Hair Loss Decoded: What Causes It, How to Treat It, and the Best Hair Growth Products in Australia

When you’re showering, combing your hair, or even just letting your fingers run through it, you’ll feel that another hair falls out. It's typical to lose some hair every day as part of your hair’s usual growth cycle, but for some, it becomes worrisome. They often look for hair growth products because hair loss can be a distressing experience for both men and women.

They do this because, for most people, losing hair might seem like something bad and they don’t fully understand the hair growth cycle. But you don’t need to worry about that now. As long as you stay with us throughout this article, we’ll help you understand your hair, why you experience hair loss, and what to do to achieve bouncier, stronger, and healthier hair every day.

Whether you’re a man or woman in Australia looking for trustworthy solutions, or simply curious about the science of hair growth, this guide has you covered. Let’s start by understanding what’s happening when your hair starts to thin or shed more than usual.

Understanding Hair Loss

Why does hair fall out? You may have been wondering about this all along, but don’t worry. It’s completely normal to lose up to 100 strands of hair per day. This shedding is part of your hair’s natural growth cycle, where new strands grow to replace the ones you lose.

Hair grows in cycles from follicles in the scalp. Each follicle goes through a long growth phase (anagen) that can last 2–7 years, followed by a short transitional phase (catagen), and finally a resting/shedding phase (telogen).

But here comes hair loss or also known as alopecia, which happens when this cycle becomes unbalanced. You begin to shed more hairs while fewer grow back, leading to noticeable thinning or bald patches. In other words, hair loss occurs when follicles slow down or stop producing new strands to replace the ones that fall out.

It’s important to differentiate between normal routine shedding and excessive, problematic hair loss. It’s still normal if you find a few strands on your brush or pillow each day; it is usually no cause for alarm. However, if you’re seeing clumps of hair fall out, or if your hair is visibly thinning over time, it may indicate excessive loss.

According to NYU Langone Health, one simple self-check to determine hair loss is through the pull test and tug test. Gently tug about 40 strands of hair from different parts of your scalp. If six or more strands fall out, you may have what’s known as active hair loss beyond normal shedding.

Signs of Hair Loss

Of course, apart from noticing a patch or thinning of hair, there are other symptoms of hair loss that vary depending on the cause. So, which signs of hair loss should you be looking out for? And what does each sign indicate? Here we cover the different symptoms of hair loss:

1. Increased Hair on Your Pillow or Shower Drain: If you’re noticing more hair than usual on your pillow, clothes, or in the shower drain, it may be one of the earliest signs.
2. Thinning Hair or Reduced Volume: One sign of male baldness is when your hair feels flatter, limp, or less dense, especially around the temples or part line, between the forehead and ears. It may also appear as a V-shaped hairline, sometimes known as a widow’s peak. Meanwhile, women may often notice a widening part or overall thinning of hair.
3. Receding Hairline or Bald Spots: For men, a classic M-shaped recession at the forehead is a typical sign of androgenetic alopecia (male pattern baldness). Both men and women may also develop circular or patchy bald spots, which may indicate autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata.
   
4. Tingling, Itchy, or Inflamed Scalp: In some cases, hair loss may be preceded or accompanied by scalp irritation, sensitivity, or inflammation which are possible signs of infection, dermatitis, or stress-triggered conditions.
5. Slower Hair Regrowth: If your hair isn’t growing back at its usual rate after shedding, it may be a sign your follicles are in a prolonged dormant state or are damaged.
6. Sudden Hair Loss: Whether you're having fun or involved in conflict and someone tugs your hair, sudden hair loss can occur. After an emotional or physical shock, hair may begin to fall out abruptly. This type of hair loss can cause large amounts of hair to come out during activities such as washing, brushing, or gentle tugging. While this kind of hair loss can contribute to overall thinning, it tends to be temporary and is called telogen effluvium.
7. Noticeable Changes in Hair Texture: If your hair becomes brittle, thinner in diameter, or changing texture can be early signs of structural weakening due to stress, aging, or underlying health conditions.
8. Total Body Hair Loss: This refers to the complete loss of hair all over the body, often as a result of medical treatments such as chemotherapy. While this type of hair loss is typically temporary, other causes may include autoimmune diseases like alopecia universalis.

Common Causes of Hair Loss

Hair loss is a complex phenomenon with many potential causes. Some causes are largely beyond our control like genetics or aging, while others are related to health or lifestyle and may be addressable. 

We’ve touched the signs of hair loss and now let’s break down the most common causes of hair loss into four categories: 

Genetic and Hormonal Causes:

1. Androgenetic Alopecia

By far the most prevalent cause of chronic hair loss is hereditary baldness. This genetic condition is known as male-pattern baldness in men and female-pattern hair loss in women. If you have this condition, you’ve essentially inherited hair follicles that are programmed to shrink under the influence of certain hormones.

In men, pattern baldness typically causes a receding hairline and thinning at the crown, sometimes progressing to extensive baldness on top with a rim of hair remaining on the sides and back. 

