Hair loss in women: Why it happens and what to do next

Our scalp can have over 100,000 hair follicles. That’s a whole lot of strands to care for, and Aussies take that seriously.  From salon visits to bathroom shelves stacked with hair treatments, the Australian hair care market is large. It’s possible to spend thousands of dollars on hair with one salon visit.

With so many follicles on our scalp, and so much love for them, it can be devastating when hair loss hits. It can affect confidence, wellbeing, and body image. 

How common is hair loss in women?

Hair loss, also known as alopecia, is common in women. Some data suggests that it can affect over 40% of women depending on their age and condition. According to a 2018 article in the Australian Journal of General Practice, nearly half of all women (49%) will be affected by hair loss throughout their lives. 

Common causes of hair loss in women

Hair loss can be a manifestation of many different conditions. From hormones and chemotherapy to genetics, psychiatric conditions, and exposure to toxic substances, a wide range of factors can cause hair loss in women.

Female pattern hair loss

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is the most common cause of hair loss in women. It happens more with increasing age and after menopause, though it can happen earlier. To understand why it happens, it helps to know a bit about how hair grows.

Hair has a lifecycle of its own. It cycles between growing and resting. There are two types of hair. One is the short and thin "vellus" hair. The other is the longer and thicker "terminal" hair. Terminal hairs can be found on the head, facial hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, pubic hair, chest hair and belly hair. 

The mix of vellus and terminal hairs depends on age and sex. Kids have mostly vellus hair. Women have about 30% terminal hair on the body surface. Men have about 90%.  

So why does this matter? In FPHL, for various reasons, terminal hair follicles are converted to vellus-like follicles. These converted follicles have a short life cycle and produce thinner, finer hair. In women, the conversion is not intense, so they don't usually experience the same hair loss patterns like men.

Health conditions

There are a number of other conditions that can cause hair loss in women. These can include thyroid conditions, ovarian conditions, lupus, iron deficiency anaemia, exposure to certain toxins, and more. 

The starting point when noticing hair loss is to chat to the doctor to figure out the underlying cause.

Hair loss and menopause

Hair loss can be more common after menopause. Menopause can be a challenging time for women, so this is an important point in time to have a good general practitioner that you can trust to guide through the various issues that can arise. 

How to manage hair loss

Hair loss can be challenging. Research surveying women with hair loss, cited in the Australian Journal of General Practice, demonstrated 40% reporting marital problems and 64% reporting career difficulties because of  their hair loss. 

In addition to having a trusted general practitioner, this might also help to tap into a team of different health professionals. If an underlying cause is found, it may be treatable. 

There are also support networks like the Australian Alopecia Areata Foundation and Bald Girls Do Lunch. It’s not a journey that needs to be taken alone.

When to speak to a doctor

If you start noticing hair loss, speak to a doctor as a starting point. Hair loss can be a manifestation of an underlying condition, which needs to be treated. It’s a common problem that general practitioners deal with, so find one that you trust to support your needs and can build a long relationship with. 

The bottom line

Hair loss, or alopecia, is common in women and can have many causes.  The most common cause is FPHL. The starting point is to see a general practitioner. And while hair loss can be a distressing experience, there are options to try, with different support options for the journey.

Reviewed by the Healthylife Advisory Board September 2025.