The 5 mistakes you're making that are causing hair loss – including the style you should never wear

The Sun

11-05-2025

DESPERATE for longer, thicker tresses? Aren't we all.
Broken shafts and weak follicles are commonplace thanks to a plethora of hair styling practices, such as heat, bleach and way-too-tight up 'dos.
It's likely that, somewhere along the line, we're all engaging in things that are indirectly or directly causing our hair to fall out.
Experts have long recommended oils and scalp massages to remedy thinning, but there's actually daily lifestyle changes you can implement too.
On average, humans lose 50 to 100 strands of hair per day. This is a completely normal part of the hair growth cycle, where older hair falls out to make way for new hair to grow in.
But in some cases, your daily routines will be inflating this number and putting you at risk of bald patches.
1. Stop slicking your hair back (or do it less)
High-tension hairstyles, like slick-back buns and high ponytails, can wreak havoc on your follicles.
These types of styles pull on the hair, making it susceptible to falling out AND thinning.
"High-tension styles like slick ponytails may cause traction alopecia - a form of hair loss caused by chronic follicle stress,' Dr Suhail Alam from Aventus Clinic told The Express.
'Research published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology found that up to one in three women who regularly wear tight hairstyles experience some degree of hair loss."
2. Never sleep on wet hair
We get it, you're tired - and flopping into bed for some doomscrolling seems way more attractive than standing in the mirror with the blow dryer at 10pm.
For the sake of your hair health, though, you should choose the latter.
I tried Aldi's Dyson airwrap dupe at bargain price - and it gave me easy hair salon look
"Wet hair is weaker and more prone to breakage,' Dr Suhail said.
'Tossing and turning on it adds friction and tangling. Let it dry naturally, or use a gentle blow-dry before sleep."
3. Swap your pillow cases
Most bed sheets and pillow cases are made from polyester (a synthetic fibre) or cotton, or sometimes a hybrid of the two.
These abrasive materials can be particularly problematic for your tresses as they create more friction against the hair while you sleep, especially if you move around a lot.
This friction can cause hair to tangle, break or frizz - and over time, this can make it fall out at an unnatural rate.
Dr Suhail recommends sleeping on a satin or silk pillowcase to reduce friction, and thus foster a healthier sleep environment for your lengths.
4. Stop washing your hair so much
Most people either team 'I wash my hair once a week' or 'I wash my hair every day' - but the sweet spot is somewhere in the middle.
Over-washing strips sebum, the natural oil produced by your scalp to keep your hair moisturised and protected, leading to dryness and making your hair more prone to breakage.
It can also irritate the scalp, contributing to conditions like dandruff and irritation and, in some instances, hair loss.
Dr Suhail recommends washing your hair three times a week at most, but never less than two times a week, to ensure your scalp doesn't suffer a build-up of products and oils.
5. Turn down the shower temperature
Like over-washing, having scorching water during your shower can further strip your hair of the natural oils and contribute towards hair loss.
Hair re-growth FAQs
Anabel Kingsley, Consultant Trichologist and Brand President at Philip Kingsley spoke exclusively to Fabulous.
How long does it take for hair to grow back?
Hair grows, on average, half an inch a month. You cannot speed this up.
Do rosemary oil and scalp massages work?
Oils do not promote hair growth. In terms of rosemary oil, the current trend stems from one small study carried out on 50 men in 2015. No women were involved, and the study compared the effects of 2 per cent minoxidil to Rosemary oil. 2 per cent minoxidil doesn't do much for
male pattern hair loss anyway, so the results were not very impressive. Oils do serve a purpose in conditioning hair treatments though. They help add shine and smooth the hair cuticle to lock-in moisture and improve combability. Scalp massages alone won't cure hair loss, but it can help relax you, aid in lymphatic drainage, exfoliate and help topicals penetrate.
Are there any products or foods/vitamins you recommend someone using or eating to help with hair regrowth?
To support healthy hair regrowth, if you are experiencing hair thinning we'd recommend our Density Preserving Scalp Drops clinically proven to help slow hair loss with continued daily use within three months.
Telogen effluvium (hair shedding) due to nutritional deficiencies can often be simply treated with changes to your diet, and nutritional supplements such as our specially formulated Density Healthy Hair Complex and Density Amino Acid Booster.
Iron and Ferritin (stored iron) in red meat, dried apricots and dark, leafy greens. Vitamin B12 in animal products and fortified plant-based foods. Protein from oily fish, lean meat, cottage cheese, tofu, nuts, chickpeas, and beans.
However, there may be an underlying cause for their hair loss and rather than this being masked by using an off-the-shelf product, they should be encouraged to seek the advice of a specialist such as a Trichologist.
Furthermore, the heat from hot water opens up the hair cuticle (the outer layer of the hair shaft), which allows moisture to escape from your hair.
This can turn your lengths dry, brittle and more susceptible to breakage over time - and when it's dry, your hair will feel rough and look dull.
And when the scalp loses moisture, it may overcompensate by producing excess oil, leading to greasy hair or an imbalanced scalp.
This will also make your hair appear less smooth and harder to manage after a hot shower.
Instead, you should shampoo it with lukewarm water.