While, women generally don’t go fully bald from this condition, instead, they experience a diffuse thinning across the scalp or a widening center part, often described as a “Christmas tree” pattern of thinning. 

Genetics and hormones go hand-in-hand here because they cause susceptible follicles, thanks to genes from one or both parents, to gradually miniaturize due to DHT hormone exposure which can begin as early as one’s 20s or 30s.

In fact, androgenetic alopecia is not uncommon, and experts consider it a natural condition rather than a disease. Studies estimate that up to 40% of men and women experience noticeable pattern hair loss by age 40, and it becomes more widespread with each decade. But the good news is that, although hereditary hair loss is progressive, it remains potentially treatable.

2. Alopecia Areata

There is also alopecia areata (autoimmune hair loss), where not all hair loss is pattern-based or hormone-related. It’s more of an autoimmune condition in which the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out in patches. It can affect the scalp or even other body hair like the eyebrows or eyelashes.

Alopecia areata often causes one or more round bald patches about the size of a coin. The exact cause is not fully understood, but experts believe it has a genetic component and that stress or illness can trigger it.

It’s less common than pattern baldness, but the course is unpredictable. Hair might regrow on its own, or the condition can recur. The encouraging news: even in cases where alopecia areata is extensive, the follicles remain alive below the skin, they’re just in a dormant state due to the immune attack.

3. Pregnancy, Childbirth, and Menopause

Now let’s talk about other hormonal shifts that trigger hair loss, especially for new mothers, who already have their hands full taking care of a new baby. They also need to be cautious about experiencing temporary hair loss caused by birth control pills, which mimic the hormonal effects of pregnancy to some degree.

Hormonal changes such as pregnancy, childbirth, or menopause are among the common causes of hair loss because they increase androgens and trigger the characteristic patterns of loss. If you think giving birth is all about pushing a kid out of a woman’s body, you’re wrong, hair loss can happen, and it’s called postpartum telogen effluvium, where temporary hair loss occurs.

During the second and third trimesters of pregnancy, hair follicles on many women remain in the active growing phase rather than enter the resting and shedding phases, as they normally would. During pregnancy, this results in a higher proportion of actively growing hair follicles, and thicker, more luxuriant hair.

However, one to three months after childbirth, the hair follicles return to their regular growth cycle. All the follicles that would have been resting and shedding over the previous six months or so stop growing at the same time, and a larger-than-usual amount of hair is shed. 

Additionally, menopause is another hormonal transition that can accelerate hair thinning in women due to reduced estrogen and a relative increase in androgens. Thyroid disorders, whether overactive or underactive, also frequently lead to diffuse hair loss, as thyroid hormones play a vital role in regulating hair follicle cycling. 

In younger women, conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) can trigger excess androgen production which can cause noticeable thinning or male-pattern hair changes. 

In summary, hormonal causes of hair loss include any significant shift in sex or thyroid hormones, a process closely tied to how hormones and nutrition influence your hair cycle. Correcting the hormonal imbalance with proper medical treatment often helps reverse or slow the progression of hair loss.

Medical and Health-Related Causes

Sometimes, hair loss is a symptom of an underlying health issue. Identifying and addressing that issue can lead to improvement in hair. Here are some common medical or health-related causes:

Nutritional Deficiencies 

They said “you are what you eat” and this applies to your hair as well. Hair is made primarily of protein (keratin), so inadequate protein intake can cause hair to shed or grow poorly.

Likewise, deficiencies in iron especially in women with heavy menstrual cycles or in vegetarians, zinc, vitamin D, biotin, or other vitamins can lead to hair loss. For example, iron-deficiency anemia is a well-known cause of diffuse thinning. Luckily, if a deficiency is to blame, hair growth often resumes after correcting the deficiency with diet improvements or supplements.

Medications and Treatments

Certain medications have side effects that include hair loss. The most obvious are chemotherapy drugs for cancer which attack rapidly dividing cells and often cause sudden hair loss (anagen effluvium) that affects the entire body. Hair usually regrows after chemo ends which is often with a different texture or curl initially. 

Beyond chemo, other meds that can cause hair loss in some people include antidepressants, blood pressure drugs (beta blockers), acne medications like isotretinoin, and hormone therapies (like high-dose vitamin A derivatives, or birth control changes).

Thyroid and Other Diseases

Thyroid disorders are a common culprit for thinning hair. Both hypothyroidism (low thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can disrupt the hair growth cycle, but treating the thyroid condition often leads to recovery of hair. 

Other hormonal disorders like uncontrolled diabetes, or adrenal gland disorders can have hair loss as a symptom too. Additionally, chronic illnesses such as lupus or other autoimmune diseases can cause hair loss, either through immune mechanisms or the stress they place on the body. As well as chronic skin conditions like psoriasis or seborrheic dermatitis on the scalp can lead to temporary shedding if inflammation is heavy.

