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Losing Hair In Your 20's & 30's? Here's What You Need To Know

Losing strands? Dr. Harold Ma explains why women in their 20's & 30's are experience thinning tresses and what we can do about it.

By Megan La Faber

Published: August 19, 2025

Losing Hair In Your 20's & 30's? Here's What You Need To Know — Photo: Alexander Krivitskiy-Bza/Unsplash

Women are going bald at a younger age, or at least that’s how it seems in recent years. There’s been a noticeable shift, with more women in their 20s and 30s experiencing hair loss. According to Dr Harold Ma, founder and medical director of Freia Medical, which specialises in hair restoration, a growing number of younger women, even teens, are turning up at clinics like his to seek professional help.

For those of us who have noticed alarming signs such as a widening parting, extra strands on your pillow or large clumps of hair clogging up the shower drain, it’s enough to send us Googling “female hair thinning” at 2am. We’re going from panic to paralysis, bouncing between trying out TikTok hair loss hacks and obsessively taking scalp selfies every few days to check out bald spots.

The causes of hair loss in women are multifactorial. Lifestyle factors, such as long-term stress, poor diet, and environmental pollutants, can take a toll on your hair. Hormonal imbalances related to birth control, pregnancy, or conditions like Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) and thyroid disorders are also possible culprits. So are medical conditions such as anaemia and autoimmune diseases, and of course, genetics.

@kiannachang 11 months later 🙏🏼 #creatorsearchinsights #alopecia #hairloss #hairgrowth #hairregrowth #hairjourney #hair #minoxidil #minoxidilresult #rogaine #alopeciaareata #telogeneffluvium #dreadshed ♬ original sound - rzqadn

Understanding what kind of hair loss you’re dealing with is the first step to dealing with the problem. According to Dr Ma, the most common causes in women are androgenetic alopecia, telogen effluvium and traction alopecia. He breaks it down: “Androgenetic alopecia is one of the most common forms of hair loss seen in both men and women. It affects one in three women. It is often linked to hormonal influences, increasing with age and especially after menopause. Telogen effluvium can occur after metabolic or emotional stress, hormonal changes such as post-partum or perimenopause, or medication. Traction alopecia is caused by excessive and prolonged force exerted on the hair follicles with hairstyles such as tightly pulled-back buns and braids.”

The three types of hair loss present differently. Androgenetic alopecia starts with gradual thinning at the hair part, followed by diffuse hair loss on the top, which gets worse with time. However, Dr Ma observes that women who experience this rarely go fully bald. Telogen effluvium is characterised by widespread, often drastic hair shedding. In traction alopecia, thinning occurs along the hairline or in specific areas, depending on the hairstyle most frequently worn. If you’re noticing increased shedding, it may be time to seek professional help. Hair loss due to temporary causes like stress or illness often resolves on its own once the trigger is removed. But persistent hair fall, which lasts more than six months, could signal an underlying condition or genetic predisposition that needs medical attention.

A doctor’s visit may include a physical scalp exam, trichoscopy (examining the scalp using a non-invasive diagnostic device), and even blood tests to pinpoint the root cause. “Whether the problem is temporary or genetic, we can get some answers that way,” assures Dr Ma. Once you’ve identified the specific cause of your hair loss, the next step is finding the appropriate treatment. The internet is awash with products and services that claim to regrow hair or promise quick results, and it can be difficult for a layman to discern between fact and fiction. Dr Ma’s advice: Always check if the claims are backed by clinical studies or peer-reviewed data. “Look at the science behind the claims to see if there is any supporting published data. Or speak to a reputable medical healthcare professional with the relevant experience in treating hair loss,” he says.

@aimeechengbradshaw My hair loss / hair growth journey the last ~5 months with the Cellular Regen treatment at Freia Medical / @Freia Aesthetics in Singapore Disclaimer: Freia kindly collaborated with me for this treatment for my genuine thoughts and experience, but after seeing the results I would definitely pay for it and do it all over again. Like I said, its an investment and each person’s preferences and goals are different but this is worth it to me. Price: As of 24/10/2023 each session costs $300 (UP $500), or there’s a promo package of 6 sessions for $1500 (UP $3000 - such a good deal !!) but do check with them on current prices #grwm #getreadywithme #hairloss #hairregrowth #hairgrowthtreatment #hairgrowthjourney #cellularregeneration #hairclinicsingapore #hairgrowth #tiktokg #sgbeauty #sgfashion ♬ original sound - aimee cheng-bradshaw

To put it plainly: If something is too good to be true, or makes outrageous claims, it usually is just that. Some effective treatments, depending on the type and extent of your hair loss, include topical sprays with minoxidil or plant-based CG210 Forte, oral supplements, low-level laser therapy, and regular scalp cleansing (Dr Ma recommends using a paraben- and SLS-free shampoo). The key is consistency— and managing your expectations. Women with severe hair loss are increasingly turning to hair transplants. “This treatment is given to stabilise any ongoing and aggressive hair loss. Think of a hair transplant like plugging a swimming pool that is leaking water. The leak should be identified and stopped before water is topped back up,” explains Dr Ma.

But hair transplantation is not for everyone. Your hair loss must be stable (not worsening aggressively), and there must be enough space in the thinning areas for new follicles to be implanted. There also needs to be sufficient donor hair—usually, that from the back of your head—for harvesting. Newer techniques mean there’s no need to excise a piece of your scalp to retrieve donor hairs; individual hair bulbs can be extracted from a discreet section that will be concealed under the top layer of hair. Lifestyle also plays a huge role. Adequate sleep, a diet that avoids processed foods and includes essential nutrients like iron and vitamin D, and stress management techniques such as meditation, all support healthier hair. Dr Ma has a few additional tips: “Do regular health screenings. Cut down on alcohol. Quit smoking. Get plenty of exercise. Be happy.”

@workingwithmonolids
I’ll make a post with the timeline of my hair growth journey once I find all the pics & figure out the dates but here’s everything I did: steroid shots, oral steroids, xeljanz (discontinued after 2 months), olumiant (replaced xeljanz), minoxidil, elomet, calecim serum microneedled in at Freia Aesthetics
♬ original sound - It’s Evee

Hair loss isn’t life-threatening, but it can chip away at your confidence. There is no overnight miracle. The first step starts with getting the right diagnosis and following up with consistent treatment and plenty of patience.