Women’s Hormonal Hair Loss & What to Do

by wendy chen | Jun 18, 2024 | Episode

Episode 17

Understanding Hormonal Hair Loss in Women

EP17 Hormonal Hair Loss - Ft. Lisette Davila

Understanding Hormonal Hair Loss in Women: Causes and How To Treat It

Although it’s most commonly associated with men, hair loss can also impact women.

In fact, women may be more vulnerable to hair loss as they age, thanks to fluctuating hormones associated with pregnancy, menopause, and other hormonal shifts. At least 50% of women will experience hair loss at some point in their lifetime.

On this episode of HairPod, we explore Lisette Davila’s story with hair loss treatments and hormone replacement therapy. Learn more about hormonal hair loss in women through the lens of Lisette’s experiences — her challenges, the stigma she encountered, and the hope she found through her courageous pursuit of answers.

Types of Hormonal Hair Loss

Hormonal hair loss in women can happen for many reasons, but in Lisette’s case, the cause was a hormonal imbalance. Here are the three most common types of hair loss for women.

Female Pattern Baldness

The most common type of hormonal hair loss in women is female pattern hair loss (FPHL), also known as androgenetic alopecia or female pattern baldness. It affects about 30 million women in the U.S.

Over time, hair becomes finer and shorter and the volume gradually decreases. Unlike the distinctive receding hairline seen in male pattern baldness, female pattern baldness typically looks like thinning across the scalp, particularly at the crown and part line.

Telogen Effluvium

Telogen effluvium is a common type of hair loss that happens after experiencing severe stress. Hair loss and thinning tend to happen within two to three months after the stressor, but in most cases, it resolves itself after six months.

Traction Alopecia

Traction alopecia occurs when hair is subjected to constant tension and pulling. While it’s not linked to hormones, it’s most common in women who frequently wear tight hairstyles like ponytails, braids, or buns.

Over time, repeated tension on the hair follicles can lead to thinning hair or permanent hair loss, especially around the hairline or temples. If it’s caught early, traction alopecia can be reversed. But if the tension isn’t resolved, it can cause irreversible damage to the follicles.

Symptoms of Hormonal Hair Loss

It took years for Lisette to pinpoint the source of her noticeable hair loss: hormones. But looking back, there were many symptoms to suggest that hormones were a culprit.

Here are some of the hair loss symptoms that suggest hormones might be at the root of the issue:

The hair gradually thins out, especially along the crown and part line
The part becomes noticeably wider, exposing the scalp
Hair feels weaker, thinner, or more fragile
Hair grows back slower than before or not at all
Loss of moisture, shine, or texture in hair
An increase in facial hair growth due to excess androgens

Key Hormonal Factors Influencing Hair Loss

What hormone causes women’s hair loss? The answer is far more complex, as multiple hormonal factors affect hair health. Aging, pregnancy, menopause, and other hormonal imbalances can all lead to hair loss, depending on the person.

The expert team at HairClub helps clients like Lisette navigate these complex hormonal changes with tailored treatments for hair loss that address the root cause and promote long-lasting results.

There are plenty of myths and facts about hair loss that can make it difficult to identify the underlying cause, but understanding these hormonal factors is a key step toward finding the right treatment. Here are the most common hormonal factors that cause female hair loss.

Menopause

Menopause affects each woman differently, but hair loss and hair thinning are common side effects. As estrogen levels drop, blood vessels in the scalp constrict, which can reduce blood supply and restrict the flow of oxygen and nutrients.

Androgens

Other hormonal shifts, like the ones caused by polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), can cause an overproduction of androgens. Excess androgens — like testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) — can lead to androgenic alopecia. This can lead to a shorter growth period, resulting in slower growth and thinner strands.

Hormonal Imbalances

Hormones naturally fluctuate over time, from puberty to pregnancy to menopause. These imbalances can disrupt the natural hair growth cycle, even if the hormones themselves return to normal over time.

Some hormone fluctuations can happen at any time. For example, times of stress induce cortisol, which can also affect the cyclic regulation of the hair follicle and lead to hair loss.

Risk Factors for Hormonal Hair Loss

Hormonal hair loss in women can also be driven by a variety of factors that can increase the risk of developing thinning or shedding. From genetics to lifestyle choices, understanding these risk factors is key to identifying the cause and finding a solution.

Here are the underlying risk factors to address with a hair loss technician at HairClub to achieve lasting results.

Genetics

Just like with male hair loss, genetics often plays a key part in the development of female pattern hair loss. You can inherit these genes from one or both of your parents, increasing the likelihood of developing thinning or hair loss.

Medical Conditions

In some cases, the body reacts to illnesses or medications with hair loss. Illnesses like anemia, thyroid issues, PCOS, eating disorders, and more can all result in hair loss or thinning, especially when hormone levels are affected.

Some medications or medical treatments can cause hair loss, like the known side effect of chemotherapy, for example.

Stress and Lifestyle

Intense or chronic stress and other lifestyle factors can disrupt the body’s hormonal balance and hair growth cycle.

