Female Hair Loss: The Difference 

Hair loss is extremely common. While we often see hair transplant procedures advertised towards males, it is important to note that hair loss and thinning can occur in females as well. We see hair loss in women occur due to an array of different factors such as ageing, postpartum and hormonal changes. We understand this can have a lasting impact on self esteem and self worth, which is why we want to provide you with an understanding of why this happens and how we can help here at Flawless Hair Restoration. 

Hair thinning cause:

According to UCLA (2023), by age 50, up to 40% of women will have noticeable hair loss, but it can happen at any age. The hair follicle represents a complex mini organ that regenerates itself 8-10 times during a human’s lifespan. Hair thinning can occur on the head, as well as the eyebrows in women. To understand why this occurs, firstly we need to understand the hair growth phases. There are four key steps in the hair growth cycle;

1. Anagen – growing phase, rapid cell division occurs in the hair bulb and dermal papilla and this phase can last 3-10 years. 
2. Catagen – transition phase, hair stops growing and becomes detached from the base of the follicle. The hair bulb begins to break down, resulting in the follicle becoming shorter. 
3. Telogen – resting phase, about 10 to 15% of all hairs on the body are in this resting phase at any given time and can remain in this state for a variable amount of time, depending on the location of the hair – from a few weeks for eyelashes to nearly one year for scalp hair. 
4. Exogen – shedding phase

Images from HealthlineHair loss and thinning occurs during the telogen phase. If there is some kind of stress to the body it can cause 70% of anagen hair to accelerate into the telogen phase and therefore, hair loss occurs. After three months on average, a new hair bulb is expected at the base of the same follicle as the new successor anagen hair shaft. As it grows down, the old telogen hair is expelled. In such a process, each shed hair is ideally replaced by a new one. The hair growth cycle is meticulous and careful, and any disruption to the cycle can have an effect on the quality of your hair.

Postpartum Hair Loss:

Postpartum hair loss is a very common occurrence for many new mums. Juggling a new baby and dealing with hair loss or thinning with many other bodily changes taking place can be difficult and quite overwhelming. While from an outside perspective, this may not seem to be a common occurrence, it is known that about half of new mums will experience postpartum hair loss or thinning. Postpartum hair loss/thinning occurs because the exogen phase is delayed and the number of hairs shedding is reduced, increasing hair fullness. This is why during pregnancy you may feel like your hair is lucious and long! Follicles remain in the anagen phase during pregnancy but enter the catagen and telogen phases after delivery. Postpartum the hair cycles synchronised on the scalp, ends in a synchronous telogen-teloptosis process. This is where the hair loss appears abundant. Only about 10% of hairs are in the telogen phase during the second and third quarters of pregnancy. Hair enters the telogen phase postpartum and reaches about 30% after 9 weeks. Thankfully, postpartum hair loss and thinning usually continues for 6 to 24 weeks but rarely persists up to 15 months.

Solutions to Hair Loss:

Flawless Hair Restoration has a magnitude of different treatment options for you from PRP to Eyebrow Transplants. PRP or platelet rich plasma can be a fantastic solution to stimulate hair growth. PRP treatments follow a three-step process:

1. A blood sample is taken, usually from the patient’s arm.
2. The clinician uses a specialised device to rapidly spin the sample, separating the components and creating a concentration of platelets within the plasma.
3. The concentrated sample is then injected into the patient’s scalp to produce the desired follicular stimulation.

Typically, three or four sessions spaced four to eight weeks apart will be necessary to achieve the best results. However, this is subject to change, as each patient has different requirements.Another option specifically for eyebrow thinning is an eyebrow transplant at Flawless Hair Restoration. An eyebrow transplant involves taking hair from an area with abundant follicles and grafting the hairs to the required area. The aim of an eyebrow hair transplant is to improve the location, shape, and density of the eyebrow to create the desired fuller look.Interested in our hair restoration procedures? Book your consultation here.