Hair loss didn’t just change my hair. It changed the way I saw myself.
For years, I felt like I was fighting a battle I couldn’t understand. I blamed my hair routine, tried countless products, listened to endless advice and searched for a solution.
It wasn’t until I stopped chasing quick fixes and started understanding my body that everything began to change.
This is my story.
My Story
My relationship with my hair started to change in 2022.
Every time I saw friends or family, the first thing I heard was, “Where has your hair gone?” or, “Oh my goodness, your scalp is showing so much.” Although those comments weren’t meant to hurt me, they stayed with me. Every remark chipped away at my confidence.
After every family gathering or event, I would go through every photo that had been taken and zoom in on my scalp. I would compare those photos with older ones, trying to figure out when my hair had become so thin. I became obsessed with looking at my widening parting and how much more scalp I could see.
It consumed my thoughts and slowly took away the confidence I once had. For years, I had been living with PCOS, a condition that affects hormones and can often contribute to hair thinning and hair loss. At the time, I didn’t fully understand how much it was affecting my hair journey.
Then I became a mum!
The combination of PCOS, postpartum hair loss, low ferritin, stress, hormonal changes, and simply neglecting myself felt like the perfect storm. Like so many mums, I poured everything into everyone else while forgetting about myself.
Earlier this year, on my birthday I became a qualified Mental Health First Aider and I made myself a promise. I decided it was finally time to start looking after myself. Not because I expected overnight results, but because I deserved to feel like myself again.
The Emotional Impact
Hair loss affected so much more than my appearance.
After giving birth, I struggled with postpartum depression and developed anxiety that I kept hidden from those around me.
- I avoided social events.
- I dreaded having photos taken.
- I worried about how my hair looked from every angle.
- I constantly adjusted my hair to cover areas where my scalp was more visible.
Hair loss isn’t just about losing hair. It affects your confidence, your identity, your mental health and the way you see yourself every single day. Unless you’ve experienced it yourself, it is difficult to understand how emotionally exhausting it can be.
What I Tried and What I Learned
Like many people experiencing hair loss, I spent countless evenings researching how to fix it.
I bought expensive shampoos, herbal oils, herbal serums, vitamins, supplements, Watermans products, onion water, and almost every product that promised thicker hair. I even tried microneedling with exosomes. Because my scalp becomes greasy very quickly, I was constantly told to “train” my hair by washing it less often. I believed it. But it wasn’t right for my scalp.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that hair loss is never one size fits all. It’s easy to judge someone else’s hair journey or give advice because something worked for you.
“Leave oil on overnight.”
“Use onion water.”
“Wash your hair less.”
“Don’t use a hairdryer.”
Those methods may genuinely help some people, but they didn’t work for me.
Every scalp is different.
Every hormone profile is different.
Every person’s reason for hair loss is different.
Hair loss is a symptom, not a simple problem with one solution. That was the turning point for me.
I came across Dr Adel’s educational videos on TikTok and started learning about the science behind hair and scalp health. Instead of following myths, I started following evidence based advice.
Before rhute released its Hair Serum and Pre Wash Oil, I introduced Nizoral shampoo once a week, Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo for my regular washes, and The Ordinary Multi Peptide Hair Serum. I also decided to stop guessing and investigate the possible causes behind my hair loss.
I booked an appointment with my GP and requested blood tests. The results showed my ferritin levels were low. I was told they were still within the laboratory’s normal range, so initially I was reassured that everything was fine.
But something didn’t sit right with me.
After consulting with a trichologist, I learned that although my ferritin level was considered “normal” by laboratory standards, it was still low for someone experiencing hair loss. They explained that many people struggling with excessive shedding may benefit from having higher ferritin levels to support healthy hair growth, and that rebuilding iron stores can take several months.
That conversation completely changed my perspective. I started taking iron supplements, knowing it would take time to rebuild my levels, while also focusing on creating a consistent routine for my hair and scalp. I stopped trying to “train” my hair, washed it whenever it became greasy, stopped leaving oil on overnight, and always dried my hair instead of leaving it damp for hours.
Looking back, I wish I had understood sooner that finding the underlying cause is far more important than spending hundreds of pounds trying every trending product.
*2.5 months after using rhute. From @ayesha_ishaaaa
Where rhute Fits Into My Story
rhute became part of my journey when I stopped searching for miracle cures and started building a routine based on science. One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that there isn’t one bottle that will fix every hair problem.
Hair loss is complex. It can be caused by PCOS, hormonal changes, postpartum recovery, low ferritin, stress, genetics, medical conditions, or a combination of several factors.
That is why no single product can be the answer for everyone.
Healthy hair starts with understanding the root cause.
- Sometimes that means speaking to your GP.
- Sometimes it means consulting a trichologist.
- Sometimes it means correcting nutritional deficiencies.
- Sometimes it means managing underlying conditions.
And often, it means a combination of different steps working together.
For me, rhute became an important part of that journey. What attracted me to rhute was the science behind the products and the focus on supporting hair health rather than promising unrealistic overnight results.
My current routine includes rhute Hair Serum with rhute Dermastamp twice a week, Dense Hair Tablets, Nizoral shampoo once a week, Aveeno Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo once or twice a week to manage my oily scalp, Vichy Dercos Energy+ Anti Hair Loss Shampoo, prescribed iron supplements and sleeping on a silk pillowcase.
Since introducing rhute alongside treating my low ferritin and committing to a consistent routine, I have noticed significantly less shedding, improved volume, and healthier looking hair. The biggest change, though, is the hope I have regained.
Where I Am Today
My journey is still ongoing. Managing PCOS means understanding that hair health is something I will continue to prioritise.
Hair growth does not happen overnight. It takes consistency, patience and trusting the process. But every wash day with less shedding, every new baby hair, and every small improvement reminds me that progress is possible. For the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful.
What’s Giving Me Hope
If you’re struggling with hair loss, know that you’re not alone. Don’t let others define your worth or how you see yourself, and don’t be discouraged if what works for someone else doesn’t work for you.
Every hair journey is personal. Give yourself permission to care for your well-being, seek a trichologist if needed, choose products that support your hair and scalp, and be patient with yourself as you advocate for your needs. Healing takes time, and so does growth. Your confidence and voice matter, and there is always hope ahead.
My journey has taught me that hope doesn’t come from finding one miracle product. It comes from understanding your body, trusting the science, staying consistent and never giving up on yourself.