Can you prevent hair loss? While there’s no one way to completely prevent hair loss, the right lifestyle changes can lower your risk and promote healthy hair growth:

Get regular exercise.
Eat foods that contain nutrients for healthy hair, like iron, biotin, and zinc.
Limit smoking, vaping, and alcohol consumption.

HairClub’s expert team works closely with clients to assess all the potential causes, from stress to genetics, in order to promote long-term results. To get to the root of your hair loss, schedule a consultation today.

Confronting the Stigma: Hair Loss Treatments for Women

Lisette recounts the gradual onset of her hair loss, once boasting thick, spiral curls she was proud of. The subtle thinning eventually became an undeniable reality, which of course, prompted a cascade of self-consciousness and anxiety. She didn’t know why she was losing her hair.

Because of the stigma around female hair loss, she was left feeling isolated, confused, and frustrated. Lisette shares that she even received unsolicited comments from coworkers and friends that magnified her insecurities.

Hormone Replacement Therapy and Female Hair Loss Solutions

Lisette shares her experience with hormone replacement therapy. She had a hysterectomy in her early 30s, which coincided with the onset of her hair loss, but Lisette was initially unaware of the potential connection. Her doctor confirmed that hormonal imbalances could very well be contributing to her condition.

Lisette noticed significant improvements in her overall well-being within just two weeks of beginning her therapy. It addressed various symptoms associated with hormonal changes, including fatigue, insomnia, and issues with the skin and nails. However, Lisette’s hair loss persisted, prompting her to explore additional solutions such as HairClub’s offerings. She shares her experience with HairClub and the Trichoview hair analysis system.

Health, Hope, and Hair Restoration

Lisette emerged from her journey with renewed confidence. She extends a message of resilience and empowerment to others facing similar struggles. She encourages listeners to seek out professional guidance, see a hair specialist to help identify a suitable hair loss solution and a doctor to rule out any underlying health concerns. Lisette highlights the importance of having a plan and a community. Whether it’s hormone therapy, hair loss therapy, or some other balding solution, the right option is out there.

Her story is a testament to the transformative power of taking charge of your own hair journey. If you’re struggling with women’s hair loss due to hormones, don’t wait for things to get worse — reach out today to explore the treatments that could restore not just your hair, but also your confidence and sense of self. Schedule a consultation today to find the perfect solution for you.

Episode.17 Transcript

Lisette Davila [00:00:04]:

So I went in, and I was so nervous. I didn’t know what to expect when I went into this meeting with her. And when I came out, I was crying because it was tears of joy, because I felt, finally, somebody hears me, they get it. They know what’s going on, and they think they can fix it. I’ve never had anybody say they can. You know, they have a solution for this problem that I’m dealing with. And we put money in and invest in a home or a car or even a career. But now it’s like I need to invest in myself because it’s my health.

Lisette Davila [00:00:39]:

It’s part of my health.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:54]:

Welcome to HairPod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I’m your host, Kevin Ralston. And each week, I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back. Hair loss can happen for many reasons, and in this episode, I spoke with Lisette Devila about her experience with hormonal hair loss. Hair loss in women is perceived very differently than it is in mental, and it’s not uncommon for a woman who is going through it to suffer the physical, social, and emotional effects in silence. Like many experiencing hair loss, it came as a shock and a blow to Lisette’s self-esteem. She once was a social butterfly, but when she began to lose her hair, she became self-conscious and retreated into her shell.

Lisette Davila [00:01:51]:

I used to have, like, really thick, curly hair, super curly, like, spiral curls, and it was really thick. I used to let it just go natural. I didn’t have to fuss with it too much and started noticing probably in my early thirties when my hair started thinning out in the top part, where I started seeing my scalp through my curls. I remember fixing my hair one day, getting ready for work, and the light in the bathroom just above the mirror was shining on my head. Like, I can actually see the reflection of my scalp. And I was like, what is that? And I’m looking in the mirror as I’m, you know, playing with my curls, and I noticed it was thinning just a little bit here at the top. And so when the light would hit it, I would see my scalp shining off. And I thought, wow, that’s new.

Lisette Davila [00:02:47]:

That’s different. Am I losing my hair like I thought I was, you know, way too young? I’m, you know, still in my early thirties, and that’s unheard of. You know, my mom and my dad both had their hair, and, you know, I didn’t think that that was normal, especially for me, because I’ve never experienced anything like that. So, yeah, I remember, you know, doing my hair up and noticing my scalp in the mirror. And from there on, people started bringing it up to my attention as if I didn’t know it was going on, you know? Yeah, I had co workers, you know, mentioning it, and some family members that did not hold back, you know, they were like, oh, are you losing your hair? Are you going bald? I’m like, what? You know, I felt so mortified. I felt so embarrassed. And that’s when the stigma started for me.

Kevin Rolston [00:03:42]:

Well, yeah, I could see why that is. It’s unbelievable what some people will go out and say to other people. That’s completely unreal. So it doesn’t sound like for you, you were that self conscious about it until it was really brought up to your attention.

