Key Takeaways:
- Stress, nutritional deficiencies, and hormonal changes are all common causes of hair loss in men and women.
- Solgar® Hair Growth supports the reduction of hair loss occasionally experienced by women, improves the hair growth cycle, and helps grow thicker, fuller hair.*
Hair loss can feel frustrating and hopeless, but you’re not alone. Men often get the most attention when it comes to hair loss, but the truth is that many women deal with it as well. In fact, at least 45% of women will experience hair loss at some point in their life.1
If you’re experiencing hair loss, there is hope. The first step is understanding the cause of your hair loss, and then looking at what you can do about it.
But before we do that, let’s take a closer look at the life cycle of your hair to give you a better understanding of how hair loss happens.
The life cycle of your hair
The life cycle of your hair can be described in four main phases:
Anagen Phase (Growth): This is the active phase of hair growth, where hair cells rapidly divide and the hair shaft grows. This phase can last anywhere from 2 to 7 years. At any given time, about 90% of your hair is in the anagen phase.2
Catagen Phase (Transition): In this short phase lasting about 2 weeks, hair growth stops and the hair follicle shrinks. The hair detaches from the blood supply and is pushed out of the follicle.
Telogen Phase (Resting): During this phase, the hair doesn’t grow, but it doesn’t usually fall out either. The hair follicle remains inactive, and the old hair is resting in the follicle while new hair begins to grow underneath it. This phase normally lasts about 3 months.
Exogen Phase (Shedding): The final phase is when the old hair sheds and falls out, allowing the new hair to emerge. On average, people shed about 50 to 100 hairs per day as part of this natural cycle.
Causes of hair loss in women & men
Having some hair fall out in the shower or in your hairbrush shouldn’t be a cause for panic. Some hair loss is normal as the hair moves into the shedding phase.
However, rapid or excessive hair loss can occur due to metabolic stress, hormonal changes, or medication. This type of hair loss is called telogen effluvium because hair in the anagen (growing) phase are switched to the telogen (resting) phase.3
It’s important to note that not all hair loss is telogen effluvium. If you’re experiencing more excessive hair loss than normal, consider speaking with your healthcare provider.
3 reasons your hair may be falling out
1. Stress
Stressful life events — like losing a loved one or experiencing financial difficulties — can increase the risk of hair loss. During these times, sudden or rapid hair loss (telogen effluvium) may occur.4
If you’re experiencing stress, try incorporating relaxing techniques into your daily life, such as yoga, meditation, or spending time with friends and family.
2. Nutritional deficiencies
What you eat plays a big role in your hair health, and hair loss can sometimes be an indicator that you may not be getting enough of certain nutrients. Be sure to speak with a healthcare practitioner to get a personalized assessment of which nutrients you may be lacking.
Iron and hair loss
Iron deficiency is one of the most common deficiencies, affecting more than 25% of people.5
A lack of sufficient iron is a well-known cause of hair loss, although researchers are still unsure of the exact mechanics.6
Women of childbearing age are even more susceptible to low iron status due to the iron that is lost during menstruation. A recent study found that one in two pregnancies are affected by low iron intakes, and yet 40% of the women in the study had never had their iron levels checked.7
People who eat a plant-based diet are also at a greater risk of being low in iron because they will only consume non-heme iron, from plants, which is not absorbed by the body as easily as heme iron, which is found in animal products.8
Iron is important for many things in the body beyond hair health, one being supporting energy metabolism.* Iron is essential for promoting energy utilization and forming new red blood cells that help transport oxygen throughout your body.*
Thankfully, taking an iron supplement is an easy way to get your daily recommended intake of this mineral.
Solgar® Gentle Iron
Solgar® Gentle Iron Vegetable Capsules help promote energy utilization, improve iron status, and form new red blood cells.* This patented, chelated formula is non-constipating and gentle on your stomach. And, it’s non-GMO, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, kosher, and halal.
Zinc and hair loss
Zinc is an essential mineral required by hundreds of enzymes in the body.
Not getting enough zinc can be a cause of hair loss, but the good news is that it can be easily reversed by adding sufficient zinc to your diet.9
Vegetarians may be at a greater risk of not getting enough zinc as the bioavailability of zinc is lower in vegetables than in meat.10
Zinc is one of the key ingredients in Solgar® Hair Growth, a supplement that helps grow thicker, fuller hair and improves the hair growth cycle.*
3. Hormonal changes
Hormones control your hair growth cycle, so changes to your hormones – such as menopause or childbirth – may trigger occasional hair loss.
Menopause and hair loss
Hair loss is a common symptom of menopause and perimenopause. During menopause, the body goes through significant hormonal changes, particularly a decrease in estrogen levels. This hormonal shift can lead to various symptoms, including hair loss or thinning.11
Postpartum hair loss
Postpartum hair loss is common — many new moms temporarily experience excessive shedding after pregnancy. Postpartum hair loss is caused by hormonal changes. After giving birth, estrogen levels plummet, which may cause your body to shed hair more rapidly.
Hair shedding usually peaks about four months after giving birth, and most women regain their normal hair growth by their child’s first birthday.12
Supplement for occasional hair loss
Solgar® Hair Growth
Made with age-defying nutrition and clinically-backed ingredients, Solgar® Hair Growth is uniquely formulated to support beautiful hair.*
Each serving of Solgar® Hair Growth helps…
- Grow thicker, fuller hair*
- Support reduction of hair loss occasionally experienced by women*
- Improve hair growth cycle*
- Strengthen hair roots*
Key ingredients:
Solgar® Hair Growth features Keranat™, a patented & clinically studied ingredient shown to significantly slow hair loss, reduce scalp dryness, and promote healthier, shinier, and more lustrous hair during 12 weeks of continual use.*
It also includes biotin, zinc, and copper to support healthy hair.*
This supplement is also certified NSF, gluten-free, dairy-free, soy-free, vegan, kosher, and non-GMO.
Supplements for healthy hair
Solgar® Biotin 10,000 mcg
Biotin is an important nutrient for hair health. Each serving of Solgar Biotin 10,000 mcg supports…
- Healthy skin*
- Healthy nails*
- Healthy hair*
Solgar® Skin, Nails, & Hair
Our Skin, Nails, & Hair supplement is uniquely formulated to help maintain natural beauty from the inside, and includes…
OptiMSM®: The purest, safest, most consistent source of sulfur.* Sulfur is the key building block in collagen and keratin. These proteins make up healthy skin, nails and hair.*
Antioxidants: Zinc & vitamin C are antioxidants which help you fight free radicals.* They also help your body make more collagen, the essential component to healthy, vibrant skin.*
Body-Ready Minerals + Amino Acids: Highly-absorbable forms of zinc and copper plus proline and lysine.
Each serving of Solgar® Skin, Nails, & Hair supports…
- Shiny hair*
- Youthful, vibrant skin*
- Healthy nails*
- Immune system health*
- Collagen production*
GET THE LATEST UPDATES AND EXCLUSIVE DEALS WHEN YOU SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER!
Summing it up
Although it can be distressing, hair loss is common in both men and women. Stress, nutritional deficiencies, and hormonal changes are all possible causes of occasional hair loss. Thankfully, taking the right supplements — such as Solgar® Hair Growth — can help support the growth of thicker, fuller hair and support the reduction of hair loss occasionally experienced by women, so that you can regain confidence in your hair.*
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*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
The information provided on this site is intended for your general knowledge only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment for specific medical conditions. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. The information on this website is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Never disregard medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on the Solgar® site.
