The biggest question I get in the salon is “Am I going bald? My bathroom is filled with hair, or I feel like I’m shedding.”

Why would this be happening?

Well there are many reasons that could make this happen but lets go over a few things first. On average, we shed 80-100 hairs per day and sometimes more when you are shampooing. If you don’t wash everyday, the number of hairs will double when you do finally wash so don’t be surprised. Hair goes thru growth cycles, and not every hair is growing at the same time. But most women start to notice the thinning on the top of head in their 50s and 60s, why?

1. The most overlooked illness in women is thyroid disfunction. Thyroid glands control how the body makes energy and drives our metabolism. The thyroid hormones are like a carburetor…. low thyroid hormone levels make the body burn less energy, whereas high levels make the body burn more energy. When an imbalance occurs, you may shed extra hair than normal. I can tell a client has this problem when I see thinness and fuzzy hairs on the crown of the head. When treated properly, the hair will grow back but it may be a little finer than usual.
2. Hormones cause havoc on your body and hair. Not only can a hormone imbalance cause PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) which can hinder your ability to get pregnant and irritate your skin, I’ve also seen many women after child birth, go thru a period of massive hair loss. This is natural and will last up to a year! Never fear! In a few months, you will start to see little monkey like hairs starting to come back, especially around your hairline. It took 10 months for your body to create a baby but it will take another 12-16 months to get the hormones back to level. (Those kids take everything out of ya, literally! lol)
3. Severe weight loss can also throw your glands and hormones in a spin. You must remember that our hair, nails and skin are being fed by your blood and need protein to stay healthy. When people go on a drastic diet or have an eating disorder, some hair loss will occur. Its like the saying, “we are what we eat”….so eat healthy and it will show.
4. Something that I have seen but is never talked about at the doctors office is medications. Whether it is an antibiotic because you were sick or an anesthesia from a surgery, there will be a shedding period 6 months after. Many prescription medications also have this adverse effect so read the labels very carefully or google them to find more info.
5. There are some diseases that will make hair fall out in spots or fall out all over. Alopecia or Alopecia areata is sometimes considered an auto immune disease or can be inherited. The causes are really unknown but sometimes can be treated with steroids or a medication called Minoxidil.
6. There are some skin conditions that can aid hair loss such as psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis. Also linked back to auto immune disorders and inheritance, these can also be treated with certain medications. Stress can bring on some other skin problems like shingles, and eczema. Remember, skin is our largest organ and needs the proper nutrition.

So, as your stylist I recommend speaking to a dermatologist and a nutritionist about foods that you should eat and what you should avoid. I take a vitamin supplement to help my body fight off disease and keep up my immune system.

Living a healthy lifestyle is key to keeping your body healthy and vibrant!  =)