Hair thinning and hair loss can happen at any age.
If you think hair loss is a male issue, think again. In fact, it’s a very female problem. Studies suggest that up to 50 per cent of women will experience hair loss in their lifetime. And it can happen at all ages.
In addition to this, in Australia, one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. A common side-effect of chemotherapy is hair loss or thinning. It’s an issue that paediatric nurse, Martine Le Moy experienced when she was diagnosed with breast cancer.
“I started chemotherapy, and then about two weeks later my hair started to fall out,” says Le Moy. “I decided to get my medium-length hair cut into a short style. It felt good to take a bit of control. I wish I had done it sooner, as then it fell out dramatically. At that point, I got my husband to shave off the remaining hair.”
Wigs weren’t a priority for Le Moy but she did find the transition emotionally challenging. “It was strange to see the shape of my head, and I was [initially] worried about how to cover up.”
“My daughter, who was seven years old at the time, worried that other kids at school would ask me questions about it. But once we explained it to her, she and her friends didn’t really give it a second thought.”
Italian model Bianca Balti has also been open about her hair-loss journey.
On Instagram, the mother of two, who has battled stage 3 ovarian cancer, has posted many hair-free images along with such statements as “what didn’t kill me made me love life a lot more”.
Balti shows that a full head of hair is not where a person’s beauty lies. It’s a powerful stance in a world obsessed with luscious manes. But the fact is that even a little thinning can be traumatic. And the reasons for hair loss are numerous.
Female pattern hair loss, or FPHL, is “the most common form of hair thinning in women,” says Dr Kenneth Brito, who treats both women and men for hair loss at Dr Zacharia clinic in Double Bay.
“It usually occurs around menopause, causing a reduction of hair especially in the central, frontal and side scalp.”
Other factors can cause hair loss. Vitamin deficiencies, contraceptive pills, chemotherapy and some antidepressants can all lead to hair thinning.
Brito also points to stress. “Stress can lead to acute and chronic hair loss,” he says. “Pregnancy and childbirth can also play a role in hair loss, as can issues such as an iron deficiency, endocrine disorders [such as thyroid hormone imbalance and polycystic ovary syndrome] and the fact that your mother had the issue.”
Tips From A Trichologist
Chelcey Salinger, a consultant trichologist at the Australian Trichology Centre who specialises in the diagnosis and treatment of hair loss and scalp disorders, explains that good scalp care is essential. “Shampooing frequently is recommended, preferably with a shampoo that has a pH of about 5.5,” says Salinger who recommends Hask haircare to her patients. “Cleansing the scalp frequently will prevent dandruff and oily scalp problems on the scalp. Choosing the right products to address your hair and scalp challenges will help rebalance the scalp microbiome.”
Salinger recommends scalp-soothing tea tree products such the Hask Tea Tree Shampoo, $17 and Hask Tea Tree Oil 5-in-1 Leave-In Spray. Also enlist an ergonomic brush to massage the scalp such as this Natural Bristle Hair Brush from Toni and Guy.
If you’ve ruled out the usual suspects for hair loss (eg, lifestyle changes, stress increases and any recent product change), then more intensive treatment may be required such as medication and other therapies.
Treatments For Hair Loss
Here are some ways to get hair thick and healthy:
Medication: Some drugs can help stimulate hair growth “by increasing the anagen or growing phase of the hair cycle”, explains Dr Brito. Medicine can either be applied topically or taken orally, though they can take 12 months to show signs of improvement. Always consult your doctor before taking any medication.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP): “Containing numerous growth factors capable of stimulating the proliferation of stem cells, PRP helps stimulate healing and cell repair,” says Brito.
Microneedling: “Microneedling is a minimally invasive procedure in which fine needles are rolled over the skin to puncture the very top layer,” says Brito. “Microneedling induces a wound healing cascade with minimal damage to the epidermis that [helps] induce collagen formation and growth factor production of the treated areas.”
Low level light therapy: “This is commonly used in conjunction with other medical treatment options to supplement results,” explains Brito.
Supplements: While some supplements containing amino acids, biotin, zinc, palmetto, pumpkin seed oil, or marine protein complexes may be beneficial to hair health, experts are divided. “There are several [ways] which both iron and vitamin D have possible effects on hair growth,” adds Brito.
Hair transplants: These may be an option for severe of female pattern hair loss, says Brito. Small bundles of hair are transferred from the back part of the scalp to the affected bald area. “The number of grafts needed to be harvested depends on the severity of the hair thinning. Growth spurt starts from six months [post procedure] and continues over the next few months.”
Products That Help Prevent Hair Damage
Try these products and treatments that will help keep strands strong.
Hask Repair Series Scalp & Hair Serum, $27; Grow Longer Stronger Exfoliating Scalp Rinse, $16.99; Foreo Luna 4, $374; People All-In-One Leave In Treatment, $16; OUAI Scalp & Body Scrub,$73; Kerastase Genesis Serum, $99.
Hairification H24 Complex Leave-In Hair Repair Mask, $20. For hair that’s lacklustre due to heat-styling or over-processing, this leave-in mask is designed to boost both smoothness and strength in just four minutes.
O&M C Spray Dry Conditioner Spray, $42.95. With anti-humidity and anti-static properties, this clever vegan leave-in conditioner can be enlisted on the go to revive dry, tangled or dull hair thanks to added argan oil for softness and sunflower seed oil for shine and strength.
Hask Repair Series Hair Oil Mist, $27. Revive brittle hair with this lightweight leave-inmist. Formulated with a blend of oils (think argan and Hask’s trademarked RepairPro), this spray-in oil will leave hair looking glossy and soft.
Kérastase K-Scan. Available at Kérastase salons, this tech used advanced AI and three different lights to analyse your scalp and hair to measure hair thickness and density, measure oiliness and microbiome health, and predict hair fall. It also tells you what you can do about it.
Hask Repair Series Strength & Length Boosting Scalp & Hair Serum, $27. Using rosemary oil, tea tree oil and biotin, this lightweight, fast-absorbing scalp serum adds the cutting-edge vegan ingredient RepairPro to help repair damage and fortify hair strength.
OUAI Scalp and Body Scrub, $73. With a blend of glycolic acid, salicylic acid and peptides, this grainy scrub worked in with circular motions will get your scalp in peak condition.
Editor’s Pick
Revive and strengthen your strands with Joico’s Defy Damage KBOND20 Power Masque. This intensive treatment boosts hair’s resilience, repairs damage, and enhances shine with every use. Perfect for colour-treated or stressed hair, it delivers salon-level results at home – leaving your locks visibly healthier, smoother, and more vibrant in just minutes.
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