How to spot hair loss!

In their recent article, ‘Loss Adjuster’, Hair Journal spoke to the Dubai Hair Doctor about the signs that hairdressers should look for in order to help and support clients with hair loss. “There are three main types of hair loss and very often it is the regular stylist and junior at the backwash who may spot signs of thinning over time” Doc says. The following is some advice he gave to HJ.

Temporary Hair Loss

Temporary loss is just what the name implies- temporary. With this type of hair loss, people have the ability to recover 100% of the hair they have lost. The most common causes in women are post partum shedding, weight loss, anaemia, thyroid disorders and other health issues. However, before becoming overly concerned with increased shedding, Lyons suggests that hairdressers “take into account how often the hair is washed and the length before assuming it is something more serious”. But if the shedding has been going on for over six weeks, a visit to a trichologist should be recommended.

Semi-Permanent Loss

Semi-permanent loss in women is caused by female pattern hair loss – an inherited genetic condition that Lyon’s recognises as “becoming more common among young women”. Fortunately, this type of hair loss is partially reversible if dealt with by an experienced professional or clinic. The signs to look for are hair that is thinner on the top of the head and fuller around the back and sides and also a wider parting. Lyons recommends to HJ that hairdressers ask questions about their client’s general health, any weight loss, diet changes or notice in increased shedding in order to help. However, usually with female pattern hair loss, increased shedding isn’t necessarily noticed. In this type of loss, the hairs usually grow back finer and do not grow quite as long.

Permanent Hair Loss

Unfortunately, hair loss can be permanent. Permanent hair loss occurs when the hair follicle becomes damaged and is unable to produce new hairs. This can happen either from injury to the head, burns, localised radiotherapy and rarely from alopecia areata . However, in terms of alopecia areata, it can often go into remission whereby the hair will spontaneously grow back (in 98% of cases), but the loss can recur at any time.

While on-going hair loss should be checked out by a trichologist, Lyons says “with some little experience, knowledge and confidence hairdressers can certainly offer significant help and advise for their clients”.