What can I do to stop my hair from falling out?

This is the question I hear most, and I understand how worrying it is. The good news: in most cases there is a lot we can do, and the routine below is the one I give my own clients.

1. Find out why it is happening

Everyone loses about 50 to 100 hairs a day. If you are suddenly losing much more, something usually changed about three months earlier: stress, illness, surgery, a new medication, a baby, or a crash diet.

If the shedding is new or heavy, ask your doctor for a blood test. Low iron, thyroid changes, and low vitamin D are common and very treatable causes. Patchy loss or an itchy, sore scalp is a reason to see a dermatologist.

2. Be gentle with the hair you have

• Detangle wet hair with a wide-tooth comb, starting at the ends.
• Skip tight ponytails and buns; use a soft scrunchie or a claw clip.
• Turn the heat down on your dryer and irons, and always use a heat protectant.
• Sleep on silk so the hair is not rubbed and pulled all night.

3. Care for your scalp every day

Healthy hair grows from a healthy scalp. Wash with a gentle shampoo, massage the scalp for a minute or two while you do, and use a fortifying scalp serum daily. Give it three months: hair grows slowly, and so does the improvement.

4. Let the cut and color work for you

Long, heavy hair pulls and shows the scalp. A shorter shape with soft layers puts the weight where it creates fullness. Color helps too: a few lowlights close to your scalp color make the part look less sparse.

If you are worried, book a thinning hair consultation. We will look at it together, privately, and make a plan.