Lisette Davila [00:03:56]:

Right. Because I thought I was able to hide it well, you know, because it wasn’t that bad in the beginning. And so I thought, I’ll just tease my hair here, you know, style it in a way where it’ll look more full and you can’t see my scalp as bad. But when people would bring it up to me on a, it started getting, like, daily. People that I would work with or friends, you know, people that were close to me were bringing it up daily. Whenever they would see me, there was always a comment at least once a day that people were noticing that my hair was thinning because I’ve always had such thick, curly hair where you didn’t see scalp, you know, unless you parted it. And even then it was a really thin part. So I was having trouble parting my hair at that point because the part was growing.

Lisette Davila [00:04:45]:

It was getting bigger.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:47]:

Yeah. So you, do you find yourself styling your hair in a different way then? Were you styling your hair in a different way?

Lisette Davila [00:04:54]:

Yeah. So I started styling my hair, like, parting it on the opposite side that I would normally do, or I would, like, brush my hair all the way back. You know, I would tease it and brush it back and just so you couldn’t see a part at all. But it was. It was starting to get to the point where it was getting very noticeable, like it needed to be addressed.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:16]:

How much time are we talking from when you first noticed that reflection going on in the mirror to when you were able to say, okay, I’m getting these comments on a daily basis. What is the timeframe we’re talking about here?

Lisette Davila [00:05:28]:

I would say probably about five years. I was dealing with it for about five years. Yeah.

Kevin Rolston [00:05:39]:

Like so many of us who experience hair loss, the early part of the journey can be the most challenging. Its all the more so when you dont have a clue as to why the hair loss is even happening. When youre young and healthy, its the last thing you thought youd be dealing with. Of course, hair loss is sometimes more predictable due to genetics or health conditions. Lisette, on the other hand, was caught completely off guard, and it was taking a toll on her emotions and her confidence.

Lisette Davila [00:06:07]:

I thought maybe it was just stress from, you know, like, everyday life and, you know, work, things like that. So I thought, well, this should probably be an easy fix because nobody in my family is suffering from this, you know, neither on my dad’s side or my mom’s side. So, you know, maybe I’ll just try some vitamins or some kind of, you know, supplements. Maybe I’m lacking in that. And I was trying different supplements, and it wasn’t getting any better. It was actually getting worse. And I remember my mom trying to bring, like, this old, traditional, latino, like, cure for it, which was just some kind of, like, liquid serum that you massage into your scalp. And it’s something that’s gone way back into, like, I don’t know, like, maybe the forties or fifties or something like that where men used to use it.

Lisette Davila [00:06:58]:

And she would tell me, use this. This is going to work for you if it works for me. This is how my hair is so thick. I thought, okay, well, if it works for her, it’s got to work for me. And I’m pouring the whole bottle in there, and I’m massaging and teasing and taking the vitamins and doing all the things, and it wasn’t working. Then I started getting really nervous, you know, I just started getting, like, you know, okay, there’s something seriously happening here that I need to address. Like, nothing seems to be working for me. I was at home one day, and I came across a hair club infomercial.

Lisette Davila [00:07:37]:

And that’s when I thought, man, is this like an omen? Because I’ve always watched these infomercials since I was a kid, you know, and it was always a man. It was hairclub for men at that time. And now it was just like, hair club, right? So I thought, maybe this is a sign. Maybe I need to call hair club and see if they can help me. And I was hesitant, you know, but I had it on the back of my brain, like, let me just keep trying other things and seeing if that will help. And use hair clip as a last resort. Right. So that was in the back of my head, but, you know, no pun intended.

Lisette Davila [00:08:18]:

My head just kept, you know, it just, I kept seeing my scalp growing. Like, my hair’s thinning out and my scalp is being really exposed. And I finally said, you know, what? What the heck? Let me just give them a call. It says it’s a free consultation. What else do I have to lose here at this point? And that’s when I finally made that call. And this was probably about five years after I first saw my hair thinning out.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:48]:

Yeah, it does take a while. It’s an odd thing. I think, that we want to try everything first. We want to be able to solve it on our own. And it’s an unknown, and that’s kind of a scary thing. And for women, too, it’s a stigma that’s out there that I think a lot of people thought, oh, well, losing hair is something that just happens to men. But the numbers on female hair loss, it’s staggeringly higher than you would ever suspect. And I feel like sometimes women may not have the same kind of community or feel like they have a place to connect.

Kevin Rolston [00:09:18]:

Were you able to talk with friends? Were you able to find somebody that could relate to your situation, that could give you some good advice and point you in the right direction?

Lisette Davila [00:09:27]:

No, I didn’t actually. There was no one. You know, I’m in my thirties, and all my friends are, you know, with their thick, full, lush hair, and I’m going thin and starting to feel like, you know, I’m getting, like, old. Like, am I getting old? Like, you know, what’s going on with me? It was getting to the point where I felt like a recluse. I didn’t want to go out and socialize with people because I was so embarrassed. I was ashamed, and I didn’t have anyone I can turn to that was a female that suffered or is suffering the same situation that I was.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:12]:

Unfortunately, I’m sure many listeners can relate to the difficult emotions that come with losing your hair. And as Lisette pointed out, hair loss for women comes with a social stigma that only makes an already scary situation so much worse. When you combine a lack of community, a lack of guidance, and the confusion of not knowing the underlying cause, its easy to see why isolation happens as it did in this case. And even when you make that leap and decide to address the issue, it can take a while to find the answers youre looking for. As Lisette continued to look for the cause of her hair loss, she was able to start piecing together what was really going on.

