So not in the metaphorical sense, right? Many would attest to my significant cojones- No, I refer to the balls of shed hair I have been collecting, for the last year or so.
Grossed out? Yes, I was initially. When peeling it from my own body in the shower/bath, cleansing my plug holes when blocked (have you met the ‘Hair Weasel’ urgh) and constant sticky rolling to remove wisps from my garms. I remember learning waay back in college, you were supposed to loose around one hundred hairs a day, but frankly no one’s counting, so how do we quantify?
That’s how it started and initially, we were dealing with a clementine sized ball (mused utilising animals for size reference, settled on fruits). That’s shampooing twice a week, minimal styling (only hairline smoothing on client facing days). I kept my balls each wash, dried naturally and monitored. Fast forward to today- Finally, we’re down to grape size balls and size matters!
Luckily all hair is growing at different rates. All working hard hopefully, just on different rotas. This is why, we can fail to notice the loss for some time. I joked with friends that my forehead was getting larger. They obviously chastised me for over thinking it, but guess what? I was bloody right! Only when tiny, fluffy baby hairs started sprouting from the recession area of my hairline, could I confirm that these triangle shaped patches had, indeed retreated. Much like post-partum hair loss, then comes the real fun and games..
If you have any curl, these bad boys will cause you daily grief. Pathetically triggered by bodyheat and atmosphere. Get ready for weird fringe movement, frizz and feeling like your haircut’s disconnected. However this is proof of growth and now, imagine how long it would take for those feathery tufts to grow down, to meet the existing length, of the rest of your hair? That’s your mission, so respect these fledglings and practice good habits.
Bleaching/scorching can compound your problems at this stage. When we’re out of kilter, a softer, slower and more sustainable strategy will get you back to your hair goals. Opt for low maintenance colour, semi-permanent tints (if tinting is even required, my philosophy on grey is work with it) and dedicate time weekly to a deep conditioning ritual.
Other Godsends for your armoury: Silk eye/facemasks/wraps smoothe the hairline whilst you slumber. To channel Carrie Bradshaw vibes head to Paradise Folds. Silk scrunchies are ideal to secure ponytails high at night, minimising frizz up the cuticle. Tight tension elastics are not your friend and excessive heat styling, is public enemy number one. If your hair is brittle, tension and heat will cause breakage. If I had to award a product for 2025, it would have to be Fiona Franchimon, for creating stylish adult hair clips. They are outrageously expensive for what they are really, but cleverly branded/marketed and look fab. They put minimal tension on the hair, allow you to create effortless updos and banish bad hair days, available in every colour combo one could imagine. I opted for the ‘New York’ limited edition set , which included a great little hair up brush, currently crushing on the Tokyo pastels.
Hair loss is alarming but can be addressed and is our clever body’s way, of alerting us to a necessary bug fix. My issues did not take a genius to figure out… Stress tick, hormonal imbalance check, dietary intolerances yup! I was 42, burnt out and discovered in my early thirties I was intolerant to gluten and dairy. I had been getting ill frequently so ended up getting food allergy testing. I work with the public and am exposed to germs naturally, but knew it was not normal to get a cough, cold or stomach bug every 6 weeks or so. I also have a very physical job, drive a lot for work and suffer occasionally with a bad back. There was definitely a high level of inflammation in my body and my immunity was wack.
When you are running a business, you cannot afford to be ill and therein lies the conundrum. I thought I was fairly healthy, but in reality was working at 100% output, not eating healthily and riding the caffeine/alcohol train till crashing. I needed to break the burn out cycle, pronto.
It was just after the Covid pandemic I discovered a product called Glowwa. This new ‘Hair Food’ supplement had been formulated by a nutritional therapist in response to the mass hair loss spike, after the virus. I attended the online education with creator Suzanne which was fascinating and have been a disciple for, on and off, three years now.
Although I do eat a balanced diet with a lot of fruit and vegetables, I learned that the quality of our nutrition today is simply diluted and put bluntly, everyone now needs to supplement. As an example, you’d need to consume 8 oranges today to achieve the equivalent Vitamin C and nutrients, of just one orange, fifty years ago!
