Hair Through the Ages – Part:1 Understanding Your Hair from Birth
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to have naturally thick hair while others struggle with thinning later in life? Or why our hair changes as we get older?
The answer begins long before we notice our first grey hair – or even our first haircut. Understanding how your hair develops and grows is the first step towards understanding why hair loss occurs and, more importantly, what we can do to support healthy hair throughout life.
Hair Begins Before Birth
Although we often think of hair as something that grows after we’re born, the foundations of our hair are actually formed while we are still developing in the womb. By around 20 weeks of pregnancy, most of the hair follicles you will ever have are already formed. This means that, unlike many other tissues in the body, we do not usually make new hair follicles during our lifetime.
Instead, we are born with a fixed number of follicles that must continue working throughout our lives.
This makes every follicle incredibly valuable.
What Is a Hair Follicle?
A hair follicle is much more than simply a hole in the skin where a hair grows.
It is a remarkable mini-organ that sits deep within the scalp. Each follicle contains specialised cells, tiny blood vessels, nerves, pigment-producing cells and stem cells that work together to produce healthy hair.
As long as the follicle remains healthy, it has the potential to produce hair over and over again during our lifetime.
Introducing the Follicular Unit
One of the biggest misconceptions is that every hair grows individually.
In reality, our hair grows in small natural groups called follicular units.
- A follicular unit usually contains:
- One to four hairs
- Oil (sebaceous) glands
- Tiny muscles that make hairs stand up (the arrector pili muscle)
- Blood supply
- Nerves
- Stem cells that help regenerate the follicle
These follicular units are the building blocks of our scalp and are so important that hair transplant surgeons transplant entire follicular units – not individual hairs – to create natural-looking results.
The health of each follicular unit largely determines the thickness, density and quality of your hair.
Hair Is Constantly Renewing Itself
Healthy hair isn’t simply growing all the time. Each follicle repeatedly cycles through phases of growth, rest and shedding. This process continues thousands of times throughout your lifetime.
Because every follicle is on its own individual timetable, it’s perfectly normal to lose around 50 to 100 hairs each day. Those hairs are usually replaced by new ones growing from the same healthy follicle.
The problem begins when follicles become damaged, inflamed, miniaturised or stop producing healthy new hairs.
Looking After Your Hair Starts with Looking After Your Follicles
Many people focus only on the hair they can see. However, healthy hair starts beneath the surface, inside the follicle and within a healthy scalp environment. When follicles are well supported, they are more likely to continue producing stronger, healthier hairs for longer.
This is why modern hair restoration focuses on improving the health of the follicle – not simply treating the hair shaft itself.
Hair Through the Ages – Part 2: Understanding the Hair Growth Cycle
In Part One, we explored how every one of us is born with a fixed number of hair follicles and why keeping those follicles healthy is essential for lifelong hair health. Now let’s look at something many people don’t realise. Your hair isn’t all growing at the same time.
In fact, every single hair on your scalp is following its own individual timetable. This is known as the hair growth cycle and understanding it helps explain why some hair shedding is completely normal, while other changes may indicate that your hair needs professional assessment.
Your Hair Is Always Cycling
Each hair follicle repeatedly moves through four stages during its lifetime.
Because every follicle is working independently, you don’t lose all your hair at once. Instead, different hairs are at different stages every day, helping to maintain the appearance of a full head of hair.
Let’s look at each stage.
1. Anagen – The Growth Phase
This is the active growing stage.
The cells within the follicle divide rapidly, producing new hair that grows approximately 1 cm each month.
For scalp hair, this phase usually lasts between two and seven years, although genetics largely determine how long your individual growth phase lasts.
The longer a hair remains in anagen, the longer it can grow. Around 85-90% of the hairs on your scalp are normally in this stage.
2. Catagen – The Transition Phase
Once the growth phase ends, the follicle enters a short transition period lasting only two to three weeks.
During this stage:
- Hair growth stops.
- The lower part of the follicle begins to shrink.
- The blood supply gradually disconnects.
- The hair prepares to enter its resting phase.
Only a very small percentage of hairs are in catagen at any one time.
3. Telogen – The Resting Phase
During telogen, the hair remains in place but is no longer actively growing. This stage lasts for approximately two to four months.
Although nothing appears to be happening, important changes are taking place beneath the scalp as the follicle prepares to produce a brand-new hair.
Approximately 10-15% of scalp hairs are usually resting at any given time.
4. Exogen – The Shedding Phase
Eventually, the resting hair is released from the follicle.
