Hair Loss Guide: What Actually Works, by Cause

"The products promise everything. The mirror tells a different story every single morning."

Who it's for — women losing hair who have bought several products and seen nothing change.

The problem — female hair loss has several distinct causes, and the treatment that works depends entirely on which one you have. Buying before identifying is why nothing works.

What's inside — how to identify the likely cause, what the evidence supports for each, and realistic timelines.

The transformation — from buying hopefully to treating the actual cause.

The main causes, and why they behave differently

Cause	Pattern	Typical course
Telogen effluvium	Diffuse shedding, often 2–3 months after stress, illness or birth	Usually self-resolving over 6–12 months
Androgenetic (female pattern)	Gradual widening of the part, thinning at the crown	Progressive; needs ongoing treatment
Nutritional	Diffuse, often with fatigue	Improves once iron, ferritin, B12 or vitamin D corrected
Thyroid-related	Diffuse, with other thyroid symptoms	Improves once thyroid managed
Traction	Localised at the hairline	Reversible early; can become permanent

Shedding and thinning are not the same thing, and confusing them is the most common mistake.

Tests worth asking for

Ferritin, full blood count, thyroid function, vitamin D and B12. Low ferritin in particular is a frequent and easily corrected contributor that routine testing often misses because standard iron panels can look normal.

Who this guide is not for

It cannot diagnose you, and it is not appropriate for sudden patchy loss, scalp pain, scarring or inflammation — those need a dermatologist promptly, because some scarring conditions cause permanent loss if untreated.

Format and delivery

• Format: PDF, fully designed
• Delivery: instant download by email at checkout
• Devices: any phone, tablet, laptop or e-reader
• Printing: prints cleanly on A4 and US Letter

Frequently asked questions

How much shedding is normal?
Losing roughly 50 to 100 hairs a day is typical. Sudden noticeable increases, or a widening part, are what warrant attention.

How long until I see improvement?
Hair grows slowly. Most treatments need three to six months before any visible change, and things often appear worse before better.

Do supplements work?
Only where there is a deficiency. Supplementing a nutrient you are not short of does not help, and excess selenium or vitamin A can cause hair loss.

Is postpartum hair loss permanent?
No. It is telogen effluvium and usually resolves within six to twelve months.

Related guides

See women's health guides and the Menopause Strength Training Guide.

Educational only, and not a substitute for assessment by a doctor or dermatologist. Seek prompt medical advice for sudden, patchy or scarring hair loss.