Understanding Alopecia: More Than Just Hair Loss

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At Strut Hair Solutions, we believe in the power of community, education, and support. As we recognize Alopecia Awareness Month, we want to take a moment to share not just information but also empathy, understanding, and solidarity with those experiencing hair loss.

What is Alopecia?

Alopecia is an umbrella term for various conditions that cause hair loss. Whether it’s Alopecia Areata—an autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks hair follicles—or Androgenetic Alopecia, commonly known as male or female pattern baldness, the impact goes beyond just the physical.

The Emotional Toll

Hair is a significant part of our identity, reflecting our style, personality, and even mood. So, when hair loss occurs, it can feel like losing a part of yourself. Many in our community have shared how challenging it can be to cope with the changes, the stares, and sometimes, the insensitive comments. That’s why Strut Hair Solutions is here—not just to provide solutions that work but also to offer support and encouragement.

Taking Back Control

While there’s no one-size-fits-all solution to alopecia, there are ways to take back control. From custom wigs that give you the style you want to scalp care routines that nurture the hair you have, every step counts. We’re proud to offer a wide range of wigs and hairpieces, along with supportive services like scalp analysis and custom fittings, to help you feel confident, no matter where you are on your hair journey.

Join the Conversation

This Alopecia Awareness Month, we encourage you to join the conversation. Whether you’re sharing your story, offering words of encouragement to someone going through hair loss, or simply educating yourself about the condition, every action helps. Follow us on Instagram @strutwigs and be a part of our supportive community. Together, we can break the stigma and show that beauty comes in all forms—including hair loss.

You’re Not Alone

Remember, you’re not alone in this. Our Strut community is here for you—celebrating your victories, supporting you through challenges, and reminding you that your worth is never defined by your hair. Let’s stand together and continue to uplift and empower one another.

Hair Loss and Hair Thinning during Pregnancy

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I often hear clients in the studio talking about how thick their was during pregnancy and how after they stopped breast feeding they noticed it thinning out.  This usually levels back out after a bit of time but while you’re experiencing it this can be quite scary. You may be asking yourself will my hair ever come back the way it was? In this blog we will go over some of the changes you may experience and give you a heads up of what to expect and 

 

During pregnancy your body experiences many hormonal changes. Some of these hormonal changes can affect your hair. Some women experience their hair becoming thicker and some women unfortunately experience their hair becoming thinner. 

 

Hair thickening during pregnancy is due to high levels of hormone estrogen. This is typically experienced around 15 weeks of pregnancy. Each individual hair grows and resets for 2 to 3 months which then pushes out a new hair growing in that follicle. During pregnancy the hair stays longer in the follicle which slows hair shedding.

 

Hair thinning during pregnancy is due to the decrease in oestrogen. The decrease in oestrogen occurs when there is a hormonal imbalance, an abortion, misscarriage or stillbirth is experienced, or when the oral contraceptive pill is no longer taken. Hair loss during pregnancy is not uncommon and is experienced between 40 to 50% of women. Hair loss of course can be a difficult symptom during pregnancy but fortunately like most symptoms during pregnancy it is temporary. In the meantime there are a few options to help your hair from thinning and this is where we can help.

Here are some tips and suggestions to try: 

  • Visiting with an expert at STRUT Hair Solutions about the types of products such as wigs, hair toppers, hair pieces and extensions that are available can help you recover with confidence overnight. STRUT is dedicated to helping women who are experiencing hair loss. We are committed to doing our small part to help you regain your confidence! 

 

  • Topical solutions such as thickening serums can help improve hair appearance. Such as our hero product Unveil No. 3 Hair thickening serum to help produce a fuller, thicker head of hair. Unveil’s Thicker Hair Serum is easy to use and is only to be applied to your scalp once a day and you’ll see results in as little as 4 weeks. Benefits with Unveil products is that they are restorative. Meaning the ingredients we use are non-toxic, have no known carcinogens, gluten free, and vegan (no-animal products)! The active ingredients are plant based and use apple stem cell cultures which make it safe to use during pregnancy. Visit unveilhaircare.com

 

  • Avoiding tight and restrictive hair styles such as ponytails, braids, pigtails, hair rollers and other styles that can pull and stress your hair should all be avoided in order to keep hair from thinning.

 

  • Reducing the use of heat damaging tools such as hair curlers, straighteners and blow dryers. Hot tools can cause breakage and dryness which can damage hair appearance. Not using them is a great solution to help keep your hair from experiencing more unnecessary damage.