This is the hair you may notice in your hairbrush, on your pillow or while washing your hair.
Losing 50 to 100 hairs every day is considered entirely normal for most healthy adults.
As the old hair is shed, a new hair is usually beginning to grow from the same follicle, continuing the cycle.
When Hair Shedding Becomes a Concern
Many people become alarmed when they notice more hair than usual coming out. However, increased shedding doesn’t always mean permanent hair loss.
- Temporary shedding can occur after:
- Illness or surgery
- Significant emotional stress
- Rapid weight loss
- Childbirth
- Hormonal changes
- Certain medications
- Nutritional deficiencies
In many cases, the follicles remain healthy and hair growth gradually recovers once the underlying cause has been addressed.
Hair Thinning Is Different from Hair Shedding
This is an important distinction. Hair shedding means hairs are falling out as part of the normal cycle – or because that cycle has been temporarily disrupted.
Hair thinning occurs when the follicles themselves begin producing finer, weaker hairs over time. This process is known as miniaturisation and is commonly seen in androgenetic (genetic) hair loss. Without support, these hairs may become progressively thinner until some follicles eventually stop producing visible hairs altogether.
When Should You Seek Professional Advice?
You should consider a professional hair assessment if you notice:
- Hair shedding continuing for more than three to six months.
- A widening parting.
- Reduced hair density.
- A receding hairline.
- Increased scalp visibility.
- Thinning around the crown or temples.
- Persistent scalp itching, soreness or inflammation.
- A family history of significant hair loss.
Early assessment is important because many conditions respond better when treated before extensive follicle damage has occurred.
Looking Ahead
The health of your scalp plays just as important a role as the health of your hair follicles. In Part Three, we’ll explore why your scalp is the foundation of healthy hair growth, how inflammation can affect your follicles, and simple steps you can take to create the best possible environment for healthier hair.
Hair Through the Ages – Part 3: Your Scalp – The Foundation of Healthy Hair
In Parts One and Two, we explored how hair follicles develop before birth and how each hair follows its own natural growth cycle. Now let’s look beneath the hair itself. A healthy scalp is much more than simply the skin on your head – it’s a living environment that nourishes every hair follicle. If that environment becomes unhealthy, even the strongest follicles can struggle to produce healthy hair.
Think of it like a garden. Even the best seeds won’t flourish if the soil is dry, inflamed or lacking nutrients. In the same way, healthy hair depends on a healthy scalp.
What Makes a Healthy Scalp?
A healthy scalp should:
- Feel comfortable, without itching or soreness.
- Be free from excessive flaking or heavy build-up.
- Have a balanced level of natural oils.
- Support good blood circulation.
- Provide oxygen and nutrients to the hair follicles.
- Maintain a healthy skin barrier that protects against irritation and infection.
When these conditions are present, hair follicles have the best chance of producing stronger, healthier hair.
When the Scalp Is Out of Balance
Many factors can affect scalp health, including:
- Ageing
- Hormonal changes
- Stress
- Certain medical conditions
- Psoriasis or eczema
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis (dandruff)
- Excess oil production
- Dryness and dehydration
- Product build-up
- Environmental pollution
- Excessive heat styling or harsh chemical treatments
These problems don’t always cause immediate hair loss, but they can interfere with the environment your follicles rely on.
Inflammation – The Hidden Enemy
One of the biggest challenges to healthy hair is inflammation. Sometimes inflammation is obvious, with redness, itching or soreness. At other times it may be low-grade and difficult to recognise.
Inflammation can:
- Disrupt the normal hair growth cycle.
- Affect the stem cells within the follicle.
- Reduce the quality of new hair growth.
- Contribute to increased shedding.
- Worsen some forms of hair thinning.
This is why simply changing shampoo isn’t always enough. The underlying scalp health often needs attention too.
The Importance of Blood Supply
Every active hair follicle relies on a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients delivered by tiny blood vessels.
Poor circulation, chronic inflammation or damage to the scalp can reduce this support, making it more difficult for follicles
to function at their best. Supporting the scalp means supporting the follicles that live beneath it.
Looking After Your Scalp at Home
Simple daily habits can make a difference:
- Wash your scalp regularly using products suited to your scalp type.
- Massage your scalp gently while shampooing to help remove debris and improve circulation.
- Avoid scratching the scalp, as this may increase irritation.
- Limit excessive heat styling where possible.
- Eat a balanced diet rich in protein, vitamins and minerals.
