your symptoms, bloods, medical history, and recommend a necessary action plan. 

If it’s a persistent issue, we don’t recommend starting any supplements until you’ve found the cause. 

Once you've found the cause of your hair loss or thinning, and have worked with your healthcare practitioner to regain healthy hair, we recommend investing in good quality haircare products to help maintain a healthy scalp and strands.

Ingredients We Love for Healthy Hair:

• Holy Basil: Found in many of our products, this powerful botanical has long been valued for its hair and scalp benefits. It helps support healthy hair follicles, maintain scalp health and combat dandruff, while encouraging stronger, shinier-looking hair.
• Hyaluronic Acid: Best known for its skincare benefits, hyaluronic acid is just as useful in haircare. Its moisture-retaining properties help hydrate dry or damaged hair, leaving it feeling softer and smoother.

• Keratin: A naturally occurring protein that makes up much of your hair's structure. Keratin-infused products help smooth the hair cuticle, minimise frizz and improve the appearance of damaged strands.

• Argan Oil: Often referred to as ‘liquid gold,’ this antioxidant-rich oil helps nourish and moisturise hair while providing protection against everyday damage.

• Biotin: An essential B-vitamin that plays a role in maintaining healthy hair. Biotin is particularly important for those with a deficiency, which can contribute to thinning hair and breakage.
  
  

Ingredients We avoid:

• Sulphates: Although effective at removing dirt and oil, some sulphates can be harsh on the hair, stripping away natural moisture and leaving strands feeling dry and brittle.

• Parabens: Commonly added to haircare products as preservatives, parabens may cause irritation in sensitive individuals and have raised questions about their potential health effects.

• Alcohols: Certain types of alcohol can draw moisture from the hair, particularly affecting curly or textured strands. Look for formulas with hydrating ingredients to help maintain softness and moisture.