Lisette Davila [00:10:57]:

I had a hysterectomy. I was very young. I was in my thirties. I was like, 32, 33, somewhere around there when I had it. And it was after, when I started noticing the hair loss. Right. I didn’t put the two together for a while. I didn’t think that having that surgery was going to cause my hair loss.

Lisette Davila [00:11:20]:

And again, I didn’t have any, you know, females to turn to that were going through my same situation to advise me or tell me that, oh, it could possibly be that. Until I turned to my doctor and said, you know, I had this surgery, and since then I’ve noticed my hair thinning. Could the two be related?

Kevin Rolston [00:11:43]:

Oh, okay. So the hysterectomy happens well before the hair loss.

Lisette Davila [00:11:49]:

Right? So it was something that, like, maybe took some time after, like, after my recovery to the point where I didn’t even put the two together. So, yeah, I approached my doctor about it. She told me that is definitely a possibility that that could happen because of the change in hormones or loss of hormones.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:10]:

Oh, wow. Okay. So I’m wondering, when you get something like a hysterectomy, you’re losing your hair. Did you have other symptoms? Were there other things that were happening with your body at the same time that you were noticing?

Lisette Davila [00:12:22]:

Well, yeah, you know, you get, like, dry skin, and it’s mostly, like, stuff to do with your hair, skin and nails, actually. I mean, we. Okay, we all hear and know about changes, mood swings and whatever have you. But nobody really talked about the hair or the skin and the nails, which is all the same kind of organ. Right? Right.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:44]:

Yep.

Lisette Davila [00:12:45]:

So that is something that I had to do a lot of research on my own because at the time, there wasn’t a lot of information out there about it. I was online all the time looking up, you know, hair loss and hormones or the loss of hormones after hysterectomy. And so with that being said, I had found for my situation was hormone replacement therapy. And that’s something that a lot of women are doing today. And that has actually helped me with a lot of other issues that I was dealing with after my surgery. So that is a huge help for women who are dealing with hormones, whether it be, you know, if they had to have a hysterectomy or if they have a thyroid condition, which can also wreak havoc on your hair, too. Just going to your physician and getting some blood tests done it’s as simple as getting some blood tests done to see where your hormone levels are at and then work with your doctor to see where you can get them back on course.

Kevin Rolston [00:13:51]:

Talking to a doctor and a hair specialist is so important. I appreciate Lisette’s insight on signs to look out for. It’s also a good reminder that hair loss can be a sign of underlying health issues and is not something we should ignore, even though it can be hard to confront. Lisette shares more about her experience with hormone replacement therapy and what a dramatic difference it made for her.

Lisette Davila [00:14:20]:

I noticed within two weeks I started feeling better. I was really tired and sluggish, and I didn’t. Again, I’m not connecting all these symptoms with the fact that I had this hysterectomy. So feeling really sluggish, not having as much energy as I once did. And at the time, my kids were, you know, I have two children and they were young and I had to keep up with them in a full time career. And I was struggling with all of that with sleeping. You know, I ended up having insomnia and the hair loss was just getting out of control. So when I started my hormone therapy with my doctor, it took about two weeks for me to notice all those things started balancing and I was able to sleep better again.

Lisette Davila [00:15:08]:

And all the other things that I was suffering from started, you know, balancing out, and I was starting to feel back to normal, but I was still dealing with some thinning hair.

Kevin Rolston [00:15:19]:

Okay. Yeah, that was my next question. I was just curious what that did with the hair loss. So thats still an issue for you. So where did you go after you realized, okay, ive fixed some of the problems that I have with the hormone replacement therapy. What was left to fix? And then what did you do to fix those issues?

Lisette Davila [00:15:37]:

Yeah. So with the hair loss, like everything else, I was feeling pretty good. But im fixing my hair still for, you know, to get on with my day. And I’m noticing I’m having to tease it and do other things with it a little bit more than I had in the past. And I was very frustrated because now it’s taking me a longer time to get ready for something that was so simple as to just, you know, getting my day started. So that’s when I decided that moment when I saw the hair club commercial a few years, a couple of years before and put in the back burner, that’s when I said, okay, I’ve tried everything. I’ve tried everything. I’ve even gone to my doctor and we had a game plan, and it fixed some things, but not all right.

Lisette Davila [00:16:20]:

That’s when I picked up the phone and I called hair club and had that consultation done. It was a no brainer for me. After sitting down and having the conversation with the hair club specialist, she was able to pinpoint what was going on with my scalp because that was not a thing that I was looking into. I wasn’t really like, is it a scalp issue now? Because I, you know, you don’t think about scalp care too much, right? At least back then, there wasn’t a lot of talk about that either. So when I went in, she, you know, was able to do the Trico view, which is the little, like a microscopic, you know, exam where they put the tool on your scalp and you could see it on a big monitor. And I saw a lot of, like, my follicles. I saw a lot of them were gone. I was like, oh, my gosh.

