It’s perfectly normal to lose up to 100 strands of hair a day. But how do you know if your hair is actually thinning or if you’re just losing a little more than usual? And more importantly, what are the causes of hair loss and what can you do to manage it? 

Here are five reasons you’re losing hair and some solutions, from ways to destress and what food to eat for healthier hair, to an anti-hair loss treatment that uses stem cells. 

#1 Why you’re losing your hair: Your hairstyle

We get it, the weather is hot and your hair is often tied back in a ponytail or in a bun. While it’s great to get your hair off your face, it could be the reason why you’re losing hair. Constantly securing your locks in a tight and sleek hairstyle can not only damage hair, but also cause breakage. It also makes any hair loss around the crown and temples appear more noticeable. 

What you can do: Try not to tie your hair up as often. Instead of knotting it into a tight bun or high ponytail, clip the sides back, just behind the ears, with this season’s trending barrettes.

#2 Why you’re losing your hair: You went on an extreme diet plan

Intermittent fasting might be all the rage now, but overdoing it and not feeding your body enough nutrients can result in thinning hair, and eventually, hair loss. Trust us, we know because we’ve seen it happen.

When you restrict your body from getting the nutrients it needs, the limited amount of energy it gets is diverted to the organs that need it most, like your heart, lungs and brain. This means that your hair, which also needs energy to grow, gets what’s left or none at all. 

What you can do: Load up on foods rich in iron, protein, omega 3-fatty acids and B vitamins, such as eggs, and green leafy vegetables like spinach and salmon. So even if you love what your new trendy diet has done for your weight, you shouldn’t exclude these foods.

#3 Why you’re losing your hair: Your genetics

If you’re eating and managing your stress well, yet are still shedding an alarming amount of hair daily, it’s time to visit the professionals. Apart from certain medical conditions that can cause hair loss, your genes can also play a part in early onset hair loss. 

What you can do: One way is to head to a trichologist such as PHS Hairscience. The brand (together with bio-scientists and trichologists) has developed a Miracle Stem Cell Solution treatment, which uses a high concentration of stem cell proteins and a cocktail of active ingredients – think nano-sized growth factors, peptides, cytokines, vitamins, antioxidants and DHT blockers (DHT is a hormone known to shrink the hair follicles, which can trigger the onset of hair loss).

When applied to the scalp, the stem cell proteins send signals to the hair follicles, to encourage the inactive cells to wake up – and work harder. 

At the same time, the other active ingredients nourish the scalp, helping it to become healthier. In fact, an independent laboratory study has shown that this Miracle Stem Cell Solution can help boost hair’s growth cycle by up to 50 per cent!

The non-invasive hair treatment takes just 45 minutes per session and comes with no side effects or downtime. For best results, PHS Hairscience recommends that you go for bi-weekly sessions over three months, and results are said to be visible in as early as two months.

It’s suitable for both women and men, and is available in five options to address the different types of hair loss: Hair Thinning Control, Hair Loss Control, Patchy Hair Loss Control, Hair Thickening Regenerator and Hair Growth Regenerator.

#4 Why you’re losing your hair: You have a crazy, stressful life

This current Covid-19 pandemic has put so much stress on everyone. Increased work and family stress can cause our bodies to produce more cortisol, commonly known as the stress hormone. Studies have shown that too much cortisol can disrupt the function and patterns of your hair growth cycle, which can contribute to increased shedding. 

What you can do: Find ways to destress, like going out for a run, learning yoga or meditating before bed. The good news is that hair loss from stress is temporary, and once your levels are back to normal, the problem should go away. 

#5 Why you’re losing your hair: You don’t care for your scalp

Healthy hair begins with a healthy scalp. After all, your scalp is an extension of the skin on the face, so you should pay the same attention to the scalp too. Using products that are too drying can irritate the scalp and weaken the hair roots. And not cleansing the scalp of styling product build-up can suffocate the hair follicles – all of which can lead to hair loss.  

What you can do: In the same way that you have a daily skincare routine, you should also have one for your scalp and hair. Go here to find the right set of products for your hair and scalp concerns, from hair thinning to soothing a dry and sensitive scalp, and more.