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Hair problem
Each strand has its own cycle, so different lengths are normal. What deserves attention is when an area becomes clearly shorter, finer or has many small strands, the so-called baby hairs. Here we explain the hair cycle, what is usually behind it and what the doctor assesses.
Reviewed by Dr Michelle Campagnoli, clinical director
How to recognise it
Some difference in length is normal, because the strands do not all grow at the same time. These signs help you understand whether it merits an assessment.
Tick what you recognise
Tick the signs you recognise in your case. This is not a diagnosis, it is only meant to give you an idea.
Do you recognise some of these signs? It may be a normal variation of the hair cycle or have a cause to assess. Only a medical assessment can say for certain.
Several signs match. An assessment is worthwhile to understand whether it is regrowth, breakage or thinning, and what can be done. Only a medical assessment confirms it.
Book an assessment consultationSudden, heavy hair loss, patches that appear quickly, a painful scalp, sores, redness or marked scaling should be seen without delay, because they usually have another cause.
Hairline. This is where baby hairs are most visible: short, fine strands that may be regrowth, breakage or strands that never grew much.
Top of the head. When the hair thins gradually, new strands may grow in finer and shorter than the rest.
Temples and outline. These are areas of finer hair, subject to traction and friction, where differences in length are more noticeable.
Why it happens
It is almost never just one thing. Choose a cause to see what makes it worse and what helps.
Each strand goes through a growth phase, a short transition phase and a resting phase, before falling out and growing back. As the strands are not all in the same phase, it is normal for lengths to differ. After shedding, the new strands grow in short and take time to match the rest.
Cutting or pulling new hair out of impatience, while it is still growing.
Giving regrowth time and seeing, with the doctor, whether the rhythm is as expected.
In some people the follicles gradually produce finer, shorter strands, mainly through hereditary predisposition and hormonal influence. This can result in areas with hair of a different appearance. The doctor assesses whether this is the pattern.
Letting time pass without finding out whether thinning is under way.
An early assessment, to tell thinning from regrowth or breakage.
After a period of stress, an illness, childbirth or a restrictive diet, more hair may fall out and, when it recovers, the new strands appear short in several areas. The doctor may request tests, for example for iron and thyroid, when it makes sense.
Taking supplements on your own, without knowing what is missing.
Understanding the cause of the shedding and waiting for regrowth, with follow-up.
Chemicals, bleaching, frequent heat and tight hairstyles may break the hair mid-length, leaving shorter strands and uneven ends. Repeated traction, near the front and the temples, may also weaken the root.
Very tight ponytails and braids, straightening and a very hot hairdryer.
Looser hairstyles, moderate heat and fewer chemicals.
Some scalp conditions, such as seborrhoeic dermatitis, or other forms of hair loss may alter growth in one area. That is why it is worth having an assessment, rather than assuming it is only a matter of hair rhythm.
Assuming it is normal when there is pain, scaling or redness.
A consultation to examine the scalp and confirm the cause.
Normal or to be assessed
Not all uneven hair needs treatment. These signs help distinguish what is usually normal from what calls for an assessment.
What it looks like. Small differences in length, with short strands here and there, especially near the forehead and the nape.
How it progresses. The strands keep growing and the difference tends to fade over time.
What the clinic does. If you wish, the doctor examines the hair and confirms that the rhythm is as expected.
Follow-up. It is enough to keep checking whether the difference persists or increases.
What it looks like. An area that is clearly finer or shorter and does not match the rest, or many small strands appearing where the hair used to be denser.
Warning. Pain, sores, redness, marked scaling or patches that appear quickly call for prompt assessment.
What the clinic does. The doctor looks for the cause: cycle, thinning, breakage, traction, deficiencies or a scalp condition.
Tell the doctor at the consultation. When you noticed it, what changed, and the hairstyles and products you use: it helps in choosing.
Does your hair grow differently in some areas? Book an assessment consultation, so the doctor can understand the cause and what can be done.
Book an assessment consultationWhat the clinic can do
When there is a cause to treat, it comes first. These are the treatments the doctor may propose to support the scalp and the follicle, after seeing your case. Results vary from person to person and science continues to study these treatments, so the doctor explains what is known and what you can expect before any decision.
Regeneration
Vitamins, amino acids, minerals and hyaluronic acid, which may help nourish the scalp and support finer hair.
Suitable when
the hair is finer and the doctor considers scalp nourishment appropriate.
Find out more→
Regeneration
Platelet-rich plasma, obtained from your own blood, which may help stimulate the follicle in some cases. The doctor first assesses whether it is appropriate.