Lisette Davila [00:17:14]:

And a lot of spacing in between. And as I’m looking at it, shocked that I’m emotional. She was so relaxed and calm, and it was actually calming for me because she. She. Obviously, this is what she does. She’s the expert. She’s like, you know, this is normal like this. I see this all the time.

Lisette Davila [00:17:36]:

We can fix this. And she actually, you know, explains, you know, the hair loss to me and what the treatment would be at that moment. It was like, under an hour. So I went in, and I was so nervous about. I didn’t know what to expect when I went into this meeting with her. And when I came out, I was crying because it was tears of joy, because I felt, finally, somebody hears me, they get it. They know what’s going on, and they say they can fix it. I’ve never had anybody say they can.

Lisette Davila [00:18:10]:

You know, they have a solution for this problem that I’m dealing with. And it was actually instantaneously for me, like, psychologically, I just felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. We put money in and invest in a home or a car or even a career, but now it’s like, I need to invest in myself because it’s my health. It’s part of my health.

Kevin Rolston [00:18:39]:

The stress that comes with hair loss can be a huge burden, and that’s because it’s more than just your appearance. It’s your mental and physical health. For so many of us, hair is tied to our identity. It can be such a relief to finally get answers and maybe more importantly, to have a plan and a community. Also, we learned from talking to Lisette hair loss can be an indicator of a hormone imbalance or other unseen health issues. So if you’re dealing with hair loss, it might be a good idea to reach out to a specialist so you can learn the root cause. I hope you find Lisette’s experience as enlightening as I did. If you enjoyed the show and are looking for more stories on hair loss from people who have been through it or experts in the field, subscribe to the show and be sure to check out the show notes for more resources.

Kevin Rolston [00:19:31]:

Thanks for listening to another episode of Hairpod. Check us out at Hair Club on Instagram or search Hairpod on Facebook to continue the conversation. If you know someone who could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if you’d share it with them. If you’re enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple podcasts or your favorite podcast app. We also have a website, check it out by going to podcast dot hairclub.com. we’re here to build people up and share real stories so people experiencing hair loss feel a little bit less alone. And when you share, review and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you.

Kevin Rolston [00:20:09]:

Until next time.

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Hair Loss and Mental Health with Claire Fullam

by Nina Horten | May 28, 2024 | Episode

Episode 14

Hair Loss and Mental Health with Claire Fullam

Hair loss can have a significant impact on mental health, but unfortunately, this is often not given the attention it deserves. To complicate matters, mental health issues such as stress can even be the trigger for conditions related to hair loss. In this episode of HairPod, we wrap up Mental Health Awareness Month by discussing the connection between mental health and hair loss with guest Claire Fullam, a trichologist from Dublin. Claire shares her story of living with alopecia, her struggles with addiction, and her journey to recovery. We hope her story provides inspiration and insight for those experiencing the emotional impact of hair loss.

Claire’s Story – Alopecia and the Birth of Claire Balding

Alopecia areata is an autoimmune disease that can cause rapid hair loss. It can be triggered by stress and can vary in intensity. Claire was hit hard and fast, losing most of her hair in less than two months. She tried all avenues and specialists, seeking a solution and explanation. During this initial phase of her hair loss journey, Claire also launched her social media persona, “Claire Balding,” to share her story and empower others, while at the same time creating her own network of support.

It’s Not Just Hair – Hair Loss, Trauma and the Path to Addiction

Claire’s hair loss was not only a result of the stress she was experiencing but also a contributor to it! Autoimmune disorders such as alopecia areata can be challenging to manage because of the vicious nature of the stress cycle. Struggling with the pressures of motherhood, life, and her newly discovered alopecia, Claire found herself slipping into substance abuse. She shares her story and transformation, highlighting the need for support and community.

Prioritizing Mental Health While Seeking Hair Loss Solutions

Claire brings to light the emotional impact hair loss can have on the individual experiencing it. The pain of hair loss is difficult to understand for those who haven’t been there, but is a very real problem. Our hair is tied to identity, health, and security. The trauma of hair loss is real, and sometimes this only becomes apparent in hindsight. It is important to seek emotional support along the way. Claire shares how hearing others’ stories has helped her and inspired her to share her experience with alopecia and addiction.

Empowering Resources

Follow Claire on Instagram

As the episode draws to a close, HairPod extends a generous offer of a complimentary hair loss consultation, providing a tangible step towards reclaiming confidence and control over one’s appearance. Book a Free consultation with HairClub Today!

Thanks for listening to HairPod. We hope you enjoyed this episode. If you did, please leave us a rating or review wherever you get your podcasts. If you’d like to connect with us on social media to share your story, check us out on Instagram @HairClub. HairPod is a production of TSE Studios. Our theme music is from SoundStripe.

