I have never thought of my hair as a defining characteristic of who I am. My hair is, after all, only hair. But then again, it’s not just hair as well, is it? Perhaps more than any other element of our outward appearance, our hair is intrinsically linked to how others see us. How they describe us even. So when my hair started to fall out in patches around my hairline, especially around my temples after I stopped breastfeeding my second son, it did raise a few alarm bells inside.
Long at the time, the hair lining my face looked thin, broken and decidedly wispy. I would pull it back behind my ears to try and hide it, but there was no hiding it from the professionals. Anthony Nadar at RAW in Sydney got his (expert) comb onto that section of hair and told me “we need to clean these bits up”. Cutting what frayed hair was left was the stopgap way to blend them into the rest of my hair; it also shored up the weakened hair and gave it time to grow back into the blunt edges that Nader (and I) love so much.
My other hair expert friend, celebrity colourist Michael Kelly at Salon Her in Sydney, suggested I look at upping my diet with ingredients such as zinc, biotin, selenium and riboflavin, as he blow-dried my hair one day and noticed the spindly bits where my hair used to be. I definitely beelined to the shops for Brazil nuts (which are high in selenium) and cashews (natural zinc bombs) immediately after my appointment.
Hormones. While we’re on the topic, let’s unpack just how linked they are with our hair. My hair shedding was an issue called post-partum hair loss, or telogen effluvium. It affects a lot of us during pregnancy, a time when our hormones are acting like a three-year-old after a sugar-filled birthday party (think: a little all over the place) and causing normal internal function to go haywire.
Telogen effluvium can happen for a number of reasons, from pregnancy to hormone fluctuations, medication changes or metabolic stress. And you can expect to lose up to 30% of your head of hair. Thirty per cent. It’s a lot. And although this type of hair loss is temporary, seeing clumps of strands in the shower drain, or pulling wads of hair out of your hairbrush is far from how we want to start (or end) our day.
Pair it with the other things in my world that were going on at that time – like going back to work, or experiencing a body that isn’t quite what it was before I was pregnant, or, oh I don’t know, having another whole human being in the house – having my hair fall out on top of it all, felt a bit like a cruel joke.
Of course, there is a bit of a caveat here. I very possibly had more hair during my pregnancy than I did before I fell pregnant. This is because pregnancy hormones cause hairs in the growing phase (called anagen) to enter the resting phase (called telogen), meaning hair sticks around a lot longer when you’re expecting a baby. It’s a win for sure. Especially with all the other less exciting things happening to your body (like bloating and indigestion). But it’s short lived.
Losing the hair after all the hormones stopped is normal. It also won’t last forever. You should only lose hair for 6 months and your hair should go back to its former glory. But in the meantime, it’s very possible to lose up to 100 hairs a day. Which, let’s be real, isn’t a fun time.
One big thing I did do to curb the issue was cut my hair. I was desperate for a change anyway and a bobbed style suited the parameters of my hectic morning routine. The wash and wear abilities of shorter hair also meant I didn’t have to overuse heat styling if I wasn’t in the office. On the days that I am, I still love my Dyson Supersonic Hair Dryer and my Shark SmoothStyle Heated Comb on the comb setting, which both deliver me polished hair in a flash without heat damage.
I still colour my hair but instead of the bright icy tones I used to favour, and which require regular upkeep, my wonderful colourist, celebrity colourist Simon Bright at Jonny & June, now gives me a more natural look with tonal beiges, pops of blonde and lowlights, which allows my hair to grow out naturally and lets me extend my appointments by a week or two.
Also, I overhauled my haircare routine. Thankfully the market has been populated with a crop of new hair boosters over the past few years, which promise to improve hair health and shine.
Best hair products for boosted growth and density
01
Aéde Hair Activist
from $66 at Oz Hair and Beauty
A vegan supplement formulated with Chinese medicine botanical biota orientalis, Aéde is formulated to help increase hair growth. There is also iodine for healthy thyroid hormones, which helps control hair growth and support a healthy metabolism. Also in the mix is selenium, which is scientifically proven to help hormone production.
02
Vida Glow Pro Collagen+
from $99 at The Iconic
Vida Glow launched into a market that knew absolutely nothing about collagen or what it can do for skin, hair and nails. This is the brand’s new offering, which has been boosted so that you only need to take one sachet a day. The flavourless pro version is fast-acting thanks to a potent blend of hydrolysed marine collagen tripeptides. There is also a clinically studied dose of hyaluronic acid to help boost moisture levels in the skin and digestive enzymes – all of which help with skin texture, hydration, elasticity and a reduction in wrinkles.
03
Vida Glow Hairology
from $85 at The Iconic
Formulated to lengthen, strengthen and repair hair, this supplement gets the to heart of thinning to help hair get back to its former glory. Its hero ingredient is AnaGain, a hardy blend of micronutrients that are best for hair growth and thickness. Clinical trials showed that hair loss reduced by 34 per cent after 28 days of taking the supplements.
04
Vegamour GRO+ Hair Serum
from $105 at Sephora
This brand is making serious waves (or should that be blow-waves) in the hair growth market. Lightweight and able to be applied to damp or dry hair, the serum is the undisputed hero of the range. Powered by plant-based actives, with regular use, this product helps strands feel stronger and healthier as well as stick around longer. I keep a bottle near my toothbrush, so I remember to do it daily. It’s non greasy so I can add into my hairline without ruining a blowout.
05
TYPEBEA G4 Hydra-Gloss Treatment
from $50 at Sephora
This new to market range wants us to all feel better about our hair and this gloss treatment is a winner. Used in place of your conditioner, this treatment goes on after shampooing. I leave on for three minutes during the week, when time isn’t on my side. But on the weekend I love a bath with this so I can soak it up for longer. It’s great for avoiding split ends and soothing those brittle ends. There is also added hyaluronic acid to give hair deep hydration. My hair also shines, which isn’t always easy with blonde. For an extra boost, follow up with the brand’s Overnight Boosting Peptide.
06
L’Oreal Professionnel Metal Detox Pre Treatment Spray
from $62 at MECCA
I tried this range a few months ago and it really does give salon results at home. Able to tackle porosity, and prevent breakage and colour fade, this pre shampoo treatment is dosed with 2 per cent Glicofiller. Very science-y, this ingredient multitasks to both fill in a porous surface (my over-worked hair) as well as fill the centre of the hair (the cortex) for smoother hair. I follow up with the shampoo, hair mask and the hair oil from the range and honestly my hair feels like a pro has done it. It’s silky and shiny and feels healthy and full.
07
Robe Haircare Tonic
from $69.99 at Robe Haircare
A targeted haircare range, Australian brand, Robe Haircare, harnesses actives to help get hair on the brink looking healthy and transformed. The scalp restoring tonic is a hero and I spray it into my hair often. It can go on at any point in your wash cycle and doesn’t wreck a hairstyle, nor is it fragranced, both of which are a big positive, especially as I like to spray it around my hairline. Great for boosting hair health and shine.