 

  • Make sure to keep up a healthy diet which contains the essential nutrients. A healthy diet means a healthy body.

 

Summary:

Many people believe that when a woman is pregnant she is the most beautiful. It can be hard to feel this way when pregnant because of all of the changes and emotions your body is experiencing. Remember that some of these changes, such as hair loss during pregnancy, are not always permanent. Also remember that there are solutions to help boost your confidence such as visiting Strut Hair Solutions. 

Most importantly, remember to be kind to your body during pregnancy and the changes you undergo are all part of becoming a mother.

 

Hair Loss and Menopause-How does menopause affect my hair?

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Hair Loss and Menopause-How does menopause affect my hair?

We have clients tell us often that once they were in menopause, they started losing hair. This can be very hard for a woman as our hair is part of our identity. Here we are going to give you some information about menopause and how it may affect your hair. 

Menopause typically happens to women between the age of 45 and 55, about 12 months after a woman’s last period. Menopause is a normal part of aging for women, as it can typically last about 7 years but can be as long as 14 years. The duration of menopause is different for every woman depending on the woman’s lifestyle factors, such as smoking, age, race and ethnicity. Many women have trouble with menopausal symptoms, such as loss and thinning of hair, hot flashes, weight gain, trouble sleeping and more.

Menopausal hair loss vs hair shedding:

Humans typically lose on average about 50 to 100 strands of hair a day.  This is known as hair shedding. Hair shedding is a natural process of hairs falling out and new hairs growing in. When menopausal hair loss begins to occur, it is when hair shedding starts to become more evident. 

Some signs of menopausal hair loss:

– Your hairbrush filling with hair more frequently

– More hairs collect in the shower drain

– Finding your hair around the sink or on your pillow or clothes 

– Hair breakage becomes more common

When symptoms like these continue you may notice your part widening, your ponytail looking thinner, and thinning patches on your scalp.

How we really feel: 

For many women, having control over our hair, such as how we choose to style, cut and wear it, is a big factor in our self-expression and personality. Losing hair can mean that we may feel less ourselves, as having control over our hair can be a lot harder with less of it.

It is important to remember that when losing hair during menopause there is nothing medically wrong, unless accompanied by other symptoms. Experiencing hair loss and thinning during menopause is completely normal to most women. Fortunately, there are solutions to being able to have a full head of hair during menopause and to decreasing the amount of hair you lose and keeping your hair from thinning and this is where we can help.

Solutions:

  • Visiting with an expert at STRUT Hair Solutions about the types of products such as wigs, hair toppers, hair pieces and extensions that are available can help you recover with confidence overnight. STRUT is dedicated to helping women who are experiencing hair loss. We are committed to doing our small part to help you regain your confidence! 
  • Topical solutions such as thickening serums can help improve hair appearance. Products such as Unveil No. 3 Hair thickening serum helps to produce a fuller, thicker head of hair. Unveil’s Thicker Hair Serum is easy to use and is only to be applied to your scalp once a day and you’ll see results in as little as 4 weeks. 
  •  Reducing the use of heat damaging tools such as straighteners and hair dryers can also improve hair appearance. Less heat = less damage.
  •  A healthy diet means a healthy body. Having a healthy diet can also help to improve hair appearance. It is important that you take care of your body during menopause as your body is undergoing a lot of changes. The best way to do so is maintaining a healthy diet.
  •  Many medications have an abundance of side effects. Checking any medications that you use can help reduce hair loss and thinning. Medications that can cause hair loss include:
    •  Antidepressants
    •  Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDS) used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and other autoimmune diseases
    •  Epilepsy medications
    •  Heart medications (blood thinners and beta-blockers)
    •  Medications used to treat hyperthyroidism 

In Summary:

Hair loss during menopause is a difficult symptom for many women. Having the creative freedom to style, cut and wear our hair makes us a part of who we are. When hair loss is experienced from menopause this can take a toll on our mental health and confidence. Fortunately, there are solutions to helping improve hair appearance, such as visiting with an expert at STRUT Hair Solutions and choosing a hair product that is perfect for you, Unveil’s Thicker Hair Serum, reducing the use of heat damaging tools, a healthy diet, and the use of medications. Remember to be kind to your body during menopause and encourage healthy practices that can reduce hair loss and thinning.