Now supplements that claim to improve hair growth are already available on the market, Perfectil etc so why the need for Glowwa? Well, it turns out that these alternative brands might contain some pretty shocking nasties and possess potencies, that won’t really cut the mustard. Shark bone, talc and E numbers like titanium dioxide feature on ingredients lists for example. For the non- Chemists, TiO2 is a white pigment used in products like cosmetics and the paint on our road markings! I sadly, was not surprised having worked in the Hair and Beauty sector for over 25 years. It’s rife with misinformation and crazy products that promise to keep you forever ‘young’, ‘tanned’, ‘toned’ etc, but are full of toxic ingredients. In a world where Cancer is sadly a buzzword, I don’t think it’s melodramatic to highlight the risks of blindly beautifying.
Supplements are expensive and ingredients ratios need to be high to trigger change. But what price do we put on wellbeing? I know that if my gut health is fixed, the microbiome that governs literally every other system, will in turn bless with me with good quality sleep, cell repair, glowing skin, shiny thick hair, strong nails, increased energy, improved mood, better focus- Total no brainer.
The other key factor is longevity. We are impatient creatures as a rule, and I have heard a fair few people tell me they loved Glowwa but are no longer taking it! A month’s supply of this vegan, all natural and sustainable multivitamin will cost you £34.99 and you get £15 off if you purchase three months supply (do this) as that is the earliest you will reasonably measure hair growth momentum and if you want to see and maintain results, you need to take them indefinitely. I had a few breaks from Glowwa (couldn’t take alongside an antibiotic for example), got out of the habit etc and boy did I notice the difference.
The good news is, on clinical trials/product testing, candidates experienced significant results, notably increased energy and mood within the first two weeks. I/my clients and friends can confirm this.
The other mini miracle is that as well as triggering your hair back into the anagen (growing phase), these magic beans will noticeably improve your overall hair quality. It’s all well and good applying topical treatments for strength, moisture etc to the hair fibres, but honestly, the powerhouse is internal and both the control room and frontline need to be working in harmony for optimum hair and skin health. Selfishly, I want your hair to be in it’s, best, possible shape, so I can get great results colouring and styling it. I have supported many clients on their hair recovery journeys after chemotherapy and have found it so helpful, to trust I can recommend a product, that will truly optimise results and overall health.
Let me tell you a funny story. Just over a year ago, another Hairdresser annihilated my barnet..
In a nutshell, said apathetic Gen- Z’er over-processed my hair, leaving me with fat grey streaks and texture reminiscent of a gnarly old rope. I rarely lose my sense of humour, but in all honesty, I couldn’t colour/style/wear my hair down for a year. Not ideal in my line of work and on a personal confidence level, this sucked. So, I truly know, how to bring decimated hair back from the brink.
My hot tip- Get an amazing Stylist first and foremost. One that gives a shit, and yee shall go on to achieve wonderous things together, because truly, it’s a collaboration. My clients are such well- trained graduates, they know executing the masterpiece may be my forte, but the life you give your hair after you leave your appointment, is your remit. Having the correct products and tools in your arsenal, allows you to do this, negating huge chops and damage reversal.
I’m stoked to report my hair is having a moment, post trauma and I have received compliments for the first time since the carnage. Amen to patience, fortitude, and the hair Gods for delivering remedies in my annus horribilis.
My nails also need filing down constantly now, which is remarkable considering my hands are frequently in water. My brows and lashes are full, my skin is much better (having experienced outbreaks in t-zone since wearing those heinous masks, during Covid).
Two capsules need to be taken with food ideally pre lunchtime (I fast intermittently so have with my first meal if fasting that day). I find if I take them later in the day I don’t sleep as well (likely all the active ingredients). Just don’t drop on an empty stomach as the high Zinc content will make you nauseous.
In conjunction with a healthy balanced diet, gentle styling regime and high-performance products, this is your blueprint for a glorious mane and all the extra wellbeing benefits to boot- your welcome;)
If you’d like to discuss any hair concerns, you can book a complimentary consultation with me .
Ella xx
