“It is affected by hormone levels in your body, and by your individual sensitivity to them,” says Anabel Kingsley, consultant trichologist and Philip Kingsley brand president. Hair follicles grow back slightly thinner and shorter with each hair growth cycle until they “become so small they stop producing a hair altogether,” Anabel notes.

One hormone in particular, called DHT, is making headlines as it’s thought to attach itself to androgen receptors in hair follicles, causing them to gradually shrink over time.

2. Stress

Chronic stress can cause malting, where more hairs than usual move out of their growth phase and into their shedding phase (a process officially known as Telogen Effluvium). There is often a three-month delay between this stressful event and increased hair fall.

“Stress can raise androgen (male hormone) levels, which can worsen or trigger female pattern hair loss if you have a genetic predisposition towards it,” says Anabel. “Plus stress can make it harder for your body to absorb nutrients.”

You may notice all over thinning but the good news is, unless it’s something more serious, your hair will grow back. “Hair loss will increase approximately two months after the stress begins and stop approximately four months after the stress stops,” says Sally-Ann.

3. Super-tight hairstyles

Anything that involves repeatedly pulling your hair into a tight style should be avoided as it can cause traction alopecia. This includes protective styles and even the simple act of tying your hair bobble too tight when crafting a ponytail or bun.

Inflammation around the follicles can disrupt the hair’s growth cycle, especially around the front hairline and the sides, and potentially lead to hair loss.

4. Harsh styling

If heat styling, straightening or colour treatments are part of your regular haircare routine, your strands are at risk of becoming weaker and snapping off. “Over-processing can impact the strength of your hair strands and lead to breakage that appears as hair loss,” says Inanch Emir from Inanch London. “If you notice hair loss, but don’t see a difference in the density of hair at the scalp, this is likely the cause.”

5. Iron deficiency

According to the experts at Aventus Clinic, 30% of unexplained hair loss is linked to modern diet failures. Critical nutrients like iron, zinc, and protein are essential for healthy hair and, when we’re not getting enough, this can seriously impact hair retention. “As hair is non-essential tissue, it is the first part of you to be deprived of nutrients when your diet is lacking,” says Anabel.

Heavy periods and vegetarianism, can be especially problematic as they lead to low levels of Ferritin – a protein that stores iron in the body. “Ferritin deficiency commonly causes increased hair fall and a shortening of the anagen phase of the hair growth cycle,” Anabel explains. “This means hair may not be able to grow as long as it is capable of.”

If you think you may be deficient in certain nutrients, it’s worth booking an appointment with your GP.

6. Ozempic hair loss

While there’s no evidence that hair loss is a direct side effect of Ozempic, it could be a stressor for hair follicles in those taking the medication off-label for rapid weight loss.