Suitable when
there are areas with finer hair and the doctor considers stimulating the follicle appropriate.
Find out more→
Stimulation
Controlled micro-injuries on the scalp that may help stimulate the area and favour the absorption of other active ingredients. The response is variable and the doctor assesses whether it is appropriate.
Suitable when
the doctor considers it useful to stimulate a weaker area, alone or as a complement.
Find out more→What about oral therapy and other medical options? When there is a cause to treat, such as a deficiency or a scalp condition, the doctor explains the options, chooses them after the assessment and, if useful, the tests. Results are gradual.
What the journey looks like
No treatment starts without an assessment consultation with the doctor. This is how it works.
The doctor asks when you noticed the difference, whether there was shedding, an illness or stress, and which hairstyles and products you use, and examines the scalp and the strands.
If useful, requests tests, for example for iron and thyroid, and explains what to expect and how long it may take.
Treats the cause and combines the treatments that make sense with care at home, always adapted to your case.
We review the hair after a few months and adjust the plan, because hair takes time to respond.
Day to day
Protecting the hair you already have and giving time to what is growing counts for a lot, alongside the doctor's plan. These are the kinds of care that matter most.
The golden rule
Hair grows slowly and the new strands take time to match the rest. Avoiding what breaks the hair and assessing early what does not improve is what helps most.
Fine, new strands break easily.
In practice: brush slowly, with a soft-bristle brush, starting at the ends.
Hair is made of protein.
In practice: include eggs, fish, legumes or yoghurt in your meals.
Dry ends break more.
In practice: use a mask or a light oil on the lengths and protect the hair from the sun.
Results depend on persistence.
In practice: follow the agreed plan and attend the reviews.
Pulling the hair weakens the roots, especially near the front.
In practice: avoid very tight ponytails and braids every day.
A very hot hairdryer, straightening and bleaching break the hair.
In practice: use moderate heat and space out colouring.
It may make the strand break and delay the evening out.
In practice: let the new strands grow and ask your hairdresser for advice.
Taking several supplements on your own may not solve anything and can do harm.
In practice: speak to the doctor before taking supplements, especially iron.
Who will look after you
At Luxmed, the first step is always an assessment consultation with Dra. Michelle Campagnoli. She works out what is behind the uneven hair, requests tests if useful and designs the plan with you.
Hair medicine
The growth, resting and shedding phases, and what is normal.
Read the article →
Hair medicine
How to tell new strands from strands that have broken.
Read the article →
Hair medicine
Habits that weaken the root and the length.
Read the article →Other hair problems
Book a consultation
Choose how you prefer to get in touch. We will arrange the assessment consultation with Dr Michelle Campagnoli.
New Life Miraflores, Algés · Office Center, R. Santa Teresa do Menino Jesus n.º 6, 9.º C, 1495-048
Your details are used only for this contact. Any treatment depends on a prior medical assessment.
In part, yes. The strands do not all grow at the same time, because each is in its own phase of the cycle, so lengths differ. What deserves attention is an area that is clearly finer or shorter.
They are short, fine strands near the forehead, the temples and the nape. They may be regrowth, strands that have broken or strands that have always been finer. The doctor helps you understand which is your case.
Each strand goes through a growth phase, a short transition phase and a resting phase, then falls out and grows back. As they are not all synchronised, the hair keeps its density while losing a few strands every day.
After temporary shedding, the new strands usually even out with the rest over time. When there is thinning or a scalp condition, it depends on the cause. The doctor explains what is realistic for you.
They can. Repeated traction, especially near the front and the temples, may weaken the root and break the hair. If the cause continues for a long time, the loss may become permanent.
Depending on the case: hair NCTF, hair PRP, hair microneedling, oral therapy and treatment of the associated causes. None is chosen before the assessment consultation.
The doctor often requests tests, for example for iron and thyroid, because deficiencies and thyroid changes may contribute to hair loss and weak hair in some cases.
When the difference persists or increases, or when you notice finer hair in one area. Sudden hair loss, patches that appear quickly or a painful scalp should be seen without delay.
Gentle care and a trim to even out the ends help the appearance, but do not treat the cause. If there is thinning or hair loss, an assessment is advisable.
They only make sense when a deficiency is confirmed, so it is best to speak to the doctor before taking them.
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This page is based on the sources below and was reviewed by Dr. Michelle Campagnoli. Last updated on .
The assistant does not give diagnoses or replace a consultation. The plan and cost of any treatment are set at the medical assessment.