Episode.14 Transcript

Claire Fullam [00:00:04]:
I was drinking for a lot of reasons, Kevin. I think I was drinking to escape the trauma of the hair loss. I think it affected me a hell of a lot more than I really knew. And I think I dealt with it strangely. Like, I dealt with it. You know, most people try and hide, right? Well, I went online and I made this Persona, and I lived through this person that I called Claire Balding. And she was everything I’ve ever wanted to be.

Kevin Rolston [00:00:44]:
Welcome to Hairpod, the podcast where you get to hear real people talk about their hair journeys. I’m your host, Kevin Ralston. And each week I get to interview people from different walks of life whose lives have been touched by hair loss in some form or fashion. Many of our guests have experienced hair loss themselves and found a way to get their confidence and their hair back. As some of you may know, May is mental health awareness month. A theme that arises during almost every episode of Hairpod is the unforeseen impact that hair loss can have on our emotions, our stress, our daily lives, and our relationships. Losing your hair can feel devastating and isolating, but it doesnt have to stay that way. For this episode, I spoke with Claire Folum, a Dublin based trichologist who, like so many others, has faced the struggle and shock of dealing with rapid hair loss.

Kevin Rolston [00:01:38]:
Claires search for answers and support led her to begin a bold journey. Is the social media presence of Claire Balding. And eventually to open her own trichology clinic. Claire discusses the impact her hair loss had on her mental health, her struggle with addiction, and her choice to pursue a career that will help give others struggling with alopecia more options and more community. Claires path has been a rocky but inspiring one. And today she shares with us not only what she learned about alopecia, but what Alopecia has taught her about herself.

Claire Fullam [00:02:18]:
I lost all my own hair almost eight years. Go to the day. It was actually, I think, next week, eight years ago. So I lost 90% of my hair and went on a big journey with that, a huge journey with that. And then decided, you know what? I really want to learn why this happened to me in the first place. I want to go back to college. I want to study, and I want to try and understand, because I’m a big believer in, like, things happen for a reason, you know, and I think that there’s always a reason behind some sort of pain that you got through in your life. And I think that I really wanted to understand how was I supposed to help others going through hair loss? And, you know, also for me, I still suffer with it.

Claire Fullam [00:02:55]:
I still get patches of alopecia. So how am I going to manage this? Because I understand that it’s something I’m going to have to manage. It doesn’t just go away from lotion or a potion, you know, that kind of way. So how am I supposed to manage this? So I did that. I opened my trichology clinic then four years ago. It’s called Trua. We’re an online trichology clinic. Trua means compassion of school.

Claire Fullam [00:03:17]:
That’s the irish language. And I suppose that’s what our clinic is based on, is compassion and is understanding, you know, and trying to come at hair loss and scalp conditions from a huge, you know, all different angles, I suppose. So that’s what has led me here. So kind of, I suppose, quite a full circle story, because I visited a trichologist when my hair was falling out, and I visited dermatologists, my general practitioners here in Ireland as well. And the only one who gave me that little bit of hope, to be really honest with you, was a trichologist, you know? So it’s funny, if you asked me eight years ago, Kevin said, claire, what do you want to be when you grow up? It wouldn’t have been a trichologist, to be honest with you. I didn’t even know what one was. So it’s funny where life takes you.

Kevin Rolston [00:04:00]:
Let’s talk about your journey, where it began. It sounds like it began with hair loss. And what age were you when that first started to appear?

Claire Fullam [00:04:08]:
Yeah, so I was 27 and. Yeah, that is, I was 27, nearly 28, actually. So that’s eight years ago now. And I had two children who were very young at the time. I think my daughter was about five and my son was about one. And I think. I suppose I got, you know, did everything really young, like most of my friends. I’m nearly 37 now.

Claire Fullam [00:04:30]:
Most of my friends are only starting their families and stuff now, you know, whereas I started, like, 13 years ago and like that. Myself and my husband, we grew up really fast. We bought a house in the area that we grew up. We raised our kids. My friends were going to college and going on nights out and traveling Europe, and I was changing athys, you know, and I was paying bills and I was doing all that kind of stuff. And I suppose I didn’t manage my stress very well. You know, I think that I internalized a lot of it, and I think that I tried to pretend that everything was okay because you can’t really drop a ball when you’re a young parent, you know, it’s hard to drop that ball and also pick it back up. There’s a lot of expectation on you as well.

Claire Fullam [00:05:07]:
So I think a lot of people would say to me, God, Claire, like, when your hair started to fall, like, were you. What was going on? Like, was something really traumatic going on was, you know, but it wasn’t. It was just life. You know, life is stressful and life can take a toll on you sometimes. And when you’re trying to continuously juggle balls and pretend you’re okay and that you’re coping, I think sometimes your body is a funny way of showing you that you’re not, you know, and I think that when I first found my first patch of alopecia, I found it just in my split here. And I assumed that I’d. With the curling iron or something too close to my scalp. And then I remember, like this time of the year, like, you know, coming into the summer months, well, the summer that we get in Ireland isn’t spectacular, but it’s slightly warmer for a couple of weeks.