In summary, when hair loss is due to a medical or health issue, think of it as your body sending a signal. Solving or managing that health issue is usually key to stopping hair loss. A dermatologist or doctor can run tests to pinpoint any underlying causes and easily stop hair loss in the future. 

Lifestyle and Environmental Factors

Another cause of hair loss is your daily habits and the environment can also impact your hair’s thickness and health. Here are some common lifestyle and environmental factors that contribute to hair loss:

Chronic Stress

We all know stress can take a toll on the body, and hair is no exception. Ongoing high stress levels whether due to work, emotional strain, or poor sleep—they can elevate cortisol, a stress hormone. 

Research from Harvard has shown that chronic stress can push hair follicle stem cells into a prolonged resting state, inhibiting new hair growth. Essentially, stress hormones prevent follicles from re-entering the growth phase, leading to increased shedding (telogen effluvium) and thinning. 

Many people notice hair loss during particularly stressful life periods. The effect usually doesn’t appear immediately, but hair may shed a couple of months after the intense stress begins. Don’t worry, this type of hair loss is just temporary, and the best remedy is stress reduction which is easier said than done, but your hair will thank you for de-stressing.

Poor Diet and Weight Changes

Rapid weight loss or yo-yo dieting can provoke hair loss. This overlaps with the nutritional deficiencies discussed earlier, if you suddenly drop a lot of weight or follow a very restrictive diet, your body might redirect nutrients to vital organs at the expense of “non-essential” tissue like hair. The result can be diffuse thinning a couple of months after the diet. Also, stay hydrated; hair shafts are one-quarter water.

Hair Styling and Traction

How you style and treat your hair daily matters. When you wear tight hairstyles frequently, such as tight ponytails, braids, cornrows, or hair extensions they put prolonged tension on the hair follicles. Over time, this traction causes hairs to fall out and even damages the follicles. This condition, known as traction alopecia, shows up as receding at the temples or thin, broken hairs at the hairline in people who chronically pull their hair back tightly.

Similarly, harsh haircare practices lead to hair loss through breakage. If you think blowing your hair dry or curling it every day makes you stylish, you also need to worry about the fact that using high-heat styling tools damages the hair shaft, as do chemical treatments like perms or bleaching.

Over-processed hair becomes brittle and breaks off, making your hair appear thinner, even if the follicles are still alive. Remember, despite having good style, if you make a habit of destroying your hair, you might regret it in the future. Hair care matters.

Smoking and Toxins 

Your environment, including habits like smoking, can impact hair growth. Studies have found that smoking is associated with an increased risk of pattern hair loss, possibly due to toxins that damage hair follicle DNA or reduce blood flow to the scalp. 

According to study results published in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology, male smokers had a higher chance of moderate-to-severe baldness compared to non-smokers in the same age group. Smoking generates free radicals and constricts blood vessels, which may starve hair follicles of nutrients and oxygen, accelerating hair thinning.

Environmental Factors

Could things like sun exposure or pollution affect your hair? To some extent, yes. UV radiation from the sun can weather and weaken hair fibers (much like it ages the skin). There’s even some evidence that high cumulative sun exposure correlates with hair thinning, perhaps due to UV damage to scalp skin or follicle DNA. 

Furthermore, pollution and environmental toxins might also contribute to hair loss by causing scalp inflammation, particulate matter can deposit on the scalp and induce oxidative stress. This area is still being researched, but maintaining a clean scalp and using antioxidants (in diet or hair products) may mitigate pollution-related stress on hair.

Age and Natural Changes

Getting older is perhaps the most universal cause of hair changes. It’s normal for hair volume and thickness to gradually decline with age. Hair follicles, like all of us, slow down over time. By mid-life, many follicles spend more time in the resting phase and less time in active growth, leading to shorter, finer hairs.

Aging hair tends to grow more slowly and may become more brittle or lose pigment—so yes, hello, grays. While we can’t stop the clock, early intervention helps preserve hair longer. Many treatments for pattern hair loss work best when started early, potentially maintaining a fuller head of hair into older age.

Additionally, good scalp care and nutrition become increasingly important as we age to support the remaining active follicles—so everything is all connected with hair growth.

The Best DNA-Based Wellness Solutions in Australia

In the crowded market of hair growth products, it’s crucial to find brands that base their formulas on science and quality. One such emerging leader is EZZ DNA, an Australian wellness company that has developed a range of hair care products and supplements engineered to combat hair loss and promote growth.

At EZZ DNA their hair range stands out for its use of plant-based and biotech ingredients proven effective in hair growth studies. Powered by Eucalyptus stem cells, the formulations stimulate the scalp and support follicle regeneration.

Unlike traditional products that only clean or condition, EZZ DNA delivers active compounds directly to the roots. Key ingredients include saw palmetto, caffeine, ginkgo biloba, and other botanical extracts. 

Discover our hair growth products including sprays, serums, scrubs, and shampoos — and get in touch with us today to start your personalised wellness journey.

Better health, stronger hair, and glowing skin are closer than you think with EZZ DNA!