Seeing your hair start to thin can be nothing short of terrifying. Maybe you've noticed your ponytail is skinnier, or there's a bit more scalp peeking through. Before you start frantically Googling ‘how to stimulate hair growth?’, remember it's perfectly normal to shed around 80 strands a day – an amount that can go up or down, depending on several factors. Hormones, medication and even the time of year can impact the wellbeing of your hair follicles, forcing them to produce thinner strands, or none at all.
Even if you do find you're pulling a matted ball of hair out of your shower drain more frequently, there is likely a very reasonable explanation. More importantly, there are things that can be done to help put the brakes on more hair fall, as well as significantly improve the look and feel of your strands.
We've spoken to the experts about the most common causes, but if you’re looking to treat signs of serious hair loss, it's always best to consult with a trichologist or dermatologist in order to establish the root cause and create a bespoke treatment plan. Ahead, the professionals reveal what might be disrupting your hair's healthy growth cycle, why it might be thinning and, crucially, how to stop hair loss.
Before determining what might help with your hair loss, it's important to understand the hair growth cycle. Each hair on your head undergoes four stages as part of its life cycle. At any one given time, the hair on your head will be at different stages.
For more from Fiona Embleton, GLAMOUR's Associate Beauty Director, follow her on @fiembleton.
If you are concerned about alopecia or hair loss, it's always recommended to book an appointment with your GP to discuss diagnosis and treatment. You can find your local GP here.