The Best Solutions For Hair Loss (And What Causes It)
If you’re experiencing hair loss, let me first just say that I hear you. I have been there myself, and I know how traumatizing this entire experience is. You want it to stop, and NOW. So in this post, I’m going to explain the stages of hair growth & hair loss, what to expect, and what treatment options will be best for your situation.
I have walked this path myself, as well as holding many of my clients’ hands through their journey. And one of the main takeaways I’ve gathered is that hair loss looks different for everyone. My goal here is for you to gather information and put the pieces together on how they fit for you.
This post is not meant to replace medical treatment, and should be used as educational information in conjunction with medical care and advice from your doctor.
The stages of hair growth & hair loss
Ultimately, everyone loses hair, every day. On average, each person loses roughly 80-100 hairs per day! And that’s coming from the roughly 100,000 that are on your head at any given time.
People with thick hair will lose a lot more than this, and those with thin hair won’t lose as much. You may also lose more one month than the next.
When a hair falls out, another one replaces it (when functioning properly). And when you wash or brush your hair, you’re removing those loose hairs that have already detached from the hair follicle. Since the hair has already detached, you don’t feel it pull out.
Before we talk about hair loss, it’s important to first understand how hair growth works. You need to have an understanding of the hair growth stages as well as what caused the hair loss before trying to treat the problem. Otherwise, you may continue experiencing hair loss or have skewed expectations on when it should grow back.
Now, not all hairs on your head are growing at the same pace at the same time. All hair goes through four growth stages: Anagen, Catagen, Telogen, and Exogen.
1. Anagen: Hair growth stage
Anagen is the growing stage of a hair strand. It’s when the hair is growing from the inner hair follicle. This stage is what determines how long your hair will get. This stage lasts on average 4-5 years, but can range all the way from 2-7 years.
Do you ever wonder how some people can grow their hair extremely long, while others can’t? This is the hair growth stage that is responsible for the length of time your hair grows.
2. Catagen: Hair transition stage
The catagen phase is also known as the transition phase. It is much shorter than the previous stage, lasting only about 10 days.
In this stage, your hair follicle will shrink and detach itself underneath the scalp so that it stops growing.
It’s important to note that when this takes place and the hair has technically detached, it is still stuck to your head. The detachment has happened under the scalp.
3. Telogen: Hair resting stage
The telogen stage of hair growth is also known as the resting phase. This stage usually lasts between 3-9 months, and varies from person to person.
Typically, anywhere from 10-15% of your hair is in this stage at one time. And since the hair follicle has already detached itself in the last phase, a new one is being formed underneath, beginning the anagen phase for the new hair strand.
Now, hair in the telogen phase will still move its way up and out from underneath your scalp, so it does appear that it is still growing. But in reality, it’s just moving towards your scalp, not actually getting longer. It’s just pushing its way out.
4. Exogen: Hair loss stage
Exogen is the final stage of hair growth, and is when the hair falls out. This is where the hair has completely detached from the scalp, and the new hair underneath should continue to grow in its place.
Now, regularly, you may have more hair on this stage at one time than another, which is why sometimes it feels like you are losing a lot of hair and other times not so much (in a regular scenario, not during hair loss). Everyone is different, and we all have different amounts of hair in certain stages at a time.
But ultimately, this stage is where hair loss makes itself known. You don’t know that you’re experiencing hair loss until this stage, and this is usually 3-9 months after the hair loss has technically started.
Understanding hair loss
So from the stages of hair growth, hair starts falling out anywhere from 3-9 months after the cause of the hair loss. This is where most people get confused, because they aren’t thinking about the past, and usually think it’s more of a present trigger.
For example, undergoing a surgery may result in hair loss 6 months after the fact. The hair follicle will detach itself under the skin at the time of the event, but the hair will not actually shed yet because it is still in the telogen, or resting phase.
And unfortunately, the same goes for when the hair will grow back in. It will take at least 3-9 months to notice if a treatment is working or not. It takes time for the hair to be pushed from underneath your scalp, both when it is falling out and when it is growing back in.
