8 Tips For Dealing With Hair Loss

*This is a sponsored post*

As a parent to two feisty daughters I will often joke that the girls will make me go bald; that they are “making me pull my hair out” or that they will make my hair fall out due to the stress of their shenanigans. Last week, being the half-term holiday, meant that this joke was used several times. The first time was when they insisted we hire a 4 seater bike to go pedalling on. It was hard work and 15 minutes in Youngest announced that she was bored and Oldest had stopped pedalling. It was then left to me to pedal for the remaining 45 minutes. This was despite me checking and checking that they wanted to do the bike ride. I could have pulled my hair out in frustration. The second time was when I was trying to explain to Youngest that lollipops are not a suitable for breakfast. Again, I could have pulled my hair out in sheer frustration.

Hair Loss Is Not A Laughing Matter

However, I joke about my hair and how it will fall out from stress but the reality is that for a lot of women hair loss is very real and nothing to joke about. Nadia Sawahla recently shared a very candid film in which she talked about her hair loss and how it made her feel. In the emotional film she reveals that she has lost over a third of her hair. Nadia has been praised for her candid confession as hair loss in women is not something that is openly talked about. The reason it is not openly talked about could be because women don’t want to admit to it. Also, like Nadia said, you might feel bad for complaining about hair loss when “you think of people who have lost their hair completely through alopecia or cancer treatment.”

How Hair Loss Can Affect A Woman

However, hair loss can be devastating for a woman. I remember after having Youngest I was losing great clumps of hair and I was worried. However, this dramatic shedding is known as post-partum shedding and is simply a sign of your hormones returning to their pre-pregnancy state and it normally sorts itself out over time. However, for some women it doesn’t and this can be life-changing.

For women our hair is an intrinsic part of our personality. It represents us; it is our crowning glory. The saying a “bad hair day” is around for a reason. For many a bad hair day means that they aren’t in the right frame of mind for their day. Our self-esteem is tightly entwined with our hair, as is our femininity. So Nadia might say that she feels bad for being upset about her hair loss but she really shouldn’t. In fact she has been very brave in sharing her story. For many of us our hair is an extension of our personality. We choose how to style or wear our hair. It reflects us. I have always experimented with my hair depending on my moods. I have gone from brunette to redhead to blonde and from short elfin cut to long hair. If I was robbed of my hair and no longer able to use my hair to express myself then I would feel devastated. I would feel silenced.

We Need To talk About Hair Loss In Women

For women there is a social stigma surrounding hair loss. However, it is far more common than we realise. NHS England estimates that around 50% of women over 65 suffer from female-pattern baldness. This is the most common type of baldness and is thought to be inherited. It is important that we talk about hair loss amongst women so that we can help offer support to others. Hair loss is often trivialised and it really shouldn’t be as it can have dreadful psychosocial affects on women. It really can really undermine a woman’s self-esteem. A woman might lose her confidence about her appearance. This could also lead her to question her self-worth. She might feel ostracised from society and withdraw. Hair loss can lead to depression and anxiety. Yes, hair loss isn’t life threatening but it shouldn’t be trivialised.

8 Tips For What You Should Do If You Suspect Hair Loss

• Don’t hide away! If you suspect hair loss go and see your doctor and seek advice.

• Your doctor may prescribe medicine. Maybe, you are already on some medication and perhaps that is causing the loss of hair. Perhaps you need hormone treatment. Your doctor will be able to talk it through with you and offer you help.

• You could try a special shampoo that is aimed at helping with hair loss. Regaine is one of the shampoos on the market. Regaine for women foam has been clinically proven to regrow hair in 8 out of 10 women.

• You might want to consider seeking expert help. The Harley Street Clinic are experts in hair restoration and they can offer you “an innovative, highly specialised treatment”. They also offer you online consultations so that you can get a personalised recommendation on hair treatment.

• Be careful with hair dye. Chemicals in hair dye damage the hair cuticles. Your hair dye habit might be one to give-up if you suspect hair loss.

• Excessive heat. Drying and straightening your hair can cause damage. It weakens the hair which can lead to breakages.

• Try and avoid stress. Stress can cause hair loss. If you lead a very stressful life then try and combat this with a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthily. Make sure you are getting all of your vitamins. If you suspect that you are deficient in vitamins then speak to your doctor. You should also exercise regularly. Yoga and Pilates are good for stress. However, just getting out and going for a long walk can be equally beneficial.

• Don’t be afraid to wash your hair. Some people worry that washing their hair could be bad for their loss. You should wash your hair regularly and also continue to apply conditioner to your hair.

Keep Talking

Nadia has got us talking about hair loss and we need to make sure that we continue to talk about it. If you suffer from hair loss then please seek help. Perhaps you have suffered from hair loss and you have some tips for what helped you.

What do you think of Nadia’s admission?

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Disclaimer - Please note that this was a sponsored post. However, whilst all words are my own and all research is my own, I am not an expert in this field