Hair fall is a normal part of the hair life cycle, but if you’re experiencing excess shedding, thinning, or prolonged periods of hair fall, it can take a toll on your confidence. This is one of the primary hair concerns for many Australians, with almost half the population experiencing hair fall at some point in their lives1,2.
Hair thinning and hair fall triggers vary from person to person, so it’s important to pinpoint what causes hair fall before giving your hair care routine a complete overhaul.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll take you through these common causes, along with our tips on how to manage hair fall and thinning – with just a few changes to your hair care products and habits.
It can be confronting to find large amounts of hair in your hairbrush, in the shower, or on your pillowcase. However, hair shedding is a normal phase of a healthy renewal cycle – and it happens to everyone.
Our hair follicles go through natural periods of growth and shedding, and each hair shaft is replaced once this cycle is complete. Shedding between 50 to 100 hairs per day is considered normal3, but if you are experiencing significantly more hair fall, this could point to a disruption in the hair cycle.
Misconceptions around hair fall and hair thinning are rife, so it’s important to separate fact from fiction when determining what causes hair fall.
We’re all unique – and so is our hair fall journey. Hair fall can be a byproduct of everyday stressors that we apply to our hair, but hormone fluctuations, age, genetic disposition, gender, diet, and stress may also be the culprit.
Read on to find out which factors might be at play.
1. Age and genetics
Hereditary hair fall runs in families and mostly affects the scalp. As we age, our rate of hair growth slows – and many of us are likely to experience hair fall to some degree. While this change usually begins to take place around middle age, it can happen earlier if your family has a genetic predisposition to pattern baldness.
Alongside hair fall, our hair strands actually shrink and lose pigment, resulting in the fine and light-coloured hair we recognise in ageing hair.
1. Age and genetics
Hereditary hair fall runs in families and mostly affects the scalp. As we age, our rate of hair growth slows – and many of us are likely to experience hair fall to some degree. While this change usually begins to take place around middle age, it can happen earlier if your family has a genetic predisposition to pattern baldness.
Alongside hair fall, our hair strands actually shrink and lose pigment, resulting in the fine and light-coloured hair we recognise in ageing hair.
2. Gender
Gender can play a significant role in what causes hair fall.
For men, hair fall can become increasingly more common in your twenties, thirties and forties – but it can occur any time after puberty4.
Male pattern baldness tends to be talked about more readily, but hair fall and thinning also impacts approximately 49% of women throughout their lifetime4. Depending on individual hair fall triggers, it can affect women of various ages – though most women will show signs of thinning hair by age 505.
Pattern hair fall occurs gradually over time – and this pattern will differ between men and women.
For men, recession often starts on the crown and at the front of the hair line.
Women tend to notice diffuse thinning and a change in density across the central scalp, signified by a widening of the part.
Gender can play a significant role in what causes hair fall.
For men, hair fall can become increasingly more common in your twenties, thirties and forties – but it can occur any time after puberty4.
Male pattern baldness tends to be talked about more readily, but hair fall and thinning also impacts approximately 49% of women throughout their lifetime4. Depending on individual hair fall triggers, it can affect women of various ages – though most women will show signs of thinning hair by age 505.
Pattern hair fall occurs gradually over time – and this pattern will differ between men and women.
For men, recession often starts on the crown and at the front of the hair line.
Women tend to notice diffuse thinning and a change in density across the central scalp, signified by a widening of the part.
Changes to our hormones have wide-reaching effects on our body. Androgens (male hormones) don’t tend to support hair growth, and an increase in androgens over time may be one key to understanding what causes hair fall.
On the other hand, women produce oestrogen, which is actually very friendly to hair growth. When oestrogen levels drop or change due to contraceptive pills, pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause5, the growth phase of your hair cycle can be disrupted, leading to hair fall.
3. Hormonal imbalances
Changes to our hormones have wide-reaching effects on our body. Androgens (male hormones) don’t tend to support hair growth, and an increase in androgens over time may be one key to understanding what causes hair fall.
On the other hand, women produce oestrogen, which is actually very friendly to hair growth. When oestrogen levels drop or change due to contraceptive pills, pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause5, the growth phase of your hair cycle can be disrupted, leading to hair fall.