Women’s Hair Shedding Versus Women’s Hair Loss

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Women’s Hair Shedding Versus Women’s Hair Loss

 

When a woman suddenly loses a lot of hair, as opposed to the average loss of 50-100 hairs per day, it is referred to as hair loss. The medical term would be Alopecia (and, it’s important to note that there are 3 types of alopecia). Most women typically lose between 50 and 100 individual hairs each day.

Hair shedding is a natural process in which some hairs fall out and new hairs grow in, depending on which hair cycle that hair is currently in.

Hair loss occurs when the balance between growth and fallout is interrupted—when less hair grows in, and more hair falls out.

Hair shedding is not the same as hair loss. As mentioned above, shedding your hair is completely normal. It is when the balance of losing approximately 50-100 hairs per day becomes excessive, that we know it’s classified as hair loss.

 

The three cycles of hair growth are as follows:

ANAGEN: The anagen phase (AKA the growing phase) can span from two to eight years. Approximately 85% to 90% of the hair on your head falls into this phase.

CATAGEN: Hair follicles shrink during the catagen phase (AKA the transition phase), which lasts for about two to three weeks.

TELOGEN: It takes two to four months for the telogen phase (AKA the resting phase) to complete. At the end of this stage, the hair starts to fall out.

What types of hair loss are there?

  1. Anagen effluvium
  2. Telogen effluvium
  3. FPHL – Female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia)

Anagen effluvium is caused by drugs, medication, or medical treatments that poison a hair follicle during the growth phase (like chemotherapy). This is why people can lose their hair during chemo, get what’s colloquially called “chemo hair,” or have a mixture of both.

Telogen effluvium: This condition develops when more hair follicles reach the telogen phase, which is when hair begins to fall out.

The most prevalent variety is androgenetic alopecia, often known as female pattern hair loss (FPHL) or baldness. The hair becomes thinner on the sides and at the top of the head.

 

Which kinds of women are most likely to experience hair loss?

Anyone can experience hair loss no matter their age, lifestyle, or hair-styling habits. However, these are the women who are most prone to hair loss: 

  • Women over the age of 40.
  • Women who have thyroid problems.
  • Women who are malnourished/not getting enough nutrition in their daily food.
  • Women who are pregnan.
  • Women who have recently given birth.
  • Women who are in menopause.
  • Women who have undergone chemotherapy and those who have been affected by other medications, drugs, or medical treatments.
  • Women who often wear hairstyles that pull on the hair (like tight ponytails always in the same spot, tight braids that pull on the hair, weaves which pull on the hair, or other tight styles) or who use harsh chemicals on their hair.

 

How do you treat hair loss? 

There are a number of treatments for women’s hair loss, as there are no one-size-fits-all solutions. 

  • Some women find that changing their diet and taking supplements (such as biotin, B12, or high-quality multivitamins) can help restore their hair. Supplementation is huge, as we don’t get enough vitamins and nutrients from the foods we eat nowadays. Unveil has a supplement with all the vital nutrients your hair and skin need for overall wellness, from the inside out.
  • In cases of pregnancy or recent pregnancy, the hair usually comes back on its own with time. You can speed this process up again with supplementation or with a topical solution such as our Unveil No.3 Hair Thickening Serum.
  • For hair loss caused by tight hairstyles, braids, ponytails, or weaves, hair loss can often be stopped or reversed by stopping wearing those hairstyles or using harsh chemical treatments on the hair.
  • Minoxidil (Rogaine®) is also approved for treating FPHL. The only drawback is that you must take it exactly according to directions or it may not work, and you must use it indefinitely. Meaning, if you stop taking it, your hair loss will continue. 
  • Certain shampoos, conditioners, hair serums, and sprays can also help prevent hair loss or restore the lost hair. They often have specialized ingredients which target hair loss and help strengthen the hair that is already there. 

Many women who undergo medical hair loss, who are doing chemotherapy for example, wear wigs or turbans during their treatment. Since their natural hair is usually unable to grow during treatment, they generally choose to wear a wig that matches the way their hair looked before treatment, to not draw attention to any change in hairstyle. Others go for colors they’ve never dared to dye their hair before, or switch between short and long styles for fun.

Long story short, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach here! 

The founder of Strut, Helena Gibson, created Unveil Restorative Hair Care. This is a line of restorative hair loss treatments/products with proprietary blends of active ingredients, such plant stem cell cultures and tetrapeptides to strengthen existing hairs and promote hair growth. We are so sure you’ll love our products that we stand behind them with a money-back, satisfaction guarantee! Our products are also free of toxins, known carcinogens, and hormone disruptors, and they also support your overall restorative wellness.