- Manage stress, as prolonged stress can affect the hair growth cycle.
- Seek professional advice if symptoms persist.
Remember, healthy hair starts with consistent care rather than quick fixes.
When Is It Time to Seek Professional Advice?
If you’ve noticed persistent itching, excessive shedding, thinning, bald patches or ongoing scalp irritation, it’s worth having your scalp professionally assessed. Many hair concerns have more than one cause. Genetics, hormones, nutrition, medical conditions and scalp health often work together, so identifying the underlying factors is an important first step.
A professional consultation can help determine whether your follicles are healthy, whether your scalp needs treatment and which options are most appropriate for you.
How We Can Help at Medifine Aesthetics
At Medifine Aesthetics, we understand that concerns about hair and scalp health can be worrying and often affect confidence and wellbeing. Although we are not specialist trichologists, we can provide an initial assessment of your hair and scalp, discuss your concerns, review your medical history and help identify factors that may be contributing to changes in your hair.
Where appropriate, we offer a range of evidence-based regenerative hair treatments and professional home-care products designed to support scalp health and the environment in which healthy hair grows.
If, during your consultation, we feel your hair loss or scalp condition requires further medical investigation or specialist care, we will always advise you accordingly and, where appropriate, recommend referral to your GP, dermatologist or a registered trichologist.
Our aim is to help you understand your options and support you in choosing the most appropriate approach for your individual needs. In Part Four, we’ll explore why hair changes as we get older and examine the effects of genetics, hormones, menopause, illness, stress, medications and lifestyle on long-term hair health.
Hair Through the Ages – Part 4: Why Does Our Hair Change as We Get Older?
By now, we’ve explored how hair follicles develop before birth, how the hair growth cycle works, and why a healthy scalp is essential for healthy hair. So why does our hair often become thinner, finer or less manageable as we get older?
The answer isn’t simply “age.”
Our hair is influenced by a combination of genetics, hormones, health, lifestyle and the natural ageing process. While some
changes are expected, others may indicate an underlying issue that deserves attention.
Ageing and the Hair Follicle
Like the rest of our body, hair follicles also age. Over time, they may become less active and less efficient at producing healthy hair. The growth phase (anagen) often becomes shorter, while the resting phase (telogen) may become longer.
This means hairs may:
- Grow more slowly.
- Become finer in diameter.
- Feel less dense.
- Lose volume.
- Shed more easily.
These gradual changes are a normal part of ageing for many people.
Genetics – The Biggest Influence
One of the most common causes of progressive hair thinning is genetics. If close family members have experienced hair loss, you may also be more likely to notice gradual thinning over time.
In genetically predisposed individuals, some hair follicles become increasingly sensitive to hormones called androgens. This process, known as miniaturisation, causes each new hair to grow finer and shorter than the one before it. Without intervention, some follicles may eventually stop producing visible hairs.
Hormones and Hair
Hormones play a major role in maintaining healthy hair throughout life. Changes in hormone levels during menopause, after pregnancy or because of certain medical conditions can affect the normal hair growth cycle.
Many women notice:
- Reduced hair density.
- A widening parting.
- More hairs in the shower or hairbrush.
- Changes in texture.
- Hair becoming more difficult to style.
These changes are common, but they should not simply be dismissed as “just getting older.”
Stress and Major Life Events
Physical or emotional stress can temporarily interrupt the normal hair growth cycle.
Events such as:
- Surgery.
- Serious illness.
- High fever.
- Bereavement.
- Significant emotional stress.
- Rapid weight loss
may trigger increased shedding several weeks or even months later.
This is often temporary, and many people experience improvement once the body has recovered.
Nutrition Matters
Hair is one of the fastest-growing tissues in the body, so it requires a regular supply of nutrients.
Low levels of certain vitamins or minerals, inadequate protein intake or restrictive dieting may contribute to increased shedding or poorer-quality hair. A balanced diet supports not only healthy hair but overall wellbeing.
Medical Conditions Can Affect Hair.
Hair changes can sometimes be linked to an underlying health condition.
Examples include:
- Thyroid disorders.
- Iron deficiency.
- Vitamin deficiencies.
- Autoimmune conditions.
- Diabetes.
- Hormonal disorders.
These conditions require medical assessment and, where appropriate, treatment by your GP or specialist.
Medications May Play a Role
Some medications can influence the hair growth cycle or contribute to increased shedding in certain individuals. If you notice changes after starting a new medicine, don’t stop taking it without medical advice. Instead, discuss your concerns with the healthcare professional who prescribed it.