Now, the first step in resolving hair loss is determining what caused it. Otherwise, you’re attempting to put a band-aid on an amputation. And to determine what caused it, we need to look back at the past.
What causes hair loss?
If you don’t know specifically what caused your hair loss, I always begin by asking my clients what has changed in their lives since they’ve noticed the changes in their hair. Specifically, think back 3-9 months before the hair began to thin.
Stress, illnesses, fevers, hormones, surgery, having a baby, depression, hormone fluctuations, thyroid imbalances, medications, diet, hereditary factors & genetics (sorry men), and many other factors are all reasons why someone may begin to lose hair.
Even positive changes like losing weight or quitting smoking can cause hair loss. Basically, anything that puts some type of stress on the body can cause hair loss. The list is nearly endless.
So keep this in mind, and think back to what you may have gone through several months ago. If nothing that you know of has changed or happened, it’s a good idea to see your doctor and run some blood work.
I’ve caught a client’s thyroid getting out of whack by the changes in her hair. It went from being stick straight her entire life, to getting super thick with a crazy wave pattern on only the right side of her head. She ended up needing to have a thyroid surgery shortly after we noticed these changes.
And while in this instance her hair got thicker, many experience hair loss instead, with no other noticeable symptoms.
So if you do notice that something is up, please go get it checked out by your doctor. It could be a sign that something more serious is going on that your body is trying to tell you.
Can hair grow back after falling out?
Yes, hair can indeed grow back after falling out. But this is completely dependent on the reason for the hair loss to begin with and how long it’s been since the thinning has begun.
If your hair started thinning because of a surgery or stress, then it should grow back after the hair underneath has replaced the shed hair, and the stress to your body has subsided. This is extremely common during childbirth. The key here is to be as patient as you can, and understand the stages of hair growth to know when to expect it to come back (3-9 months).
Now, if your hair loss is from genetics or a medication that you MUST take, it is possible that it will not grow back on its own without treatment.
It’s also important to note that if you lost most of your hair a very long time ago, it may be too late to get it all back, even with treatment. When the cells in your hair follicles have newly died off, it’s still possible to regenerate them. But if they’ve been gone for years, it is much harder to regenerate.
What really works for hair loss?
Depending on what’s causing your hair loss, you’ve got a variety of solutions when it comes to treatments, and they vary greatly from at-home topical solutions to expensive surgeries. If you determine that your hair loss is caused by an ongoing stressor, you’ll want to consult your doctor (ideally a dermatologist) to determine what course of action will be best for you.
But if your hair loss is caused by something that was essentially a one-time event or stress that you have removed from your life, you should be able to get by with at-home and noninvasive techniques.
How to stop hair loss
Unfortunately, there is no cure-all or BEST treatment for hair loss. It’s important to understand your exact situation in order to solve your problem. But below I’ve listed 6 solutions to hair loss that can be used to slow or stop the hair loss, mask the symptoms, and grow your hair back.
We’ll start with the strongest treatment options first, then work our way down to the at-home topical solutions. Ideally, if you choose a larger treatment like a prescription or a medical procedure, you’ll also want to combine it with the at-home topical solutions for best results.
The best products and procedures for hair loss
***Since I’m sharing the products that I love to use with you guys, my posts may include affiliate links to these products. If you take action and purchase a product through clicking one of my links, I’ll make some commission money from it at no extra cost to you. This enables me to be able to continue giving you awesome hair tips, so thanks! ***
1. Medications
These days, there are oral medications that your doctor can prescribe to treat your hair loss. These work by targeting the hair follicles and slowing the hair loss, and even promoting new hair growth. This is especially helpful for those who may be experiencing alopecia areata (autoimmune hair loss), genetic hair loss, or hair loss from an ongoing stressor (like a necessary medication).
Just keep in mind that there are always side effects with medications, and you and your doctor will have to discuss if this is the right path for you.
2. Medical procedures for thinning hair
If money is not a problem, medical procedures for hair loss can be extremely beneficial for some. The current medical procedures for hair loss include: hair transplants, laser hair treatments, and PRP (platelet-rich plasma) injections.
