My hair is thinning — what do I do first?
If you've found your way to this page, chances are you've been staring at your parting, or the plughole, or a handful of hair you didn't used to lose. First, take a breath. I know that particular fear — mine came after my little boy was born — and I promise you're not overreacting, and you're not on your own. Here's what I'd gently suggest, in order.
1. Don't panic — some shedding is normal, and lots of it is temporary
We all lose some hair every day, and life throws in extra: after a baby, after a stressful stretch, after being unwell, after a crash diet. A lot of the thinning I see settles down by itself once the trigger passes. So noticing it is sensible — but it very often isn't the permanent thing your 2am brain is telling you it is.
2. See your GP — genuinely, first
This is the one thing I'll always say before anything else: if your hair is thinning and you don't know why, book a GP appointment. Hair changes can be linked to things worth checking — thyroid levels, iron, hormones — and those are things a doctor can test and often help with. I'm a hair specialist, not a doctor; I'd always rather you had the medical side looked at properly. It costs nothing and it rules things in or out.
3. Be gentle with the hair you have
While you're working out the cause, treat your hair kindly: loosen tight ponytails and extensions, go easy on heat and bleach, use a soft brush, and don't scrub at the scalp. None of this regrows hair — but it stops you losing more than you need to, and it's something practical you can do today.
4. Take a photo
It sounds odd, but a clear photo of your parting or crown today gives you something to compare against in a few months — far more reliable than the mirror and a worried memory. If things are settling, you'll see it. If they're not, you'll have something useful to show your GP or me.
5. Come and talk to me when you're ready
When you want to talk about how your hair looks and feels — thickening it, covering a thinning parting, or simply understanding your options — that's my part. There's a whole world between "do nothing" and "wear a wig": toppers, gentle volumising extensions, mesh integration systems. We'll look at what suits your hair honestly, and I'll never push you towards something you don't need.
Book a quiet chatFree, private and unhurried — bring your questions, and your worries. No obligation, ever.