By the age of 50, around half of all women experience some thinning of the hair, but the subject of female hair loss remains somehow taboo. There are a variety of factors that can impact female hair loss; age, changes in hormones, pregnancy, diet and weight.
Nigella Lawson, who has experienced a big weight loss, recently showed it was not only her waistline that was thinning. She was spotted with a bald patch on her scalp during a recent lunch.
By 40, women are entering the peri-menopause. This is when levels of oestrogen start to fall, allowing male hormones to cause hair-thinning in some women. Like skin, hair can lose its youthful appearance, making it drier and duller as oestrogen levels decline.
However, there is hope for thinning females with various treatments out there. As well as over-the-counter medications, many women turn to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) when faced with hair loss. This involves taking a course of hormones, a mix of oestrogen and progesterone, to retain hair growth.
There are also deep-acting conditioners and professional hair-strengthening products that can improve the look and feel of dry hair shafts.
Or women could take a leaf out of the celebs’ book and opt for a hair weave.
Actress Demi Moore, 49, reportedly spends hours with her stylist fitting hair extensions to hide the fact that her once famously envied locks have lost volume.
Even Madonna, 53, who has managed to hold back the years in every other area, has not been able to control the affects age has had on her hairline, which has steadily been receding since 2006.
If you are concerned about female hair loss, visit your doctor.