FAQ

Is baldness hereditary?

Male pattern baldness and female pattern hair loss are both hereditary and caused by inherited genes. In men, genes can come from one or both parents and if they are passed down from either side, the man is likely to experience balding . In women, due to their higher levels of oestrogen, if only one parent carries the gene they are unlikely to be affected. Other forms of thinning hair such as stress related hair loss are not hereditary.

Is it normal to lose hair from our early 30s?

Losing hair can happen at any age and three in ten males in their thirties are bald. In its extreme form, some males start to lose their hair at the age of sixteen and are almost entirely bald by the time they reach their early twenties. Male pattern baldness tends to develop slowly though so whilst it may start in the early 30’s, it may take 20-30 years for the man to lose all of his hair. 
Read more about male pattern baldness and female pattern balding here.

If I go bald, am I more likely to have a heart attack?

To some extent, this is true. Studies published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2008 found that men who lose their hair at the crown have a 40% increased chance of coronary heart disease and a receding hairline points to an increased risk of 28%. So if you have this type of baldness you should stop smoking, eat healthily, have your blood pressure checked and do regular appropriate exercise.

Is it true that stress can cause hair loss?

Yes it is. Follow the link for full information on hair being lost due to stress – which can affect men and women.

Can the way I style my hair cause it to fall out?

Some hair styling can stress the hair and lead to problems. Damaging styles can include anything tightly done up, such as a ponytail or braids or tightly winding hair around heated rollers. Also hair extensions can damage the hair if they are not applied correctly. This can cause permanent damage to the hair so it is important to choose your hair stylist carefully and ask about their level of experience.

Does vigorous brushing prevent hair being lost by stimulating circulation?

This is incorrect and vigorous brushing of your hair will only damage it further so is not recommended. Hair human or otherwise is one of the strongest natural fibres in the world. However over time, as with any material, it wears out becoming brittle and breaking. Vigorous brushing will encourage hair shedding to happen faster. To improve circulation in the scalp, massage it with your fingers.
Click here to read more about the effect of brushing.

Does hair “need to breathe” Will wearing hats toupees or wigs encourage hair loss?

Hair does not breathe. The only part of the hair that is alive and taking oxygen, is the part that is attached to the scalp and it receives all the oxygen it needs from the blood supply. Wigs, toupees and hats can cause problems but only through being too tight and causing breakage through friction.

Does washing your hair too often increase the rate at which it is lost?

Washing your hair does not increase hair loss. It is true you will notice hair in the bath or shower after washing but this is only hair that has already been shed, following its natural growth cycle. The growing part of the hair is buried under the scalp and so not affected by the act of washing.

Can heat sources, hairdryers, rollers, straighteners etc make hair fall out?

This is true. Extreme heat like that generated by all of the above will damage the proteins in the hair. They will become brittle making them making liable to break off. Add to this, the act of brushing and more damage will result. Care should be taken when using these implements as they can burn the scalp and this can permanently damage the hair follicles.

Do protein rich conditioners and shampoos nourish the hair and help it to grow?

The proteins contained within conditioners and shampoos only temporarily fill in defects on the surface of the hair shaft, making it smoother and thicker. Since these proteins do not and cannot get to the hair follicle itself, they cannot “nourish” the hair nor can they encourage its growth.

By using hair dyes, perms and hairsprays, am I encouraging hair loss?

Using these products does not worsen the issue, as the effects are purely cosmetic. You are simply making the hair appear thicker and more colourful which is a good thing. Care must be taken when applying colourants or bleaching agents and professional assistance is recommended.

Hair Facts

  • The scalp has about 1,000 hairs per square inch.
  • The average person has between 90,000 to 120,000 hairs growing.
  • Blondes usually have the most followed by brown and black hair. They also have the finest hair out of all the colours.
  • Redheads usually have the least but the hair is coarser so it is not noticeable.
  • Human hair is the strongest natural fibre there is, but obviously the coarser the hair, the greater the tensile strength (the breaking strain).
  • Each hair follicle can produce a number of hairs at one time, all in various stages of growth.
  • People with thick hair do not have more hair follicles, they have more hairs growing from each one.
  • Eyelashes and eyebrows are like rainwater gutters, protecting the eyes by preventing water from seeping into them.
  • Underarm and pubic hair, serve two obvious functions. To prevent skin chafing and to help spread and retain the odour of the apocrine glands. They begin to function at the same age as pubic and beard hair develops, showing sexual maturity.
  • Hair also has its own muscle called the arrector pili, which erects when a person is cold, causing what's known as goose bumps. Fear or anger can also cause this reaction hence the observation of hair ‘standing on end'.

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