Half of women experience hair loss after the age of 40

Many people don’t realise that more than half of women experience some kind of hair loss after the age of 40.

By 65, three-quarters of women are thinning.

At Crown Clinic, 10 per cent of our hair transplant patients are women.

There are other interesting statistics about female hair loss:

* 60% of hair-loss sufferers would rather have more hair than money or friends.

* Almost half (47%) of hair-loss sufferers would spend their life savings to regain a full head.

Dr Asim Shahmalak, Crown Clinic’s consultant hair transplant surgeon,  said: ‘Hair loss can have a devastating influence on a woman’s life, promoting a lack of self-esteem, anxiety and even depression. But this is a common and treatable condition.

‘The number of women losing their hair is increasing for a number of reasons. Stress is a big trigger. It causes a hormonal imbalance in women which leads to hair loss.

‘Reduce stress through exercise, which releases endorphins, the happy hormone, and a healthy diet.

‘A woman’s hair needs vitamins such as iron, zinc and magnesium to make it strong and beautiful.

‘Modern hair techniques such as extensions and hair straighteners damage the hair and lead to hair loss conditions such as traction alopecia.

‘Naomi Campbell has suffered severe hair loss due to an over reliance on extensions throughout her modelling career.

‘There is also a powerful genetic link. Put simply, if your mother or grandmother has thinning hair, there is a good chance you will too. Hormonal changes, pregnancy and thyroid problems can also thin hair.

‘But awareness of hair loss in women has increased and women are far more likely to admit they have a problem and seek remedies.’

Dr Shahmalak has helped hundreds of women with hair transplants.

He also recommends a number of other products which can be used to combat the problem. Toppik hair-building fibres use natural Keratin fibres to intertwine with existing hair to make it look thick and full.

But Dr Shahmalak stressed that the only permanent solution to long-term hair loss is a hair transplant – for men and women.