- Hair transplants are typically used by men with male-pattern baldness, but many women get them as well. This is a form of plastic surgery and must be performed by a plastic surgeon. The surgeon will take hair follicles from an area that is generally resistant to balding, such as the sides or back of the head, and will relocate those follicles to the balding spots on top of the head. This is usually a permanent solution, and works great in combination with other methods (like PRP). It is the most expensive treatment option, but also typically the most effective.
- PRP Injections (platelet-rich plasma) are similar to stem cells; a vial of your own blood is drawn, the platelet-rich plasma is extracted from the blood in a machine, and it is then injected into the areas of your scalp that need increased hair growth. The plasma heads to those dying cells and begins to regenerate them. I’ve heard good things from this type of treatment, and it’s commonly done alongside hair transplants.
- Laser hair treatments and PRP work in very similar ways in that they attack the dead/dying cells in the hair follicle and regenerate them. Laser hair treatments use lasers to regenerate the dead cells. I’ve heard mixed results from laser treatments, though, and it’s usually dependent on what’s causing the hair loss and how long it’s been going on for.
I have seen all of these methods work for some people and not work for others. Just remember that everyone is different, and it all depends on the reason for the hair loss.
3. Topical medicated products for thinning hair
The only topical chemical that I have ever seen to be proven to work against thinning hair is minoxidil. This is the chemical that is in Rogaine and all other topical products for hair loss.
These types of products work only if you use them religiously twice a day without ever skipping a day. If you stop using them, it will stop working. It also takes several months in order to see any progress at all, so don’t give up after a few weeks of using it.
There are many brands to choose from, and if you veer from my recommendations below, be sure to check the ingredients label to be sure that minoxidil is included before purchasing.
4. Vitamins that can stop thinning hair
There are several different vitamins that are known to improve and stimulate hair growth from the inside out. Just be aware that they affect ALL of your hair, not just what’s on your head. Your nails will grow quicker, and your skin will be softer.
I have oily skin, so when I take any of these, they make me break out pretty badly. But you can try counter-acting this with a retinoid or another acne treatment.
I suggest trying one vitamin for 3-6 months, and if you aren’t seeing any results, then switch it out for another. This way, you’re able to distinguish what actually worked.
Now, something I’ve found from my clients is that taking liquid biotin seemed to work better than a pill or capsule. My guess is that it’s easier for the body to break it down and digest, although this isn’t proven.
Or, you can take a hair loss supplement that has a combination of the above vitamins in it. I have heard good results from both options.
5. Thickening and concealing products
Now, these products will not put a halt to your hair from thinning more, nor will they actually regrow your hair. They merely mask the appearance of thin hair and make it feel a bit fuller.
- Regeniplex Shampoo and Conditioner – Shampoo and conditioner that will help give a little more thickness and body to fine and thin hair. It’s been specifically formulated for those that have experienced hair loss. I love the smell of this too!
- Regeniplex Root Lifter Foam – A mousse-like product designed specifically for thinning hair to increase volume and texture.
- Regeniplex Tonic – Leave-in scalp tonic designed specifically for thinning hair to dissolve oily buildup and revitalize the scalp.
- Thickening Spray Gel – This leave-in spray gel adds thickness to fine or thin hair while strengthening each strand. It’s ideal for use when hair is wet before styling, and can add some killer volume to limp hair.
- Boldify Hair Fibers – These multi-color option hair fibers bind to your existing hair to thicken the overall appearance of your hair.
- Boldify Hairline Powder – This is a bald spot concealing powder that minimizes the appearance of your scalp through thin hair. This is ideal for bald spots or anywhere you notice your scalp is highly visible.
6. Hairpieces and hair extensions for thinning hair
If all else fails and/or you are not looking to spend big bucks on medical treatments to restore hair growth, try hairpieces or hair extensions!
Extensions will add fullness and length, whereas a topper or wig will cover the top of your head if you are worried about your scalp showing.
