Let’s Get Real: Hair Loss In Women

“When you look good, you feel good!”

We’re sure you’ve heard this saying somewhere before but you’ve probably experienced it too. Whether it be the boost of confidence you feel after putting on your favourite bright red lipstick or the extra bounce in your step after getting a fresh blowout. As women, we often struggle with self-confidence especially when it comes to our appearance. Truth is, it impacts us more than we think.

Hair plays a big role in how we feel about ourselves. Every nitty-gritty detail from the length of our hair to the way we style it to its colour affects us in one way or another. So when we realize we’re losing a little more hair than usual, it can be pretty deteriorating to our self-esteem. Figuring out why you’re losing hair all of a sudden can be tricky but here’s some of the most common reasons of hair loss:

1. Hereditary

We tend to associate hair loss to balding in men when in fact, both women and men are susceptible to hereditary hair loss. Although there isn’t exactly a way to prevent this type of hair loss entirely, there are treatments that can slow down the process. So it’s best to start treatment once you notice more strands of hair on your brush.

2. Childbirth

During pregnancy, most women will notice their hair growing rapidly because the surge of hormones are activating your hair to grow. However, once you give birth, your hair returns to its normal growth cycle and will start shedding all that hair that has grown over the past months. This varies between individuals as some will experience mild shedding while others will experience intense shedding. Worry-not as postpartum hair loss is temporary so you’ll regain your crown soon!

3. Nutrient deficiencies

Getting healthy and happy hair starts from the inside. We need to ensure we’re getting in our daily intake of nutrition to slow down the process of hair loss. Deficiencies in iron, zinc, vitamin B3 and protein in particular have been reported to be linked to hair loss. To be safe, it is recommended to visit your doctor to have an accurate diagnosis and get treated for a nutritional deficiency.

4. Stress

When you’re going through something stressful, you may also experience a temporary pause in hair growth. From your average day-to-day stress at the workplace to a life-altering event like losing a loved one, it affects the hair more than we may think. This is because your body directs its resources towards getting you through that stressful time in your life. Your hair grows at different rates. Some are actively growing, some are resting while some are being shed. So when you experience stress, your body halts hair growth and when it restarts, the hair will get pushed out at the same time. Fortunately, this is usually temporary so try to distract yourself from stress and practice a positive mindset.