4. Stress levels
Heightened stress is pretty much a given in our busy lives. But sometimes, stress and hair fall can go hand in hand. Severe periods of stress can prematurely push hairs from the ‘growing’ phase to the ‘shedding’ phase, which triggers excess hair fall.
Remember androgens? This hormone increases during periods of stress and, because androgens aren’t hair-promoting, they play a role in what causes hair fall in men and women.
4. Stress levels
Heightened stress is pretty much a given in our busy lives. But sometimes, stress and hair fall can go hand in hand. Severe periods of stress can prematurely push hairs from the ‘growing’ phase to the ‘shedding’ phase, which triggers excess hair fall.
Remember androgens? This hormone increases during periods of stress and, because androgens aren’t hair-promoting, they play a role in what causes hair fall in men and women.
5. Vitamin and iron deficiencies
Iron is integral to the production of our hair proteins. So experiencing a deficiency in iron – no matter how extreme – can affect the hair growth cycle of your locks.
Alongside this, a deficiency in vitamin B12 (which helps red blood cells and oxygen) tampers with the tissue that supports healthy hair growth and length. Eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet can help foster a healthier environment for hair growth.
5. Vitamin and iron deficiencies
Iron is integral to the production of our hair proteins. So experiencing a deficiency in iron – no matter how extreme – can affect the hair growth cycle of your locks.
Alongside this, a deficiency in vitamin B12 (which helps red blood cells and oxygen) tampers with the tissue that supports healthy hair growth and length. Eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet can help foster a healthier environment for hair growth.
6. Breakage from chemical treatments, hot tools, and harsh styling
Chemically damaged hair – from bleaching, colouring, perming, or relaxing – can deteriorate your hair bonds and lead to dry, brittle hair that’s prone to snapping or breaking. Excessive heat styling can also weaken and dry out the hair, contributing to fallout from breakage.
Outside of heat damage and overprocessing, your daily hair habits could also be a factor in what causes hair fall from breakage. Continual strain on the hair follicles from harsh brushing, overly tight hairstyles, and hair extensions can weaken strands and, in more extreme cases, cause diffuse thinning around the hairline.
6. Breakage from chemical treatments, hot tools, and harsh styling
Chemically damaged hair – from bleaching, colouring, perming, or relaxing – can deteriorate your hair bonds and lead to dry, brittle hair that’s prone to snapping or breaking. Excessive heat styling can also weaken and dry out the hair, contributing to fallout from breakage.
Outside of heat damage and overprocessing, your daily hair habits could also be a factor in what causes hair fall from breakage. Continual strain on the hair follicles from harsh brushing, overly tight hairstyles, and hair extensions can weaken strands and, in more extreme cases, cause diffuse thinning around the hairline.
How to manage hair fall: 6 tips
Hair fall management requires a tune-up from the inside and out. By working towards a balanced lifestyle and supporting your hair growth with certain dietary intakes – in addition to hair care products that instil prevention – you can help mitigate your hair fall concerns.
Make sure your diet contains a balance of good fats and nutrients. You may find it beneficial to incorporate multivitamin and iron supplements to keep those levels up.
4. Avoid tight hair styles
Continually wearing tight hair styles like slick backs can place unnecessary strain on the hair and weaken follicles. Switch up your styling with soft, loose hair styles and avoid tying your hair up while you sleep.
5. Take a break from chemical processing and heat styling
Give your scalp and strands a reprieve by avoiding chemical treatments and excessive heat styling. This will help fortify strands and minimise unnecessary breakage.
6. Consult a specialist
What causes hair fall for you might be related to genetic or hormonal factors. So, you might consider consulting a qualified professional for advice.
Now you understand what causes hair loss, you can seek out the right hair care ingredients to nourish your scalp. Next, explore the benefits of vitamin E for supporting hair growth.
Complete Your Routine
Complete your hair care routine with cleanse, treat, prime & night essentials.
Far more than the place to get your root touch-up or an occasional trim, book an appointment at your nearest Kérastase salon for a complimentary personalised hair diagnosis.