Claire Fullam [00:05:50]:
But, you know, I just assumed, just assumed that, you know, around that time of the year, I lose more hair. We all do. We’re like animals shedding kind of, you know, for the summer months and stuff. So I always knew. And I had a lot of hair. Big, classic redheads, big, classic irish head on me. And I was losing a lot of hair at that time. But again, I assumed that, oh, that’s fine, that’s the time of year.

Claire Fullam [00:06:11]:
But this time was different, you know, I started to lose an extreme amount of hair. I was scooping it up in the office, I was hiding it, I was emptying the bins in the office because I was so embarrassed of it. And within five weeks, I was in a wig, you know, a full blown wig. I’d lost 90% of my hair in five weeks.

Kevin Rolston [00:06:27]:
Did you say 90%?

Claire Fullam [00:06:29]:
990. Yeah. Yeah. So I went from somebody who was hugely identified by my hair, like everyone would say, oh, you know, Claire with the red hair. Like, that’s the way people would describe me now, Claire with the red hair to having no hair, really, you know, in five weeks, at 27 years of age, doesn’t matter what age are, you know, it’s spectacularly stressful. I went on every radio show, every tv show that would have me trying to find this answer, I suppose, you know, somebody will tell me what to do. Somebody like nobody knew. And my family, my friends group, nobody knew.

Claire Fullam [00:07:05]:
And I remember uploading a status on Facebook to like my 400 close friends at the time. And I remember the Irish Times. It’s a big national newspaper here in Ireland. Picked up the story and shared the story. And from there, I suppose, I started to document my hair loss online, you know. So at the time, Snapchat was really big. Apparently, it’s back again with a bang, with the kids too old for that now, but Snapchat at the time. And when I called myself Claire Balding, and Claire Balding is a big tv personality, actually, over in the.

Claire Fullam [00:07:37]:
Over in Great Britain. And I named myself, I suppose, after her. And it’s a real irish trait to, you know, almost slag yourself and take the mick out of yourself first before anybody else can. Does that make sense? It’s like a self deprecating kind of thing. So Claire Balding was born, and Claire Balding is still around to this day. I suppose I kind of cultivated a community and an audience, you know, that were looking for help with hair loss as well. But then, you know, slowly but surely, it kind of became my life and just documented my life and the ups and the downs of it. I had a large audience, somewhere about 90,000 followers on Instagram, which is big for Ireland, because there’s only about ten of us in the country.

Claire Fullam [00:08:19]:
So, you know, it was. It was, you know, white went from zero to 90 pretty quick.

Kevin Rolston [00:08:30]:
Claire’s baldness was not permanent. When her hair began growing back, people assumed that she had overcome the emotional aspects of her hair loss, but her alopecia would continue to flare up, and the challenges this brought to her mental health were far from over. Her experience with hair loss had started her on a journey, and there was no turning back. She had become a public figure, and now, for better or worse, had a social identity tied to this condition.

Claire Fullam [00:09:02]:
Within about a year, my hair started to come back, which was unusual. People didn’t think that that was going to happen, but very, very quickly, quite, you know, as fast as it fell out, it started to come back. Now it was white, the pigments never returned, and it was a different texture, all that kind of stuff. So really, really weird one to manage. But I suppose I thought then, and especially when my hair started to come out, or even when I wore my hair piece, when I wore my wig, people were like, Claire’s grand now. Like, she’s fine now. She’s got her hair back now. But there’s so many demons, I suppose, you know? And I suppose some of the things that were going on, but my mental health, you know, it was masking all of that a little bit.

Claire Fullam [00:09:42]:
And eventually that erupted along those years. Like, that’s eight years ago now. I’m three years sober, thank God. You know, it led me to a path of addiction, and it all stemmed from my hair loss. So, I mean, as strange as that story is, Kevin, you know, there’s a lot there. I’ve just like, embarked eight years on top of you there now. Sorry about that. But as strange as that story is, that’s why I’m a great trichologist.

Claire Fullam [00:10:07]:
That’s why I’m great at running our business. That’s why. Why I’m passionate about scalp and hair health and people like you bringing awareness of it. Because I think hair loss can sometimes get lost in this level of vanity, you know, whereas it really, truly can affect people’s lives, you know, and not just your life and your God, through your family’s life and everybody else’s life as well. So it’s so important to speak about it as much as possible. I think.

Kevin Rolston [00:10:37]:
The stresses of life and the impact of living with alopecia continued to weigh on Claire, even as she worked so hard to adapt to it and provide a community for others to do so as well. Claire began leaning on alcohol more and more.

Claire Fullam [00:10:57]:
I was drinking for a lot of reasons, Kevin. I think I was drinking to escape the trauma of the hair loss. I think it affected me a hell of a lot more than I really knew. And I think I dealt with it strangely. Like, I dealt with it, you know, most people try and hide, right? Well, I went online and I made this Persona and I lived through this, you know, person that I called Claire Balding. And she was everything I’ve ever wanted to be, but I was always too scared to be. So I treated her as this Persona and, you know, allowed all of life. Stress has come out through her.