Lifestyle Factors
Our everyday habits also influence hair health.
Smoking, poor sleep, chronic stress, excessive heat styling and repeated chemical treatments may all affect the condition of the scalp and hair over time. While these factors may not be the sole cause of thinning, improving overall health often benefits both the scalp and the hair.
When Should You Seek Advice?
Although some hair changes are a natural part of ageing, you should seek professional advice if you notice:
Sudden or excessive hair loss.
- Bald patches.
- Persistent scalp irritation.
- Rapid thinning.
- Hair loss associated with illness or medication.
- Hair changes that are affecting your confidence or quality of life.
Early assessment may help identify whether there is a treatable cause.
Looking Ahead
Understanding why your hair is changing is the first step. In Part Five, we’ll explore the treatments available today, what the evidence tells us, and why there is no single solution for every type of hair loss. We’ll also discuss why a personalised approach often produces the best results.
Hair Through the Ages – Part 5: Can Hair Loss Be Treated?
Throughout this series, we’ve explored how hair develops before birth, how it grows, why the scalp matters, and the many factors that can influence hair health throughout life.
One of the questions we’re asked most often is:
“Can my hair grow back?”
The answer is not always straightforward. Hair loss is not a single condition. There are many different causes, and the most appropriate treatment depends on understanding why your hair is changing in the first place.
The Importance of Finding the Cause
Before considering any treatment, it’s important to identify the underlying reason for your hair concerns.
Hair thinning may be related to:
- Genetics
- Hormonal changes
- Ageing
- Stress
- Illness or surgery
- Nutritional deficiencies
- Certain medications
- Medical conditions affecting the scalp
Because these causes are different, there is no single treatment that is suitable for everyone. This is why a professional assessment is an important first step.
When Hair Can Recover Naturally
Not all hair loss is permanent. If increased shedding has been triggered by illness, stress, childbirth or certain medications, the follicles often remain healthy.
Once the underlying cause has resolved, many people gradually notice improvement over the following months. Supporting overall health and maintaining a healthy scalp environment may help optimise recovery, although hair regrowth takes time and varies from person to person.
When Hair Loss May Become Progressive
Some forms of hair thinning, particularly those influenced by genetics or hormones, may gradually worsen over time if left untreated. This is because affected follicles can become progressively smaller, producing finer and shorter hairs with each growth cycle.
Early assessment may provide more options than waiting until significant thinning has occurred.
What Treatments Are Available?
There are many approaches to supporting hair and scalp health. Depending on the individual, these may include:
- Improving scalp health.
- Optimising nutrition where deficiencies have been identified.
- Prescription medications prescribed by an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
- Regenerative treatments designed to support the scalp and hair follicles.
- Professional home-care products.
- Hair transplantation in selected cases.
The most appropriate approach depends on your individual circumstances and should always be discussed with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Regenerative Hair Treatments
Regenerative treatments have become increasingly popular in recent years. Rather than replacing hair, these treatments aim to support the health of the scalp and hair follicles, creating an environment that may encourage healthier hair growth in suitable individuals. As with any treatment, results vary from person to person, and not everyone is an appropriate candidate.
Supporting Your Hair at Home
Daily hair care also plays an important role. Professional home-care products can help support scalp health and complement in-clinic treatments, but they should be viewed as part of an overall hair care plan rather than a stand-alone solution.
Consistency is often more important than expecting rapid results.
Our Approach at Medifine Aesthetics
At Medifine Aesthetics, we begin by listening to your concerns and carrying out an initial hair and scalp assessment.
We’ll discuss your medical history, lifestyle and any factors that may be contributing to changes in your hair. If we believe your symptoms require medical investigation or specialist assessment, we’ll advise you accordingly and, where appropriate, recommend referral to your GP, dermatologist or a registered trichologist.
For suitable patients, we also offer regenerative hair treatments and professional home-care products designed to support scalp health and healthy hair growth as part of a personalised treatment plan.
Our aim is to provide honest advice, realistic expectations and evidence-informed treatment options based on your individual needs.
A Final Thought
Healthy hair is about much more than appearance.
It can reflect our overall health, confidence and wellbeing.
If you’ve noticed changes in your hair or scalp, don’t ignore them. Early assessment may help identify simple changes, medical conditions or treatment options that could make a difference.
There is rarely a one-size-fits-all solution – but understanding your hair is the first step towards making informed decisions about its care.