I always recommend using 100% human hair; you get what you pay for when purchasing hair. You want something that is going to look real, natural, and that you can style the same as your own hair with coloring and heat tools.
For at-home extensions, I suggest a wire extension. The hair is attached to a wire that sits on your head and adds length and thickness to the ends of your hair. This is very gentle on your hair.
I recommend staying clear of clip-in hair extensions if you are already experiencing hair loss. The clips and weight of the hair put added stress on your already thin and fragile hair, and can even make thinning worse. I have seen clip-ins cause bald spots!
There are many other types of hair extensions, such as fusions, hand-tied wefts, micro-beads, braided, and others. I recommend finding a stylist who specializes in extensions to find the best option for you and your hair. This may even mean going to a separate stylist for extensions than for hair color or cuts.
You may even be able to find a hairstylist who specializes in thinning hair, who can suggest extensions or the right cuts to minimize the appearance of thinning hair. Cutting some of the thin ends off will help!
What NOT to do for thinning hair
If you are experiencing hair loss, then there are a few things you may immediately think of to try and hide it, but may actually end up making matters worse.
I do not recommend doing any of the below-listed “solutions” if you have thinning hair.
1. Darker hair color
Darker hair color is typically everyone’s first go-to to hide hair loss. But in reality, this actually makes thinning hair more visible.
When the hair is darker than the color of the scalp, the lighter scalp shines through the hair and appears even thinner than it already is.
A lighter hair color is better because there is not as much contrast between the hair and the scalp.
2. Tight-fitted hats and headbands
Hats and headbands will hide the hair loss, but they are also putting stress on the scalp, as well as the hair that’s left.
Anything that puts tension on the hair, such as a hat, headband, or even tight ponytails, will end up doing more harm than good. Tension alopecia is a real thing.
If you want to wear loose-fitting hats or headbands, that is totally fine. Just pay attention to the tension on your hair/head and keep it on the looser side.
3. Holding on to length
As I briefly mentioned earlier, cutting some length off will help your hair appear much fuller. Especially once you get to the point where new hair is growing in and you can visibly see where the hair loss happened.
As unfortunate as it is, if you want your hair to appear fuller, you’ll have to cut those thin ends off. The bonus is that once you do, your hair will seem to grow in much quicker.
This isn’t because it’s growing faster from your scalp, but it’s because the ends of your hair are healthy and not breaking off at all.
4. Long hair/combover
Ah, the combover. This section is mostly for men with male pattern baldness, but it can apply to women as well.
When your hair is thinning, it can be hard to agree to cut it short because you don’t want to let go of the hair that you still have left.
I get that, but you get to a point where trying to hide it will do you no good.
Keeping the hair shorter and thinned out on the full areas of the head (sides and back for most men) will mask the appearance of how thin it is in the thin areas.
Men, keep your sides short and the top not too long. I suggest thinning out the sides so that when it grows back in, you don’t end up with poof on the sides and nothing on top. This helps to blend and even out the overall appearance and density of your hair.
Conclusion
On average, we lose 80-100 hairs a day from the roughly 100,000 on our head at a time.
Hair grows in four stages. Anagen is the growth stage, catagen is the transition or internally detaching stage, telogen is the resting phase, and exogen is the external detaching phase where the hair falls out.
Hair loss can happen for many different reasons. If you notice the hair on your head being noticeably thinner, think back to life events in the past 3-9 months. You should also take a trip to your doctor to determine why your hair is thinning. The cause of the hair loss will determine if and when it will grow back.
6 products and procedures to combat thinning hair are:
- Medications
- Medical procedures
- Topical medicated products
- Vitamins
- Thickening hair & scalp products
- Hairpieces and extensions
If your hair is thinning, avoid:
- Darker hair color
- Tight hats and headbands
- Holding onto length
- The combover
Follow the tips I mentioned above if you are beginning to notice any hair loss, and I always recommend popping into the doctor to make sure that nothing serious is going on that your body is trying to tell you.
If you have any further questions for me on this topic, be sure to leave them for me in the comments. Subscribe below if you want to make every day a good hair day!
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