It's Hair Loss Awareness Month: Here Are the Basics to Get You Started
- Team Holly
- Aug 1
- 4 min read
Hair loss is more than just a cosmetic issue as it can quickly affect your confidence, self-image, and quality of life. August is Hair Loss Awareness Month, a timely reminder that thinning, shedding, and scalp concerns deserve attention and care - just like any other health issue.
I want to introduce you to some of the basics of hair loss: the most common types, the reasons they occur, and what you can do about it.
The Four Most Common Types of Hair Loss
Androgenetic Alopecia (AGA)
This is often called male or female pattern hair loss. It’s a gradual thinning caused by genetics and hormones. This most often presents as thinning at the crown or a widening part for women and receding hairline for men. AGA tends to progress slowly, which is why it’s easy to dismiss in the early stages.
Telogen Effluvium (TE)
This form of shedding is often triggered by a specific event - things like illness, medications, surgery, chronic stress, rapid weight loss, nutritional deficiencies, or postpartum recovery. Hair shifts abruptly into the resting phase and falls out several weeks or months later. You’ll usually see diffuse thinning across the scalp, not just in one area.
Alopecia Areata (AA)
Alopecia areata is typically brought on by stress or an autoimmune condition where the body attacks and targets hair follicles. It can show up as sudden, round bald patches or it can affect the scalp, eyebrows, and body hair. In many cases, it comes and goes and is unpredictable.
Scarring Alopecia
This type of hair loss causes permanent damage that destroys the hair follicle. The damage leads to scarring beneath the scalp surface, which prevents regrowth. Early symptoms can include redness, scaling, tenderness, or a burning sensation. Scarring alopecia requires prompt attention, as once the follicle is scarred, regrowth isn’t possible. A few known types of scarring alopecia are Frontal Fibrosing Alopecia (FFA), Lichen Planopilaris (LPP), Folliculitis Decalvans (FD) and Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia (CCCA).
Why Hair Loss Happens
Hair loss isn’t usually caused by just one thing, but is often the result of multiple factors that overlap or build over time. Some of the most common contributors include:
Nutrient Deficiencies - Low levels of iron, ferritin, vitamin D, B12, zinc, and omega-3s can impact the hair cycle.
Stress - Emotional and physical stress (including chronic illness) disrupts hormone balance and shortens the growth phase.
Surgery or Illness - After a significant health event, the body shifts its resources away from nonessential functions - like growing hair.
Hormonal Shifts - Changes related to pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, menopause, thyroid, HRT, or birth control use can all play a role.
Genetics - Some hair loss patterns are inherited. This doesn’t mean you can’t slow the process, but it does mean the right support matters early on.
Chemotherapy - Hair loss is a known side effect of many cancer treatments because of how they affect rapidly dividing cells, including hair follicles.
What You Can Do About It
Please, Don't Guess!
It’s tempting to buy every supplement or shampoo that promises thicker hair, but if you don’t know what’s actually causing the problem, you’re likely wasting time and money. Most people dealing with hair loss have more than one contributing factor, which is why personalized evaluation matters.
Instead of guessing, you'll want to start with a thorough evaluation. In my practice, I use tools like scalp imaging, lab results, DNA testing, and epigenetic follicle analysis to help identify what’s really going on. When we understand the “why,” we can create a plan - designed for YOU - that actually works.
Care for Your Scalp Like Skin
Hair grows from the scalp, so keeping that environment healthy is key. Avoid tight hairstyles, minimize heat styling, and choose gentle products that support barrier repair and reduce inflammation. If you’re thinking of reaching for that bottle of dry shampoo, stop and think about how that is going to affect your hair follicles. Shampoo your scalp instead.
Support Your Body from the Inside Out
A balanced diet that is not comprised of highly processed foods, stress management, good sleep, and targeted nutrients go a long way in supporting healthy hair growth. If you’ve had lab work done recently but still feel like something’s missing, a follicle-based analysis may help uncover deeper insights.
Consider Professional Treatments
Depending on what’s causing your hair loss, advanced hair boosting treatments like Alma TED, microneedling, jet plasma, or low-level laser therapy can help lower scalp inflammation, reactivate dormant follicles and support regrowth. These treatments are especially helpful when used in a multi-therapeutic approach.
You Don’t Have to Figure This Out Alone
Hair loss is common, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with it or figure it out on your own! There are real solutions, and they start with real information.
If you’re noticing more shedding than usual or feel like something has changed with your hair, now is the time to take that first step. You deserve answers and a care plan based on facts rather than fads.
