I had a £6.5k hair transplant after I started receding in pregnancy – it's changed my life, says Chloe Goodman

The Sun

31-07-2025

CHLOE Goodman may look confident in her beaming Instagram posts and TV appearances, but when her hair started falling out in clumps after two pregnancies she was devastated.
Suddenly Chloe, 32 – who is mum to Isla, five, and Hudson, three - was faced with crippling anxiety and new insecurities, leaving her confidence in tatters.
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Despite those around her, including her ex-professional footballer husband Grant Hall, 33, assuring Chloe she had nothing to worry about, she became 'obsessed' with her hair.
'I've always liked my hair. I stopped wearing extensions years ago and when I look at photos from before my first pregnancy, I'd always had a strong hairline,' Former Ex On The Beach star Chloe says.
'So to lose hair not only at the sides, but also on my hairline was a shock.
' Hair loss isn't uncommon in pregnancy and afterwards, but when I was breastfeeding my son, I noticed mine was falling out in clumps and really thinning.'
Chloe's journey to eventually having a hair transplant in June this year started in January when sister Amelia, 25, took a photo of her one day while they were working in their aesthetics clinic Ophiah Aesthetics, in Hove, E. Sussex.
'At the time, it had been a while since I'd had my hair dyed and the sun had made the colour fade even more,' Chloe explains.
'When I looked at the photo, it looked like my hair had receded by two inches – you could see my scalp.
'I was like, 'Do I actually look like that?''
Amelia brushed it off and assured her sister that it was just the effect of the flash.
But from then on, whenever faced with a photo of herself, Chloe could see nothing else but her thinning hair.
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She says: 'It started to really bother me. I think I probably made it worse from stress.
'I've suffered from anxiety in the past and I used to pick at the back of my scalp when I was feeling anxious.
'What I found I was doing this time was picking at the front of my hair, which was obviously making it worse.'
The number of women undergoing hair transplants in the UK is on the rise.
While traditionally a male-dominated procedure, some clinics now report that women account for 20 to 30 per cent of their clientele – a trend potentially influenced by factors like postpartum hair loss, which affects between 40 and 50 per cent of women after childbirth.
In Chloe's case, she found herself constantly comparing new photos to older ones.
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But she also worried people would think she was making a big deal out of nothing.
Recalling a conversation with Grant, who she married in June 2024, about her concerns, Chloe continues: 'I said to him, 'My hair is definitely thinning, isn't it?'
'Being a typical man, he said, 'I can't tell the difference'. I was showing him before and after photos and he said, 'Chloe, you're 10 years younger in the first photo, of course you're going to look different'.'
But it was actually Grant's own hair transplant experience that inspired Chloe to undergo the £6,500 procedure.
She says: 'Grant had his in 2018 and it is probably one of the most amazing hair transplants I've ever seen – so much so that I forget he's had one.'
Chloe also sought advice from Love Island star Rosie Williams, 33, who had her own transplant in 2022.
'I didn't know any other women who'd had a hair transplant,' Chloe says.
'Rosie told me it was the best thing she had ever done.
Hair loss isn't uncommon in pregnancy and afterwards, but when I was breastfeeding my son, I noticed mine was falling out in clumps and really thinning.
Chloe
'She gave me so much information and shared personal photos of her journey. I was so grateful for that.'
Eventually, Chloe made an appointment with the same surgeon Grant was treated by, Dr Matee at KSI Clinics in June.
No stranger to cosmetic surgery, Chloe is very open about past procedures, including a boob uplift and liposuction. She has also treated herself to a full set of veneers.
But the difference, she reflects, between those treatments and a hair transplant is that you're not knocked out for the latter.
She says: 'I was thinking at one point that maybe I'd not thought it through.
'It was painful as injections usually are, but most women can cope with anything once they've been through childbirth.
'Once they'd numbed the area I was totally relaxed and I even fell asleep. Grant was at home with the children and there I was having a nap in the middle of the day.'
'BIT EXTREME'
Chloe jokes: 'I'd have more surgery if that's what I get out of it.'
Hair transplants typically involve transplanting hair follicles from a donor area – usually the back of the head – to the area that needs treating.
This meant Chloe had her hair partially shaved at the back, which is what took her most by surprise.
'The front did not bother me at all afterwards – it was a bit bloody,' she says. 'But the back – my God. I didn't realise they were going to get the clippers out.
'At that moment, I looked up at Dr Matee and said, 'This isn't me being extreme, is it? I do need this, don't I?'
'He said, 'I won't lie, you do need this. I wouldn't be doing it if I thought otherwise'.'
Having a hair transplant can be life changing. My advice would be to speak to other women who have had it done and make sure you do your research.
Chloe
Chloe predicts she'll see the end result of the procedure by this time next year, when her hair has fully grown back.
And she urges women suffering from hair loss to follow in her footsteps.
'Hair is such a huge part of a woman's identity,' she says.
'If it's bothering you now, it will always bother you and it's something that usually gets worse with age.
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'Having a hair transplant can be life changing. My advice would be to speak to other women who have had it done and make sure you do your research.
'Many clinics in the UK offer finance options now, which make it even more accessible.
'Looking back, I know now it wasn't an extreme move and women who decide to do this have nothing to be embarrassed about.'
Expert advice for taking care of your hair
By ANABEL KINGSLEY
Lead Trichologist and Brand President at Philip Kingsley
Being non-essential, hair is a very reactive tissue and is sensitive to lifestyle, health, and environmental factors. You want to optimise each possible factor that can affect your hair growth cycle, such as your health, nutrition, thyroid function, stress levels, as well as scalp health and the condition of your hair itself.
DIET
Hair growth and diet are intertwined. Hair is physically a non-essential tissue, so your body gives it last priority. Nutrients are first sent to keep essential cells and tissues functioning, and your hair receives them last. This means if you aren't eating well, or you are lacking in certain vitamins and/or minerals, your hair will be the first thing to be dispensed of. In fact, hair loss is often the first sign of a dietary deficiency.
SUPPLEMENTS
Supplements can help make sure you're getting the correct nutrients if used in partnership with a balanced diet. For supplements specific to hair concerns, it is best to get prescribed ones following relevant blood tests under the guidance of a professional.
STRESS
Managing stress levels is an important part of any hair loss treatment plan. Stress can cause telogen effluvium - or rapid loss. It can also impact the health of your scalp, which has a direct impact on hair growth and structure.
SCALP
Look after your scalp - Your scalp is home to your hair follicles and hair growth is closely linked to scalp health. Cleanse your scalp (i.e.shampoo) regularly, and use targeted products to address any issues, like dandruff. I recommend a clarifying shampoo to make sure the scalp is fully cleansed of residue and build up.
EXPER T HELP
See an expert who specialises in hair loss and use evidence-based treatments that are backed by good clinical studies. Such as our expert Trichologists at the Philip Kingsley Clinic who offer an in depth consultation to discuss your concerns, treatment plans and more.