I’m a hair expert – the real reason your locks are shedding this autumn & why you should never use hair growth shampoos
THERE are loads of reasons why you might find your hair is falling out more than usual, from environmental factors to heat damage.
But if you think you can solve the problem by using hair growth shampoos – think again.
A hair expert from Philip Kingsley has explained why you should save your cash when it comes to shampoos that claim to stop hair loss or help your locks grow faster.
Taking to TiKTok, the pro explained that there simply isn’t enough evidence to show the shampoos actually do anything besides clean your tresses.
“There are a variety of reasons for this,” she added.
First of all, shampoos are used in a “dilute environment” so any ingredients that could potentially help with hair growth get watered down instantly.
“Also, shampoos have to contain many other ingredients to make them do the main job of what a shampoo is meant to do, which is to cleanse your hair and your scalp.
“So the formula at this point is king of swamped and a bit busy,” she added.
Not only that, but because you wash off shampoo pretty much straight away any hair loss actives don’t have chance to work – they need to be “left on the scalp for a prolonged period of time” to do anything at all.
If you do want to give your locks a bit of a boost, there are products you can reach for instead though.
Leave-in products are your best bet, since they have time to get to work before you wash your hair again.
You can also look for products that contain caffeine, which the pro said “does have some good evidence behind it that it helps with hair growth, but only in leave-in products”.
Because hair loss is often caused by “internal factors” shampoo won’t do much to address the real issue at hand either, the expert concluded.
So, what should you do if you’re experiencing hair loss?
TV doctor Amir Khan, said there are many reasons for hair loss, some of which are very treatable.
Genetics
Is your dad bald? Or did your mum’s hair get drastically thinner after her 35th birthday?
Sadly, your family history is your biggest determinant for whether you’re going to lose your hair as you get older, Dr Amir explained.
It accounts for both male and female patterned baldness and tends to happen gradually, and it has predictable patterns,” he said in a video shared on Instagram.
The typical pattern of baldness begins at the hairline in the front of the head.
The hairline gradually moves backwards (recedes) and forms an ‘M’ shape.
A circular area on the back of the head often thins and expands in size over time.
Hormonal changes
Changes in hormone levels in both men and women can lead to temporary and permanent hair loss.
“This is especially the case for those going through menopause,” the expert said.
This type of hair loss is known as androgenetic alopecia and can often resemble male-patterned baldness, which begins at the crown of the head.
Menopause, with its drastic decline in oestrogen and progesterone, inadvertently gives more ‘playground’ to androgens.
Oestrogen and progesterone are predominantly female hormones, while androgens are male.
Excess androgens are associated with hair loss.
See your doctor, if you’re concerned, who might recommend hormonal therapy and implement the above strategies, which may also help.
Alopecia
For people with alopecia, the immune system attacks the hair follicles and causes hair loss – this can occur anywhere on the body.
According to the charity Alopecia UK, around 400,000 people in the UK either have the condition or have had it in the past.
The cause is unknown, but iron deficiency and stress could trigger the condition, although many experts dispute this.
In some cases, alopecia areata can turn into alopecia totalis, when hair loss can spread across the entire head, or alopecia universalis when it affects the entire body.
There is currently no cure for the condition, however, there are a several of treatments available, but none are guaranteed to work.
Usually, in patchy alopecia areata, hair will regrow over a few months or years, but regrowth is not guaranteed.
However, once the condition has developed to alopecia totalis or universalis, the chances of full regrowth become smaller.
Medications
Drugs used to treat cancer, arthritis, heart problems and depression can all lead to hair loss.
But never stop taking a prescribed medicine without speaking to a clinician first.
Nutritional deficiencies
Not getting enough of the right nutrients could be to blame for sudden hair loss.
Diets that are too low in protein and iron, the NHS says.
It might be a good idea to see a doctor to ask for a blood test to check and see if they have a nutritional deficiency and then look at increasing certain vitamin levels with the help of a supplement.
Hair loss tips
We can lose between 50 and 100 hairs a day, according to the NHS.
It is not usually something to worry about, but occasional it can be a sign of a medical concern.
These include illness, stress, cancer treatment, weight loss and iron deficiency.
The NHS advises to book an appointment with your GP to see if you can get to the cause of it.
Experts at American Academy of Dermatology Association also recommend to eat healthy, limit curling irons and only use them for special occasions.
They also recommend using a gentle shampoo, and make use of leave-in conditioners.