Says study commissioned by Leading Hair Expert, Philip Kingsley.
• 1 in 5 of UK women over 25 currently suffers from hair loss or hair thinning
• Crash dieting, stress and oral contraceptives are among factors that play a role in rise of hair loss and thinning
• Women reveal that hair loss and thinning prevents them from being sociable and going out in public
• Philip Kingsley urges women to seek help earlier as it is the only way to treat and alleviate the problem
New research commissioned by Philip Kingsley reveals that hair loss and thinning in women is a real problem. In the study of over 2,000 women in the UK, more than one in five (21%) said they are suffering from hair loss or hair thinning. 9% of women had previously suffered and a further quarter who did not have the problem themselves, had friends or family that do. Combining those women suffering and those who have suffered before, numbers swell to almost 30%. Philip Kingsley clinics also report that 80% of all female clients that attend their clinics in London and New York present with this concern.
Whilst it is clear that hair loss and hair thinning is age-related, with over half of sufferers being aged between 45-64 (51%), the research supports the fact that it can happen at any time in women’s lives with 1 in 8 being under 35.
Suffering from hair loss or hair thinning is devastating with many admitting that the condition causes them to withdraw from general day-to-day activities such as having photos taken (51%), going out to social events (47%) and meeting new people (40%). In addition, the majority of women said that the condition made them feel self-conscious (58%) and anxious (51%), others stated embarrassed (45%), concerned (43%) and less confident (40%).
Philip Kingsley, the esteemed trichologist, hair and scalp expert comments: “The percentage of women with hair thinning (reduced volume) is much larger than is commonly thought as many suffer in silence. Sadly, a third of those suffering said that they haven’t done anything to address the problem, perhaps as they feel too embarrassed to seek help. These results show that hair loss and thinning in women is a real problem – we are all familiar with male hair loss and thinning as it’s more visible, but the study shows that a significant proportion of women suffer from it too. Of course, adverse changes in hormones affect the hair, but crash dieting, processed foods, increased day-to-day stress and certain oral contraceptive pills are also factors that play a role.
“Hair loss is extremely complicated and the unfortunate aspect is that the person is not aware of reduced volume (thinner hair) until they have lost 15% of volume, which means it started long before they noticed it. Some do not seek help early enough or from true hair and scalp experts to solve the problem successfully.”
“Female hair loss is the main focus of the work we do in the Trichological clinics in London and New York and we have seen a significant rise in its prevalence in recent years. In fact, over 80% of the clients we see each week are suffering from some kind of female hair loss. I think that this in part, is due to hair loss becoming less of a taboo subject. Women are speaking out about hair loss more – and are also seeking help earlier. Unfortunately, what is also clear is that they are not seeking specialised enough help to address the problem i.e. trichologists who are experts in scalp and hair health,” adds Graham Fish, Chairman of the Philip Kingsley Group.
Seven practical tips from Philip Kingsley to help women identify the early signs of hair loss and thinning:
1. Your hair is shedding more than is normal for you for longer than two months. You will notice more hair fall than usual when you shampoo, when you brush your hair and perhaps on your pillow and clothes. However, it is normal to lose up to 100 hairs a day, so if you leave more days between shampooing than you usually do, the amount of hair fall you see will be more noticeable.
2. You feel your ponytail is thinner than it once was.
3. Your scalp is becoming more visible and/or you notice a reduction in overall volume or density.
4. You find your hair is not able to grow as long as it used to.
5. Your ends are finer than they used to be, yet it is not breaking. In this instance you may notice many new hairs of different lengths growing from your scalp.
6. You notice your hair is gradually becoming finer at the front, crown or temple regions of your scalp.
7. You notice excessive growth of hair on other parts of your body, such as your face, chest or arms.
“If you notice one or more of the above, you should seek help as soon as possible to preserve what you do have and to best maximise hair growth,” says Philip Kingsley.
Hairdressers can also play a vital role in helping to identify the problem, often before the women themselves as they are well-placed to notice differences between visits whereas women themselves often don’t notice gradual changes.
Taking a holistic approach, one that addresses the problem inside and out, is the best way to treat and minimise the issue at home. Trichotherapy by Philp Kingsley combines a protein spray, scalp drops and dietary supplements for a three-pronged approach.
Fiona Campbell, 57, a Philip Kingsley Trichotherapy customer from Bucks says, “Following an illness last year, my hair felt very thin, lifeless, lacking body and difficult to manage. I was really concerned with my hair: it appeared to be receding around the hairline and the crown. I felt frustrated and worried that this was a sign of ageing that could not be reversed. It really affected my self-confidence and self-esteem and made me feel older.” She noticed that after eight weeks of use, her hair was in better condition, growing faster and appeared stronger. After 12 weeks’ use Fiona reported, “It has made me feel much more self-confident, I enjoy styling my hair and seeing the results after washing and drying it. I almost feel I have been able to halt the ageing process on my hair in some way. When your hair feels great, you can’t help but smile!”
Philip Kingsley urges women to not leave it until it’s too late and seek treatment as soon as they notice signs of thinning or excessive hair loss. For anyone suffering from or wanting to understand what hair loss or shedding means to women, watch the Trichotherapy testimonial video at www.philipkingsley.co.uk
