Hello to all Absoluters out there! Back in September it was Alopecia Awareness month and since then I have had so many questions about what can be done to help with thinning or fine hair, so I thought what a perfect time to share my top tips with you.

Why is my hair getting thinner?

The short answer is that hair can become thinner for many different reasons. Therefore, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, finding out the reason for your specific symptoms can be the key to choosing the best solution for your individual needs. In this blog, I’m going to go through some of the common culprits and how to best care for your hair and scalp on a long term basis.

Why is my hair shedding more than usual?

If you notice that there is a lot more hair in your brush, in the shower, on your clothes and generally around the house, it’s likely that you’re shedding more hair than usual. This is usually a temporary disruption, and can be corrected once we know all of the underlying causative factors involved. There are several common factors for excessive hair shedding.

Diet

You might not realise this, but hair needs around 25% of your daily protein intake, so if you don’t eat a protein rich diet your hair may shed as a result. Absolute Collagen is great for rectifying this; each sachet provides 7.2 grams of protein that is full of amino acids and will help you to achieve your daily protein intake. Absolute Collagen can also help with the quality of your hair. This is because the amino acids Absolute Collagen boost the condition and shine of the hair and can also support a healthy scalp by reducing underlying inflammation. In fact, I carried out a perception trial in which 100% of participants saw improvements in their hair and scalp when taking Absolute Collagen.

Illness, operations or accidents

These can all contribute to excessive hair shedding, and again, the main way to tackle this is a good diet. A balanced and nourishing diet supports the overall healing process, which includes the hair. As mentioned above, protein and iron rich foods are key to hair health, and Absolute Collagen is a great way to add some much-needed protein into your everyday diet and routine. However, if underlying vitamin and mineral levels are depleted following an illness, operation or accident then diet alone may not be sufficient. If this is the case, I would recommend taking a really great hair supplement that can provide the boost you need and help your hair to grow and shed normally which, in turn, increases the overall hair volume. My go to supplement is Tricoextra.

Hair care

This is really key to making your hair look and feel good. There are several things to look out for when you’re shopping in the hair care aisle. Look for shampoos that have collagen or proteins that will help to cosmetically boost the diameter of the hair. And when it comes to conditioner, this should add moisture and shine, so look out for conditioners containing glycerine (which is great for hydrating the hair) and coconut oil (this is one of the few oils that can be absorbed by the hair).

Scalp health

Hair health starts with the scalp. Make sure you keep your scalp in good condition; red, flaky, itchy or sore scalps don’t give the best growing environment for the hair, and if the scalp is not healthy then the hair can shed as a result. You should aim to treat your scalp in the same way that you would treat your skin. Absolute Collagen can help to reduce the underlying inflammation that causes scalps to be itchy and flaky, and using a good shampoo with active ingredients such as cade oil or Piroctone Olamine can also help you to manage the scalp. Additionally, a good scalp scrub used once a month can really invigorate and cleanse the scalp to give the best growing environment possible.

Why is my hair disappearing in one specific area?

When I ask the women who come to consult me to explain exactly what is happening with their hair, they usually tell me that it is either falling out like mad or getting thinner and more see through on the top of the head. The most common reason for a woman’s hair to be thinning and disappearing from one specific area is Androgenetic Alopecia, Female Pattern. There are three reasons why you may suffer with this:

• Inheritance of the gene from a family member
• Sensitivity to androgens – testosterone
• Age – your hair has been pretty good then starts to thin just on the top when you hit your late 50s to early 60s.

Female Pattern hair loss is categorised on the Ludwig scale:

With Female Pattern hair loss, the hair miniaturises through each growth cycle, which means it gets thinner and finer until it is unable to grow. Some people experience very slow progress, while others notice changes much quicker - remember, we are all individuals and our hair responds differently to other peoples’.

Treatments to stabilise the hair miniaturisation and to optimise the hair diameter are generally Topical Minoxidil or Low-Level Laser Light Therapy. Diet can also help; for example, eating oestrogen rich foods during menopause can help to support oestrogen levels and suppress the increased levels of testosterone which can lead to hair miniaturisation.

And Absolute Collagen can help with this, too. Absolute Collagen contains amino acids that help to block Dihydrotestosterone, or DHT. This is important because when testosterone combines with the hair follicle it is converted to DHT, and DHT is responsible for miniaturising the hair in the pattern area. So by taking a daily dose of Absolute Collagen, you can help to block DHT and fight off its unwanted hair-thinning effects.

In the meantime, there are ways you can reduce the visibility of hair loss or thinning. For instance, Hair Fibres can help to disguise the thinning in the pattern area and are quick and easy to use. There are many different cosmetic hair systems that can help to cover any loss, and of course volumising shampoos can also add density to the hair.

This is a before and after image of an Absoluter that had hair shedding and hair thinning. I diagnosed Female Pattern and Telogen Effluvium, and we treated with Absolute Collagen and Minoxidil. You can see for yourself in the second photo the brilliant result we achieved. My advice is never despair, ask the experts for help and get results!

How can I manage or prevent thinning hair?

• Eat a balanced diet.
• Take Absolute Collagen daily to supplement your protein intake.
• Wash your hair everyday or every other day, and look for shampoo ingredients such as collagen, wheat protein, rice protein and silica.
• Look for a conditioner that hydrates the hair; ingredients such as glycerine and coconut oil are good hydrators.
• Always use a wide tooth comb when your hair is wet to avoid friction and breakage.
• Use a heat protector spray when styling your hair, and dial down the heat.
• Look after your scalp and give it the same care as the rest of your skin.
• If you are worried, seek professional advice - this will help you avoid wasting time and money on things that may not work for you.

As always, if you have any general concerns then please email me at eva@absolutecollagen.com and I will be very happy to help and support you as much as possible.