We’re told that we lose on average anywhere between 50 to 100 strands of hair a day and whilst hair loss is totally normal when you start to notice the shower needs unblocking more frequently or hair isn’t growing back as quickly as it’s coming out, it’s only natural to worry.

When it comes to what causes hair loss there are many reasons why your hair is thinning and therefore, it can be difficult to work out how to find a solution. Here, we take a look at the different reasons that may be causing your hair loss or hair thinning to help you find the best remedy for you.

What causes hair loss

Where to start?! Although age, hormone imbalance and menopause are obvious factors to be considered, the reasons for hair thinning and loss are many. If you’re experiencing female hair loss, the first step in treating the problem is to get a professional diagnosis to know exactly what you are dealing with and what’s damaging the hair.

There are many things you can change in your diet and lifestyle that will have a naturally positive effect on hair growth whilst also improving your health in general – win, win!

Having worked in the hair industry for 35+ years, Andrew Bidwell, pro hairstylist and co-founder of Swell, knows a thing or two about hair. For hair loss treatment, he says, “I always recommend a two-pronged approach in dealing with thinning hair issues.

Firstly, is to look at what can immediately improve the appearance of the hair, and secondly look at what can be done over time to help sustain that improved appearance.

“I always recommend a two-pronged approach in dealing with thinning hair issues.” Andrew Bidwell

The first step is to ask your GP for a blood test to see if you have an iron or vitamin deficiency, which is a common reason for reactive hair loss, as opposed to genetic hair loss.

If you are also on medication such as Roaccutane, prescribed for acne, Beta-blockers (for high blood pressure) or you are known to have a thyroid problem, this should also be discussed with your GP.

This can take some time, so here’s a list of common factors that can help determine why your hair is thinning and good to think about before seeing your GP or Tricologist.

10 Common hair loss reasons

Hair loss in women is more common than you may think, so you are not alone.  To get to the bottom of what is causing your hair shedding you should meet with a GP or Tricologist, but to help get you started, here is a check list of common hair thinning reasons to think about whilst you’re waiting to see a professional….

1. Genetic inheritance – also known as genetic hair loss
2. Iron/ vitamin deficiency, including vitamin B deficiency
3. Smoking
4. Excessive alcohol intake
5. Being overweight
6. Crash dieting or sudden weight loss
7. General poor health
8. Poor blood circulation
9. Contraceptive pill/ HRT
10. Stress

Hair loss treatment tips

Now you’ve got an idea of what may be causing your hair loss, let’s look at what you can do to help the problem….

Change your diet and lifestyle

1. Quit smoking
2. Drink less alcohol
3. Drink more water. For improved hair and skin function, the Institute of Medicine recommends drinking between 2-3 litres per day
4. Exercise.
5. Change your diet and include Omega fatty acids from oily fish like salmon and from avocado iron, biotin and zinc rich foods spinach, oysters, cereals, dark chocolate, liver, kale, chard, beans, bananas, beans, eggs, peanuts, lentils and cauliflower, and protein from nuts, chicken and soya.
6. Increase your intake of green raw juice as a nutritious supplement
7. Take hair and nail specific supplements.
8. Make time to regularly get out into nature – new research is suggesting that walks in nature can help significantly reduce stress.

Smart styling and hair care tips for instant results

It’s common sense that heavy styling creams, serums full of toxic ingredients and other harsh chemical treatments will have a detrimental effect to hair health, regardless of if your hair is thinning or not.

To learn more about maintaining your hair’s health and to discover the dos and don’ts of haircare, visit our How Healthy Is Your Hair? Haircare Dos and Don’ts page.

There are products and tricks of the trade that will help give the appearance of a fuller mane straight away.

Here Andrew shares what you can do for immediate results….

1. Visit your hairstylist and ask them to recommend a style that works for your hair type.
2. Colour the root area of hair a shade or two darker – this creates an illusion of density at scalp level.
3. Avoid products that contain silicone. Silicone is the number one enemy for fine, limp and thinning hair. It coats hair in a synthetic shiny lubricant that leaves fine hair oily and zaps it of any volume.
4. Avoid styles that have definite partings as this exposes the scalp.
5. Only wash the roots of your hair – do not deliberately apply shampoo to the ends as this can weaken and break the hair.
6. When applying hair conditioner, apply to mid lengths and ends, avoiding the roots as this will overly soften the area causing hair to collapse.
7. When drying the hair, don’t overwork or stretch it as all the volume and support will be lost.
8. Avoid straightening irons – these risks weakening the strength of the hair over time, but hair will also lay lifeless and flat to the head.

The Swell award-winning hair care range is designed for ultimate hair health, hair volume and growth.  Packed full of natural and clean ingredients with no chemical nasties, these cult hair products will restore hair to its natural best. 

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