As a stylist, your opinion matters to your clients—they trust you with their hair, which is no small accomplishment! This places you in a unique position to provide meaningful feedback to your client if you are noticing changes to their hair, including hair loss or thinning hair, especially as these can be an indicator of other underlying health issues. Here, Paulina Nelega, Registered Clinical Herbalist for Hair Essentials covers a few tips to help you talk with clients about hair loss, and some natural solutions they can try.

What should you look for?

Has your client started to style their hair differently, or perhaps begun wearing a head-wrap or hat? If so, they may be trying to conceal the scalp that is showing through their thinning hair. Or, perhaps you are noticing that your client’s hair texture is changing—that it has become drier or more brittle, that it has lost its previous thickness, or that there is increased shedding and slower, thinner regrowth. These can be important signs that your client is facing hair loss.

What should you suggest?

Hair loss can be devastating, and oftentimes women feel too embarrassed to disclose their concerns. A positive comment such as, “Your new headscarf is very stylish!” may be a gentle way of broaching a subject that, for many women, can be uncomfortable. Or, you might ask your client if they’ve noticed more hair coming out in the shower or when brushing their hair lately, or ask if their hair has become more difficult to style.

If your client does mention their hair loss, the first step is to suggest a visit to their doctor or dermatologist. They will be able to determine the cause of the hair loss and rule out any underlying health concerns. Hair loss can occur from a wide array of reasons, including hereditary hair loss (also known as androgenic alopecia or female/male pattern hair loss, the most common cause of hair loss), menopause, thyroid problems, immune issues, medications including birth control pills, stress, nutrient deficiencies, and many other reasons.

What are some natural suggestions for clients with hair loss?

Some simple, natural suggestions for your client include encouraging them to maintain a healthy diet that focuses on fresh, whole foods and to avoid refined or processed foods. Fruits and vegetables provide an abundance of colorful, protective antioxidants and other phytonutrients; healthy fats and oils such as from avocados and nuts, and omega-3 fatty acids from cold-water fish, help regulate sebum production and reduce inflammation in the follicles; high-quality protein provides key amino acids that help ensure the developing hair shaft is strong; and drinking plenty of water, green tea, or herbal teas will help flush out waste byproducts from the follicles.

Suggesting an all-natural dietary supplement such as Hair Essentials, formulated specifically for combating hair loss, repairing damaged follicles, and invigorating healthy new hair growth, can also be very beneficial for your client. Massaging the scalp before showering will stimulate healthy circulation to improve delivery of the hair-healthy nutrients in their diet and supplements, as well as ensure removal of toxins and wastes from the scalp.