The Belgravia Centre Blog

I play a lot of sport so I like to wash and straighten my hair every day, but lately I’ve noticed a lot is coming out when I brush it, and it is starting to look noticeably thinner than before. Am I washing it too often?

Washing will not in itself damage your hair, as modern hair care products are designed for frequent use and tend to be quite mild. You should be careful not to scrub or twist it too much though, as friction can cause brittleness and tangling. When brushing, start at the tips and gradually work up to the roots, to reduce the amount of stress on the hair. Over-styling, particularly when using very hot tools such as straightening irons or curling tongs, can exacerbate traction alopecia, a form of hair loss caused when constant tension and pulling damages the hair follicle. Hair production in the affected area may slow down and eventually stop altogether. Braiding and hair extensions are the most common cause of traction alopecia; recent photos of Naomi Campbell suggest the supermodel is experiencing considerable hair loss due to years of wearing hair extensions.

You may also be showing the signs of androgenic alopecia (genetic or female pattern hair loss) or diffuse thinning, which manifests as an increased rate of hair loss and consequent thinning all over the scalp. Causes of this range from nutritional deficiencies to thyroid and haemoglobin problems, so it is important to see a specialist who can diagnose and address the underlying cause as well as planning a treatment programme to tackle the hair loss.

Stress can be a contributing factor in women’s hair loss conditions, and hormonal changes such as pregnancy and menopause can also lead to thinning hair. 50% of women will experience some degree of hair thinning by the age of 50, whether from androgenic alopecia or other causes.

Treatment to prevent further hair loss and promote regrowth can be very successful for women, especially when it is started before the problem gets too severe. At the Belgravia Centre we base our comprehensive treatment programmes for women around Minoxidil, the only medication that is clinically proven to be effective in treating female hair loss. You can see some of our ‘before and during treatment’ photos which demonstrate the impressive results we have achieved for so many female patients.

If you would like to discuss your particular hair loss condition with a specialist who can diagnose the cause and prescribe a suitable treatment plan, call 020 7730 6666 to book a free consultation, or send us a message with any enquiry you might have. If you’re not able to visit the London centre, you can complete the online diagnosis form for advice on home-use treatment options.