7 H’s of Hair Loss

To effectively treat hair loss, it is essential to understand the specific factors responsible for your hair fall. Hair loss is rarely caused by a single issue but often results from a combination of factors disrupting the hair cycle. Dr. David Kingsley has identified seven primary causes of hair loss, known as the “7 Hs of Hair Loss“ ©

1. Heredity

The most common cause of hair loss in men and women is hereditary or genetic influences on the hair follicle. While hair loss can be inherited from either parent, it is not guaranteed. You are more likely to lose your hair if most of your family members lose their hair, regardless of whether they are on your father’s or mother’s side. However, some scientific evidence suggests that about 20 percent of people with genetic hair loss do not have any known relatives who have the condition.

Hair loss due to heredity is most commonly associated with male pattern alopecia and female pattern alopecia. Genes may also play a role in hair loss conditions such as alopecia areata. Aside from the uncertainty of which hair loss genes you may inherit from your family, the type of hair loss is also critical when determining hereditary influences.

2. Health

You can influence your hair cycle by many health factors since your hair is a barometer of your overall health. Even high fevers or surgeries requiring anesthesia can disrupt hair growth. These health influences typically become noticeable within four to sixteen weeks after an event or illness.

Conditions such as lupus (an autoimmune disease), digestion problems, and infections may play a role in your hair loss, causing conditions such as telogen effluvium (hair shedding) or cicatricial alopecia (scarring hair loss). Many other factors may also play a role.

3. Hunger (Nutrition)

According to published research, optimal hair growth requires a plentiful supply of protein, glucose and specific vitamins and minerals. Any long-term deficiencies in nutrition (or reduction of nutrition) that occur in the hair follicle may lead to hair loss due to its nonessential nature.

In addition, protein contributes to hair growth because 80 to 95 percent of hair fibres are composed of protein (especially relevant for vegetarians). When you rarely eat, the amount of energy available at your hair growth site may be insufficient, causing premature hair loss. Dieting is one of the most common causes of nutritionally related hair loss. Due to metabolic changes in the body, severe weight loss from dieting can result in temporary hair loss (telogen effluvium). 

4. Hassle (Stress)

Your hair cycle can be affected by stress, and losing your hair can be incredibly stressful! Even though it’s difficult to pinpoint the cause of specific episodes of stress, there is evidence to suggest that acute and chronic stress can worsen hair loss scenarios, such as genetic hair loss, telogen effluvium (hair shedding), and alopecia areata (patchy hair loss) and trichotillomania (compulsive hair-pulling). The most common explanation for an increase in hair shedding is what happened yesterday or last week, not a couple of months ago. Generally, increased hair loss occurs between four and sixteen weeks after the trigger, as with many other hair loss causes.

5. Healing (Medications)

Some medications can cause hair loss in some people, while the same medicine won’t cause hair loss in others. Some people lose their hair when they stop taking a specific drug, while others do not. Further, some medications can cause hair loss the first time they are taken, but not subsequent times (once the body adjusts to the medication, the hair loss stops), or they do not cause hair loss the first time, but do subsequent times (possibly because the medicine accumulates in the body).

There is a condition called telogen effluvium (hair shedding), often caused by medications. Some of the most commonly reported causes of hair loss are chemotherapy, antidepressants, thyroid, oral contraceptives, and cholesterol medicines. It can be challenging to say that one medication causes hair loss and another does not, as treatments can react differently in different people.

6. Hormones

Women’s hair can be affected by hormonal factors such as irregular menstruation, polycystic ovarian syndrome, menopause, and pregnancy. Hormones control hair growth, and hormonal irregularities can alter hair growth. Other symptoms can indicate the presence of these, but hormonal factors cannot always be ruled out even if such symptoms are absent. Hormonal problems can attribute several types of hair loss to hormonal issues, including heredity hair loss and telogen effluvium (hair shedding). Hair loss may occur in men using anabolic steroids (whether for medical or recreational purposes).

7. Hairdressing

Losing hair through breakage (traction alopecia) can cause hair loss, even though it does not involve the scalp. Chemical over-processing and/or incorrect brushing techniques can result in breakage. You can burn your hair by using a dryer that is too hot, so much so that you can smell it burning while you dry it. Excessive brushing can also damage your hair.

Find the root cause of your hair loss:

If you’re experiencing hair loss and want to learn more about its causes and options for treatments, take advantage of our free consultation with an experienced professional. With over five decades of expertise in hair loss since 1968, we can help you understand your specific condition and guide you toward the most effective solutions. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and take the first step toward restoring your hair.