Claire Fullam [00:11:32]:
And I did a tv show, I did countless live shows all around Ireland. And all the time my drinking just kept getting a little bit bigger and bigger and bigger and bigger, you know, but I suppose when. And look, we have a culture here as well, you know, that we rely on it a lot. And it’s a deep rooted issue within Ireland that we run from, you know, a lot of people, especially. What age was I then, like 33? And it’s very young to kind of, you know, I suppose, face these demons a little bit, you know, but I knew that if I didnt, I die.

Kevin Rolston [00:12:06]:
Like many people who find themselves struggling with addiction, Claire was not fully aware that she had a problem. By all appearances, Claire had it all together. She was a mother, a wife, a business owner. Not to mention her hair had come back. It can be hard to recognize that youve even got a substance abuse problem when its so normalized by the society around you. It wasnt until she heard a few familiar voice on the radio that Claire was able to face her budding addiction and turn things around.

Claire Fullam [00:12:39]:
I remember hearing on the radio, I was sitting, I was working in my front room in my kitchen, and I remember the radio came on. And again, a really famous program in Ireland. And I heard somebody I knew on the radio, and she was talking about her own alcoholism. And I was like, oh, my God. Like, I didn’t know Sophie suffrage, like, with alcoholism at all. Like, I didn’t realize this. I met Sophie. She’s a podcast in Ireland.

Claire Fullam [00:13:04]:
She’s very well known. She’s an author. She’s a brilliant person, you know, and I didn’t have any idea that Sophie was struggling so much. So I remember going, like, so close to the radio. It was actually a radio. It wasn’t like a Siri or my Google. It was an actual radio in my kitchen, right? And I remember I went up to it, and it was as if I could, like, feel Sophie’s breath coming through the radio and talking to me. And I remember holding my own hand as if I was holding hers.

Claire Fullam [00:13:29]:
And every single thing she said, I was like, oh, my God, she’s describing me. She’s describing my life. She described this, that every day she lit this fire in her own home, and every day she tried to control it, you know, and she knew that if she let it get out of control, it would ravage her and her home and her boys and her husband. But she kept lining it every day, and she couldn’t understand why she was doing this to herself. And I just remember that analogy stuck with me. And I said, she’s Claire. Like, what are you doing? There was no rock bottom for me, Kevin. I think it was more like a real deep realization.

Claire Fullam [00:14:07]:
I remember I went to my first AA meeting. It was 2021, so there was no physical AA meetings, really, because it was still COVID times back then, of course. And I went to my first one on St. Patrick’s Day of all days. And I remember it was actually all my friends were having pints, you know, and I was sitting on my bed crying at the spectacular. I was like, oh, my God, what a day. Yeah, but I’ll never forget it. I suppose that’s a good one, you know, but I remember it was actually an american AA meeting, because I was too scared.

Claire Fullam [00:14:40]:
Scared to go to an irish one. So I joined an american link because nobody would know me over there. This would be fine, you know? And it just. It was a real eye opener, you know? And I think that my hair loss started that. Maybe not started it. I always loved to drink, you know? And I think, again, being a young parent, when I get a night off, I’d go wild, you know, because I had a night off, and I was always the friend who had a story. I was always the friend. She went too far.

Claire Fullam [00:15:06]:
I was always a big drinker. But I think the hair loss didn’t help. And then having this big community online, the pressure of that didn’t help either, you know, and I think that it kind of came to a point. And when you recognize yourself and somebody else, it’s so important. That’s why I think these stories are so important, because somebody else will hear this and say, that’s me, you know, or that’s her, that’s him, you know, and their family. So sharing those stories are hugely important. They’ll save people’s lives, you know? Again, like, as I said earlier on, like, it’s funny where life brings you, isn’t it? Because fair balding was such a painful thing for me for a while, you know, she. I say she, like, she’s a different person, but, you know, she.

Claire Fullam [00:15:45]:
It was. It was a painful place because you can only be on top for so long, you know, and what comes up must come down. So even though people are very fond of you, they might have a different opinion on one thing than you. And social media can be cruel. It can be a cruel place, you know? So I think I ran from her for a while. I took six months off social media, and I said, you know what, Claire? You’re gonna have to sort. Sort yourself out. And that’s when I started, you know, my sober journey, thank God, and started that whole process then as well, you know, so it’s given me huge strength.

Kevin Rolston [00:16:22]:
Talking with Claire has been such a great reminder of how important community can be, especially when it comes to mental health support. It can be so comforting and inspiring to discover that we are not alone in our experience and to learn from those who have already walked the path. If you want to hear more from Claire, make sure you subscribe to the show, because were going to be having her back on to discuss living with alopecia. And make sure you check out our show notes for links to follow Claire on social media. Thanks for listening to another episode of Hairpot. Check us out Araclub on Instagram or search Hairpot on Facebook to continue this conversation. If you know somebody who could benefit from hearing this episode, we would love it if you would share it with them. If youre enjoying the show, consider leaving us a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app.

Kevin Rolston [00:17:12]:
We also have a website. Check it out by going to podcast dot hairclub.com. Were here to build people up and share real stories of people experiencing hair loss so they feel a little bit less alone. And when you share, review and subscribe, it helps us do just that. So thank you. Until next time.

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