Hormonal hair loss rarely shows up as patches. Instead, the hair thins out across the whole head, the parting gets wider and your ponytail feels thinner between your fingers. Many people first notice it in the shower or on their hairbrush – and then in photos.
What's behind it
Hormones affect the hair's growth cycle. When levels fluctuate, many hairs can enter the resting phase at the same time and fall out a few months later. The most common situations we see in the salon are the period after giving birth, menopause, thyroid problems, PCOS and times when you switch or stop taking the pill. Severe stress and iron deficiency can also cause the same pattern.
We're hairdressers, not doctors. If you're losing a lot of hair, or it's happening quickly, start with your GP. There are tests that can give answers, and when the underlying cause is treated, the hair often follows.
It often passes
This is important to know: hormonal hair loss is temporary in many cases. After a pregnancy, the hair usually comes back within the first year, often with short new hairs along the hairline as a first sign. In the meantime, it's about getting through this period without putting strain on the hair you still have.
What you'd best avoid
Thin hair tolerates less tension. Heavy methods attached to small sections of your own hair can cause traction damage when the hair follicles are already in a vulnerable state, and then the problem becomes bigger than it was. The same goes for tight updos, a tight ponytail every day and lots of heat without protection.
That's why we sometimes say no to hair extensions when someone comes to us in the middle of ongoing hair loss. It's not a rejection, it's a different path.
Solutions that work for thin hair
Mesh hair extension. A net is attached to the head without glue, tape or heat, and the hair is attached to the net instead of to your own hair. Your own hair lies protected underneath and can grow in peace. Depending on how large the area is, we use a lace closure or the Luxury Hair Topper Deluxe in human hair for this method. Mesh suits thin hair in general, not only hair loss after illness.
Hair topper. A hairpiece that covers the top of the head and the parting where it's thinnest, while your own hair shows all around. It's attached with small clips and taken off whenever you like. For many people with hormonal hair loss, it's the simplest solution, because that's usually exactly where the hair is thinner.
Clip-in hair extensions. Volume when you need it, gone when you don't. No attachment that stays in and pulls around the clock.
Wig. If the hair loss is extensive, a wig gives you full coverage straight away. All our wigs are glueless, and constructions such as lace front and mono top give a natural parting and feel comfortable on a sensitive scalp.
The cut does more than you'd think
A style adapted to where your hair is actually thickest can change the overall look completely. Shorter lengths look fuller than long, thin ends, and a fringe can draw attention away from a wide parting. It costs nothing to try.
Can I get a requisition?
That's up to your healthcare provider. If your doctor assesses that the hair loss is medical, you can get a requisition (rekvisition) from your Swedish region that covers all or part of the cost of a wig or hair replacement – and in several regions hair extensions too. The amounts vary between regions. See what applies in your region.
Come in and talk to us
We look at your scalp, feel the thickness of your hair and tell you honestly what we think – even when the answer is to wait. The consultation is free and takes place in a private room, in Stockholm at Odenplan or in Uppsala on Skolgatan. If you live further away, we do it by video. Call 076 415 90 00 and we'll book you in.