Losing hair is devastating. You feel powerless when you hold a patch of your fallen hair in your hand. It is far too big to be “the normal shedding of dead cells”. It has been constant for the last weeks or months and you wonder why? Why does the comb seem like a tax collector ripping off your crown?

Firstly, you are not alone. The UK has the fifth highest world count of smoothed-headed men, with 39.23 per cent of males losing their crowning glory. A research from Trichologist Philip Kingsley found that an estimated eight million women in the UK have hair loss and one in eight of those surveyed was under 35 years old.
To understand the causes of hair loss, let’s have a look at the biological process that regulates hair growth. It is the same for all humans. We may have different natural hair colour or texture but the biology behind it is the same. Interesting isn’t it? The pictures show the cycle of hair growth. It has 3 main phases: Anagen, Catagen, and Telogen. Our hair grows just like our nails without our conscious control. The cycle is governed by the parasympathetic system. The same one that supervised our internal regulation: digestion with the production of adequate enzymes when required. Reproduction with the production of the right quantity of hormones when required. However, external factors can affect our parasympathetic system:
-Nutrition: the quantity and quality of the food we ingest.
-State of mind: Stress creates an internal cascade of hormone’s production to ensure our survival.
– Environment: Toxins from our environment are absorbed by our bodies through air, water, food, and skin. It affects our cells and organs.
Since your nutrition, state of mind, toxins from the environment can all affect your parasympathetic system that regulates internally your hair growth cycle, it is easier to recognise those nutritional and/ or hormonal imbalances, stress and toxins may all lead to hair loss. Many studies have linked hair loss to specific life stages: post-natal period, menopause both characterised by hormonal imbalances.
Secondly, how do you take care of your hair? Do you wash, condition and trim it regularly? An insufficient hygiene will accumulate a build up on your scalp that will prevent hair from growing, causing its fall inevitably.

Thirdly, hair breaks due to mechanical traction: are you constantly pulling your hair in tights braids? Are you keeping your tresses for a long time?
Furthermore, the omnipresent toxic chemicals in hair cosmetics are responsible for extended hair damage and loss. Infamous Parabens have been linked to cancer. It forced manufacturers to develop ranges of Parabens free products. SLS: Sodium Laureth Sodium in shampoos and skin products is also being investigated for its cancerogenic activity. SLS free shampoos are now available for purchase. Petroleum remains the most common toxic cosmetic ingredient. With more than twenty-six synonyms, it is not always easy to identify on the labels. More awareness is required among customers to increase the number of petroleum or mineral oil free products. It will protect our health and prevent hair loss.

Medical treatments can cause hair to fall as a side-effect of certain medicines. Chemotherapy is known for inducing baldness that may be temporary or definitive.
Skull expansion has recently been pointed out as one potential trigger of hair loss in men. According to a study called Psychological Effect, Pathophysiology, and Management of Androgenetic Alopecia in Men: “Approximately 30 per cent of white men are affected by age 30, at least 50 per cent are affected by age 50, and 80 per cent are affected by age 70. Europe has the highest proportion of men suffering from hair loss worldwide.
Alopecia aerata,  is a disease characterised by gradual or aggressive hair loss. It affects mostly women leading to female baldness. Its causes have not been clarified nor a valid treatment been found yet. Alopecia aerata poses a challenge for Trichologists (Hair scientists) worldwide. Doctors are researching intensively the topic. Hair implants have shown promising results but remain very expensive for the vast majority of patients.
Last but not the least, Dehydration weakens the hair by depriving its follicles. Dryness increases the brittleness of the hair leading to its fall if not corrected. It is certainly the easiest to cure: drinking at least 2L of potable water each day and spraying some on your hair is all you need.

Are you suffering from hair loss? We hope you found this article helpful.

Do you have questions? Have you successfully overcome hair loss?

Please be in touch: hello@adilabeauty.com

With much love,
Adila