Hair loss: what to do? Understanding and caring for your hair

How many hairs do we lose a day?

Losing hair every day is perfectly normal. Each hair goes through a three-stage life cycle:

1. a growth phase, lasting several years;
2. a short transition phase of a few weeks;
3. a resting phase of a few months, at the end of which the hair falls out and makes way for a new one.

Because not all our hairs are at the same stage at the same time, we lose a few every day. Losing around 50 to 100 hairs a day is often considered normal.

Do not count your hairs one by one: that would only cause needless stress. Just know that on wash and brushing days you see more, as hairs that were already loose come away together. What should catch your attention is a clear and lasting change: handfuls of hair, a widening parting, thinner patches.

Hair loss in autumn: a seasonal phenomenon

Many people notice their hair falls out more in September and October. Dermatologists call this seasonal shedding. One common explanation is that more hairs enter the resting phase over the summer, then fall out a few weeks later.

This shedding is usually:

• temporary, lasting a few weeks;
• diffuse, across the whole head, with no bald patches;
• followed by natural regrowth, since every hair that falls makes way for a new one.

During this time, the most useful thing is to be gentle with your hair and scalp, and to look after your diet. If the shedding goes on for more than a few weeks or seems really heavy, talk to your doctor.

Other common causes of hair loss

Outside the seasons, several situations can lead to heavier shedding. It often happens two to three months after the trigger, which makes the link hard to spot:

• major stress, an emotional shock, a period of exhaustion;
• giving birth: hair loss after pregnancy is common and usually temporary;
• an illness with fever, or surgery;
• a very restrictive diet or a poorly varied diet;
• low iron, more common in women with heavy periods;
• certain medicines, or stopping hormonal contraception;
• a thyroid disorder or other hormonal imbalances;
• tight hairstyles (ponytails, braids, extensions) that pull on the roots;
• heredity, in men and women alike, with more gradual hair loss.

Only a doctor can tell what is going on, sometimes with a blood test. This matters, because the right response really depends on the cause.

Good habits to be kind to your hair

Beyond your washing routine, it is often small everyday habits that weaken hair. Here is what I recommend:

• Loosen your hairstyles. Vary how you tie your hair, choose fabric scrunchies over thin elastics, and avoid always pulling in the same place.
• Detangle gently, starting at the ends and working up to the roots, with a wide-tooth comb on wet hair.
• Limit heat: use a warm setting on your hairdryer, and straighteners or curling tongs only now and then.
• Space out chemical treatments such as bleaching, perms and relaxers.
• Massage your scalp with your fingertips when you shampoo, without scratching with your nails. Above all, it is a pleasant moment of relaxation.
• Protect your hair from the sun in summer with a hat, and rinse it with clean water after the sea or the pool.

Above all, do not pile on products hoping to stop the shedding: a clean scalp, gentle handling and patience are worth more than a stack of treatments.

On your plate: what your hair needs

Hair is mainly made of keratin, a protein. A varied diet gives it what it needs:

• protein at every meal: eggs, fish, meat, dairy, pulses, tofu;
• iron: red meat, black pudding, lentils, dried beans, paired with a food rich in vitamin C;
• zinc: shellfish, meat, eggs, wholegrains, pumpkin seeds;
• biotin (vitamin B8): eggs, liver, mushrooms, nuts;
• omega-3: sardines, mackerel, salmon, walnuts, rapeseed oil.

Nutritionally, zinc and biotin contribute to the maintenance of normal hair. That is why I like Forever Marine Collagen, which contains both, along with marine collagen and vitamins A and C.

One word of caution: do not take iron supplements without your doctor's advice. Low iron is checked with a blood test, and too much iron is not desirable. And I always say it: food supplements should not replace a varied and balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle.

Hair loss: when should you see a doctor?

Make an appointment with your GP or a dermatologist if:

• the shedding lasts more than a few weeks without slowing down;
• you are losing hair by the handful;
• bald patches appear, or your eyebrows and eyelashes fall out too;
• your scalp itches, turns red, flakes or hurts;
• the hair loss comes with other signs: severe tiredness, feeling cold, very heavy periods, weight loss;
• you feel unhappy in yourself because of your hair.

The earlier the cause is found, the better the care can be tailored. Do not hesitate to see someone: hair loss, even when harmless, can affect your mood, and that is reason enough to talk about it.

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