I can still remember the first time someone called me out for my thin hair. I was in middle school, wearing a high ponytail—and rocking it, in my humble opinion—when a boy (isn't it always?) said I had thinning hair near my temple. I'm an Aries, so I had no problem telling that boy off, but the feeling sat with me long after I graduated from eighth grade. Even now, I can't tell you the last time I wore my hair in a high, tight ponytail. I learned an important lesson that day (aside from standing up for myself): Your hair health isn't a superficial concern; it can have a lasting impact on your confidence and how you present yourself.
As a beauty director, I've always found it a bit shameful that I haven't cracked the code to full, shiny, long hair—but thankfully, other professionals, such as cosmetic and surgical dermatologist Nazanin Saedi, MD FAAD, are helping destigmatize hair thinning by being vulnerable with their own experiences with it.
I always encourage my patients to think about hair health from a whole-body perspective rather than focusing on a single cause.
"Hair thinning is one of the most common concerns I see in my practice," Saedi says. "I would estimate that a significant portion of my patients, particularly my female patients over 35 or 40, will have a concern for their hair health. [It's] something I talk about with patients every day, because it's often closely tied to overall wellness and how people feel about themselves."
She also clarifies that noticing some shedding is normal.
"Everyone sheds hair every day," she says. "It is normal to shed 50–100 strands of hair a day. Early signs of hair thinning may be seeing more hair shedding during a shower, after blow-drying, or on a pillow after a night's sleep. Additionally, if you notice that your hair part appears wider, your hair is having trouble growing longer, or maybe the overall thickness of your hair waning, this is a sign that it's time to focus on the health of your scalp and hair."
Aging and hormonal changes (most commonly postpartum and perimenopause/menopause) can contribute to hair health, but Saedi notes that many internal and external factors can be at play. These include diet, sleep, stress management, and nutrient gaps. Saedi calls out iron/ferritin, vitamin C, vitamin B12, biotin, zinc, or even daily protein intake, since hair is made of a protein called keratin.
"I always encourage my patients to think about hair health from a whole-body perspective rather than focusing on a single cause," she says.
Dr. Saedi's vast knowledge of hair isn't just from her studies and her practice—she experienced her own hair thinning journey, which helped her understand what her patients have gone through.
"I have had thick, dense hair my whole life. But after my second pregnancy, this changed," she says. "I was 35 and experienced increased shedding a few months postpartum, which is normal due to hormonal shifts. It's always shocking to experience the shed, even as a medical doctor who explains this normal process to postpartum patients every day."
She adds that although she knew her hair wouldn't return right back to normal, she still felt upset by her thinner ponytail.
"Hair is such a visible part of our identity, and noticing changes can make you feel less like yourself. It gave me even more empathy for what my patients experience."
Saedi approached her concerns the same way she advises her patients to, by focusing on her overall health and lifestyle. This included checking in on her sleep, stress, nutrition, and bloodwork—but also taking more targeted steps to improve her hair growth and to strengthen her strands through clinically proven supplements such as Nutrafol's Postpartum Hair Growth Nutraceutical ($79).
"One of the reasons I trust Nutrafol is because the brand takes a whole-body approach to hair health," Saedi explains. "Hair thinning is rarely caused by just one factor, so I appreciate that their hair growth formulations are designed to target multiple root contributors. They have also invested heavily in clinical research, which is something I always look for as a physician. Seeing published clinical studies supporting their formulations gives me confidence when recommending [Nutrafol] to patients. I also value the emphasis on quality and transparency—Nutrafol is the first hair growth supplement brand to earn NSF Certified for Sport®, a respected third-party certification that verifies product quality and safety."
While Saedi has personally tested and found success with every women's Nutrafol's Hair Growth supplement, she stresses that each person should choose their supplement based on their own individual needs. Recently, she mentioned switching to Nutrafol's Women's Balance ($79/month) to support health and hair growth as she enters perimenopause.
"I often recommend Nutrafol products based on where someone is in their life stage and lifestyle," Saedi says. "I’ve recently entered my mid 40s, and have just switched to Nutrafol Women’s Balance to support the health and growth of my hair as I enter perimenopause, because it was specifically developed to address the biological changes that can occur during that stage of life."
Last but not least, Saedi touches on the importance of scalp health for overall hair wellbeing.
"I keep Nutrafol's Root Purifier Shampoo ($44) in rotation because it cleanses without stripping the scalp and helps to promote a health scalp for improved hair quality. It also contains prebiotics to support the scalp barrier and a vegan protein help provide nourishment for healthier-looking hair.”
Dr. Saedi is a Nutrafol Partner who was compensated for sharing her expertise and experience.
