According to the NHS, around 40% of women over the age of 70 experience female pattern baldness – the most common type of hair loss. It could be down to a range of factors, such as stress, genetics, hormones or illness, and can happen at any age. Being overzealous with heating tools and years of bleaching can also play a part in hair loss, especially around the hairline. Both contribute to breakage by making hair dry and brittle, eventually leading to hair fallout. Testers noted differences they saw in their hair condition during the period, as well as how hair felt after each wash. The panel included women with a range of hair types, from straight to afro. Keeping your scalp clean and at optimum health is key to achieving a fuller head of hair. Ingredients to look out for range from caffeine to peppermint oil to boost circulation, while proteins and keratin will help strengthen hair and give it more resilience. verifyErrors }}{{ message }}{{ /verifyErrors }}{{

While it’s perfectly normal to lose a few hairs here and there (in fact the NHS estimates we lose between 50 and 100 strands per day), there are a few signs to look out for to know if it’s a bigger problem.Hair loss shampoos and conditioners are formulated to target the common causes of hair loss. The main types are: The most obvious sign is that your scalp might be more noticeable. If you have thinner hair this will be easier to spot, so it does depend on your hair texture, but if you’re seeing more sparse patches it could be a sign of a bigger issue. Technically, shampoos can’t regrow any missing patches of hair. However, what they can do is create the right environment to encourage your natural hair to grow as healthily as possible. Serum gives shine and seals the ends of your hair, which are more vulnerable,' explains Zoë Irwin, ghd's UK ambassador. 'It acts as a protectant, so when you are running your hands through your hair they glide more, and works well if you're using a hot tool. This depends on what you want from your product, as they both have different uses. Very generally speaking, serum is more of a styling product while oil nourishes. 'Oil is more fluid, while hair serum is good if you want to keep shape,' Zoë confirms. 'If you've used a tong or waved to keep movement, serum is good to keep that polish but adds movement, whereas oil tends to make hair heavy and more weighty.

We also assessed anti-breakage shampoos by combing through hair switches that were treated with the product(s) and comparing them to untreated switches. The easier the hair was to comb, the less risk of hair breakages and fall out in reality.More common things to be aware of are more strands coming out when you brush your hair, a fuller hair brush and noticing a less voluminous ponytail. How do I stop my hair from thinning? Aqua (Water), Cetearyl Alcohol, Dimethicone, Glycerin, Glyceryl Stearate, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Stearamidopropyl Dimethylamine, Behentrimonium Chloride, Phenoxyethanol, Cetrimonium Chloride, Citric Acid, Amodimethicone, Parfum (Fragrance), Dipropylene Glycol, Sodium Benzoate, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Disodium EDTA, Pentylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Acetate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein PG-Propyl Silanetriol, Limonene, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein, Linalool, Sodium PCA, Sodium Lactate, Citronellol, Benzyl Salicylate, Geraniol, Arginine, Aspartic Acid, Alpha-Isomethyl Ionone, PCA, Hydroxycitronellal, Crocus Sativus Flower Extract, Hexyl Cinnamal, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Root Extract, Dipotassium Phosphate, Polysorbate 60, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Glycine, Alanine, Serine, Valine, Pisum Sativum (Pea) Sprout Extract, Sodium Phosphate, Isoleucine, Proline, Threonine, Histidine, Phenylalanine, CI 14700 (Red 4), CI 19140 (Yellow 5). Anti-breakage shampoos and conditioners: these reinforce the structure of the hair strand, aiming to prevent breakages and splitting.

Root- or scalp-stimulating shampoos and conditioners: these aim to clear away root or scalp build-up and stimulate the hair follicles to encourage healthy hair growth.With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work. We gave 700 testers — all with self-diagnosed mild to extreme hair loss or thinning — a shampoo and conditioner set to trial for between one and two months. In the GHI lab, we also assessed anti-breakage shampoos by combing through hair switches that were treated with the product(s) and comparing them to untreated hair switches. The easier the treated switches were to comb, the less risk of hair breakages and fall out in real life.